Last year I wrote an article about what I think the 25 best films ever made are, but this year I thought I would dive deeper. Here is a look at five movies that, in my knowledgeable and profound opinion, are cinematic masterpieces and deserve to be treated as such.

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

E.T. represents the best of Spielberg’s films, combining storytelling with movie magic. The film’s plot is simple yet parts of the movie often bring me to tears. John Williams’ powerful score captures the magic of E.T. and his adventure on Earth. The film was able to unite audiences around the globe and today remains one of the highest-grossing films of all time adjusted for inflation. 

2. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Christopher Nolan masterfully created this film trilogy, and the final chapter of the Dark Knight trilogy is no exception. The film’s over-the-top bombastic tone creates a sense of total anarchy and chaos. Watching thousands of police officers and swat teams storm underground Gotham was epic. The high stakes left me on the edge of my seat almost the whole movie. If you watch this movie you’re going to see how one man fell apart, then came back from rock bottom to rise and save a city on the verge of annihilation. 

3. Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King (2003)

A fitting conclusion to Peter Jackson’s Lord of The Rings film trilogy: Howard Shore’s triumphant score combined with an epic four-hour-plus runtime creates an emotional and epic conclusion to this masterful trilogy. This film went on to win a whopping 11 Oscars including Best Picture at the 74th Academy Awards in 2004, a record tied with Titanic (1997). The film’s epic large-scale battles captivate the screen in one of the biggest cinematic showdowns of all time. 

4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn (1982)

This film says it all. The film’s deceptive and despotic villain, Kahn captures the screen as he seeks revenge against Captain James T. Kirk of the U.S.S Enterprise. The dark plot tied with memorable dialogue creates emotional depth as Kirk and his crew face the gravest threat they’ve ever faced. The movie’s ending often brings me to tears. I also fell in love with the music composed by James Horner, which combines intensity with emotion to drive the film. In all, this movie brings warmth to my heart and is truly one of the most powerful films I’ve seen.

5. Independence Day (1996)

This movie is, in my opinion, the best disaster film conceived. The film’s large-scale marketing campaign, end-of-the-world stakes, and emotional character development fuel the story. However, the thing that grabs me the most is composer David Arnolds’ epic and grand score that fuels the scope of the Alien invasion. Additionally, the film had historic anticipation leading up to the film’s 4th of July release, which coincided with the events of the film’s plot.