10 Best Crowd-Pleasing Movies of All Time, Ranked

If you’re in a crowd and the movie on screen leaves you pleased while the people around you seem pleased too, you might be watching a crowd-pleaser. These films aim for the broadest possible audience and act as the cinematic equivalent of perfect pop music—easy to like and appreciate, even if they aren’t always billed as the greatest of all time.

Back to the Future feels breezy and effortless to watch, yet it contains technical work and a clear approach to time travel that anyone can enjoy. Its broad appeal across ages and knack for doing many things right make it an all-timer among crowd-pleasers. Top Gun: Maverick helped revive blockbuster-level filmmaking after 2020 by refining its 1980s predecessor while honoring what fans liked about the original.

James Cameron’s Avatar was built to please on a grand scale too: sweeping spectacle, clear heroes and villains, and big emotional moments helped it become the highest-grossing movie ever if you don’t adjust for inflation.

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