12 acclaimed films that might improve with a 20-minute trim

Movieweb published a list arguing that a dozen celebrated films are essentially "near‑perfect" but run about twenty minutes too long, saying the extra time often comes from repetition, stretched finales or indulgent side quests.

The roundup names movies across eras and genres and cites specific runtime issues: Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights (155 minutes) is said to overextend in its middle; Peter Jackson’s King Kong (160) stacks Skull Island set pieces; Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar (169) accumulates exposition in its third act; and Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (150) lingers on vote‑counting sequences. Other entries include The Departed (151), The Insider (157), Dances with Wolves (161), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (166), Batman v Superman (151), and West Side Story (156), with the recurring claim that judicious trims would sharpen their impact.

The piece excludes true epics that earn long runtimes, citing Lawrence of Arabia and The Godfather Part II as examples, and concludes these 12 films demonstrate that sometimes less really is more.

Key Topics

Culture, Boogie Nights, King Kong, Interstellar, Lincoln, The Departed