48 Movies People Firmly Believe Are Perfect From Start To Finish
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We asked the BuzzFeed Community which movies were absolutely perfect from start to finish, and they did not disappoint. Here's what they said:
1.Pride and Prejudice (2005)
"Everyone who loves this movie loves it deeply. Like 'watch it multiple times a year, want to go on a filming location tour of England, own a replica bust of Mr. Darcy' deeply."
Directed by: Joe Wright
Starring: Kiera Knightly, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Tom Hollander, Rosamund Pike, Carey Mulligan, Jena Malone, Talulah Riley, and Judi Dench
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon Prime or free with a Cinemax subscription
Watch the trailer here:
2.Ponyo (2008)
"That's still one of my favorite movies to this day, and arguably the best Ghibli movie in existence."
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring: Noah Cyrus, Frankie Jonas, Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Mona Marshall, Lily Tomlin, Akiko Yano, and Betty White
Where to watch it: HBO Max
Watch the trailer here:
3.Dirty Dancing (1987)
"It's always been my absolute FAVORITE movie. It's sexy, has a great cast, great music, and a wonderful plot. It's just an all-around amazing movie!"
Directed by: Emile Ardolino
Starring: Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, Jerry Orbach, and Cynthia Rhodes
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon Prime or free with a Cinemax subscription
Watch the trailer here:
4.Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
"I remember the first time I saw the trailer and I groaned. I thought it was dumb to have yet another Spider-Man franchise start, especially in the midst of Tom Holland's reign. Of course, I was wrong. It's such a great balance of funny moments and heartfelt story beats. The animation is so visually stunning and is probably the best way we've ever seen Spider-Man depicted on the big screen. It never gets boring. Every time I watch it, there's a new detail that catches my eye. It's PERFECT."
Directed by: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Luna Lauren Velez, John Mulaney, Kimiko Glenn, Nicolas Cage, and Liev Schreiber
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon or with a Hulu Live TV subscription
Watch the trailer here:
5.The Holiday (2006)
"The Holiday is absolutely perfect from start to finish. The way both ladies have problems and decide to switch houses, to when they both fall in love. It's just an amazing movie. Highly recommend!"
Directed by: Nancy Myers
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude Law, Eli Wallach, Edward Burns, and Rufus Sewell
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon
Watch the trailer here:
6.Black Swan (2010)
"It got so much flak when it came out because of a 'controversial' lesbian scene and the intricacy and masterful storytelling were overlooked. It's about a young ballerina who wants a starring role and pushed herself to dangerous extremes to get it. Her mental health starts to deteriorate at the expense of her success due to unrealistic pressure and manipulative people in her life. The arc of this film is incredible. Every visual detail is carefully considered and adds to the building suspense throughout the film."
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, and Winona Ryder
Where to watch it: Hulu
Watch the trailer here:
7.Booksmart (2019)
"I laughed through the whole movie and also found it so relatable."
Directed by: Olivia Wilde
Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Billie Lourde, Will Forte, Diana Silvers, Skyler Gisondo, Noah Galvin, Lisa Kudrow, Jason Sudeikis, Molly Gordon, Nico Hiraga, and Mason Gooding
Where to watch it: Hulu
Watch the trailer here:
8.Blazing Saddles (1974)
"It's funny and it can be heartwarming. It's a Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder classic. I've watched this movie dozens and dozens of times and I never get bored, I just find new things to laugh at and enjoy."
Directed by: Mel Brooks
Starring: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Alex Karras, Mel Brooks, Harvey Korman, and Madeline Kahn
Where to watch it: Showtime
Watch the trailer here:
9.Moonlight (2016)
Watch the trailer here:
10.Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
"It opens with a wonderful cinematic daybreak overlook on The National Mall. Then just a fun moment between the best friendship in all the MCU, Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers, with the 'on your left' moment coming to life to be used later in one of the most awe-inspiring scenes in Endgame, all culminating in a great little scene where Cap has a notebook of all the things he needs to catch up on in the mid to late 20th century and all the 21st century up to that point.
Followed by a BEAUTIFULLY choreographed scene on the overtaken by pirates S.H.I.E.L.D. transport boat. Really, all the fight scenes are world-class in this movie.
Robert Redford puts in a hell of a performance, making his transition from bureaucrat to secret HYDRA head one of the bigger surprises in the MCU, and his chemistry with literally everyone he works with shows how great of an actor he is.
