Top 80 Ranked

The Greatest Films of 2007

Defining Modern Classics and Cinematic Masterpieces

Explore the top rated films from a landmark year in cinema, featuring award winning dramas, animated favorites, and gripping thrillers.

Draft Best 2007 Movies with friends and our judges will crown a winner!

About Movies in 2007

To look back at the cinematic landscape of 2007 is to witness a year where it felt as though every major auteur on the planet decided to deliver their masterpiece at the exact same time. If the nineties were defined by the indie boom and the early 2000s by the rise of the massive franchise, 2007 was the year where the prestige epic returned with a vengeance. It was a twelve month stretch that felt less like a standard release cycle and more like a permanent shift in the artistic firmament.

The conversation begins and ends with two films that have since become the pillars of twenty first century American cinema: No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. These movies were released within weeks of each other, and they functioned as dark mirrors of the American dream. The Coen Brothers reached a career high by stripping away their typical irony to create a terrifying, existential chase through the Texas desert. Meanwhile, Paul Thomas Anderson took us into the oil fields of the early twentieth century to give us Daniel Day Lewis at his most feral. Both films felt immediate and ancient all at once. They were movies that did not just want to entertain audiences but wanted to haunt them.

Beyond those two titans, the sheer density of quality was staggering. This was the year of David Fincher's Zodiac, a procedural that prioritized the obsessive, mundane reality of an investigation over cheap thrills. It was the year of Andrew Dominik's The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, a film that used Roger Deakins's cinematography to turn a western into a moving painting. Even the animation world saw a high water mark with Pixar's Ratatouille, which remains perhaps the most sophisticated and soulful meditation on the nature of art ever disguised as a family film.

The cultural context of 2007 added a specific weight to these stories. The world was standing on the precipice of a global financial crisis, and the Iraq War was a constant, grueling background noise. There was a palpable sense of dread and moral ambiguity in the air, and you can see that reflected in the era's output. From the frantic, handheld intensity of The Bourne Ultimatum to the quiet heartbreak of Atonement, filmmakers were leaning into complex, often difficult themes. Even the blockbusters felt like they had more muscle and grit than we see today.

Film fans remember 2007 so fondly because it represents a vanishing ideal. It was a time when mid-budget dramas could still dominate the cultural conversation and when a three hour epic about an oil man could be a genuine box office success. It was the last great year before the Marvel Cinematic Universe arrived in 2008 to fundamentally retool the industry toward serialized spectacles. In 2007, the director was still the ultimate star. Every Friday felt like a major event, and the quality was so consistent that even the runners up in that year's awards race would likely sweep the Oscars in any other decade. It was a rare, lightning in a bottle moment where art and commerce actually shook hands.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

See Top Ten
80
2007 in Good Luck Chuck (2007)
Good Luck Chuck
2007

Cursed since childhood, dentist Charlie Logan cannot find the right woman. Even worse, he learns that each of his ex-girlfriends finds true love with the man she meets after her relationship with him ends. Hearing of Charlie's reputation as a good-luck charm, women from all over line up for a quick tryst. But when Charlie meets the woman of his dreams, he must find a way to break the curse or risk losing her to the next man she meets.

Comedy
Romance
1h 41m
Mark Helfrich
Dane Cook, Jessica Alba, Dan Fogler, Ellia English
79
2007 in Norbit (2007)
Norbit
2007

A mild-mannered guy who is engaged to a monstrous woman meets the woman of his dreams, and schemes to find a way to be with her.

Comedy
1h 42m
Brian Robbins
Eddie Murphy, Thandiwe Newton, Terry Crews, Clifton Powell
78
2007 in Dedication (2007)
Dedication
2007

A modern love story in which a misanthropic, emotionally complex author of a hit children's book is forced to team with a beautiful illustrator after his best friend and collaborator passes away. As Henry struggles with letting go of the ghosts of love and life, he discovers that sometimes you have to take a gamble at life to find love.

