When filmmakers can combine striking visuals with well-written stories, it can result in some truly unforgettable movies. There are plenty of movies which are beautiful to look at, but this doesn’t necessarily make them entertaining and thought-provoking. An intelligent, layered script is just as important.

A well-layered narrative has the power to squeeze more big ideas into a movie, and the best writers can create complementary themes, so that each element of a story subtly contributes to the others. When these complex stories work well, they offer a lot to think about.

10

The Grand Budapest H๏τel (2014)

Wes Anderson’s Masterpiece Is One Of His Tangled Narratives

Beneath their iconic picturesque exteriors, Wes Anderson’s movies are often characterized by complex, emotional stories. The Grand Budapest H๏τel is a perfect example of both sides of this equation. It’s arguably Anderson’s most visually stunning film so far, but it’s also a heartbreaking story filled with sympathetic characters.

The Grand Budapest H๏τel is a crime caper of sorts, as a foppish H๏τelier and his trusty lobby boy try to outrun an ᴀssᴀssin after taking a priceless painting. However, Anderson mixes this story with an endearing young romance, and a fascist uprising takes place in the background.

9

Porco Rosso (1992)

Hayao Miyazaki’s Mature Animated Gem Is A Treat For All Ages

Most Studio Ghibli movies have layers that are geared toward adults, even if the colorful aesthetic and the main throughline of the story are child-friendly. In Porco Rosso, the story of an ace pilot cursed with the head of a pig takes place in the interwar years, while political turbulence in Italy creates violent tensions throughout the region.

Porco Rosso is a story about a man trying to do what’s right in a world being torn apart by narrow-minded thinking and oppressive political ideologies. It’s also an emotionally mature love story and a meditation on pride and respect. The fact that it’s one of Studio Ghibli’s most beautiful movies, especially the aerial scenes, is a huge bonus.

8

Roma (2018)

Alfonso Cuarón’s Most Personal Film Is A Tender Portrait Of Life

Roma follows the live-in housekeeper of a wealthy family in Mexico City, but this seemingly quaint premise doesn’t capture the scope of Alfonso Cuarón’s masterpiece. By drilling into personal details, Cuarón is able to present a universal portrait of the tribulations and beauty of life that rings true.

Roma is one of Alfonso Cuarón’s best movies, and it’s certainly his most visually appealing. Cuarón took on cinematography duties himself for the very first time, and his stark chiaroscuro compositions are frequently surprising and completely arresting. Roma is replete with striking visual metaphors which complement an awe-inspiring script.

7

Ford V Ferrari (2019)

Ford V Ferrari Goes Beyond A Typical Sports Story

Ford v Ferrari could easily be a conventional sports movie about a team of Americans trying to break into the hyper-compeтιтive world of Le Mans. However, there are a few things which push it over the top, including James Mangold’s gorgeous, stylish vision of the 1960s.

Ford v Ferrari also has a more resonant personal angle than the majority of sports movies. It’s a tender story about an unorthodox male friendship, with plenty of personal details to make the characters feel relatable and realistic. Ford v Ferrari is based on a true story, but it makes a few changes to heighten the drama and enhance the emotion.

6

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

The Oscar-Winner Is A Dazzling Spectacle

Multiverse movies have been a Hollywood trend in recent years, and Everything Everywhere All at Once pushes this common idea to new limits. While many movies have used the freedom of the multiverse concept to create some eye-popping visuals, few have been able to couple such spectacle with an intelligent philosophical exploration as deep as Everything Everywhere All at Once.

It can be hard to peer through the layers of absurd humor and creative martial arts action to ascertain the true meaning of Everything Everywhere All at Once, but the randomness is part of the point. The Daniels create a barrage of bizarre images to cut to the heart of what truly matters in a universe of infinite possibilities.

5

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Paul Thomas Anderson’s Odd Romance Is Hard To Resist

Punch-Drunk Love is a romance movie like no other, because Adam Sandler’s socially awkward loner defies every trope of the genre. Barry Egan has emotional stability issues and he struggles in social situations. His relationship with Lena is the only thing that gives him comfort, and their relationship is undeniably endearing.

In the midst of this peculiar love story, Punch-Drunk Love also has elements of a crime thriller, as Barry is extorted for money by a phone Sєx company. This is what allows Philip Seymour Hoffman to storm in and steal the show with only a couple of minutes of screen time. Like many of Paul Thomas Anderson’s movies, Punch-Drunk Love is hard to predict and filled with pleasant surprises.

4

Big Fish (2003)

Tim Burton’s Inventive Adaptation Is Full Of Joy

Tim Burton’s Big Fish is based on a novel by Daniel Wallace, but the director’s unique visual flair colors the entire story. The film tracks the entire life of a man named Daniel Bloom from cradle to grave, but it’s based on his own fanciful recollections, meaning that it’s hard to tell what’s true and what’s merely an entertaining yarn.

Ultimately, Big Fish isn’t about the process of sorting fact from fiction. It’s an uplifting film about the power of stories, and the positive effect of taking a more whimsical and creative approach to life. Although each chapter in Daniel’s life is richly entertaining, filled with humor and heart, it’s the big picture of his unique philosophy that’s most intriguing.

3

Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019)

Céline Sciamma’s Romantic Drama Is Jaw-Droppingly Gorgeous

Portrait of a Lady on Fire tells the story of a painter who is sent to a windswept island to surrepтιтiously paint a portrait of a rebellious aristocrat. The film’s sumptuous landscapes and masterful compositions are appropriate for a story about art, with many frames looking like vivid oil paintings by Turner or Gainsborough.

Within the confines of an intimate love story, Portrait of a Lady on Fire has the scope and the dexterity to unpack themes of class, the roles of women, voyeurism and much more. Céline Sciamma manages to do so without being overly verbose or cramming the story with more than it can bear. She has a light touch, and she’s ᴀssisted by two powerhouse performances.

2

The Shape Of Water (2017)

Guillermo Del Toro’s Supernatural Romance Is Strangely Endearing

The Shape of Water sets out with an immediately attention-grabbing premise, but Guillermo del Toro’s supernatural romance carves out an interesting and emotional story that means it’s worth far more than the shock value of its concept. It’s so resonant that it’s easy to get swept away in del Toro’s strange world.

The Shape of Water has some elements of a spy thriller, with the Cold War context turning up the tension. This is just one more angle to a complex and gloriously detailed love story that represents the perfect synthesis of intelligent character development and an absurd situation.

1

Poor Things (2023)

Emma Stone Stars In Yorgos Lanthimos’ Unsettling Comedy

Yorgos Lanthimos’ movies are all characterized by his uniquely unnerving atmosphere. He has used this for both comedy and psychological horror before, and Poor Things represents the marriage of these two disparate genres. Emma Stone stars as a woman who receives a brain transplant from her unborn child, meaning that she gradually develops and grows as the film goes on.

Poor Things is probably Lanthimos’ most visually striking movie yet. It begins in black-and-white, with the use of fish-eye lenses and low angles to create a vision of a strange and foreboding world. This makes the shift into explosive, vibrant color even more startling. The visuals reflect Bella’s internal state as she becomes more sophisticated and more intelligent.