130 movies recommended by genre that you can't miss

Enjoying a movie is always a good plan. But searching for a film can sometimes turn into a real odyssey. Are you more of a comedy or a drama? Fantasy or action? Are you fascinated by horror movies or do you prefer to enjoy a good romantic movie?

Cinema, like everything in life, is a matter of taste. So here is a list of 130 Recommended Movies, of all time and classified by genre that you should not miss.

Drama movies

1. Bicycle Thief (1948)

Direction: Vittorio De Sica

Bicycle thief (or Bicycle thieves) is one of the best films of neorealism and a jewel of world cinema. It tells the story of Antonio Ricci, an unemployed man in post-war Rome who tries to earn a living by hanging movie posters.

In order to carry out his work, he buys a bicycle but, soon, it is stolen from him. Afterwards, he tries to get her back and travels the city with his little boy's son. Then one of the most beautiful parental relationships in cinema is shown, a truly moving and emotional story.

2. The 400 blows (1959)

Direction: François Truffaut

This childhood film is a landmark of the French nouvelle vague. Antoine Doinel is a young teenager who has to deal with the marital problems of his parents. To this is also added the bad relationship he has with his teacher. One day, he decides to run away from school with his friend and discovers that his mother is unfaithful.

Antoine wishes to escape from the situation that he lives and begins to rebel against the established norms. But, beyond all that, the young man has a dream: to know the sea.

3. The Godfather (1972)

Direction: Francis Ford Coppola

It is one of the great movies of American cinema and a relic of the 70s. It is based on the homonymous novel by Mario Puzo and stars Marlon Brando and Al Pacino.

His plot revolves around the Corleone family. Don Vito is the father, he is also a mobster and one of the most feared types in organized crime. Michael Corleone, the youngest son, returns after World War II and tries to stay out of the family business. However, the impending death of his father forces him to take the path of revenge.

4. Taxi Driver (1976)

Direction: Martin Scorsese

Taxi driver is a story of a man immersed in an existential crisis who tries to fight in a chaotic and unjust society.

In the 1970s, after the Vietnam War, former Marine Travis Bickle tries to move on with his life in New York. The protagonist is unable to integrate into society and therefore makes a living as a night taxi driver. His eyes guess every night the cruelties that occurred on the streets of New York.

5. Cinema Paradiso (1988)

Direction: Giuseppe Tornatore

What was there before the proliferation of television? cinema Paradiso is a nostalgic story that recalls those days when the cinema was a meeting place. Salvatore is a boy who lives in a small Italian town and discovers his passion for cinema thanks to Alfredo, a designer. The young man helps Alfredo with his work when he becomes blind and at the same time discovers the ins and outs behind each film.

cinema Paradiso it is a film that awakens melancholy about childhood, but also about a time when cinema was magical, the only remedy capable of disguising reality, for a moment.

6. Forrest Gump (1994)

Direction: Robert Zemeckis

Forrest Gump is a portrait of American history, from the 1950s to the 1980s, through the gaze of a man who has an IQ of 75. Forrest Gump is a simple man who has lived through the most important events of the 20th century and who has managed to overcome adversity. At the same time, he remembers Jenny, his great love.

7. Fight Club (1999)

Direction: David Fincher

The fight Club or Fight club It is based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk. It is a harsh criticism of the consumer society, loaded with individualistic people who seem have it all but, as happens to the protagonist, in reality, they have a completely empty.

Edward Norton is an office worker who suffers from insomnia and attends support meetings. Everything changes when he meets Tyler, a soap salesman who will lead him into the world of wrestling and with whom he will found a club where attendees can vent his anger.

It is a disturbing and reflective film about the society that surrounds us that occupies an essential place within cult cinema.

You may also like: Fight Club Movie

8. City of God (2002)

Direction: Fernando Meirelles

This moving film is based on a true story and is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Brazilian author Paulo Lins.

While some children dream of becoming the most feared criminals, Buscapé, the protagonist of this story, wishes to have a future as a photographer. However, he lives in Ciudad de Dios, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro where drugs and violence dominate the streets.

You may also like: Film City of God by Fernando Meirelles

9. In search of happiness (2006)

Direction: Gabriele muccino

Looking for happiness is an emotional film that encourages the importance of not losing hope and fighting for dreams. Also remember that you have to know how to appreciate the little moments in life.

It tells the story of Chris Garder, a man whose work does not help him meet his basic needs or those of his son. One day they are evicted and have no choice but to wander without a stable place and try to overcome adversity.

10. The Green Bicycle (2012)

Direction: Haifaa al- Mansour

The green bicycle or The dream of Wadjda is the story of a ten-year-old girl who wishes she had a green bicycle. Apparently, it is a simple aspiration however, the young woman she lives in a society in which women are prohibited from cycling. Despite this, Wadjda does not give up.

It is not only a story of overcoming, but also the debut of Haifaa al-Mansour, the first female director of Saudi cinema.

11. Twelve Years a Slave (2013)

Direction: Steve McQueen

This movie is perhaps one of the hardest on the subject of slavery. The film is based on real events and revolves around Solomon Northup, a black man who works as a violinist in New York. One day he is drugged, kidnapped and sold as a slave. Despite his ordeal, Solomon struggles every day for twelve years for freedom and for survival in the hope of seeing his family again.

Musical movies

12. Wizard of Oz (1939)

Direction: Victor fleming

This film is an adaptation of the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz of. Frank Baum. It is a classic within the musical genre and was one of the most acclaimed films at Christmas. A very young Judy Garland consecrated her career playing Dorothy Gale, a girl from Kansas who wants to go "beyond the rainbow." One day she is swept away by a tornado with her dog Toto de ella to the world of Oz.

13. Singing in the Rain (1952)

Direction: Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly

It is difficult for this film to get off the podium of its genre. And it is that, at the same time that its plot narrates the birth of talkies, it offers a great variety of musical numbers that convey joy and fun.

Contextualized in 1927, Don Lockwood is a famous actor in silent movies. With the premiere of The jazz singer (the first talkies movie) its filming is canceled. The only possibility for the film to be released is for his voices to be dubbed. He then meets Kathy, a young woman who will voice her partner Lina Lamont.

14. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

Direction: Jacques demy

This French film accompanies its dramatic plot with a good dose of music and dance. In it, the dialogues are completely musicalized.

Catherine Deneuve plays Geneviève, a girl who falls in love with a young mechanic named Guy. Although the young woman's mother does not welcome this relationship, the couple plan to spend the rest of their lives together. Soon, Guy has to go to war and Geneviève discovers that she is pregnant.

15. Mary Poppins (1964)

Direction: Robert Stevenson

Mary Poppins It has become a classic of the musical genre to watch as a family. A young Julie Andrews debuted in one of the highest-grossing films of her time, playing Mary Poppins, a governess every child wishes they had. He is able to fly just by unfolding his umbrella and countless objects come out of his bag. A film that contains catchy musical numbers that are still hummed even today.

16. Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Direction: Jonh Badham

Jonh Travolta's movements in Saturday Fevernight they have remained for posterity. Even today, some dare to imitate it. In a disco atmosphere Tony Manero (Travolta), a young man who works in a paint store, enjoys the New York night to the rhythm of music causing a sensation wherever he goes.

17. Grease (1978)

Direction: Randar Kleiser

Who has not ever heard the famous song Greased lightinin and immediately John Travolta appears in his head. Or, perhaps, has he ever tried to imitate the scene from Grease to the rhythm of You´re The One That I Want. The melodies of this film have been able to cross any generational barrier. Based on a Broadway musical and starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-Jonh, this musical gem from the late 1970s still reminds some of the sweet taste of adolescence.

18. Fame (1980)

Direction: Alan parker

This tape welcomed the decade of the 80 with a good handful of musical numbers. It tells the life of some young people who dream of succeeding in the world of dance and music while studying at an academy in New York.

One of the most representative musical themes of him is Fame, played by Irene Cara, which managed to establish itself in the charts and win an Oscar for best original song.

19. Dirty Dancing (1987)

Direction: Emile ardolino

Dirty dancing It is one of the imperishable musicals of the 80s. It is based on the 1960s and stars Patrick Swayze, who played a dance teacher, and Jennifer Gray, who gave life to Baby a young teenager who is on vacation with her family. The two meet and fall in love to the rhythm of classics from the 60s, which returned to the charts two decades later thanks to the film.

20. Dance in the Dark (2000)

Direction: Lars Von Trier

"I like to think of life as a musical, because in musicals, nothing bad happens."

This phrase is the synthesis of the film that completes the "Golden Heart" trilogy by Lars Von Trier. Dance in the dark It is the perfect musical for those who love dramatic cinema. It tells the life of Selma, an immigrant and mother of a child, who is about to go blind. So music becomes her only way of salvation. It is a really beautiful and exciting movie.

21. Moulin Rouge (2001)

Direction: Baz Luhrmann

Moulin rouge revived the musical genre at the beginning of the 21st century. Based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, the film is set in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century and tells a tragic love story between Christian, a poet, and Satine the star of the Moulin cabaret Rouge. The film is worth it for its brilliant soundtrack, which includes themes by Bowie and Elton John, among others. Also for the sublime performance of Nicole Kidman.

22. Les miserables (2012)

Direction: Tom hooper

It is a film adaptation of the Claude-Michael Schönberg and Alain Boublil musical of the same name, inspired by The Miserables by Víctor Hugo.

23. La La Land (2016)

Direction: Damien chazelle

What if an unexpected person crosses the path that leads to your dreams? What happens when you have achieved your goal? What is more important, love or personal aspirations?

La La Land highlights these reflections. To the rhythm of music and dance, the story of Sebastian, a jazz musician, and Mia, a young actress, emerges. They both aspire to reach the top of their careers the moment their destinies intersect and they fall in love.

Animation movies

24. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Direction: Hayao Miyazaki

This Japanese animation film from the 80s shows the sweetest taste of childhood but also the most bitter. Childhood is synonymous with exploration, adventure and discovery. But, unfortunately, there are also hard things to deal with as it happens with the protagonists of this story. Satsuki and Mei are two sisters who have to cope with their mother's illness. Luckily, Totoro appears in their lives to become his most faithful friend.

25. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Direction: Isao Takahata

It is one of the most emotional films of Studio Ghilbi. One more proof that animation is not incompatible with telling deep and emotional stories. The fireflies's grave is a classic of Japanese animation cinema that is contextualized in the Second World War. It tells the story of two brothers who are orphaned after a bombing and try to survive in the world without a fixed course.

26. The Lion King (1994)

"The Cycle of Life" is the basis of this moving animation full of action and adventure. Simba is a small lion who aspires to the throne of the African savannah, since his father, Mufasa, is the king. But, things get complicated when the ambitious Scar kills Mufasa. One of the most representative teachings of this film is reduced to two words "Hakuna Matata" or, what is the same: "do not worry, be happy".

27. Tetralogy from Toy Story (1995, 1999, 2010, 2019)

The first movie of Toy story It emerged in the mid-90s and came to revolutionize the world of animation. He also managed to enter the homes of many children who grew up with Andy, a 6-year-old boy, and his countless toys. Among them are Woody, Andy's favorite cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear, a revolutionary superhero. In Toy Story, toys are the protagonists of different adventures in which they continually reveal the value of friendship.

28. Shrek (2001)

Direction: Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson

Shrek is an ogre who lives alone until one day story characters begin to appear in his life. Among them, a talking donkey or the three little pigs. Sreck is on a mission to save Princess Fiona, who lives in a castle under the watchful eye of a dragon. It is an entertaining and fun film that has become a must-see film, especially with the family.

29. Corpse Bride (2005)

Direction: Tim Burton

Corpse Bride or ANDl corpse bride It is a mandatory animation for those who want to know the great gems of Tim Burton's cinema. The story is set in the Victorian Era and revolves around Victor, a young pianist who mistakenly marries a dead woman when he is about to marry the aristocrat Victory.