Comedy
Drama
1h 35m
Justin Theroux
Billy Crudup, Mandy Moore, Tom Wilkinson, Dianne Wiest

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77
2007 in Dragon Wars: D-War (2007)
Dragon Wars: D-War
2007

Ethan learns he carries the spirit of a warrior who battled dragons in 16th-century Korea -- and one day he'll find a tattooed girl carrying the spirit of that warrior's beloved. Years later, he meets Sarah and dragons soon descend on Los Angeles seeking out the two souls of the ancient lovers.

Fantasy
Drama
1h 30m
Shim Hyung-rae
Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks, Robert Forster, Craig Robinson
76
2007 in Reign Over Me (2007)
Reign Over Me
2007

A man who lost his family in the September 11 attack on New York City runs into his old college roommate. Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears able to help the man recover from his grief.

75
2007 in Next (2007)
Next
2007

Las Vegas showroom magician Cris Johnson has a secret which torments him: he can see a few minutes into the future. Sick of the examinations he underwent as a child and the interest of the government and medical establishment in his power, he lies low under an assumed name in Vegas, performing cheap tricks and living off small-time gambling "winnings." But when a terrorist group threatens to detonate a nuclear device in Los Angeles, government agent Callie Ferris must use all her wiles to capture Cris and convince him to help her stop the cataclysm.

Action
Science Fiction
1h 36m
Lee Tamahori
Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Thomas Kretschmann
74
2007 in Cashback (2007)
Cashback
2007

After a painful breakup, Ben develops insomnia. To kill time, he starts working the late night shift at the local supermarket, where his artistic imagination runs wild.

Drama
Comedy
1h 42m
Sean Ellis
Sean Biggerstaff, Emilia Fox, Shaun Evans, Michael Dixon
73
2007 in Bug (2007)
Bug
2007

In Oklahoma, Agnes, a lonely waitress living in an isolated and dilapidated roadside motel, meets Peter, a quiet and mysterious man with whom she establishes a peculiar relationship.

Drama
Horror
1h 38m
William Friedkin
Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr., Lynn Collins
72
2007 in The Ten (2007)
The Ten
2007

Ten stories, each inspired by one of the ten commandments.

Comedy
1h 36m
David Wain
71
2007 in Southland Tales (2007)
Southland Tales
2007

Set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles on July 4, 2008, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Boxer Santaros is an action star who's stricken with amnesia. His life intertwines with Krysta Now, an adult film star developing her own reality television project, and Ronald Taverner, a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy.

Science Fiction
Thriller
2h 25m
Richard Kelly
Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore
70
2007 in Stardust (2007)
Stardust
2007

In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. His journey takes him into a world beyond his wildest dreams and reveals his true identity.

Adventure
Fantasy
2h 7m
Matthew Vaughn
69
2007 in Blades of Glory (2007)
Blades of Glory
2007

When a much-publicized ice-skating scandal strips them of their gold medals, two world-class athletes skirt their way back onto the ice via a loophole that allows them to compete together as a pairs team.

Comedy
1h 33m
Josh Gordon
68
2007 in The Brave One (2007)
The Brave One
2007

A woman struggles to recover from a brutal attack by setting out on a mission for revenge.

Crime
Drama
2h 2m
Neil Jordan
Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Nicky Katt, Naveen Andrews
67
2007 in Margot at the Wedding (2007)
Margot at the Wedding
2007

Margot Zeller is a short story writer with a sharp wit and an even sharper tongue. On the eve of her estranged sister Pauline's wedding to unemployed musician/artist/depressive Malcolm at the family seaside home, Margot shows up unexpectedly to rekindle the sisterly bond and offer her own brand of support. What ensues is a nakedly honest and subversively funny look at family dynamics.

66
2007 in The Last Mimzy (2007)
The Last Mimzy
2007

Two siblings begin to develop special talents after they find a mysterious box of toys, and soon their parents and even their teacher are drawn into a strange new world – and find a task ahead of them that is far more important than any of them could imagine.

Drama
Science Fiction
1h 34m
Robert Shaye
Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Kathryn Hahn
65
2007 in The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)
The Jane Austen Book Club
2007

Six Californians start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen. As they delve into Austen's literature, the club members find themselves dealing with life experiences that parallel the themes of the books they are reading.