The movie is just littered with amazing tracking and establishing shots, has unbelievable acting, and a very well thought out script that even so many acclaimed movies of the 2010s lack. The soundtrack is a delight. The humor always works and never feels forced. And the final scenes between Steve and Bucky and then Steve and Sam are perfect parallels for the future. That movie is not only the best in the MCU, but one of the top 100 movies of all time."
Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson
Where to watch it: Disney Plus
Watch the trailer here:
11.The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
"I first saw this movie when I was in junior high, and it really introduced me to difficult topics that I wasn’t used to. It taught me so much, like the importance of friendship and feeling like you belong. Such an important coming-of-age story, and I truly think everyone needs to watch it."
Directed by: Stephen Chbosky
Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Witman, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, Joan Cusack, and Paul Rudd
Where to watch it: Showtime
Watch the trailer here:
12.The Princess Bride (1987)
"It's perfect in character, dialogue, and plot. It bridges genres. If I find it playing on TV, I will stop everything and finish it."
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Starring: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Robin Wright, Peter Falk, Fred Savage, and Billy Crystal
Where to watch it: Disney Plus
Watch the trailer here:
13.Spirited Away (2001)
"As a kid, I loved this movie because I thought it was funny and weird. As an adult, I truly see its magic. It’s such an enchanting story, and every second is filled with beautiful animation. I’m filled with such peace, curiosity, and nostalgia every time I watch it. It's my favorite movie hands down."
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring: Daviegh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, David Ogden Stiers, Susan Egan, Paul Eiding, John Ratzenberger, Bob Bergen, and Tara Strong
Where to watch it: HBO Max
Watch the trailer here:
14.Ocean's Eleven (2001)
"I love everything about it — the banter, the disguises, Elliot Gould, Cockney Don Cheadle, the twins. It’s the only movie I refuse to turn off if I come across it on TV. I have to watch it every time."
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Don Cheadle
Where to watch it: HBO Max
Watch the trailer here:
15.We Bought a Zoo (2011)
"Everything about the movie is beautiful. The cinematography is stunning and the music by Jónsi is equally amazing. Also, it is based on a true story about a family who rebuilds their life after losing their mother."
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Patrick Fugit, Elle Fanning, and John Michael Higgins
Where to watch it: Disney Plus
Watch the trailer here:
16.Plus One (2019)
"I watched it on Hulu and I was floored. I genuinely loved the buildup, the relationship, the music. All of it!"
Directed by: Jeff Chan and Andrew Rhymer
Starring: Maya Erskine, Jack Quaid, Beck Bennett, Rosalind Chao, Finn Wittrock, Perrey Reeves, and Ed Begley Jr.
Where to watch it: Hulu
17.Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
"It doesn't matter if they got things wrong, the movie made me feel things no other movie ever could. I'm waiting for Bob Dylan's biopic with Timothée Chalamet to be equally as iconic."
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joe Mazzello, Aaron McCusker, Aidan Gillen Allen Leech, Tom Hollander, and Mike Myers
Where to watch it: Hulu
18.Call Me By Your Name (2017)
"The soundtrack and location of the movie are stunning. You fall in love with Elio and Oliver and you just can’t help but appreciate the wholesome love they have for each other in the movie. Let me say, the emotions are strong in this movie."
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar Esther Garrel, and Victoire Du Bois
Where to watch it: Starz
Watch the trailer here:
19.The Mummy (1999)
"The Mummy is the perfect action-adventure flick. It starts off with the dramatic historical backstory, giving the baddie some sympathetic motivations, then right into the action. Besides Rick and Evie being total badasses, there is not one wasted character. It has the right balance of funny, campy, scary, romantic, and action-packed."
Directed by: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Jonathan Hyde, and Kevin J. O'Connor
Where to watch it: HBO Max
Watch the trailer here:
20.Inglourious Basterds (2009)
"I know everyone shits on Tarantino movies, but Inglourious Basterds is my favorite movie of all time. It’s so well written with twists and turns in all the right places, and it's exciting all the way through."
—eeoo
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Bruhl, Til Schwigher, Mélanie Laurent, and August Diehl
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon
Watch the trailer here:
21.Rocketman (2019)
"I’ve been a huge Elton John fan for a long, long time and I love musicals. The actors did amazing and the effects and music were beautiful! I saw it twice in theaters and a million more times since then."
