GREAT CINEMAMASTER LIST
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great film.

Search 713 spoiler-free recommendations from 1916 to 2026. Filter by the night you want—not the list you’re supposed to finish.

Direct film viewShowing master rank #301 on its own—not above the ranking.
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Artwork
DirectorAll directors

Most represented · 6+ films

More recurring directors · 3–5 films54
All directors · surname A–Z438
ActorAll actors

Most represented actors

Big Three membership
Major award winners

1 selected film

Master Rank balances Greatness, Engagement, and Ease. Sort by Greatness for the artistic-canon view.

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View Days of Heaven film page
Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

A laborer, his partner, and his young sister join the harvest on a wealthy Texas farmer’s land.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

In 1916, Chicago laborer Bill travels to the Texas Panhandle with girlfriend Abby and younger sister Linda, presenting Abby as his sister. They join a wealthy farmer's harvest, and Bill encourages Abby to accept the farmer's courtship.

Why it belongs

Terrence Malick transforms a love triangle into elemental memory through magic-hour fields, natural sound, sparse speech, and a child's oblique narration.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Néstor Almendros's sunset light, wheat, wind, insects, machinery, fire, and Ennio Morricone's theme make the farm both paradise and trap. Linda Manz's wandering narration preserves events as partial remembered impressions.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Academy Awards1 win1979 · official ceremony record ↗

Plus 1 additional win

No headline-category win to name

BAFTA1 win1980 · official BAFTA 1980 Film Awards results ↗

Plus 1 additional win

No headline-category win to name

Cannes1 win1979 · official festival record ↗
Award for Best Director1979 · Terrence MALICKofficial festival record ↗

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Good for
FamilyFilm Club
Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.

Institutional reference ranks

Sight & Sound152IMDb Top 250—AFI 100—
Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score

Great Cinema Master List scores

Greatness9.3
Engagement8.5
Ease8.2

English · PG
Narrative Feature
Mood: Romantic & Reflective