Comedy
Romance
1h 46m
Robin Swicord
Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, Emily Blunt, Amy Brenneman
64
2007 in Resurrecting the Champ (2007)
Resurrecting the Champ
2007

Up-and-coming sports reporter rescues a homeless man ("Champ") only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend believed to have passed away. What begins as an opportunity to resurrect Champ's story and escape the shadow of his father's success becomes a personal journey as the ambitious reporter reexamines his own life and his relationship with his family.

Drama
1h 52m
Rod Lurie
63
2007 in Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
Shoot 'Em Up
2007

A man named Mr. Smith delivers a woman's baby during a shootout, and is then called upon to protect the newborn from the army of gunmen.

Action
Thriller
1h 26m
Michael Davis
62
2007 in Hannibal Rising (2007)
Hannibal Rising
2007

The story of the early, murderous roots of the cannibalistic killer, Hannibal Lecter – from his hard-scrabble Lithuanian childhood, where he witnesses the repulsive lengths to which hungry soldiers will go to satiate themselves, through his sojourn in France, where as a medical student he hones his appetite for the kill.

Crime
Thriller
2h 1m
Peter Webber
Gaspard Ulliel, Aaran Thomas, Gong Li, Dominic West
61
2007 in Meet the Robinsons (2007)
Meet the Robinsons
2007

Lewis, a brilliant young inventor, is keen on creating a time machine to find his mother, who abandoned him in an orphanage. Things take a turn when he meets Wilbur Robinson and his family.

Animation
Comedy
1h 35m
Stephen J. Anderson
Daniel Hansen, Jordan Fry, Wesley Singerman, Matthew Josten
60
2007 in Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
Lars and the Real Girl
2007

Extremely shy Lars finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. His brother and sister-in-law worry about him, so when he announces that he has a girlfriend he met on the Internet, they are overjoyed. But Lars' new lady is a life-size plastic woman. On the advice of a doctor, his family and the rest of the community go along with his delusion.

Comedy
Drama
1h 47m
Craig Gillespie
Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, R.D. Reid
59
2007 in In the Valley of Elah (2007)
In the Valley of Elah
2007

A career officer and his wife work with a police detective to uncover the truth behind their son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq.

History
Drama
2h 4m
Paul Haggis
58
2007 in The Man from Earth (2007)
The Man from Earth
2007

A departing professor gathers his closest colleagues for an intimate farewell, but the night takes an unexpected turn when he shares a stunning secret about his past. As the conversation unfolds, skepticism and curiosity collide, challenging everything they thought they knew about history, science, and belief.

Science Fiction
Drama
1h 27m
Richard Schenkman
David Lee Smith, Tony Todd, John Billingsley, Ellen Crawford
57
2007 in Mr. Brooks (2007)
Mr. Brooks
2007

A psychological thriller about a man who is sometimes controlled by his murder-and-mayhem-loving alter ego.

Crime
Thriller
2h 0m
Bruce A. Evans
56
2007 in The Golden Compass (2007)
The Golden Compass
2007

In a parallel universe, after overhearing a shocking secret, precocious orphan Lyra Belacqua trades her carefree existence roaming the halls of Jordan College for an otherworldly adventure in the far North, unaware that it's part of her destiny.

Adventure
Fantasy
1h 53m
Chris Weitz
Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards, Ben Walker
55
2007 in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
2007

Following a childhood tragedy, Dewey Cox follows a long and winding road to music stardom. Dewey perseveres through changing musical styles, an addiction to nearly every drug known and bouts of uncontrollable rage.

Comedy
Music
1h 36m
Jake Kasdan
John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Raymond J. Barry, Kristen Wiig
54
2007 in Enchanted (2007)
Enchanted
2007

The beautiful princess Giselle is banished by an evil queen from her magical, musical animated land and finds herself in the gritty reality of the streets of modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment that doesn't operate on a "happily ever after" basis, Giselle is now adrift in a chaotic world badly in need of enchantment. But when Giselle begins to fall in love with a charmingly flawed divorce lawyer who has come to her aid - even though she is already promised to a perfect fairy tale prince back home - she has to wonder: Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?