Directed by: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard
Where to watch it: Hulu
Watch the trailer here:
22.School of Rock (2003)
"School Of Rock is an iconic movie for me. It's hilarious from start to finish, with memorable characters and quotes. I always come back to watch it every once in a while because it’s one of those great feel-good movies."
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Starring: Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Sarah Silverman, and Miranda Cosgrove
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon
Watch the trailer here:
23.Inception (2010)
"Inception is a perfect movie from start to finish. I show it to my English classes, so I watch it at least three times every semester, and I always notice new things. I never get bored watching the film, even if I’ve already seen the same part twice earlier that day. It’s the perfect balance of drama and action, and the cinematography is beautiful. Even the 'slower' parts of the film are just long enough to break from the action without getting boring."
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine
Watch the trailer here:
24.Whiplash (2014)
"These days, I feel like I can cut a good 30–40 minutes from every movie, but Whiplash uses every single minute of its 1 hour and 46 minutes beautifully."
Directed by: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, and Melissa Benoist
Where to watch it: Starz
Watch the trailer here:
25.Black Panther (2018)
"I’m no expert, but everything about that movie is perfect."
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Daniel Kaluuya, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis
Where to watch it: Disney Plus
Watch the trailer here:
26.My Neighbor Totoro (1993)
"It's nostalgic for me, but every time I watch it, I'm so content. Anytime I see acorns, I have the urge to collect them. I always have to have cucumbers as I watch because of the scene out in the field when Mei and Satsuki are eating them whole. The story is adorable and the animation is so well done for a 1993 release date."
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Tim Daly, Lea Salonga, Frank Welker, Paul Butcher, Pat Carroll, Russi Taylor, and Matt Adler
Where to watch it: HBO Max
Watch the trailer here:
27.Into the Wild (2007)
"My cousin and I would watch this any time we needed a good cry."
Directed by: Sean Penn
Starring: Emile Hirsh, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Stewart, and Hal Holbrook
Where to watch it: Netflix
Watch the trailer here:
28.Ratatouille (2007)
"That movie is amazing and the cooking scenes are so satisfying!"
Directed by: Brad Bird
Starring: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Janeane Garofalo, Brad Garrett, Peter O'Toole, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, and Will Arnett
Where to watch it: Disney Plus
Watch the trailer here:
29.The Sound of Music (1965)
"There will never be a Maria like Julie Andrews."
Directed by: Robert Wise
Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood, Charmain Carr, and Eleanor Parker
Where to watch it: Disney Plus
Watch the trailer here:
30.Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
"Everything about this movie makes me feel specific emotions. The shots are beautiful. The score is mesmerizing. The story is so smart and unique. I will never stop loving this movie."
Directed by: Michael Gondry
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, and Tom Wilkinson
Where to watch it: Showtime
Watch the trailer here:
31.Secondhand Lions (2003)
Watch the trailer here:
32.Joker (2019)
"The movie is perfect from start to finish. The acting is on point, the cinematography is beautiful, and I love the fact that the whole movie is from the point of view of Arthur. This movie is truly incredible."
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon
Watch the trailer here:
33.Little Women (2019)
"I loved the 1994 version so wasn’t sure how the new one would compare, but it was perfection. The casting, the cinematography, and finally making us understand Amy March. It deserves every award!"
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, Louis Garrel, and James Norton
Where to watch it: Starz
Watch the trailer here:
34.Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
"It’s flown under the radar for a while, but now that Taika Waititi is a bigger name, maybe more people will be interested! It’s got a lot of heart, the writing is wonderful, and the comedy is spot on. You’ll feel great after watching it."
Directed by: Taika Waititi
Starring: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rhys Darby, Rima Te Wiata, and Rachel House
Where to watch it: Netflix
35.1917 (2019)
"About 15 minutes into this movie, it dawns on you that this is something uniquely brilliant. By the end, it's clear that Sam Mendes has made one of the best films of 2019."
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Dubercq, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch
Where to watch it: Showtime
Watch the trailer here:
36.Stardust (2007)
"Every second is perfect, every line is ideal, and every casting choice is amazing. Robert De Niro's performance especially has to be seen to be believed. This is one of the few examples where the movie is better than the book."
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Peter O'Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Robert De Niro
Where to watch it: Netflix
Watch the trailer here:
37.Coming to America (1988)
"I love every second of that movie. From Samuel L. Jackson robbing McDowells to Arsenio calling God 'the Hugh Hefner on high,' — this movie never gets old."
