Films to Write Essays About
Writing essays about films can be an enriching experience as it allows for an exploration of various themes, storytelling techniques, cultural impacts, and character developments. Analyzing films encourages critical thinking and offers insights into the human experience, societal values, and the art of cinema itself. The following list includes a diverse selection of films across genres and eras, each presenting unique themes and narrative styles that lend themselves well to in-depth analysis.
“Citizen Kane”, 1941
Director: Orson Welles
Often hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, Orson Welles' masterpiece explores the life of media mogul Charles Foster Kane, delving into themes of power, loss, and the complexity of human relationships.
Starring: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead, Ruth Warrick, Ray Collins, Erskine Sanford, Everett Sloane, William Alland, Paul Stewart, George Coulouris, Fortunio Bonanova, Gus Schilling, Philip Van Zandt, Georgia Backus, Harry Shannon, Sonny Bupp, Buddy Swan, Don Ackerman, Loretta Agar, John Alban, Demetrius Alexis, Peter Allen, William Alston, Baudelio Alva, T. Lockwood Arbright, Sam Ash, Michael Audley, Walter Bacon, Harry A. Bailey, Richard Barr, Alva Baudena, Brandon Beach, Charles Bennett, Joan Blair, William A. Boardway, Danny Borzage, Robert Brent, James Brought, Morgan Brown, Harry Burkhardt, William Calkins, Porter Chase, Gene Chervow, J.J. Clark, Dorothy Cleveland, Edmund Cobb, Eddie Coke, Nat «King» Cole, Tom Coleman;
Production year: 1941;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 119 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,3;
More information about the film “Citizen Kane” on the website imdb.com
“Psycho”, 1960
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock's groundbreaking thriller redefined the horror genre, presenting themes of identity, voyeurism, and the psychological underpinnings of fear, making it a rich subject for analysis.
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Janet Leigh, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson, Patricia Hitchcock, Vaughn Taylor, Lurene Tuttle, John Anderson, Mort Mills, Fletcher Allen, Walter Bacon, Prudence Beers, Kit Carson, Francis De Sales, George Dockstader, George Eldredge, Harper Flaherty, Sam Flint, Virginia Gregg, Paul Jasmin, Lee Kass, Frank Killmond, Ted Knight, Pat McCaffrie, Hans Moebus, Jeanette Nolan, Lillian O'Malley, Robert Osborne, Don Ross, Fred Scheiwiller, Helen Wallace;
Production year: 1960;
Genre: thriller, horror, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 109 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
More information about the film “Psycho” on the website imdb.com
“The Godfather”, 1972
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola's epic tale of the Corleone crime family examines themes of power, loyalty, and the American Dream, providing a fertile ground for essays on morality and family dynamics.
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Richard S. Castellano, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Al Lettieri, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Abe Vigoda, Gianni Russo, Rudy Bond, Al Martino, Morgana King, Lenny Montana, John Martino, Salvatore Corsitto, Richard Bright, Alex Rocco, Tony Giorgio, Vito Scotti, Tere Livrano, Victor Rendina, Jeannie Linero, Julie Gregg, Ardell Sheridan, Simonetta Stefanelli, Angelo Infanti, Corrado Gaipa, Franco Citti, Saro Urzì, Frank Albanese, Chris Anastasio, Norm Bacchiocchi, John Blower, Max Brandt, Tybee Brascia, Garrett Cassell, Carmine Coppola, Gian-Carlo Coppola, Italia Coppola, Roman Coppola, Sofia Coppola, Don Costello, Robert Dahdah, Richard Fass;
Production year: 1972;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 175 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 9,2;
More information about the film “The Godfather” on the website imdb.com
“Schindler's List”, 1993
Director: Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg's harrowing portrayal of the Holocaust reflects on themes of humanity, sacrifice, and the capacity for good amidst evil, prompting discussions about historical representation and moral responsibility.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Embeth Davidtz, Jonathan Sagall, Malgoscha Gebel, Shmuel Levy, Mark Ivanir, Béatrice Macola, Andrzej Seweryn, Friedrich von Thun, Krzysztof Luft, Harry Nehring, Norbert Weisser, Adi Nitzan, Michael Schneider, Miri Fabian, Anna Mucha, Albert Misak, Michael Gordon, Aldona Grochal, Jacek Wójcicki, Beata Paluch, Piotr Polk, Ezra Dagan, Beata Deskur, Rami Heuberger, Leopold Kozlowski, Jerzy Nowak, Uri Avrahami, Adam Siemion, Magdalena Dandourian, Pawel Delag, Shabtai Konorti, Oliwia Dabrowska, Henryk Bista, Tadeusz Bradecki, Wojciech Klata, Elina Löwensohn, Ewa Kolasinska, Bettina Kupfer, Grzegorz Kwas, Vili Matula, Stanislaw Koczanowicz, Hans-Jörg Assmann, Geno Lechner, August Schmölzer, Ludger Pistor, Beata Rybotycka;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: drama, biography, history, war;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 195 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 9;
More information about the film “Schindler's List” on the website imdb.com
“Pulp Fiction”, 1994
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino's nonlinear narrative and eclectic dialogue invite essays on postmodern storytelling, pop culture references, and the intertwining of fate and free will.
