After last week’s article ended up being far more extensive than I had originally planned, I thought it’d be nice to try something more lighthearted. Thus, I decided to take a fun dive into the often overlooked art of the movie title. Of course, that ended up also taking a long time, but that's just how these things go.
Despite being relatively straightforward, the title has a large onus. It has to be able to entice audiences as well as offer some meaningful aspect of itself that audiences can identify.
Many times, titles will simply opt for a character’s name, such as Iron Man or The Garfield Movie. However, they can also hone in on settings (Chinatown), objects (The Maltese Falcon), events (Judgement at Nuremberg), themes (It’s A Wonderful Life), or something that’ll only make sense after finishing the movie (The Breakfast Club).
Many of these approaches are fine and often succinctly sell their stories in an affective way. Yet, sometimes a movie title is more than a title, but an integral part of the story as well. Perhaps it’s a clever joke that leads into a comedy film or a carefully composed string of words that evokes emotions before the film even begins.
These titles don’t come around often, but when they do, they tend to become instant classics, entering the greater pop culture lexicon. Below are fifty movie titles that I find amazing in one way or another. I unfortunately haven’t seen all of them, but I will gladly explain why each title is a masterpiece in its own right. From playful double entendres to provocative gut punches, these are the fifty best movie titles I’ve ever read.
50. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Inspired by the Stevie Nicks song of the same name, The Edge of Seventeen is a simple phrase that’s stretched to the enormous tempest of being a teenager. It evokes frontiers being conquered, except these uncharted lands are the tribulations of adolescence. The movie delivers on it’s title’s promises, as Haile Steinfeld perfectly plays a soul lost on the edge of seventeen.
49. The Planet of the Apes (1968)
With a plethora of oddly titled sequels, it’s easy to forget just how engaging the original title is. Sure, it has a B movie charm to it, but it still manages to stir up genuine wonder as well. This planet sounds like an exciting new world, at least until the film's ending gives this title an entirely new meaning.
48. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Sometimes, a straightforward title is all an audience needs. Here, Amy Heckerling’s film delivers exactly what its title promises, including drugs, sex, and wild times, all at the titular high school. Yet, its title finds poetry in this chaos, balancing the unbridled fun of youth with the stricter “Ridgemont” and still managing to roll smoothly.
47. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
Sometimes a nice gag works just as well as anything, especially for a comedy. In this Andy Samberg led spoof, the Justin Bieberesque pop stardom that everyone hates is lampooned unabashedly. As such, a subtitle that’s fifteen percent inspirational and eighty-five percent stupid works perfectly.
46. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Oftentimes, great titles have great balance. In this John Landis film, we have the geographical balance of an American visiting the metropolis of London. Oh, and in between is a werewolf, who's comically hidden between geographical trivialities.
45. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The only movie title on this list that fostered months of speculative anticipation, Avengers: Endgame might be the most discussed title of all time. It’s a smart one too, referencing a line from the devastating previous installment (Avengers: Infinity War), while also alluding to the final phase of a chess match. Most of all, this title confirmed it was the end for the OG Avengers, something that pleased fans and haters alike.
44. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
High schoolers and hatred go hand in hand, so this classic teen romcom is aptly named. It follows a cantankerous teenage rebel who becomes engulfed in bets and side bets, which leads to emotional turmoil and eventually the titular list. Yet, that list turns hatred into something more complex, subverting our expectations and leading to a romantic ending that's incredibly satisfying.
43. No Hard Feelings (2023)
Joke movie titles are hilarious, but double entendres are something else. Here, there’s the literal meaning, which comes from the emotional damage caused as Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) tries to seduce a nineteen year old boy for a car. Then, there's the second meaning, as Maddie just can't entice him (i.e. he has no hard feelings).
42. Die Hard (1988)
There are simple titles and then there are simply awesome titles; Die Hard is both. There’s no trimmings, no fat, and no details about character or plot. It’s just pure meat, and that meat is people being killed. With such straightforward brevity, it truly never gets old, regardless of how many times you hear it.
41. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
For Spielberg’s severely underrated thriller, he opts for a title that’s playful above all else. It’s something a child would say on the playground, yet it truly describes the cat and mouse dynamic between Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) and FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks). Of course, the former is a child in many ways, but he’s also a billion dollar thief who ups this chase every chance he gets.