Directed by: John Landis
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Madge Sinclair, and Shari Headley
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon
Watch the trailer here:
38.Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
"The storyline is funny and cute, while not being over the top. The movie itself is beautiful."
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Harvey Keitel, Jared Gilman, and Kara Hayward
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon
Watch the trailer here:
39.Selena (1997)
"I've watched the movie so much, my mother actually threw away the VHS. J.Lo was great in the movie, and Selena's music is amazing."
Directed by: Gregory Nava
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Edward Hames Olmos, Jon Seda, Constance Marie, Jacob Vargas, Lupe Ontiveros, and Jackie Guerra
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon
Watch the trailer here:
40.I, Tonya (2017)
"Not a minute of that movie is any less exciting than the rest. It's heartbreaking, hilarious, thrilling, and thought-provoking. It’s perfect."
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Mckenna Grace, Julianna Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney, and Paul Walter Houser
Where to watch it: Showtime
Watch the trailer here:
41.Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
"I think it should have won the Oscar over Shape of Water. It’s a moving and original story, the dialogue ranges from comedic to poignant in a really credible (and not melodramatic) way, the performances are stunning, and the score works as a perfect backdrop. My favorite thing about the film is the ambiguity. All of the characters are neither good nor bad and are really well-developed as believable people, each with several flaws as well as several redeeming characteristics."
Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Abbie Cornish, John Hawkes, Peter Dinklage, Lucas Hedges, Samara Weaving, and Kathryn Newton
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon or with a Hulu Live TV subscription
42.Goodfellas (1990)
"I could watch it every week. The funny parts are still funny, the acting is amazing, and the story is amazing."
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, and Paul Sorvino
Where to watch it: HBO Max
Watch the trailer here:
43.Yesterday (2019)
"It’s a slightly weird science fiction-y premise wrapped up in a sweet love story, kind of reminiscent of Groundhog Day or The Truman Show — just far enough outside the rom-com genre to be unique. What makes it perfect for me is the attention given to small things. No scene or character feels thrown away or wasted, tiny irrelevant details turn out to sync with the main theme, and you’re still getting surprises right up until the last line of the film (literally). Lots of movies have great main characters and/or arcs, but the detail in this one really perfected it for me."
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Starring: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Joel Fry, Ed Sheeran, and Kate McKinnon
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon
44.Captain Marvel (2019)
"She’s a total badass and a complete female role model. Also, she's the first female Marvel superhero with a standalone movie."
Directed by: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Annette Bening, Clark Gregg, and Jude Law
Where to watch it: Disney Plus
Watch the trailer here:
45.Eighth Grade (2018)
"The awkwardness I felt during almost the entire thing was so real and relatable. Bo Burnham is a genius."
Directed by: Bo Burnham
Starring: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson, Jake Ryan, and Fred Hechinger
Where to watch it: Showtime
Watch the trailer here:
46.Meet the Robinsons (2007)
"It’s one of the greatest movies Disney has ever made, full of adventure, fun and...relatives."
Directed by: Stephen Anderson
Starring: Daniel Hansen, Jordan Fry, Wesley Singerman, Angela Bassett, Tom Selleck, Harland Williams, Laurie Metcalf, Nicole Sullivan, Adam West, Ethan Sandler, and Tom Kenny
Where to watch it: Disney Plus
47.Your Name (2016)
"Not only is it beautifully animated, but it’s an extremely unique story about two people trying to find each other...there’s a huge twist that takes an already amazing movie up another notch!"
Directed by: Makoto Shinkai
Starring: Michael Sinterniklaas, Stephanie Sheh, Kyle Hebert, and Cassandra Morris
Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon
Watch the trailer here:
48.And finally, Parasite (2019)
"The movie is complex and filled with different genres: comedy, thriller, horror, suspense, etc. Every shot is filmed with precision. The film is filled with brilliant twists and turns. Every scene is filled with symbolism in the background. I don’t want to spoil the film because it is best to go into it blindly, but after the movie ended, I was sitting there with my mouth open. The end shocked me. I was in awe of how incredible the movie turned out to be. I was genuinely not expecting the ending. I truly recommend watching it because the movie needs to be seen by everyone."
Directed by: Bong Joon-ho
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Lee Jung-eun, and Jang Hye-jin
Where to watch it: Hulu
Watch the trailer here:
Obviously, we can’t fit everything in one post, so tell us which other movies you love in the comments below!
Submissions have been edited for length and clarity.