Comedy
Family
1h 47m
Kevin Lima
53
2007 in 1408 (2007)
1408
2007

A man who specializes in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel. Soon after settling in, he confronts genuine terror.

Horror
Mystery
1h 44m
Mikael Håfström
John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack, Jasmine Jessica Anthony
52
2007 in Helvetica (2007)
Helvetica
2007

Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type.

Documentary
1h 20m
Gary Hustwit
Michael Bierut, Neville Brody, David Carson, Manfred Schulz
51
2007 in Planet Terror (2007)
Planet Terror
2007

Two doctors find their graveyard shift inundated with townspeople ravaged by sores. Among the wounded is Cherry Darling, a dancer whose leg was ripped from her body. As the invalids quickly become enraged aggressors, Cherry and her ex-boyfriend El Wray lead a team of accidental warriors into the night.

Horror
Action
Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Marley Shelton, Josh Brolin
50
2007 in The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
The Darjeeling Limited
2007

Three American brothers who have not spoken to each other in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a plan to find themselves and bond with each other -- to become brothers again like they used to be. Their "spiritual quest", however, veers rapidly off-course (due to events involving over-the-counter pain killers, Indian cough syrup, and pepper spray).

Adventure
Drama
49
2007 in Talk to Me (2007)
Talk to Me
2007

The story of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s.

Drama
1h 58m
Kasi Lemmons
Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Bruce McFee, Mike Epps
48
2007 in Sicko (2007)
Sicko
2007

A documentary about the corrupt health care system in The United States whose main goal is to make profit even if it means losing people’s lives. "The more people you deny health insurance, the more money we make" is the business model for health care providers in America.

Documentary
Comedy
2h 3m
Michael Moore
Michael Moore, Tony Benn, Tucker Albrizzi, Reggie Cervantes
47
2007 in Away from Her (2007)
Away from Her
2007

Fiona and Grant have been married for nearly 50 years. They have to face the fact that Fiona’s absent-mindedness is a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. She must go to a specialized nursing home, where she slowly forgets Grant and turns her affection to Aubrey, another patient in the home.

Drama
Romance
1h 50m
Sarah Polley
Gordon Pinsent, Julie Christie, Michael Murphy, Olympia Dukakis
46
2007 in Youth Without Youth (2007)
Youth Without Youth
2007

Professor of language and philosophy Dominic Matei is struck by lightning and ages backwards from 70 to 40 in a week, attracting the world and the Nazis. While on the run, the professor meets a young woman who has her own experience with a lightning storm. Not only does Dominic find love again, but her new abilities hold the key to his research.

Fantasy
Drama
Tim Roth, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, André Hennicke
45
2007 in Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
Bridge to Terabithia
2007

Jesse Aarons trained all summer to become the fastest runner in school. So he's very upset when newcomer Leslie Burke outruns him and everyone else. Despite this and other differences including that she's rich, he's poor, she's a city girl, and he's a country boy the two become fast friends. Together they create Terabithia, a land of monsters, trolls, ogres, and giants where they rule as king and queen.

Adventure
Drama
1h 35m
Gábor Csupó
Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel, Robert Patrick
44
2007 in The Kite Runner (2007)
The Kite Runner
2007

After spending years in California, Amir returns to his homeland in Afghanistan to help his old friend Hassan, whose son is in trouble.

Drama
2h 8m
Marc Forster
Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada, Atossa Leoni, Khalid Abdalla, Elham Ehsas
43
2007 in The Lookout (2007)
The Lookout
2007

Chris is a once promising high school athlete whose life is turned upside down following a tragic accident. As he tries to maintain a normal life, he takes a job as a janitor at a bank, where he ultimately finds himself caught up in a planned heist.

Crime
Drama
1h 39m
Scott Frank
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Isla Fisher
42
2007 in Paranoid Park (2007)
Paranoid Park
2007

A teenage skateboarder becomes suspected of being connected with a security guard who suffered a brutal death in a skate park called "Paranoid Park".