30. Ratatuille (2007)

Direction: Brad Bird

Ratatuille He teaches us that we must fight for dreams, no matter how ambitious they may seem.

Remy is a rat who wishes to become a chef, despite her family's refusal. She will soon begin a journey through the Parisian subsoil that will take her to one of the most famous restaurants in the French capital. There he will make his dream his profession and it will become a milestone in the kitchen.

31. Up (2009)

Direction: Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

This film leaves us teaching that we must dream as children and that there is no age limit that prevents us from achieving our goals.

Carl is an old man who sees his lifelong wish fulfilled, to travel to South America. To do this, he ties helium-filled balloons to his house, in order to be able to fly. When his adventure begins, he discovers that Russell, an endearing 8-year-old boy, will also accompany him in his feat.

32. Coraline's Worlds (2009)

What if just walking through a door could change the world around you? Coraline, the protagonist of this film, is able to enter a different reality just by crossing a secret door inside her new home. This new parallel world is an enhanced representation of her life.

33. Brave (2009)

This film breaks the patterns and stereotypes so ingrained in Disney films. The goal of Merida, the daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor, is not to wait for her prince charming. Mérida, more than a princess, is synonymous with equality and courage for breaking with the traditional and established.

34. Coco (2017)

Coconut revolves around Miguel, a boy who wants to become a musician. However, in his family they don't even want to hear the word music. On the day of the dead, a traditional Mexican celebration, Miguel accidentally wanders into “the earth of the dead ”where he will meet his ancestors and discover some details of their history family.

The film, which is a teaching in itself, not only reveals to us the deep-rooted traditions in Mexico, where the contextualizes the film, but also teaches us that with persistence and constancy we can make our dreams

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Comedy movies

35. Brian's Life (1979)

Direction: Terry Jones

Brian's life It is a mandatory tape to meet the Monty Python, geniuses of English humor. It tells the story of Brian, a man who is born on the same day as Jesus Christ and is often mistaken for him. It is a very funny movie and a masterpiece of the genre.

36. Top Secret! (1984)

Direction: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker

This 1980s commercial hit is a satire on spy movies. The film revolves around Nick Rivers, a rock singer with the same flair as Elvis Presley who travels to East Germany to attend a festival. What he does not know is that he will be involved in an international operation that aims to unite the two Germanies.

37. Dawn, which is not little (1989)

Direction: Jose Luis Cuerda

In the purest cinematographic style of José Luis Cuerda, the absurd character prevails in this film. It is a film full of surreal humor in the form of verbal and visual gags that has the ability to conquer anyone who has the opportunity to see it.

Antonio Resines plays Teodoro, a university professor who returns to Spain for a vacation. There he discovers that his father has killed his mother. Then father and son begin a journey in a sidecar that takes them to a town full of very particular characters.

38. The mask (1994)

Direction: Chuck russell

One of the films Jim Carrey has been most revered for in his comedy roles. In it he plays a bank worker unable to confront someone. After a hard day, he dons a mask to transform into Loki, then his malice appears.

39. Something About Mary (1998)

Direction: Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly

Something happens with Mary or Crazy about mary It is the mythical comedy of the nineties. Although from the point of view of the plot it stands out for its simplicity, it is a film full of good humor and full of jokes that seek easy laughter.

40. American pie (1999)

Direction: Paul and Chris Weitz

American pie is a must for fans of absurd humor. The film was successful in its premiere and, consequently, a saga made up of a total of eight tapes appeared. Specifically, this tour around the lives of young Americans who are obsessed with losing their virginity. Highlights of American pie it is that it achieves its mission: to get the laugh of the spectator.

41. Scary Movie (2000)

Direction: Keenen Ivory Wayans

There is no better way to lessen your fear than to poke fun at horror movies. Scary movie It is already a successful saga that takes to the extreme the parody on the scenes of the most successful horror films of the time. It's great for reliving terrifying fragments and having a good time at the same time.

42. Her Parents (2000)

Direction: Jay Roach

Her parents is a pleasant, agile and entertaining comedy that parodies the relationships between in-laws and son-in-law. Ben Stiller plays Greg Focker, a male nurse who is going to spend a few days with the parents of his fiancée. What he doesn't know is that his future father-in-law will become his worst enemy.

43. Borat (2006)

Direction: Larry charles

Borat is a film to enjoy with friends and ensure a laugh. Sacha Baron Cohen plays a reporter from Kazakhstan who travels to the United States on a mission to make a documentary. It is a portrait of American society full of humor and satire.

44. Wild Tales (2014)

Direction: Damien Szifrón

Wild tales It is a film comprised of six self-concluding episodes, all united by the violent nature with which its characters resolve their difficulties. The stories are endowed with intelligent humor and all of them lead to crazy endings.

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Fantastic Movies

45. The Neverending Story (1984)

Direction: Wolfgang Petersen

The endless story or The endless story it marked entire generations and became a milestone in fantasy cinema. A boy named Bastian finds in a bookstore a book entitled "The Neverending Story", which recounts the destruction of the Kingdom of Fantasy. He soon becomes immersed in reading and discovers that he is the one who must save the fantasy world.

46. Inside the Labyrinth (1986)

Direction: Jim Helson

David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly star in this fantastic film that explores the world of dreams and remembers that we were all children once, also that that child remains our whole life somewhere U.S.

The protagonist, Sarah, sets out on a journey through a maze on a mission to rescue her kidnapped little brother.

47. Eduardo Scissorhands (1990)

Direction: Tim Burton

Also known as The young scissorhands, this fantastic movie is timeless. A jewel of one of the best fantastic film directors.

It revolves around a grandmother who tells her granddaughter the story of Eduardo Scissorhands, a young product of the creation of an inventor who died and could not finish her work. So, Eduardo was left with his hands full of blades. One day he meets a young woman with whom he falls in love. However, her love will be affected because the neighbors consider Eduardo to be dangerous.

It is a moving story that conveys such important values ​​as tolerance and diversity.

48. Jumanji (1995)

Direction: Joe johnston

Can you imagine getting caught up in a board game? This is the premise of this film based on a children's story by Chris Val Allsburg, which surprised at its premiere for the special effects. The protagonist, played by Robin Williams, is immersed in a board game called Jumanji, to get out of it he must overcome different challenges.

49. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)

Direction: Peter jackson

It is made up of the movies The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). Straddling adventure and fantasy, these films, based on the book by J.R. R. Tolkien, are one of the most powerful film projects of their genre.

Frodo, its protagonist, has the mission to destroy the One Ring to prevent the slavery of Middle-earth. However, he will have to face Sauron, who tracks him down to prevent his mission.

50. Harry Potter film series (2001-2011)

Direction: Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates

A total of eight films, based on seven novels by writer J.K. Rowling, they watched an entire generation of children impatient for the arrival of a new title, also its protagonists: Harry, Ron and Hermione. It was a whole social and cultural phenomenon that is still latent today. Who wouldn't want to go to a magic school like Hogwarts? The reality is that Harry Potter goes far beyond magic, it is a saga with great teachings and values.

51. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Direction: Guillermo del Toro

The Pan's Labyrinth It is a good example of how to make a cruel event in history, such as the Spanish post-war period, a fantasy tale.

Set in 1944, the film tells the story of Ofelia, a girl who lives with her mother, who is pregnant, and her husband, a captain of the Francoist army who treats her with contempt.

One day he discovers a labyrinth near his house and there he meets a faun. This strange being tells Ofelia that she is the princess of her last line and must return to her kingdom. To do this, the young woman will have to pass a series of tests that will guide her, mysteriously, through a fantasy world.

52. A monster is coming to see me (2016)

Direction: Juan Antonio Bayona

It is an adaptation of the homonymous novel by Patrick Ness. Childhood is the main theme of this film which shows that not all stories have a happy ending. Connor is a 12-year-old boy who has to face his mother's illness. To face his fears and his internal ghosts, as a child he takes refuge in his imagination and in painting.

One day he draws a monster based on a tree in the garden. Soon, the creature comes to life to help Connor understand the cruelty of life.

A monster comes to see me is, without a doubt, an emotional, dramatic film that makes it impossible to hold back tears.

You can also read: The 33 best fantasy films of the 21st century

Science fiction movies

53. Metropolis (1927)

Direction: Fritz lang

Although its premiere failed miserably, Metropolis It is one of the must-see films of the science fiction genre. It is considered a memory of the world by UNESCO and is one of the great jewels of German expressionism. It is a futuristic story that imagines the world of the 21st century, serving a large city where there is the division of classes, rich and workers, and alignment at work.

54. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Direction: Stanley kubrick

The film that revolutionized the science fiction genre within the cinematographic medium. It is a poetic and philosophical work that highlights the development of humanity. The abstract message of the film, together with the predominance of the image over dialogue, are two of the reasons that make the viewer remain attentive to the screen at all times in search of answers. Precisely the intention of Kubrick with this film was that the public could draw their own conclusions.

You may also like: Movie 2001: Stanley Kubrick's Space Odyssey

55. Alien the Eighth Passenger (1979)

Direction: Ridley scott

Alien perfectly combines horror and science fiction, which makes it an unmissable film. "In space no one can hear you scream", this was the slogan of a saga that he gave to scream and shudder. The adventure begins with a trip on the Nostromo ship, where seven crew members discover a signal from an abandoned alien ship, then they will have to find out what it is.

56. E.T. the alien (1982)

Direction: Steven Spielberg

It is a science fiction classic from the eighties recommended for the whole family that is a nod to childhood. It also covers the theory of the possibility of extraterrestrial life. He revolves around Elliot, a boy who tries to protect a small alien, which has been abandoned on planet Earth. Soon he begins to teach him the customs of the human being, at the same time, he tries to protect him from those who try to experiment with him.

57. Blade runner (1982)

Direction: Ridley scott

Based on the novel by Philip K. Dick published in 1968 Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The film was not well received upon release, however it was later recognized as a masterpiece of the genre. It is a dystopia contextualized in Los Angeles in 2019, where Rick Declard, a police officer will try to stop some androids posing as humans. But, without realizing it, she ends up falling in love with Young, one of them. The film is full of symbolism while drinking from the film noir of the 40s.

58. Terminator (1984)

Direction: James Cameron

It starts from the premise of man versus machine and is structured in the form of a circular narrative. In 2029 the world is dominated by machines and humans, led by John Connor, try to fight them. However, the machines send the Terminator, a robot, to the past to try to kill the mother of the human leader and thus prevent him from being born.

59. Back to the Future (1985)

A story about machines and time travel. Doc is a scientist who invents an artifact that allows time travel. Young McFly, his friend, is transported to 1955 when his parents still did not know each other. Will he manage to unite his parents so that his birth is possible?

60. Matrix (1999)

Direction: Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski

Matrix It is the quintessential science fiction film that made the 90s, an enduring classic of the genre.

What if the world was a virtual reality show? That is real? What is the virtual world? Are we dominated by machines? All these questions are contained in this tape. Neo is a hacker that one day he is entrusted to a strange mission, then he discovers that the world in which he lives is not as he believed.

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61. Origin (2010)

Direction: Christopher Nolan

What if there was the possibility of being able to penetrate the subconscious of people to obtain their most hidden secrets?

This is the premise with which Christopher Nolan dazzled fans of the genre. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Cobb, a spy who specializes in penetrating someone else's subconscious to implant an idea and thus alter events. His mission is to implant an idea in the mind of Robert Fisher Jr, the son of a tycoon, in exchange for reuniting with his children.

You may also like:

• Inception movie by Christopher Nolan
• Science fiction movies

Adventure movies

62. Sullivan's Travels (1941)

Direction: Preston sturges

Sullivan's Travels it is a mix of comedy and adventure. The feat of the protagonist, Sullivan, a film director tired of making comedy films, begins when he decides to change genre to experiment. Then, he travels the country pretending that he is a vagabond in order to know the misery and thus be able to project it in a dramatic film.

63. The African Queen (1951)

Direction: Jonh Huston

Starring Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, The queen of africa over the years it has become an adventure film classic. In a warlike context (World War I), a captain named Charlie and Rose Sayer, a missionary, will try to escape from the German troops.

64. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Direction: David lean

It is based on the life of the British military officer and officer T.E. Lawrence. It is one of the most brilliant and ambitious films of all time. That is why it becomes a mandatory film within the adventure genre. Its worldwide recognition is due especially to its script, its soundtrack and its masterful photography.

65. Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Direction: Steven Spielberg

Action, emotion and adventure come together with the sublime performance of Harrison Ford to create a film capable of penetrating audiences generation after generation. Follow the adventures of Indiana Jones, an archeology professor with an adventurous spirit, who is always in search of great treasures and valuable objects. One day he is tasked with finding the Ark of the Covenant (the chest of Moses).

66. The goonies (1985)

Direction: Richard Donner

It is one of the quintessential adventure films of the 80s. The goonies It is the film that marked the childhood of many children. The adventurous spirit of Mike, a thirteen-year-old boy, leads him to immerse himself in an incredible feat. The young man finds a 17th century map in the attic of his house. So he sets out on a journey with his gang, who call themselves "the Gonnies," in search of a lost treasure.

67. Count on Me (1986)

Direction: Rob reiner

Count on me It is based on the novel The body by Stephen King. Despite this, the story has nothing to do with terror. Rather, it is a tribute to childhood friendship. In the summer of 1959, in a town in Oregon, four children try to investigate a crime. During their adventure, the fears of each one of them surface and they also discover the value of friendship.

68. Shipwrecked (2000)

Direction: Robert Zemeckis

What would you do if you were alone on a desert island? Chuck Noland, played by Tom Hanks, is an executive who has it all. After a plane crash he is completely alone on an island in the middle of the ocean. His only goal is to survive and for this he has to face loneliness.

69. Life of Pi (2012)

Direction: Ang lee

This film is loaded with vital lessons, especially through its dialogue. It revolves around a young man named Pi Patel, who after a shipwreck tries to survive in a lifeboat. His only companion is a tiger with whom he forms a very special bond during his adventure.

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War movies

70. Quiet on the Front (1930)

Direction: Lewis milestone

Based on the book by Erich Maria Remarque, this film describes the tragedy of the First World War through the eyes of a young man enlisting to fight on the front lines eager to defend his homeland. As the film progresses the illusion of him declines to the horror that he perceives around him.

71. Gone with the Wind (1939)

Direction: Victor Fleming and George Cukor

Based on Margaret Mitchell's best seller of the same name, gone With the Wind is set in the Civil War. It is one of the longest films in the history of cinema that perfectly combines cinema romantic, warlike and epic, which make it one of the great cinematographic references of the twentieth century.

72. Rome, the open city (1945)

Direction: Roberto Rossellini

It is the first and one of the great works of Italian neorealism. This film is contextualized in the Second World War. Of choral protagonism and shot with non-professional actors, it tries to be a chronicle of a city in ruins, of the hunger and misery of the people who live there.

73. Paths of Glory (1957)

Direction: Stanley kubrick

This film is framed in the First World War and is one of the most ambitious productions of a young Stanley Kubrick. Two generals order their men to change their positions at the front and attack the German army. It is a tactless film that does not hide the horrors of the contest, thereby it manages to arouse the outrage of the public.

74. The Longest Day (1962)

Direction: Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki

Inspired by Cornelius Ryan's novel of the same name, The Longest Day tries to recreate the Normandy landing.

75. Ivan's childhood (1962)

Direction: Andrei Tarkovsky

Tarkovsky's first successful film that focuses its attention on the horrors of war poetically and from a child's point of view. Ivan is a young man who has lost his parents during World War II and is engaged in espionage work for the Germans.

76. Apocalypse Now (1979)

Direction: Francis Ford Coppola

In the context of the Vietnam War Captain Williard is tasked with finding and eliminating Colonel Kurtz.

Apocalypse Now it is a war epic of obligatory viewing. This film is impressive in many ways, from its frenetic sound that immediately immerses the viewer in a hostile environment, to its narration or its masterful cinematographic technique.

77. The Metallic Jacket (1987)

Direction: Stanley Kubrick

Also known as Born to Kill Y War face, the film is based on the autobiographical novel The Short- Timers by Gustav Hasford. Kubrick tries to reflect the hidden face of the Vietnam conflict by narrating aspects never told in any other film. On the one hand it narrates the hard training that the Marines undergo before the conflict. On the other hand, it shows the reality of these soldiers at the front.

78. Schindler's List (1993)

Direction: Steven Spielberg

Black and white photography and lighting are capable of transporting the viewer to the terror of the holocaust.

It tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a man who dominates business and wants to win the trust of the Nazis. When Poland is invaded by the Germans, it opens a factory in Krakow. There he gives work to Jews whose lives he saves.

79. Life is beautiful (1997)

Direction: Roberto Benigni

At the dawn of World War II, Guido is interned with his son and his wife in an extermination camp. Despite the harshness of the situation, the father tries to make the child think that everything is a game, although the reality is atrocious. The film, while uncovering one of the darkest moments in history, launches a message of struggle in the face of adversity and the cruelty of life.

80. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Direction: Steven Spielberg

Also titled as Saving Private Ryan, this movie will always be remembered for the Omaha Beach scene that recreates the Normandy landing. The context is World War II, Captain John Miller and his soldiers have a mission: to find Ryan, a missing soldier.

81. In hostile land (2008)

Direction: Kathryn bigelow

the hurt Locker it was a highly revered film in the year it was released and won countless accolades. It is a film set in the Iraq war, however, the conflict itself is treated from the point of view of its protagonists, a group of soldiers who are experts in defusing bombs. Bigelow emphasizes describing how a war conflict can affect the human being psychologically.

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Love or romantic movies

82. Casablanca (1942)

Direction: Michael Curtiz

It is a classic of romantic cinema of all time. Starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, who play Rick Blaine, an American exiled owner of Rick's Cafe in Casablanca, and Ilsa, the wife of a fugitive from the Gestapo. Casablanca will be the meeting place for Ilsa and Rick, who were lovers in the past. From this tape the phrase "we will always have Paris" remains for posterity.

