By nature, epic cinema imposes itself on the audience, presenting them with a story of magnitude and substance that, when executed well, is as unforgettable as it is overwhelming. Enduring masterpieces like Lawrence of Arabia, The Godfather, and Braveheart are just three of the many highlights of the genre that serve as a testament to this notion with their enduring legacies, ageless grace, and dramatic impact.
However, with so many great epic movies being made over the years, it stands to reason that some exceptional ones have been forgotten over time. From enthralling triumphs of cinematic style to spellbinding gems of international film, astonishing adaptations of classic literature, and even a silent masterpiece that is now over 100 years old, these forgotten epic movies still exude filmmaking perfection from their opening scene to their last.
10
‘Children of Paradise’ (1945)
It was common for the epic movies of the ‘30s and ‘40s to emphasize the gravitas and complexity of romance. One of the very best is the forgotten French gem Children of Paradise, a 190-minute period drama revolving around the shifting fortunes and love of a Parisian stage actress, Garance (Arletty). While she has an undeniable affection for Baptiste (Jean-Louis Barrault), a kind-hearted mime, financial hardship and volatile circumstances force her to consider the proposals of other admirers, including an aristocrat, a fellow actor, and a thief.
While its old-fashioned pacing and stilted first hour may have contributed to its gradual fade out of the limelight, Children of Paradise remains an astonishing technical marvel of filmmaking. Once the story gathers momentum, it becomes a powerful journey of love’s desire and the harsh necessities of life. Only enhanced by the strength of its performances and the wit of its writing, Children of Paradise is an easy picture to admire for its artfulness as well as its impressionable ambition.
9
‘Excalibur’ (1981)
Epic cinema has always been associated with striking visuals, but few movies in the genre have gone to such great and stylised lengths as 1981’s forgotten fantasy flick, Excalibur. Realized with surrealist and eye-catching lighting, and leaning on the attention-snatching gleam of polished armor and the stunning lush landscapes of Ireland, it provides an absorbing spectacle, even if its endeavor to realize the full scope of the Arthurian legend sometimes leads to rushed storytelling.
Still, that’s hardly a flaw, especially considering how perfectly the film combines the gripping might of its visuals and music with its concentrated drive to access the darkest undertones of the mythic hero’s journey. Also featuring an outstanding ensemble cast of generational stars at the beginning of their careers, Excalibur is an epic fantasy that is perhaps even more spectacular today than it was in 1981.
8
‘Reds’ (1981)
Another overlooked marvel from 1981, Reds is imbued with piercing political convictions and romantic tragedy that makes it every bit as socially relevant today as it was 45 years ago. With Warren Beatty serving as director, co-writer, producer, and star, the romantic-war epic takes place in the turmoil of the 1910s. Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton), a journalist and suffragist, joins forces with John Reed (Beatty), a more radical newsman trying to spread a socialist agenda across America.
Combining the sweeping scope of revolutionary politics on a global stage—covering everything from first-wave feminism to the Russian Revolution—with the intimacy, complexity, and messiness of romance is no easy task. Yet, Reds captivates with philosophical intrigue and sheer scale. Featuring a litany of exceptional performances and an intense, gritty documentary-style realism that is quite unique to epic cinema, it is an outstanding, Oscar-winning triumph that has sadly been forgotten over time.
7
‘The Man Who Would be King’ (1975)
An astute exploration of imperialism disguised as a rollicking action-adventure movie, The Man Who Would be King excels as a surprisingly fun though richly thematic epic. Sean Connery and Michael Caine star as two former British soldiers who trek across 1880s India in search of Kafiristan. Their adventure yields instant rewards when the community reveres one of the soldiers as a god and makes him their king, but their growing ambition soon leads them to ruin.
Able to be enjoyed in earnest as a sweeping historical adventure, or dissected as a critique of power, manipulation, and deceit, The Man Who Would Be King delivers a ceaselessly intriguing adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s short story realised with bravado and conviction. John Huston’s immaculate direction is paramount, as is the brilliantly witty screenplay, satirical edge, and enormous scope. It makes for a timelessly accessible movie that has sadly been forgotten by the masses.
6
‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World’ (1963)
The combo of epic scope and comedic brilliance is one that is too rarely seen in cinema. What few truly exceptional examples of the genre marriage that do exist should be heralded as defining feats of the medium, but sadly, this isn’t always the case. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a testament to this, with the monumental 202-minute action-comedy-adventure film being largely lost to time, especially in the mainstream consciousness of the modern world.
A delightful descent into chaos, it follows an array of dueling motorists racing to find a supposed stash of hidden treasure that was hinted at in a dying man’s confession. Given enormous life by its procession of practical stunts and non-stop chasing of riches, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World maintains an energized sense of momentum even 63 years on from its release. Complimented by its all-star cast and its exuberant satire of greed, immorality, and human nature, the 1963 gem should be heralded as a defining classic.