Drama
Crime
1h 24m
Gus Van Sant
Gabe Nevins, Dan Liu, Jake Miller, Taylor Momsen
41
2007 in The Bucket List (2007)
The Bucket List
2007

Corporate billionaire Edward Cole and working class mechanic Carter Chambers are worlds apart. At a crossroads in their lives, they share a hospital room and discover they have two things in common: a desire to spend the time they have left doing everything they ever wanted to do and an unrealized need to come to terms with who they are. Together they embark on the road trip of a lifetime, becoming friends along the way and learning to live life to the fullest, with insight and humor.

Drama
Comedy
Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd
40
2007 in Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
Charlie Wilson's War
2007

A Texas congressman sets a series of events in motion when he conspires with a CIA operative to aid Afghan mujahideen rebels fighting the Soviets.

39
2007 in The Great Debaters (2007)
The Great Debaters
2007

The true story of a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African-American college students into a historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite.

Drama
Denzel Whitaker, Denzel Washington, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett
38
2007 in Hairspray (2007)
Hairspray
2007

Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad auditions to be on Baltimore's most popular dance show - The Corny Collins Show - and lands a prime spot. Through her newfound fame, she becomes determined to help her friends and end the racial segregation that has been a staple of the show.

Comedy
Romance
1h 57m
Adam Shankman
37
2007 in Hot Fuzz (2007)
Hot Fuzz
2007

Former London constable Nicholas Angel finds it difficult to adapt to his new assignment in the sleepy British village of Sandford. Not only does he miss the excitement of the big city, but he also has a well-meaning oaf for a partner. However, when a series of grisly accidents rocks Sandford, Angel smells something rotten in the idyllic village.

Crime
Action
2h 1m
Edgar Wright
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine
36
2007 in 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
3:10 to Yuma
2007

In Arizona in the late 1800s, infamous outlaw Ben Wade and his vicious gang of thieves and murderers have plagued the Southern Railroad. When Wade is captured, Civil War veteran Dan Evans, struggling to survive on his drought-plagued ranch, volunteers to deliver him alive to the "3:10 to Yuma", a train that will take the killer to trial.

Western
2h 2m
James Mangold
35
2007 in Rescue Dawn (2007)
Rescue Dawn
2007

A US Fighter pilot's epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War.

Adventure
Drama
2h 5m
Werner Herzog
Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Toby Huss, François Chau
34
2007 in The Savages (2007)
The Savages
2007

A sister and brother face the realities of familial responsibility as they begin to care for their ailing father.

Drama
Comedy
1h 54m
Tamara Jenkins
Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco, Peter Friedman
33
2007 in Lust, Caution (2007)
Lust, Caution
2007

During World War II, a secret agent must seduce and assassinate an official who works for the Japanese puppet government in Shanghai.

Action
Drama
2h 38m
Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Leehom Wang
32
2007 in The Counterfeiters (2007)
The Counterfeiters
2007

The story of Jewish counterfeiter Salomon Sorowitsch, who was coerced into assisting the Nazi operation of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp during World War II.

Drama
War
1h 38m
Stefan Ruzowitzky
Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow, Martin Brambach
31
2007 in I Am Legend (2007)
I Am Legend
2007

Robert Neville is a scientist who was unable to stop the spread of the terrible virus that was incurable and man-made. Immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City and perhaps the world. For three years, Neville has faithfully sent out daily radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. But he is not alone.

Drama
Science Fiction
1h 41m
Francis Lawrence
Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok
30
2007 in Control (2007)
Control
2007

The story of Joy Division’s lead singer Ian Curtis, from his schoolboy days in 1973 to his suicide on the eve of the band's first American tour in 1980.

Drama
2h 1m
Anton Corbijn
Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Alexandra Maria Lara, Joe Anderson
29
2007 in The Mist (2007)
The Mist
2007

After a violent storm, a dense cloud of mist envelops a small Maine town, trapping David Drayton and his five-year-old son in a local grocery store with other local residents. They soon discover that the mist conceals deadly horrors that threaten their lives, and worse, their sanity.

Horror
Science Fiction
2h 6m
Frank Darabont
Thomas Jane, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, Marcia Gay Harden
28
2007 in A Mighty Heart (2007)
A Mighty Heart
2007

Based on Mariane Pearl's account of the terrifying and unforgettable story of her husband, Wall Street Journal reporter Danny Pearl's life and death.