83. Roman Holiday (1953)

Direction: William wyler

This tape saw the birth of the great Audrey Hepburn. By way of story, Ann is a princess who is tired of her formal obligations and restrictions. One night she decides to escape from the palace to visit the city of Rome and tries to go unnoticed. Along the way she meets Joe, a young journalist who pretends to ignore her to find useful information to boost her career. However, as they walk the streets of the city, feelings arise between them.

84. Ghost, Beyond Love (1990)

Direction: Jerry zucker

This 1990s melodrama, starring a young Dami Moore and Patrick Swayze, shocked audiences at its premiere and decades afterward as well. It tells an idyllic love story that is interrupted by the death of him, who is murdered by a thief. However, the young man does not disappear since he can communicate with his beloved through a seer.

85. The Bridges of Madison (1995)

Direction: Clint eastwood

The bridges of Madison, starring two greats of the cinema as Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, is one of those stories that stir feelings and arouse easy tears. Francesca Johnson lives on a farm with her family in Madison. One day photographer Robert Kincaid comes to town to photograph his bridges. Soon they meet and love arises between them.

86. Lovers of the Arctic Circle (1998)

Direction: Julio Médem

Is there a time limit for love? Is there everlasting love? How can a childhood sweetheart survive the passage of time?

This cinematographic work by Julio Médem is able to remain in time, and in the memory of the most romantic, such as the sentimental history of his characters. Anna and Otto are two young people who meet and fall in love when they are 8 years old. Her love story stretches into adulthood.

87. Notting Hill (1999)

Direction: Roger michell

What if you meet one of your platonic loves at your workplace? The film that popularized the London neighborhood with the same name starts from a simple story: the owner of a small bookstore meets Anna Scott by chance, a promise of cinema. Then her life takes an unexpected turn when he has to deal with her fame and debate between a quiet life or the love he feels for the young woman.

88. Noa's Diary (2004)

Direction: Nick cassavetes

What would you do if the love of your life, due to illness, completely forgot an intense love story? The elderly James Garner decides to read Gena Rowlands, suffering from Alzheimer's, the love story between Noah and Allie, two teenagers who fell in love in the 1940s and faced a number of obstacles, including their social differences and war.

89. Eternal Radiance of a Memoryless Mind (2004)

Direction: Michael gondry

Is it possible to erase from our memory the moments that we have lived with a person?

Forget about me! or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind It is a film classified as cult cinema within the romantic genre that offers the viewer this reflection. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet give life to the protagonists of this film, Joel and Clementine, respectively.

Clementine decides to erase from her memory the memories of her relationship with Joel. When he finds out, he gets in touch with the creator of the process so they can delete them as well. However, the memory leak will only make them fall in love again.

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90. The Life of Adèle (2013)

Direction: Abdellatif Kechiche

The life of Adele is the love story between two women. Adele is a young teenager who discovers that she likes women. When he meets Emma, ​​he falls madly in love with her and experiences "true love" as he walks the path to maturity. A captivating film that tries to avoid taboos about adolescence and sexuality, while showing the intensity of first love.

91. The Shape of Water (2017)

Direction: Guillermo del Toro

The shape of water is a love story set in a fantasy world. Elisa is a mute young woman who works as a cleaner in a US government laboratory. One day, she discovers a strange creature, with which scientists are experimenting. When she discovers that she can communicate with this amphibian, her love for him begins to emerge.

It is a film that shows that love has no borders. It is possible to love beyond the established canons, it is also viable to love "what is different".

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Thriller movies

92. Vertigo (1958)

Direction: Alfred Hichcock

For many it is the best film of its director. Vertigo is, without a doubt, one of the most imitated and honored films in cinema. It is also essential for big fans of the psychological thriller.

James Stewart plays Scottie Fergusson, a policeman who suffers from a phobia of heights and decides to withdraw from the body after witnessing the death of one of his companions.

Later, one of his friends hires him as a private detective to watch over his wife, a task that takes him down a more complicated path than it seems.

93. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Direction: Jonathan Demme

Also titled The Silence of the Innocents, this film is an adaptation of the best seller by Thomas Harris. It is an overwhelming film that revolves around the investigation that Clare Starling, an aspiring FBI, carries out on "Buffalo Bill" a murderer who rips the skin of his victims.

To do this, Clare goes into a high security prison to deal with Dr. Hannibal, played in a magnificent by Anthony Hopkins, a psychoanalyst and murderer, in order to fully understand the mind of a psychopath.

94. Memento (2000)

Direction: Christopher Nolan

What if we couldn't store new memories? What is the importance of memory?

What Nolan proposes in this film is to reflect on questions like these. Also, she plays with the chronological order of the scenes. In this way, it forces the public to be attentive to every detail.

Leonard is an insurance agent who only remembers the murder of his wife and wants to avenge her death. To achieve her goal, she has to use photographs and tattoos on her body.

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95. Mulholland Drive (2001)

Direction: David lynch

David Lynch once again captures the dream world in this film that involves a continuous reflection on what is real and what is not. Confusion and intrigue make up the highlight of this thriller.

The young Betty Elms wants to be an actress, so she travels to Los Angeles with the intention of making her dream come true and becoming a movie star. Her life changes when she meets a mysterious woman named Rita, who suffers from amnesia.

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96. Butterfly Effect (2004)

Direction: Eric Bress and J. Mackye gruber

What if we could alter the events of the past to avoid a painful event?

This film raises this possibility and reflects on time travel. Its protagonist, Evan Treborn had a painful childhood. Thanks to a trip in time, he can return to his “self” as a child and change events. However, any alteration could change your future.

97. The Secret in His Eyes (2009)

Direction: Juan Jose Campanella

The secret of their eyes, starring Ricardo Darín, drinks from thriller and drama. In it, Darín plays a court official who has just retired and wants to write a novel about an event that marked his life twenty-five years ago. In search of him she also rekindles the ashes of an old love from the past.