40. Atonement (2007)
Sometimes a title is succinctly wrapped up in one word. For Joe Wright’s period romance, atonement just about sums it up. It's not immediately discernable in this film, but as the story progresses and progresses, the rite of reparation becomes unmistakably and devastatingly present.
39. No Country For Old Men (2007)
Keeping the title from the Cormac McCarthy novel it was based upon, No Country for Old Men explicitly acknowledges the content of its story. This is indeed not your father’s western as the traditional tropes of heroism and honor are subverted at every corner. While the terrain is the same, just about everything else has aged past the heroes of olde.
38. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Few film titles have the elegance of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which was also based on a book of the same name. It contrasts the simple joy of breakfast with the opulent extravagance of Tiffany’s, emphasizing the material struggle central to the film. Beyond that, there's also a great cadence to it, which is why it also became a song title in 1994.
37. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1978)
Spielberg’s sci-fi hit does one thing above all else: create intrigue. “Close encounters” sounds interesting, but adding that “third kind” touch takes this from an exciting thriller to a mysterious exploration of the sci-fi genre. It’s a title that has even become a phenomenon of itself, entering the English lexicon after becoming a hit.
36. La La Land (2016)
Another simple title, La La Land just wouldn’t work without this title. Of course, it’s an alliterative name for Los Angeles and Hollywood, but it also attests to the dreamer’s state of mind both main characters inhabit. That state of mind is then extended with colorful visuals and elaborate dance scenes that could only ever happen in La La Land.
35. So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)
An odd title to an ever odder romcom, So I Married an Axe Murderer is a killer hook. It captures main character Charlie’s (Mike Myers) penchant for self sabotaging his relationships with outlandish stories. But the weird really comes alive in this film and we’re left, along with Charlie, to wonder how true its title really is.
34. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
Few actors have ever lacked subtlety quite as much as Nicolas Cage. Thus, a movie where he plays himself (and also makes out with himself) always needed a bombastic title that’s just a teensy bit cheeky. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent then is a perfect fit, as it could easily be applied to Picasso or Mozart, but here defines the greatest over actor of all time.
33. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
One of the coolest titles of all time also has one caveat to it: it doesn’t really mean anything. Indeed, Quentin Tarantino basically said it was something that popped into his head after seeing some art and it stuck. However, the idea of dogs trapped in a reservoir really seems to apply to the robbers here, wading through the murky waters of the criminal world.
32. Fantasia (1940)
For all of their film titles that are perfectly adequate, Disney deserves credit for crafting something as phonetically pleasing as Fantasia. It plays off the idea of fantasy that Disney is synonymous with, but also incorporates the grandiose orchestral pieces that underscore the film. Fantasia is not only another world, but the desire to experience new worlds via the path of music.
31. American History X (1998)
A title that’s as hard hitting as its content, American History X is instantly unforgettable. It implies something that’s both extremely inappropriate and too taboo for society. Yet, that X is also mighty intriguing, tempting viewers to learn about the most unpleasant of truths, both in American history and our contemporary world.
30. Snakes on a Plane (2006)
While hardly anyone has seen this Samuel L Jackson vehicle, just about everyone has heard of Snakes on a Plane. That’s because it’s a truly great title, one that wears lunacy on its sleeve and invites others to join in. Of course, it’s an awful premise, but it’s presented so stupidly that you’ve probably thought about watching it at least once.
29. (500) Days of Summer (2009)
An indie romance to end all indie romances, (500) Days of Summer's title is quite relevant to its plot. As Tom’s (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) romance ends, he thinks back across his relationship with Summer (Zooey Deschanel), which lasted exactly 500 days. But those 500 days mean a lot more than their length, as this nonlinear adventure shows each day has something to reveal about Tom and his relationship.
28. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)
Similar to La La Land, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’s title harkens on the idea of a Golden Hollywood. This Tarantino story can only exist in Hollywood, or at least the type of male dominated Hollywood that existed in the 60's. It’s unsurprisingly revisionist in it’s take on the Manson murders and many other subjects, but perhaps that’s just LA for you.
27. Dial M for Murder (1954)
As far as thrillers go, Dial M for Murder is an incredibly enticing title. It’s an invitation into a grave premise that promises danger without giving too much away. With just a touch of alliteration and witty wordplay, we’re sold right away.