Drama
Thriller
1h 48m
Michael Winterbottom
Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Irrfan Khan, Archie Panjabi
27
2007 in I'm Not There (2007)
I'm Not There
2007

Six actors portray six personas of music legend Bob Dylan in scenes depicting various stages of his life, chronicling his rise from unknown folksinger to international icon and revealing how Dylan constantly reinvented himself.

Drama
Music
2h 15m
Todd Haynes
26
2007 in The Orphanage (2007)
The Orphanage
2007

A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, which used to be an orphanage, intent on reopening it. Before long, her son starts to communicate with a new invisible friend.

Horror
Drama
1h 45m
J. A. Bayona
Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep, Mabel Rivera
25

Fifty years into the future, the sun is dying, and Earth is threatened by arctic temperatures. A team of astronauts is sent to revive the Sun — but the mission fails. Seven years later, a new team is sent to finish the mission as mankind’s last hope.

Science Fiction
Thriller
1h 48m
Danny Boyle
24
2007 in Breach (2007)
Breach
2007

Eric O'Neill, a low-level surveillance expert with the FBI, believes he is accomplishing his dream of becoming a full-fledged agent, with his unexpected promotion and assignment to clerk for Robert Hanssen, a renowned senior agent with 25 years in the FBI. However, he soon learns the reason for his promotion is to gain Hanssen's trust and find proof that he is a traitor to the country. Determined to draw the suspected double-agent out of deep cover, O'Neill finds himself in a lethal game of spy vs. spy, where nothing is as it seems.

Drama
Thriller
1h 50m
Billy Ray
Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Caroline Dhavernas
23
2007 in 300 (2007)
300
2007

Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, "300" is very loosely based the 480 B.C. Battle of Thermopylae, where the King of Sparta led his army against the advancing Persians; the battle is said to have inspired all of Greece to band together against the Persians, and helped usher in the world's first democracy.

Action
Adventure
Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham
22
2007 in The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
The Bourne Ultimatum
2007

Bourne is brought out of hiding once again by reporter Simon Ross who is trying to unveil Operation Blackbriar, an upgrade to Project Treadstone, in a series of newspaper columns. Information from the reporter stirs a new set of memories, and Bourne must finally uncover his dark past while dodging The Company's best efforts to eradicate him.

Action
Drama
Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn
21
2007 in Death Proof (2007)
Death Proof
2007

Austin's hottest DJ, Jungle Julia, sets out into the night to unwind with her two friends Shanna and Arlene. Covertly tracking their moves is Stuntman Mike, a scarred rebel leering from behind the wheel of his muscle car, revving just feet away.

Action
Thriller
Kurt Russell, Zoë Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito
20

A slacker and a career-driven woman accidentally conceive a child after a one-night stand. As they try to make the relationship work, they must navigate the challenges of parenthood and their differences in lifestyle and maturity.

Comedy
Romance
2h 9m
Judd Apatow
19
2007 in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
2007

The infamous story of Benjamin Barker, a.k.a Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barber shop down in London which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett. Based on the hit Broadway musical.

Drama
Horror
18

When 4 year old Amanda McCready disappears from her home and the police make little headway in solving the case, the girl's aunt, Beatrice McCready hires two private detectives, Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro. The detectives freely admit that they have little experience with this type of case, but the family wants them for two reasons—they're not cops and they know the tough neighborhood in which they all live.

17

When two brothers organize the robbery of their parents' jewelry store, the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that send them and their family hurtling towards a shattering climax.

16

Loosely based on the criminal career of Frank Lucas, a gangster from La Grange, North Carolina, who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War, before being detained by a task force led by Newark Detective Richie Roberts.

Drama
Crime
15

A Russian teenager living in London dies during childbirth but leaves clues in her diary that could tie her child to a rape involving a violent Russian mob family.

Thriller
Crime
14
2007 in Once (2007)
Once
2007

A vacuum repairman moonlights as a street musician and hopes for his big break. One day a Czech immigrant, who earns a living selling flowers, approaches him with the news that she is also an aspiring singer-songwriter. The pair decide to collaborate, and the songs that they compose reflect the story of their blossoming love.

