10 Most Epic Movies of All Time That Are Certified Larger Than Life

10. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1967)

With the backdrop of the Civil War, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is already pretty epic by default — but it only gets better. Three bounty hunters have to forge an uneasy alliance to find stolen gold before their competitor does, but they don’t trust each other and anyone else. High stakes, high tension, and pure adrenaline.

You can watch The Good, the Bad and the Ugly on Apple TV and Prime Video.

9. The Godfather (1972)

The first movie in Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic trilogy, The Godfather is often dubbed the best gangster movie in history, and that might just be right. Post-WWII America is still largely ruled by the mafia, and the wise and cunning Godfather leads one of them through tumultuous times as he prepares a transfer of power in the family.

You can watch The Godfather on Netflix and Prime Video.

8. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

Out of the entire Star Wars saga, A New Hope is arguably the best and most beloved movie, so we had to go with it. In Episode IV, Luke Skywalker is saved by Obi-Wan and decides to join the Jedi Order himself. They are joined by Han Solo on their quest to save Princess Leia and confront Darth Vader. This one’s pure epic!

You can watch Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope on Disney Plus and Prime Video.

7. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

All Indiana Jones movies are indescribably epic, but Raiders of the Lost Ark?.. Can you come up with one thing more epic than a whip-wielding Harrison Ford racing secret Nazi agents to reach the Ark of the Covenant before them on the dangerous mission from the US government to protect its unique powers? Thought so.

You can watch Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark on Netflix, Disney Plus, and Prime Video.

6. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

The first Terminator is a golden classic, but Terminator 2 is a double classic. After all, it’s the installment where Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic character clashes with an nearly-indestructible shapeshifting T-1000 to save Sarah Connor’s son John who’s destined to lead the Resistance to victory in the future! What’s not to love here?

You can watch Terminator 2: Judgment Day on Netflix, Apple TV, and Prime Video.

5. Jurassic Park (1993)

Since we’re talking about the most epic movies of all time, let’s just admit: there’s nothing more epic than giant bloodthirsty lizards in their (un)natural habitat. Jurassic Park made dinosaurs popular again, and for a reason — watching those terrifying beasts hunt down their human prey in an experiment gone wrong is thrilling.

You can watch Jurassic Park on Netflix and Prime Video.

4. The Matrix ( 1999)

Okay, you got us! There are some things that are at least comparable to dinosaurs in their epicness, and all-powerful Keanu Reeves fighting against the crooked system exploiting humanity in an unprecedented battle for our kind’s future is totally one of them. The Matrix birthed dozens of cheap rip-offs but none rivaled its success.

You can watch The Matrix on Max, Netflix, and Prime Video.

3. Gladiator ( 2000)

Thanks to the Internet, everyone now knows that every self-respecting man thinks about the Roman Empire at least once per day. That could have been the explanation for Gladiator’s overwhelming popularity, but the truth is even simpler: it’s just an amazing and thoroughly epic movie that’s a must-watch for every Roman dreamer.

You can watch Gladiator on Netflix and Prime Video.

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Out of all the franchises and movies we’ve mentioned, The Lord of the Rings is the only one that’s actually a synonym to “epic.” But it’s The Return of the King that wins the day, featuring the greatest battle we’ve seen in Middle-Earth by far and allowing Aragorn to truly shine. Queue the director’s cut, we can’t wait any longer!

You can watch The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on Max, Netflix, and Prime Video.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)

The only superhero movie on our list, The Dark Knight is among the most grounded, gritty, and hopeless portrayals of the Caped Crusader’s story by far. Largely aided by Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as Joker, The Dark Knight is rightfully one of the most epic movies of all time, and it only gets better and grander with every rewatch.

You can watch The Dark Knight on Max, Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.