26. Duck Soup (1933)
For this Marx Brothers satire/spoof of Hitler and fascism, Duck Soup has almost no real meaning. Groucho Marx gave a supposed explanation that was little more than a punchline, but it didn’t really pertain to the film. However, the lunacy of naming a movie Duck Soup nearly matches the fascism that the movie lampoons and is as aptly poetic a title as a Marx Brothers film can be.
25. Ratatouille (2007)
While not all of Pixar’s titles are overtly complex, they usually encapsulate their films in succinct ways. So, for their Oscar winning film about a rat who’s an excellent cook, how could they not name it Ratatouille? It’s clever, appetizing, and likely tricked every 2000's kid into thinking they'd actually enjoy ratatouille.
24. Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
The longest title on this list unsurprisingly comes from Stanley Kubrick’s iconic Cold War satire Dr Strangelove. Like the Cold War itself, the title is dramatically long and aware of its propaganda tinges. Most of all, the film reminds us that there’s no use in worrying about nukes because they're here to stay no matter what we do.
23. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Movies are about passion, so a title of equal ferocity can have a great effect. Take Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a title that’s immediately intense but vividly beautiful in its character description. Also, the portrait carries both an actual meaning in the story, as well as a thematic one in its exploration of the trapped female mind.
22. The Sound of Music (1965)
Although it’s an iconic title, it can be easy to overlook The Sound of Music. It’s both straightforward and abstract, but it also prompts us to ask what music really sounds like. Here, it’s the sound of healing, freedom, and resilience, a sound crucial to surviving hardships from familial loss to looming oppression.
21. The Man Who Killed Hitler and then the Bigfoot (2018)
Few titles ever composed for any medium have packed as much intrigue as this one. First there’s Hitler, the vilest man who ever lived, and then Bigfoot, a beast nobody’s even sure exists. But for any one man to kill both implies that he's someone more mythic entirely, someone who’s story surely must be seen on the big screen.
20. Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991)
Another lengthy title, Don’t Tell Mom actually gives us everything we need to know. There are kids involved, somebody’s dying, and a coverup will soon follow. Moreover, we know this is a dark comedy with a strong sense of humor, one that’ll push farther than a conventional family film typically would.
19. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Like most Kubrick films, this title is as enticing as it is strange. It’s relatively straightforward in its erroneous nature, as it’s flat-out oxymoronic. Yet, the film shows how deliberate we can be in our blindness, sometimes opting to stare into obliviousness instead of confronting what's in front of us.
18. Good Will Hunting (1997)
A phenomenal film, Good Will Hunting has a multifaceted title that’s just too delightful to not enjoy. It names the main character Will Hunting (Matt Damon) and even describes him as good, a description he really struggles to maintain. But the title also applies to the hunting of Will himself, as two intellectuals try to pave a path for the most brilliant man they’ve ever met.
17. John Dies at the End (2012)
While most movie titles gives us a few details, sometimes they only share a single thing. Here, all we know is that John dies at the end. I’ve never seen this movie, and I have no idea what the genre, cast, or themes look like. I only know John dies at the end, and I desperately want to see how.
16. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
A stage play of the same name, A Streetcar Named Desire evokes as much passion as it does mystery. It alludes to the streetcars of New Orleans, a setting that has much dominion over the film, but it also promises that desire’s here too. Like an active vehicle in a sweltering city, desire will barrel forward for better or for worse.
15. Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
I’ll admit, I don’t fully understand the title of this James Dean classic. It’s immediately provocative and oh so dramatic, but I’m not sure exactly what it wants to be. However, that in turn matches the film, which follows a teenager who’s equally unsure of his character in a world that constantly labels him rebellious.
14. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Adapted from a book of the same title, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest offers a little insight into the house of the psychologically disturbed. It takes a nursery rhyme approach to describing Randle McMurphy’s (Jack Nicholson) visit, while using an abstract metaphor for the institution itself. All together though, it evokes a sense of freedom being threatened in a world that shouldn't exist anymore.
13. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
For all of the spoilerific titles, none quite give away as many details as this one. We know who dies, we know who kills him, and we know it’s done cowardly. But by giving away the last couple of minutes, there’s about two hours and thirty eight minutes of gaps left to fill in before we can understand this story.
