In 1995, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of cinema, the Vatican compiled a list of 45 “great films”. The 45 movies are divided into three categories: religion, values, and art. Some of the films could feature in more than one category and there all worth watching.
Religion
- Andrei Rublev (1966)
- Babette’s Feast (1987)
- Ben-Hur (1959)
- The Flowers of St. Francis (1950)
- Francesco (1989)
- The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1966)
- La Passion de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ (1905)
- A Man for All Seasons (1966)
- The Mission (1986)
- Monsieur Vincent (1947)
- Nazarin (1958)
- Ordet (1955)
- The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
- The Sacrifice (1986)
- Therese (1986)
Values
- Au Revoir les Enfants (1988)
- Bicycle Thieves (1949)
- The Burmese Harp (1956)
- Chariots of Fire (1981)
- Dekalog (1988)
- Dersu Uzala (1975)
- Gandhi (1982)
- Intolerance (1916)
- It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
- On the Waterfront (1954)
- Rome, Open City (1945)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- The Seventh Seal (1957)
- The Tree of Wooden Clogs (1978)
- Wild Strawberries (1957)
Art
- Citizen Kane (1941)
- 8½ (1963)
- Fantasia (1940)
- Grand Illusion (1937)
- La Strada (1954)
- The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
- The Leopard (1963)
- Little Women (1933)
- Metropolis (1927)
- Modern Times (1936)
- Napoleon (1927)
- Nosferatu (1922)
- Stagecoach (1939)
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
-
The Wizard of Oz (1939)