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98. Shutter Island (2010)

Direction: Martin Scorsese

Shutter Island or The sinister island is a psychological thriller based on the novel by Dennis Lehane. Set in 1954, this film reveals the mysteries hidden on an island located in the port of Boston. Teddy Daniels, played by DiCaprio, and Chuck Aule are two agents sent to the island to investigate the suspected disappearance of a murderer.

99. Joker (2019)

Direction: Todd Phillips

It is one of the most critically and publicly acclaimed films of 2019, but also one of the most criticized and controversial.

Phoenix plays the villain Batman here. Arthur Fleck is a clown who has a mental illness and lives with his sick mother. His main motivation is to make people laugh and he dreams of being a comedian and having a large audience. However, society will not make it easy for him.

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Horror movies

100. Psychosis (1960)

Direction: Alfred Hitchcock

It is one of the most famous horror films in the history of cinema. The master of cinematic suspense sublimely combines tension, horror and intrigue in this film.

Despite the passage of time, she continues to retain the "surprise effect" on the viewer, who does not know what is going to happen at all times. The scene of the shower and the knife is already a legend in the collective imagination.

The film tells the story of Marion Crane, a young secretary who flees after stealing money from her office. After a while of driving she decides to stop at a motel where she will meet Norman.

101. Repulsion (1965)

Direction: Roman polanski

Repulsion is a psychological horror film and one of Polanski's most disturbing works.

In it Catherine Denueve plays Carole Ledoux, who experiences mixed feelings towards men: repulsion and attraction. One day, the young woman begins to have macabre and terrifying visions. The film virtuously balances horror and cruelty with the psychological complexity of the character.

102. The Shining (1980)

Direction: Stanley kubrick

This movie could be described in three words: sinister, poignant, and claustrophobic.

Stanley Kubrick made Stephen King's novel a tale shrouded in a hostile and terrifying atmosphere. To do this, I use a brilliant cinematographic technique, as if it were a labyrinth that leads the viewer into fear.

The action takes place in a mysterious Colorado hotel. There Jack Torrance arrives with his wife and his son to take responsibility for the maintenance of the property while it remains closed during the lower season. As the weeks go by, each of them begins to experience strange events.

103. Scream, watch who's calling (1996)

Direction: Wes craven

This late-1990s horror hit pays tribute to the genre films of previous decades.

Sidney is a young woman who does not go through the best of her when she begins to receive anonymous calls that threaten her. Meanwhile, a fearsome murderer is on the loose and is spreading panic through the neighborhood. Then, the young woman begins to suspect everyone, even her own friends of hers.

104. The sixth sense (1999)

Direction: M. Night shyamalan

The sixth Sense seamlessly mixes drama with a ghost story for a haunting and chilling film.

The story revolves around Malcom Crowe, a child psychologist who deals with a boy named Cole, the which receives visits from spirits who left unfinished business before dying and want to solve them.

105. Paranormal Activity (2007)

Direction: Pray Peli

It is a film that shows that you don't need a high budget to sweep the box office and achieve a truly terrifying result.

Katie and Micah are a young couple whose life changes when they discover the paranormal events that happen inside their house. To discover what it is, they decide to install a surveillance camera and thus be able to know what happens while they sleep.

106. It / It, chapter 2 (2017,2019)

Direction: Andy Muschietti

Based on the novel by Stephen King, this film perfectly explores fears developed during childhood.

Set in the 80s, it narrates the events that occurred in a town called Derry, where children begin to disappear. A mysterious clown named Pennywise is behind the events.

It chapter 2 explores the same events years later. Over time, the protagonists return to Derry as adults, where they will have to face the fearsome Pennywise again.

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Noir films and neo-noir

107. Gilda (1946)

Direction: Charles Vidor

It is one of the most mythical titles within the genre. It's full of stereotypical characters, including Gilda, sublimely played by Rita Hayworth, an icon in film history.

A love triangle forms the basis of the plot. Jonny Farrell makes a living cheating in the casinos of Buenos Aires. One day, he is mugged and Ballin Mundson, a casino owner, saves his life and then hires him into his business. Soon, Jonny discovers that his boss's wife is Gilda, his former lover.

108. The Third Man (1949)

Direction: Carol Reed

This film portrays a society that suffers the consequences of the post-war period. Aesthetically the film is sublime and perfectly shows the terror and corruption of the time. A film that today still maintains all its essence.

In 1947 a novel writer named Holly Martins comes to Vienna to visit her old friend Harry Lime. When she gets there, to her surprise, Lime has been run over in the middle of the street. Then, the protagonist plunges into a deep investigation in order to find the "third man" who was seen leaving the crime scene.

109. Twilight of the Gods (1950)

Direction: Billy Wilder

It is a film that perfectly portrays the other side of cinema, the decline of the great stars and the need to recover the success they once had.

The magnificent Gloria Swanson is Norma Desmond, a retired actress who lives isolated in her mansion who tries to win the battle against the passage of time. One day Joe Gillis, a screenwriter, arrives there by chance. From that moment on, Norma will try to get Joe to work on a script that will mean his return to the movies.

110. Thirst for evil (1958)

Direction: Orson Welles

Thirst for evil It is a masterpiece of film noir whose opening sequence shot became a legend. Orson Welles offers in it a meticulous portrait of power and corruption.

Mike, a police officer, and his wife Susan witness a bomb explosion on the Mexican border. Then Mike decides to take over the investigation, for this, he has to deal with the corrupt Quinlan, local police chief. He also has to save his wife Susan, who has been kidnapped by drug traffickers.

111. Chinatown (1974)

Direction: Roman polanski

Chinatown is an outstanding film within the neo-noir that stands out for having a round script. Set in the city of Los Angeles in the 30s, a private detective named Jake Gittes, played by Jack Nicholson, He is commissioned by Evelyn, the wife of a water and electrical engineer, to spy on her husband since she suspects that she is him unfaithful.

112. Blue Velvet (1986)

Direction: David Lynch

Intrigue, horror and cruelty are assured in this portrait of Lynch on the darkest side of society.

The narration takes place in the city of Lumberton. The trigger comes when Jeffrey Beaumount finds a severed ear in a container. Williams, the area detective, is in charge of handling the case.

