10 Best Larger Than Life Movies Everyone Should Watch

Everyone has one of those days where we just need to be swept away by something extraordinary, and this is where the larger-than-life movies come in. Take Titanic for example- not just a story about a ship sinking but also about love, loss, and the human spirit. All this culminates in an epic conclusion making it unforgettable. Just like Titanic, there are countless films that have found a place in our hearts, each one teaching us something unforgettable. In this article, we’ll talk about the ten larger-than-life films that have left their mark on our lives.

The Green Mile (1999)

The film takes place in the 1930s and tells the story of a gang of corrections officers stationed officer at Cold Mountain Prison who are responsible for watching over the detainees waiting to be taken to the electric chair. John Coffey, a new convict walks in the jail for the alleged rape and killing of two siblings. John with his shy and mild-mannered attitude quickly steals the hearts of the officers, particularly Paul, who starts to ponder that he is not guilty, especially because he has the ability to read people’s minds and revive the dead.

Frankly, Stephen King’s works are not always easy to adapt to the big screen. Yet, Frank Darabont, the director did an excellent job of depicting it. The Green Mile is very emotional, yet bleak in the best tradition of King, and is still a fantastic adaptation.

Seven Samurai (1954)

This Kurusawa masterpiece unfolds in Japan during the 16th century and tells the audience about a period of societal turmoil and widespread poverty that plagued that era. The villagers of a small town have to hire a team of samurai to keep robbers and outlaws from robbing their harvests on a daily basis. The peasants’ captain goes out to recruit a sympathetic samurai, who calls upon the others to help them in assembling a fighting force.

Seven Samurai, directed by Akira Kurosawa, is a masterful synthesis of action, drama, and compassion that makes the characters seem gigantic. The seven samurai who protect a small town from vicious bandits are all well-developed characters whose stories are compelling and easy to connect with. Scenes of expansive vistas, fierce combat, and subtle acts of heroism come to life under Kurosawa’s helm.

The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather, largely considered to be among the best movies ever made in the United States tells the rise and fall of the Corleone household, a criminal syndicate that had a foothold in the Big Apple throughout the 1940s and 1950s. As the film goes on, the Corleone clan finds themselves in a continuous violent conflict with other crime families active in New York during that era.

The film was a masterpiece, but the real magic lies in how Francis Ford Coppola created the character arc of Michael. Watching him transform from a soldier who’s uninterested in his dad’s crime world to becoming the Godfather himself by wiping out every rival family in a quest for revenge, is storytelling at its finest. It’s the kind of character shift that deserves its own case study.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (1996)

This Clint Eastwood magnum opus takes place at a time when America was thrown into the middle of a violent Civil War and centers on three men’s mission to dig open a hidden wealth. One, aka “The Good,” a gunslinger, teams up with another, “The Ugly,” a wanted outlaw. On the other hand, Bad is a fiendish assassin who’s also after the loot and will do anything possible to get it.

“The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” also gives us one of the most iconic scenes in movie history, a tense showdown staredown where all three gunslingers face off in an epic, tension-packed climax. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly is a comfort watch for many film fans, partly because this three-hour epic rarely comprises its heroic characters, thrilling action, and epic showdowns.

La Dolce Vita (1960)

Helmed by Federico Fellini, and starring Marcello Mastroianni in the lead role, the film tells the story of a reporter for a popular publication, who gets hooked on Rome’s opulent nightlife. He devotes himself to smoking, gambling, and having consensual amorous relations with a number of ladies, especially his sweetheart Maddalena. However, the film really begins when Marcello starts to become more disenchanted by the hollowness and shallowness of the people he associates with.

Pulp Fiction (1904)

Of course! No movie list is ever complete without mentioning one of Tarantino’s masterpieces. The movie’s plot of Pulp Fiction is laid out in a manner that isn’t sequential, or, in layman’s terms, there are many different stories going on at once. In the first scene, two assassins are riding in a car together and having an intelligent discussion about their profession. Their rich and threatening boss has sent them a mystery suitcase to retrieve.

The movie’s numerous narrative strands are delivered in a disjointed, non-chronological sequence, something Tarantino does better than anyone. This non-chronological approach to telling the film story will keep you hooked and guessing about what’s going to transpire next till the very end. Even though the critics have called out the film for being overly violent, it in no way refutes the fact that Pulp Fiction is a great film, and very worthy of its cult classic status.

Titanic (1997)

Titanic by James Cameron isn’t just famous for capturing the tragic sinking of the “unsinkable” ship but also for its unforgettable romance story that has stuck with audiences for years. True to its name, the story unfolds aboard the Titanic, following Jack, a carefree, live-in-the-moment kind of guy who finds joy in the little things—even if he doesn’t have much.

After winning his way onto the ship in a poker game, Jack falls head over heels for Rose, a high-society girl trapped in an engagement to a wealthy businessman, thanks to her mom’s need to hold onto her fancy lifestyle. This romance, the adventure, and the tragedy that unfolds in the end renders Titanic a timeless classic.

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

This movie is a must-have on any list of all-time greatest since it captures everything that makes cinema unforgettable: deep emotions, relatable themes, and characters that stick with you long after the credits roll. Plotwise, this Sergio Leone film is about Noodles (Robert De Niro), a former Prohibition-era mobster who put himself in exile, and years later returns to New York to face his demons and makeup with the people he wronged.

Critics loved and still love this film for the way it explores the gritty streets of New York while telling the story of friendship, betrayal, and sacrifice. In addition, thanks to the wide-screen cinematography coupled with the careful use of zoom-out shots, you’ll almost smell the city streets and feel the tension. In simple terms, Sergio’s Once Upon a Time has both heart and soul, making it a larger-than-life movie.

Gladiator (2000)

This larger-than-life film starring Rusell Crowe isn’t just loved for its emotional, tear-jerking story, but also for its incredible and moving soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, which truly brings the whole film to life. The story of Gladiator centers on Maximus, a Roman commander betrayed by his own people who end up being sold into slavery and made to fight and entertain the Roman masses as a gladiator. However, Maximus breaks through his shackles in thirst for revenge after his family is murdered by Joaquin Phoenix’s character Commodus.

The film received a plethora of Oscar nominations and won five of them including the ones of Best Picture and Best Actor. The film’s sequel is dropping on November 15, and this time, Maximus’ nephew takes the lead as the protagonist.

Patch Adams (1998)

Patch Adams isn’t considered a larger-than-life movie because it features Robin Willaims, who gave one of his standout performances in the film but for the message conveyed. In case you missed it, the film is derived from the real-life Patch Adams, a doctor hell-bent on breaking the mold in medicine. After battling his own dark days, Patch lands in med school with a fresh take on healing that laughter and kindness work wonders. So, Instead of sticking to the stiff, rule-bound approach, Patch cracks jokes, spreads smiles, and shows kindness to his patients, which doesn’t exactly thrill the traditional docs around him.

Audiences loved Patch Adams, praising its heart and its message about how a little laughter can go a long way in healing. Robin Williams brings his A-game and plays the lead with both warmth and humor.

Read More: Best Films Directed By Wes Anderson