There are some films that feel particularly special, while others are completely vapid and forgettable. But the vast majority of films fall somewhere on that wide spectrum, and it's a spectrum dependent on so many different factors.
This is why some good movies are better than some other good movies. That being said, there are some films that are universally considered amazing. So in that same vein, here are the lowest and highest rated movies on IMDb's Top 250 list.
Lowest: Before Sunset (2004) - 8.0
Richard Linklater has proven time and again that productions don't need a big budget to make a memorable film - they just need a really good screenplay. His Before trilogy is the best proof for it, with the second film of the trio, Before Sunset, being one of the highest-rated films of all time.
The story is set - and was filmed - nine years after the events of the first film. The two main characters, the American Jesse (played by Ethan Hawke) and the French Celine (played by Julie Delpy), meet again, this time in Paris, and spend the night together.
Highest: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) - 8.9
The final installment in The Lord of the Rings trilogy is still considered one of the greatest fantasy film series of all time, with its massive battles, superb performances, stunning cinematography, breathtaking special and visual effects, and so much more.
The Return of the King picks up where The Two Towers left off: Frodo, Sam, and Gollum are heading to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring while Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are gathering an army to fight Sauron and his own dark forces.
Lowest: Monsters, Inc. (2001) - 8.0
A Pixar classic, Pixar typically does. The main breakthrough was in the new technology developed specifically for rendering fur and cloth to make it look more realistic.
The story takes place in the monster world and follows two best monster friends, Sulley and Mike. The monsters generate electricity from child screams collected in a factory where the two friends work. When a little girl gets into the monster world, Sulley and Mike first believe she is toxic, but soon enough grow attached to the little one.
Highest: The Godfather: Part II (1974) - 9.0
While Francis Ford Coppola's magnum opus and a landmark in the crime genre, this film definitely gets enough praise.
There are two main storylines in the film: that of Michael Corleone, who has now become the new Don of the Corleone family, and that of his father Vito Corleone as he grows up in Sicily, goes to New York, and builds his criminal career there.
Lowest: Aladdin (1992) - 8.0
Another notable animated classic, Disney's Aladdin stands out as a fairly family-friendly film compared to the other films usually rated so highly by regular viewers. But the animation, the music, and Robin Williams' performance are probably what makes it the masterpiece it is.
Based on the Arabic folktale of the same name from One Thousand and One Nights, it tells the story of an Arabian street urchin Aladdin who discovers a magic lamp with a genie and pretends to be a wealthy prince to impress the Sultan and his beautiful daughter.
Highest: The Dark Knight (2008) - 9.0
Often regarded as the best superhero film of all time and the best comic-book adaptation of all time, Christopher Nolan's best featuring powerful performances, impressive special effects, and probably the best Batman interpretation on the big screen.
After Gotham's organized crime situation becomes even worse, Batman (played by Christian Bale) decides to form an alliance with Police Lieutenant James Gordon (played by Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (played by Aaron Eckhart), but a bigger menace is on the horizon - the Joker (played by Heath Ledger).
Lowest: The Terminator (1984) - 8.0
Though The Terminator, a timeless classic made up of a tech-noir atmosphere, time-travelers from the future, and a killer cyborg.
The story follows Sarah Connor, a young waitress who is hunted down by a seemingly unstoppable cybernetic human-link machine called the Terminator. A rebel soldier from the future, Kyle Reese, travels back in time to save her and tell her that her son John Connor will lead the resistance against the machines.
Highest: The Godfather (1972) - 9.2
As mentioned earlier, The Godfather is rightfully considered a masterpiece and a one-of-a-kind film that influenced both the gangster film genre and pop culture in its entirety. After all, it did win Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay, and got seven more Academy Award nominations.
The story begins in 1945 and ends in 1955 detailing the lives of the of the Corleone family with the main characters like Vito Corleone and his son Michael Corleone played by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino respectively.
Lowest: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) - 8.0
What's interesting about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is that upon its release, it received bad and mixed reviews - but later went on to win Academy Awards and become a classic. Turns out the eight years spent on research by its screenwriter didn't go to waste, as the film's screenplay has been ranked among the best in history several times.
Based on real events, it tells the story of the Wild West outlaws Butch Cassidy and Harry "Sundance Kid" Longabaugh who, along with Harry's lover Etta Place, flee to South America to build a new career after successfully robbing several trains in the United States.
Highest: The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - 9.3
Frank Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption was a commercial failure at the time of its release, but its critical success clearly hinted at its success with audiences in the near future. Thankfully, it did receive seven Academy Award nominations and a subsequent re-release.
Based on Stephen King's novella, it tells the story of banker Andy Dufresne who is sentenced for life for the murders of his wife and her lover despite claims of innocence. In the Shawshank State Penitentiary, he befriends a fellow prisoner, smuggler Ellis "Red" Redding, and takes part in a money-laundering operation led by the prison warden.
