8 Long Dramas Worth Every Minute of a Lazy Sunday. Cancel Your Plans, the Scores Say So.

Long movies get a bad rap. These eight run long and score like legends. Snacks are mandatory. Phones go in another room.

The last one is older, quieter, and beats a movie you call untouchable.

1. 8
   Das Boot (1981)9.7

   Most claustrophobic Sunday you'll ever pick on purpose.

   A cramped submarine, a crew slowly coming apart, and a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. The early stretch drags. Then it never lets go, and you'll want a window open.
2. 7
   Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)9.6

   Slowest opening ever filmed, and it's still perfect.

   Leone makes you wait, then waits more. It made $5.3M domestic on a reported $5M budget, and its Metacritic 82 is the lowest here. 1968 just wasn't ready.
3. 6
   Lawrence of Arabia (1962)9.6

   Best desert ever shot. The second half wanders into it.

   Metacritic 100 and a reported $15M budget you can see in every dune. The back half loses the thread a little. Watch it on the biggest screen you own.
4. 5
   Goodfellas (1990)9.7

   Rewatch value so high it's basically a hobby.

   Over 1.42 million IMDb votes and a 100% audience beat score. The last stretch turns frantic on purpose, and some people never forgive it. They're wrong.
5. 4
   The Godfather Part II (1974)9.7

   Better than Part I? Close. Still no.

   IMDb 9.0 on 1.52 million votes, Pacino and De Niro across two timelines. The flashbacks earn it, the present-day half drags. Guru's Take: 9.4, a hair behind the original.
6. 3
   The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)9.7

   Cheapest masterpiece here, and it still shows off.

   A reported $1.2M budget, $25.1M domestic, 8.8 on IMDb. Eastwood barely talks, so Eli Wallach talks for everyone. The middle wanders, then that finale happens.
7. 2
   The Godfather (1972)9.7

   Metacritic gave it a 100. I tried to argue. Couldn't.

   IMDb 9.2 on 2.27 million votes and $250.9M worldwide. The wedding takes its sweet time. Then Brando opens his mouth and you forgive everything.
8. 1
   Seven Samurai (1954)9.8

   Seven Samurai beats The Godfather. Subtitles and all.

   Highest movie.guru score here at 9.8, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic 98. The setup is slow and it's black and white. Every team-up movie since owes it rent.

$417.53 says you start Das Boot and end the night yelling about Seven Samurai versus The Godfather.

Share it: X | Facebook | Copy link

Current mood: ready to fight about it