Ten drama films that earn their emotional impact, ranked

Collider published a ranked list of ten drama films described as "unforgettable," saying that "the best dramas do not chase tears. They earn them by letting characters walk into choices they cannot undo."

The roundup runs from 10 to 1 and emphasizes films that stick because of pressure and consequence rather than spectacle. Topping the list is The Godfather, praised for making "crime feel like family dinner" and for showing Michael Corleone's slow, inevitable transformation; The Shawshank Redemption is second, highlighted for its portrait of survival and noted as "the highest rated movie of all time to this date on IMDb" in the piece; The Godfather Part II is third, described as a sequel that "tightens the noose" and shows "the exact moment a man loses his soul while keeping his crown."

Other entries include The Green Mile, Blue Valentine, Brokeback Mountain, Moonlight, There Will Be Blood, Schindler's List, and Fight Club, each discussed for why the film "sticks" rather than to recap plot. The article also includes technical details for The Godfather entry—release date March 24, 1972, runtime 175 minutes, and director Francis Ford Coppola—while focusing primarily on analysis of the films' emotional power.

Key Topics

Culture, The Godfather, Schindler's List, Moonlight, Fight Club