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, Ving Rhames, Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, Peter Greene, Amanda Plummer, Maria de Medeiros, Laura Lovelace, Phil LaMarr, Frank Whaley, Burr Steers, Paul Calderon, Bronagh Gallagher, Rosanna Arquette, Eric Stoltz, Jerome Patrick Hoban, Michael Gilden, Gary Shorelle, Susan Griffiths, Eric Clark, Joseph Pilato, Brad Parker, Steve Buscemi, Lorelei Leslie, Emil Sitka, Brenda Hillhouse, Christopher Walken, Chandler Lindauer, Sy Sher, Robert Ruth, Rich Turner, Angela Jones, Don Blakely, Carl Allen, Karen Maruyama, Kathy Griffin, Venessia Valentino, Linda Kaye, Duane Whitaker, Stephen Hibbert, Alexis Arquette, Julia Sweeney, Cie Allman, Rene Beard, Rhys Kirkman;
Production year: 1994;
Genre: crime, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 154 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,9;
More information about the film “Pulp Fiction” on the website imdb.com
“The Matrix”, 1999
Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
This sci-fi classic challenges perceptions of reality and free will, making it an excellent film for discussing philosophical themes, technology's impact on society, and the nature of existence.
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, Julian Arahanga, Matt Doran, Belinda McClory, Anthony Ray Parker, Paul Goddard, Robert Taylor, David Aston, Marc Gray, Ada Nicodemou, Deni Gordon, Rowan Witt, Eleanor Witt, Tamara Brown, Janaya Pender, Adryn White, Natalie Tjen, Bill Young, David O'Connor, Jeremy Ball, Fiona Johnson, Harry Lawrence, Steve Dodd, Luke Quinton, Lawrence Woodward, Michael Butcher, Bernard Ledger, Robert Simper, Chris Scott, Nigel Harbach, Michael Duncan, Nash Edgerton, Rana Morrison, Steve Rutherford, Cody Zacharias;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: science fiction, action;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 136 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,7;
More information about the film “The Matrix” on the website imdb.com
“Get Out”, 2017
Director: Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele’s horror-comedy addresses racism and cultural appropriation through a satirical lens, opening up avenues for essays on social commentary in contemporary cinema.
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Marcus Henderson, Betty Gabriel, LaKeith Stanfield, Stephen Root, Lil Rel Howery, Ashley LeConte Campbell, John Wilmot, Caren L. Larkey, Julie Ann Jones, Rutherford Cravens, Geraldine Singer, Yasuhiko Oyama, Richard Herd, Erika Alexander, Jeronimo Spinx, Ian Casselberry, Trey Burvant, John Donohue, Sean Paul Braud, Zailand Adams, Jana Allen, Michael Amstutz, Mark Baggs, Lyle Brocato, Avery Frawley, Jamie Gliddon, Kenneth Herrington, Keegan-Michael Key, David Lachmann, Ben Ladner, Gary Wayne Loper, Matthew McCrocklin, Arnold Montey, Evan Shafran, Nathan Smith, Brad Spiers, Jack Teague, Lory Tom Thompson Sr., Tahj Vaughans, Caiden Vaughn, Carvin White;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: horror, thriller, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 104 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Get Out” on the website imdb.com
“Moonlight”, 2016
Director: Barry Jenkins
A poignant coming-of-age story that explores themes of identity, sexuality, and resilience, Barry Jenkins' film provides a rich text for discussions on intersectionality and representation in film.
Starring: Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes, Naomie Harris, Janelle Monae, Mahershala Ali, Jaden Piner, Jharrel Jerome, André Holland, Patrick Decile, Shariff Earp, Duan Sanderson, Caheej McGloun, Kamal Ani-Bellow, Keomi Givens, Eddie Blanchard, Rudi Goblen, Edson Jean, Herveline Moncion, Fransley Hyppolite, Jesus Mitchell, Larry Anderson, Tanisha Cidel, Stephon Bron, Don Seward, Justin Ebenhack, J.C. Gutierrez;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Moonlight” on the website imdb.com
“Parasite”, 2014
Director: Park Seong-woong
Bong Joon-ho's darkly comedic thriller delves into class struggle and social inequality, prompting essays on capitalism, family dynamics, and genre blending in modern cinema.
Starring: -;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: documentary;
Age: 12+;
Rating: IMDB: 0;
“Nomadland”, 2020
Director: Chloé Zhao
This contemplative drama explores themes of economic hardship and the search for belonging, making it a compelling subject for essays on contemporary American life and the concept of home.
Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Gay DeForest, Patricia Grier, Linda May, Angela Reyes, Carl R. Hughes, Douglas G. Soul, Ryan Aquino, Teresa Buchanan, Karie Lynn McDermott Wilder, Brandy Wilber, Makenzie Etcheverry, Bob Wells, Annette Webb, Rachel Bannon, Charlene Swankie, Bryce Bedsworth, Sherita Deni Coker, Merle Redwing, Forrest Bault, Suanne Carlson, Donnie Miller, Roxanne Bay, Matt Sfaelos, Ronald O. Zimmerman, Derek Endres, Paige Dean, Paul Winer, Derrick Janis, Greg Barber, Carol Anne Hodge, Matthew Stinson, Terry Phillip, Bradford Lee Riza, Tay Strathairn, Cat Clifford, James R. Taylor Jr., Jeremy Greenman, Melissa Smith, Warren Keith, Jeff Andrews, Paul Cunningham, Mike Sells, Peter Spears, Cheryl Davis, Kyler Anderson, Nicole Anderson, Sophia Anderson;
Production year: 2020;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Nomadland” on the website imdb.com
Each of these films offers a wealth of material for critical analysis, allowing writers to explore complex themes and narratives that resonate with audiences and reflect broader societal issues.
In conclusion, the selection of films to write essays about offers a diverse and captivating range of cinematic experiences for analysis and exploration. From thought-provoking classics to contemporary masterpieces, each film presents an opportunity to delve into themes, characters, and visual storytelling techniques. Whether it's dissecting the symbolism in a surreal art-house film or examining the socio-political commentary in a groundbreaking documentary, these films provide a rich tapestry for scholarly examination and critical discourse. As we continue to celebrate the art of filmmaking, these selected works stand as testaments to the power of storytelling and the enduring impact of cinema on our culture and collective consciousness.