Later Jeffrey meets Sandy, Williams' daughter. Then, the two are involved in a series of mysterious events that arise in the small town.

113. Fargo (1996)

Direction: Joel coen

It is one of the best films of the Coen brothers. It could be classified as neo-noir but, the reality is that if these filmmakers do something well in this film, it is to combine several genres. Thus, in Fargo they present a gangster story with hints of black comedy.

The story takes place in North Dakota, where a shy car salesman named Jerry Lundergaard decides hire some criminals to kidnap his wife and thus be able to ask for a ransom from his father-in-law, a multimillionaire. However, three murders turn the course of events.

Avant-garde and experimental films

114. An Andalusian dog (1929)

Direction: Luis Bunuel

This cinematographic work is the maximum expression of surrealism within the medium. In it Buñuel and Dalí tried to recreate the world of dreams.

Its abstract nature has subjected it to different interpretations throughout history. Buñuel never responded about the meaning of it. What is known with certainty is that it is a mandatory film if you want to know avant-garde cinema.

115. The Golden Age (1930)

Direction: Luis Bunuel

The Golden Age it is a criticism of bourgeois society that scandalized at the time of its premiere, it was even banned. This surrealist film aims to be an exaltation of free love and, above all, a denunciation of social conventions.

116. Last year in Marienbad (1961)

Direction: Alain Resnais

This Resnais film is an exquisite masterpiece of the seventh art that plays against the conventions of cinematic narrative. It involves a continuous exploration that highlights the fragility of human memory.

In a hotel, a man tries to convince a married woman to leave her husband since, supposedly, the previous year she had promised him in a meeting they had in that same place. However, she seems to remember nothing.

117. Wavelength (1967)

Direction: Michael Snow

This Canadian film can be considered a landmark of avant-garde and underground cinema. It is presented in a single shot-sequence that lasts 45 minutes.

118. Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

Direction: Godfrey reggio

What impact does the human being have on the environment that surrounds him?

This documentary is more than a compendium of images, it is a reflection of the coexistence between the human species and the environment in which it inhabits.

The nature and life of large cities are captured in this voiceless film, set with minimalist music composed by Philip Glass.

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Western movies

119. Stagecoach (1939)

Direction: Jonh Ford

Shot in the midst of western decline, The diligence Jonh Ford managed to exceed expectations, reinvent the genre and restore the prestige that he had lost.

The film, composed of disparate characters starting a dangerous journey on a stage, took John Wayne to the top. This film is mandatory for those who love the genre. Undoubtedly, The diligence represents the "maturity" of the western.

120. Deep roots (1953)

Direction: George Stevens

It is one of the most iconic western and difficult to forget. It is based on the homonymous book by Jack Schaefer and its main issue is the struggle for land and the confrontation between settlers. On the other hand, it raises the need to fight for a peaceful coexistence.

121. Rio Bravo (1959)

Direction: Howard hawks

Howard Hawks stood out for his versatility. He was capable of getting into any project, of any genre. Rio Bravo is an old-fashioned western that has survived the test of time.

The story could not be more usual, a sheriff named Chance, along with his two assistants, recruit the brother of a powerful landowner who has committed a crime. They all have the mission of preventing the prisoner from being released.

122. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Direction: John ford

It is one of the most valued films of John Ford who, despite the rise of color cinema, decided to shoot in black and white. It is a fundamental work for the history of cinema that does not focus on talking about good and bad, but rather about people.

It tells the story of Stoddard, a lawyer who comes to a small town where he intends to instill the law and democracy, without exercising violence with weapons, for this he will have to defeat the dangerous Liberty Balance.

123. Django Unchained (2012)

Direction: Quentin Tarantino

Django unchained It is a rescue of the western. Quentin Tarantino celebrates the classic genre with this contemporary film that tells the story of Django a slave who gets freedom thanks to King Schultz, a man who goes on the trail of some killers.

Django is on a mission to help Schultz so that, in return, he can find his wife Broomhida, who is enslaved by a landowner.

Documentary films

124. Food, Inc. (2008)

Direction: Robert Kenner

It is a film that aims to raise awareness about our diet and makes a very harsh criticism towards the North American food industry, although it can be perfectly extrapolated to other points of the world.

It is a clear example of how business is sometimes even above one's own health.

125. Nostalgia for the Light (2010)

Direction: Patricio guzman

In the middle of the Atacama Desert, astronomers from different parts of the world try to map galaxies and gaze at stars. Meanwhile the relatives of those reprisals during the Pinochet dictatorship try to find the bodies of their loved ones.

This documentary film presents a contradictory world in which the human being has been able to reach extraordinary advances through the science but, nevertheless, it has not been able to solve problems related to the suffering of humanity, such as the rescue of the victims of a dictatorship.

126. Pina (2011)

Direction: Wim wenders

This documentary film is, above all, a tribute to the German contemporary dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch, but it is also a beautiful tribute to dancers and dance itself.

Beauty is transmitted through movement that stands out above words. It is undoubtedly a recommended documentary for those who love dance and for those who want to discover what is behind it.

127. She´s beautiful when she´s angry (2014)

Direction: Mary donate

This interesting documentary looks back at the 60s to put a face to the women who started the feminist movement in the United States. A time dominated by the heteropratiarchy in which a group of women dared to invade the streets to assert their rights.

128. Dawson City: Frozen Time (2016)

Direction: Bill morrison

An essential documentary for every movie buff. The film revolves around the discovery of more than 500 silent films produced in Canada during the first decades of the 20th century who were given up for lost and who were rescued after the explosion of Dawston City, a small town Canadian.

129. Amendment XIII (2016)

Direction: Ava duvernay

Is slavery over in America? This documentary questions the abolition of it. Journalists and experts in culture and politics analyze and question the American penal system and how it favors racial segregation.

130. Before it's too late (2016)

Direction: Fisher stevens

Before the Flood is a “cry” of alert to climate change and an invitation to take care of the environment. Leonardo DiCaprio is in charge of leading the narration and interviewing the different personalities that delve into the subject.

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