Drama
Music
1h 25m
John Carney
Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Hugh Walsh, Gerard Hendrick
13
2007 in Persepolis (2007)
Persepolis
2007

In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Satrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own.

Animation
Drama
1h 35m
Vincent Paronnaud
Chiara Mastroianni, Danielle Darrieux, Catherine Deneuve, Simon Abkarian
12
2007 in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
2007

Outlaw Jesse James is rumored to be the 'fastest gun in the West'. An eager recruit into James' notorious gang, Robert Ford eventually grows jealous of the famed outlaw and, when Robert and his brother sense an opportunity to kill James, their murderous action elevates their target to near mythical status.

Drama
Western
2h 40m
Andrew Dominik
Why it ranks

Andrew Dominik’s revisionist western is a somber, poetic deconstruction of celebrity and envy. Driven by Roger Deakins’s ethereal cinematography, the film moves with the deliberate, haunting pace of a funeral procession for the American myth.

11
2007 in Juno (2007)
Juno
2007

Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, sixteen year old high-schooler, Juno MacGuff, makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.

Comedy
Drama
1h 36m
Jason Reitman
Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Why it ranks

Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody infuse the coming-of-age genre with a stylistically idiosyncratic voice that feels both hyper-modern and deeply sincere. Its sharp, rhythmic dialogue masks a surprising emotional maturity regarding the complexities of modern family dynamics.

10
2007 in 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007)
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
2007

Two college roommates have 24 hours to make the ultimate choice as they finalize arrangements for a black market abortion.

Drama
1h 54m
Cristian Mungiu
Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov, Alexandru Potocean
Why it ranks

This Romanian powerhouse utilizes a stark, unflinching realism to create more suspense than any conventional thriller. It is a grueling exercise in minimalist mastery that turns a private ordeal into a devastating critique of systemic oppression.

9
2007 in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
2007

Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor-in-chief of French fashion bible Elle magazine, has a devastating stroke at age 43. The damage to his brain stem results in locked-in syndrome, with which he is almost completely paralyzed and only able to communicate by blinking an eye. Bauby painstakingly dictates his memoir via the only means of expression left to him.

Drama
History
1h 52m
Julian Schnabel
Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze, Anne Consigny
Why it ranks

Julian Schnabel transforms a claustrophobic medical tragedy into a breathtakingly expansive internal odyssey. By anchoring the camera within a paralyzed perspective, he invents a new vocabulary for the resilience of the human imagination.

8
2007 in Ratatouille (2007)
Ratatouille
2007

Remy, a resident of Paris, possesses a palate far more refined than that of his fellow comrades. He dreams of becoming a chef, determined to create culinary masterpieces rather than scavenge for scraps. There’s just one small problem: Remy is a rat. When fate deposits him in the sewers beneath one of Paris’s most famous restaurants, he finds himself ideally placed to fulfill his dream. Forming an unusual alliance with a bumbling young kitchen worker, Remy begins a daring culinary double life. Together, they must outwit the scheming Head Chef Skinner, evade Remy’s disapproving colony, and impress renowned food critic Anton Ego, who strikes fear in the hearts of chefs all throughout France.

Animation
Comedy
1h 51m
Brad Bird
Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy
Why it ranks

Brad Bird elevates the animated medium to a level of sensory sophistication that rivals the finest live-action dramas. This is a profound meditation on the soul of the artist, proving that Pixar’s imaginative reach is currently unparalleled in Hollywood.

7
2007 in Michael Clayton (2007)
Michael Clayton
2007

A law firm brings in its "fixer" to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multi-billion dollar class action suit.

Drama
Thriller
2h 0m
Tony Gilroy
Why it ranks

George Clooney sheds his usual movie star smirk for a hollowed out exhaustion, portraying a fixer whose weary cynicism feels earned rather than performed. It is the definitive turning point in his career where he traded charm for gravity, anchoring the legal thriller with a twitchy, internalized desperation that remains his most sophisticated work to date.

