Movie titles are fascinating, are they not? They are also powerful, since they can almost make or break a movie on their own. I think that a good movie title should be able to draw you towards it, wanting to learn more about what kind of story that could be lurking behind it. Of course, it does not hurt if they are funny or provocative as well.
Since I have a thing for list and compilations, of any kind, I decided to pen down what I consider to be the best movie titles, so far in movie history. I know that my list probably differs from what you consider to be good titles. Therefore, feel free to add your own titles in the comments below.
Ready? Then let us get started!
The Top 10 Movie Titles
Requiem For a Dream (Darren Aronofsky, 2000) – Poetic, stylish and self-evident that sums up the movie in a perfect way.
Das Boot (Wolfgang Petersen, 1981) – A short and heavy title that hits you in the stomach like a rock.
American History X (Tony Kaye, 1998) – An interesting title that has a nice flow, with the X awaking curiosity.
Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979) – Feels powerful, definitive and direct, which cannot be misunderstood.
Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (Guy Ritchie, 1998) – A cool title with a rambunctious tone, which makes it hard to resist.
No Country for Old Men (The Coen Brothers, 2007) – A wistful and dramatic title, with an undetermined deepness attached to it.
Natural Born Killers (Oliver Stone, 1994) – A redoubtable and ice-cold title, with a brutal undertone.
The Boondock Saints (Troy Duffy, 1999) – An elegant and hypnotic title that gets stuck in your head.
Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things (Benjamin Clark, 1973) – So morbid and inappropriate that you are bound to love it.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004) – Not the coolest title, but it has a lovely and beautiful ring to it, which is hard to beat.
The Rest of the Best
11. Inglourious Basterds – Quentin Tarantino, 2009
12. Die Hard – John McTiernan, 1988
13. The Dark Knight – Christopher Nolan, 2008
14. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb – Stanley Kubrick, 1964
15. Full Metal Jacket – Stanley Kubrick, 1987
16. The Hills Have Eyes – Wes Craven, 1977
17. A Clockwork Orange – Stanley Kubrick, 1971
18. The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Jim Sharman, 1975
19. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Sergio Leone, 1966
20. Snatch – Guy Ritchie, 2000
21. Texas Chainsaw Massacre – Tobe Hooper, 1974
22. Sin City – Frank Miller, 2005
23. Lost in Translation – Sofia Coppola, 2003
24. Killer Klowns From Outer Space – Stephen Chiodo, 1988
25. Citizen Kane – Orson Welles, 1941
26. Blade Runner – Ridley Scott, 1982
27. Gladiator – Ridley Scott, 2000
28. Reservoir Dogs – Quentin Tarantino, 1992
29. Psycho – Alfred Hitchcock, 1960
30. There Will Be Blood – Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007
31. Zombie – Lucio Fulci, 1979
32. The Evil Dead – Sam Raimi, 1981
33. Lesbian Vampire Killers – Phil Claydon, 2009
34. Last House on the Left – Wes Craven, 1972
35. Dead Man Walking – Tim Robbins, 1995
36. Dawn of the Dead – George A. Romero, 1978
37. Pulp Fiction – Quentin Tarantino, 1994
38. Blood In Blood Out – Taylor Hackford, 1993
39. The Thing – John Carpenter, 1982
40. Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead – Sidney Lumet, 2007
41. The Devil’s Rejects – Rob Zombie, 2005
42. Slaughterhouse-Five – George Roy Hill, 1972
43. Dazed and Confused – Richard Linklater, 1993
44. Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore – Martin Scorsese, 1974
45. Cop Land – James Mangold, 1997
46. The Shawshank Redemption – Frank Darabont, 1994
47. Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead – Gary Fleder, 1995
48. Dirty Harry – Don Siegel, 1971
49. Hellraiser – Clive Barker, 1987
50. Where Eagles Dare – Brian G. Hutton, 1968
Honorable Mention
I Killed My Lesbian Wife, Hung Her on a Meat Hook, and Now I Have a Three-Picture Deal at Disney – This creative title comes from a short movie, which was made by no-other than Ben Affleck, during his studies at Occidental College, back in 1993.
Even though my list contains 51 titles, there are still titles that I consider to be good, clever and creative, but if I should have listed them all, this list would have taken forever to write. Also, if you miss a title, which you surely do, rush down to the comments field and share your favourite movie titles, with the rest of us!