12. Some Like It Hot (1959)
A movie that was groundbreakingly risqué at the time surely needed an equally provocative title. Thus, Billy Wilder gave us Some Like It Hot, a romcom that turned its pleasure up and turned its nose at the lingering Hays Code. The title itself is an invitation into the fun, acknowledging that the jazz and romance aren’t for everyone, but they might be for you.
11. There Will Be Blood (2007)
While every film title promises something to its audience, few have ever felt as threatening as There Will Be Blood. Of course, bloodshed is a given, but that itself promises violence, killing, and someone deranged enough to foster such chaos. It’s certainly enticing, but it also serves as a warning that these thrills and kills might not be as pleasant as we want them to be.
10. Back to the Future (1985)
With just four simple words, Robert Zemeckis came up with the perfect title for his 80’s time traveling classic. It’s self-contradicting in a way that presents the premise with intrigue and dynamism. Most of all though, it holds the future in a hopeful regard, reflecting the optimism of the 50’s and 80’s while promising a feel good adventure for the ages.
9. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
For just being a simple street name, Sunset Boulevard holds much weight for Billy Wilder’s noir drama. It evokes the Hollywood of the past, the idealized La La Land that no longer exists for our main characters. But it’s the “sunset” aspect that truly summarizes the film, letting us know that among the beauty and struggle, an ending is in sight.
8. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
Endlessly referenced and parodied, this Clint Eastwood vehicle also offers a great triptych of a movie title. Again, it’s pretty simple, but layered progressively so that the rhythm lands with dread by the time we reach the ugly. It also willingly acknowledges that the good is outnumbered here, implying that there’s no heroic cowboys to be found.
7. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Like the movie (and Anthony Burgess novel it was based upon), nothing about A Clockwork Orange exudes normality. It’s mechanically overbearing, while also contrasting with the natural sweetness of an orange. An example of surreal imagery, this title implies a struggle between nature and industrialism, one that threatens the entire idea of what a functioning society is.
6. Do the Right Thing (1989)
Of all the film titles here, Spike Lee’s directorial debut is the only one that’s an active call to action. At first, it seems like a suggestion, as Lee depicts a struggling neighborhood in need of someone willing to do right. But as the film ends and the threads have all been crossed, it’s clear that we must do the right thing even if Lee never truly suggests what that is.
5. Apocalypse Now (1979)
While many films on this list wisely kept the titles of the books they were based upon, Francis Ford Coppola’s film opted to forgo Heart of Darkness in favor of the instantly iconic Apocalypse Now. As soon as it’s uttered, it forebodes with a sense of inescapable gloom echoing its historical basis. While not really apocalyptic, it certainly suggests that the dystopias we fear are closer than we think, offering the violence and unsympathetic characters to back it up.
4. Pulp Fiction (1994)
The only title on this list that comes with a dictionary definition to understand it, Pulp Fiction could apply to nearly every Tarantino film. The term itself means rough, but visually stunning material, that presents, above all else, an entertaining story. This term that Tarantino coined exudes excessive violence, cursing, and style all in the name of providing a captivating story. It heavily characterizes his entire filmography but it's best exemplified by the nonlinear Pulp Fiction.
3. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Beginning the top three is the thought-provoking title to the emotionally disturbing drama, Requiem for a Dream. It’s a title that not only foreshadows an inevitable tragedy, but also implies a remorse for unrealized dreams that many experience. But this viscerally surreal title carries much beauty, especially given the revolting material present in the film.
2. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
While some titles allude to mysteries (i.e. The Pink Panther), Jonathtan Demme's Best Picture winner offers up a mystery within its title. As Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) follows the trail of multiple serial killers, we're left to wonder if the silence of the lambs is a metaphor for the horrific killings. But eventually we learn that those lambs are everything for Clarice, her past, her present, and her motivation for overcoming the odds and succeeding in a brutal field.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
But alas, there can only be one best movie title, and few have ever exuded more depth in as poetic a way as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. With one rhyming phrase, we're given a title that's beautifully composed but supposes that ignorance is the only path to happiness. As the film shows, emotions are burdensome to ourselves and each other, so the science fiction tech that can erase them seems idyllic. It's a terrifying thought to intake, but the film never commits to this position and the beautiful title supports this too. As a title, it might only mean ignorance is bliss, but its poetic composition implies an ongoing struggle between knowledge and peace that every human deals with, making it one of the most universally pleasing titles of all time.
