The 10 Most Beautiful Movies Ever Filmed

Someone may well ask: "What do you mean 'most beautiful movie'? Are you talking about the story, the cinematography, or what?" To which I say, "Yes!"

This list is comprised of movies that are beautiful due to their look, or message, or (ideally) both.

10. Lawrence of Arabia

It's hard to say that Lawrence of Arabia is a beautiful story. It's interesting, and Lawrence is a fascinating character, but not sure I'd describe it as 'beautiful'. The cinematography, however, is breathtaking. I had the privilege years ago of seeing a restored version on the big screen in full 70mm. Absolutely stunning and decades ahead of its time. Visually, it changed movies forever.

9. The New World

This is the first of two Terrence Malick films on this list. In reality, every Malick film is one of the most beautiful movies ever made, but this isn't a blog post about Malick, so I'll just talk about the two best. The New World, like all Malick films, contains incredible cinematography. But the narrative is also beautiful. Telling his own version of the John Smith/Pocahontas story, Malick allows the scenes to linger and play out organically. The 'savages' are shown to be anything but, and the squalor of Jamestown belies its claims to 'civilization'. Of course, none of these messages are heavy-handed or even that obvious. Just poetry on film. Terrence Malick is our 21st-century Walt Whitman.

8. Memoirs of a Geisha

The movie version of Memoirs of a Geisha is much like the book version: a beautiful adaptation of an ugly story. The book is one of my all-time favorites, and the cinematography in the film is rapturous. But the story is sad and shameful - a young girl is saved and enslaved by the life of a geisha. I am an avid Japanophile, but this is an unfortunate aspect of their ancient culture. One big complaint (but it takes nothing away from the beauty however) is the casting of Chinese actresses in the lead roles. Don't know if this was a strategy to boost Chinese ticket sales, but there were plenty of fine Japanese actresses to choose from.

7. The Black Stallion

The great Carroll Ballard delivered Malick-like poetry in this work of art from 1979. Much like another Ballard masterpiece, Never Cry Wolf, the director allows scenes to breathe…you feel like you're spying on real events. The second half is a pretty exciting horse-racing film, but the first half is movie perfection. The natural beauty between the boy and the horse is like Clair de Lune on film. Getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

6. The Secret Garden

This is one of the films that is beautiful in every sense. Aside from the gorgeous look and feel, the story is uplifting and humanistic without being preachy or overly simplistic. The final scene will make the most cynical viewer shed a tear.

5. Dreams

A strange, resplendant hallucination of a film. It is probably the most 'Japanese' movie ever made…it takes extreme patience to appreciate it. The opening segment containing the fox wedding is very lovely, very very slow, and will stay with you for the rest of your life. The scene with the snowstorm is endless. Endless. And breathtaking.

4. Wall-E

It's ironic that one of the most human movies ever made is about a couple of robots. Wall-E looks beautiful, but it's really the story that lands it so high on my list. The opening half-hour is as perfect as a film gets. Pixar has made a lot of great movies, but Wall-E is a true masterpiece. Even the sci-fi is awesome, and it contains a very heavy message for our modern age without being blunt.

3. 2001: A Space Odyssey

2001 is universally regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made. But it is also a beautiful film. The docking scenes of the spaceships set to Strauss; the gentle shots of Bowman and Poole going about their everyday lives; the colors and imagery in the final freak-out … visual poetry.

2. Hero

Ostensibly, Zhang Yimou's 2002 film is about the story of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin in 227 BCE. In reality, the narrative is an excuse for a visual feast. Don't get me wrong - the story is great. But the cinematography and set designs are absolutely stunning. As a silent film, this would be a masterpiece. Individual scenes will reside in your subconscious forever.

1. The Tree of Life

Not only is this the most beautiful movie ever made, I personally believe this is the greatest movie ever made, period. I first saw The Tree of Life at a theater in Paris. Half of the audience walked out before it was over…those who stayed gave it a standing ovation. It's that kind of movie. When it comes to beauty, this film is the apex both visually and philosophically. And Malick showing the connections between human relationships and the creation of the universe itself is nothing short of staggering.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.