5
‘The Last of the Mohicans’ (1992)
Inexplicably and unfairly, Michael Mann’s historical war-romance, The Last of the Mohicans, has vanished from memory. Set in 1757, as the French and Indian War rages in mainland America, it unfolds as Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis), the adopted son of a Mohican chief, and his brother set out to rescue the daughter of a British colonel who has been caught in the crossfire of the conflict.
Loosely adapted from James Fenimore Cooper’s novel, it exudes an enrapturing, sweeping allure as it blends the brutality of war with the fiery passion of love. Even with its relatively brief 114-minute runtime, the sense of spectacle and awe it conjures through its ravishing cinematography, gripping performances, large-scale battle sequences, and arresting score is irresistible. It makes for one of the best epic movies of the ’90s, and it’s a shame that it isn’t remembered as such by today’s masses.
4
‘Die Nibelungen’ (1924)
Fritz Lang’s career in both the silent era and the “talkies” earned vast acclaim, but one project of his that has faded from memory despite its absorbing excellence is Die Nibelungen. The adaptation of the legendary German poem—written for the screen by Lang’s wife, Thea von Harbou—unravels over the course of two separate films for a total runtime of 288 minutes.
The first part, Die Nibelungen: Siegfried, follows the titular prince as he journeys to the kingdom of Burgundy intent on marrying Princess Kriemhild (Margarete Schön). Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild’s Revenge then transpires after Siegfried (Paul Richter) is betrayed, focusing on Kriemhild’s efforts to gather an army and stand against the rulers that deceived her husband. A pioneering triumph of special effects in cinema, a masterpiece of large-scale filmmaking, and a poignant tragedy of love and revenge, Die Nibelungen is a ravishing spectacle that is every bit as astonishing today as it was upon release 102 years ago.
3
‘The Emigrants’ (1971) & ‘The New Land’ (1972)
Another foreign production that spreads its epic narrative over two films, The Emigrants and The New Land excel as an achievement of Swedish cinema. With a total runtime surpassing six hours, the story blends awe-inspiring magnitude with evocative pathos and intimacy as it follows a family of farmers who, after their son starves to death due to a bad harvest, embark on a journey to a new life in America. Confronted by a litany of challenges when they arrive, however, they brave the brutality of the frontier with the hope of one day finding peace and serenity.
Enriched by the exceptional lead performances of Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann, both films flaunt an authentic tenderness at the heart of their expansive stories. Director Jon Troell extracts drama from true-to-life hardships, making for an epic of uncommon resonance and relatability. It explores the agony of immigration by emphasizing cultural divides, the isolation of the frontier, and the body-breaking labor of working the land. Devastating, expansive, and completely mesmerizing, The Emigrants and The New Land are a masterclass in epic cinema.
2
‘The Leopard’ (1963)
Falling victim to a squandered American release that featured an egregious DeLuxe Color process and downgraded the film from 70mm to 35mm, it is understandable that The Leopard struggled to make an immediate impact on American audiences upon release in 1963. The 1983 re-release restored the film to its original state, but by then the damage had already been done, and The Leopard had drifted from relevance altogether. The shame in this is that it is genuinely one of the most remarkable epic movies of all time.
The Italian film stars Burt Lancaster as Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina who resists the gradual decline of aristocracy in 1860s Sicily. As the aging prince fights against the sweeping sociopolitical change, he slowly comes to accept that he is but a relic of Italy’s past. Capturing the elegance of the Prince’s diminishing lifestyle with vibrant colours, lush cinematography, and several astonishing set pieces, The Leopard excels as an authentic and immersive descent into the final stages of Italian aristocracy.
1
‘War and Peace’ (1965-1967)
A couple of entries on this list used two films to bring the full scope of their stories to life, but War and Peace takes things up a notch. Spread over four films and seven hours, the astonishing adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel brings the sprawling war story to the screen with the depth, enormity, and stunning visual prowess that it commands. Heralded as an unrepeatable triumph of cinematic boldness, the Soviet production focuses on the squabbles and shifting fortunes of two affluent families against the backdrop of the Napoleonic War.
War and Peace is easy to view as being the greatest epic movie ever made. It received substantial state funding, while also excelling with its attention to historical accuracy, groundbreaking cinematography, and its overwhelming magnitude. More than just a display of cinematic might and technical brilliance, however, it grounds its emotional core in the journeys of its central characters, proving itself to be just as adept at realizing complex, character-centric intimacy as it is at perfecting expansive, unrivaled war set pieces.
War and Peace
- Release Date
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1966 – 1967-00-00
- Network
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Central Television USSR
- Writers
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Sergey Bondarchuk