6
2007 in Zodiac (2007)
2007

Over the course of a decade, editors of the San Francisco Chronicle entice themselves in the murders of the Zodiac Killer. However, as time runs its course, interest in the case dwindles in the eyes of the professionals. The Killer stops interacting with the public. However, believing he has the answers, an amateur cartoonist from the initial sightings races against time to prevent what he believes is another murder.

Why it ranks

David Fincher rejects the catharsis of the procedural in favor of a hypnotic, obsessive crawl through the archives of failure. This is a cerebral epic of information overload where the true antagonist is the passage of time itself.

5
2007 in Atonement (2007)
Atonement
2007

A young girl irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.

Drama
Romance
2h 3m
Joe Wright
Why it ranks

Joe Wright’s adaptation is a ravishing achievement in cinematic texture and temporal fluidity. It captures the devastating permanence of a single lie through a visual language that is as lush as it is emotionally corrosive.

4
2007 in Into the Wild (2007)
Into the Wild
2007

After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness.

Adventure
Drama
2h 28m
Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone
Why it ranks

Sean Penn captures the restless, dangerous allure of American transcendentalism with raw tactile beauty. The film rejects easy hagiography, choosing instead to find the heartbreaking intersection of youthful idealism and the indifference of the wild.

3

Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.

Comedy
1h 53m
Greg Mottola
Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader
Why it ranks

Jonah Hill delivers a masterclass in high-strung, motor-mouthed desperation, anchoring the film with a volatile energy that feels both deeply insecure and hilariously aggressive. It is the definitive breakout turn that proved he could carry a comedic narrative through sheer force of personality. This role established the blueprint for his career by blending caustic wit with a hidden, soulful vulnerability.

2
2007 in There Will Be Blood (2007)
There Will Be Blood
2007

Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, moves to oil-rich California. Using his son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. However, local preacher Eli Sunday suspects Plainview's motives and intentions, starting a slow-burning feud that threatens both their lives.

Drama
Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor, Ciarán Hinds
Why it ranks

Paul Thomas Anderson delivers a staggering study of American avarice anchored by Daniel Day-Lewis's volcanic, career-defining performance. It is a film of mud, oil, and blood that feels less like a period piece and more like an elemental force of nature.

1

Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide.

Why it ranks

The Coen brothers excise all sentimentality to craft a nihilistic masterpiece of tension and silence. It is a chillingly precise pursuit through a desolate landscape where fate offers no mercy and no explanations.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

The 2007 greatest films list is dominated by a rich variety of genres including intense dramas like 'There Will Be Blood,' thrilling crime films such as 'No Country for Old Men,' and critically acclaimed animations like 'Ratatouille.' This diversity highlights 2007 as a year marked by both artistic prestige and broad audience appeal.

Films from 2007 often explored profound human experiences and moral complexities, exemplified by 'Atonement's' themes of love and regret and 'Michael Clayton's' legal and ethical dilemmas. This thematic depth demonstrated a shift towards more nuanced storytelling and character-driven narratives during this period.

2007 was remarkable for animated features with 'Ratatouille' and 'Persepolis' showcasing the medium's capacity for sophisticated storytelling and visual creativity. These films appealed to both family audiences and adult viewers, pushing the boundaries of traditional animation.

Yes, 2007 was a landmark year for auteur filmmakers including the Coen brothers with 'No Country for Old Men,' Paul Thomas Anderson's 'There Will Be Blood,' and David Fincher's 'Zodiac,' all of whom delivered critically acclaimed works that cemented their reputations in modern cinema.

Several films from 2007 engage with historical and biographical narratives, such as 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,' which tells the story of a man living with locked-in syndrome, and 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,' a revisionist Western exploring 19th-century American history, blending fact with artistic interpretation.

Indie films like 'Juno' and '4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days' were crucial in 2007, bringing fresh, intimate perspectives to the forefront. These works contributed to the year's artistic diversity, highlighting personal storytelling alongside big studio productions.

'Once' stands out in the 2007 films list as a poignant musical drama that integrates original music deeply into its storytelling, enhancing the romantic and emotional depth of the characters' journey, and contributing to its critical and audience acclaim.
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