25 Best Films Under 100 Minutes Long
Here's a list of the 25 best films I've seen (in order) that kept the plot concise. I mainly love longer films (140 mins +), but here's a few amazing films that really stood out even with their 100 minute or less runtime.
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- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsHarvey KeitelTim RothMichael MadsenWhen a simple jewelry heist goes horribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant.Simply the best film ever under the magic 100 minute mark. Brutal, bloody and bad-mouthed as we can expect from Tarantino, Reservoir Dogs is a modern masterpiece.
- DirectorMichael SpierigPeter SpierigStarsEthan HawkeSarah SnookNoah TaylorAs his last assignment, a temporal agent is tasked to travel back in time and prevent a bomb attack in New York in 1975. The hunt, however, turns out to be beyond the bounds of possibility.Make sure you pay attention to everything in the first half, because only then will the second half pack a magnificent punch.
- DirectorJames PonsoldtStarsMiles TellerShailene WoodleyKyle ChandlerA hard-partying high school senior's philosophy on life changes when he meets the not-so-typical "nice girl."The best and most relatable coming of age movie of this decade. You'll laugh, you'll cry and most importantly, you'll be speechless.
- DirectorDuncan JonesStarsSam RockwellKevin SpaceyDominique McElligottAstronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.Just one of the most powerful and thought provoking movies ever. It's criminally underrated and stunning in every way. A must watch.
- DirectorDestin Daniel CrettonStarsBrie LarsonFrantz TurnerJohn Gallagher Jr.A 20-something supervising staff member of a residential treatment facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend.I did not think it was possible to cram so much raw emotion into such a short space of time. It's depressing and it will make you question life, but it's too powerful to miss.
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsOwen WilsonRachel McAdamsKathy BatesWhile on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.Not so much a movie, as an experience. Funny, ridiculous, well written and spontaneous. So much wonder packed into such a short movie.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsWil WheatonRiver PhoenixCorey FeldmanA writer recounts a childhood journey with his friends to find the body of a missing boy.The perfect coming of age classic. You'll find you invest yourself so much in the characters that it brings a tear to your eye that the movie even ends.
- DirectorJohn HughesStarsEmilio EstevezJudd NelsonMolly RingwaldFive high school students meet in Saturday detention and discover how they have a great deal more in common than they thought.The idea is simple, the premise is genius, the result is a honest, raw and heartfelt story that everyone can learn from and enjoy.
- DirectorDuncan JonesStarsJake GyllenhaalMichelle MonaghanVera FarmigaA soldier wakes up in someone else's body and discovers he's part of an experimental government program to find the bomber of a commuter train within 8 minutes.Fast-paced and smart, with more twists and turns than I thought was possible to fit in such a short film, Source Code delivers a quick and easy thought provoking adrenaline rush.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsRalph FiennesF. Murray AbrahamMathieu AmalricA writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.Never will you find another film with such a perfect balance of comedy, quirkiness and charm. It may be a little odd but in my opinion it's a must see.
- DirectorNicolas Winding RefnStarsRyan GoslingCarey MulliganBryan CranstonA mysterious Hollywood action film stuntman gets in trouble with gangsters when he tries to help his neighbor's husband rob a pawn shop while serving as his getaway driver.Unlike the action film it was marketed as, this is a gritty and slightly disturbing peek inside the mind of a surprisingly likeable psychopathic anti-hero.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsCary ElwesMandy PatinkinRobin WrightA bedridden boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.Despite the sappy connotations of the title, this is one of the most hilarious, fun and adventure filled films ever put to the silver screen. A timeless classic.
- DirectorMarc WebbStarsZooey DeschanelJoseph Gordon-LevittGeoffrey ArendAfter being dumped by the girl he believes to be his soulmate, hopeless romantic Tom Hansen reflects on their relationship to try and figure out where things went wrong and how he can win her back.Usually not a fan of romantic comedies, I wasn't expecting much. However, the flawless writing assisted the honest and genuine performances of the leads to present a profound slice of a man's life.
- DirectorPete DocterDavid SilvermanLee UnkrichStarsBilly CrystalJohn GoodmanMary GibbsIn order to power the city, monsters have to scare children so that they scream. However, the children are toxic to the monsters, and after a child gets through, two monsters realize things may not be what they think.In my opinion the best pixar film other than The Incredibles, and therefore the best pixar film under 100 minutes. Loveable characters and a beautifully told narrative.
- DirectorTerry GilliamTerry JonesStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseEric IdleKing Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on a surreal, low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.The best of the films by the Pythons. Endlessly quotable. Obscenely hilarious. Ridiculous in every conceivable way. Exactly what we've come to expect from this lot.
- DirectorTony KayeStarsAdrien BrodyChristina HendricksMarcia Gay HardenA substitute teacher who drifts from classroom to classroom finds a connection to the students and teachers during his latest assignment.The most powerful, disturbing, thought-provoking and important film on this list. It provides social commentary on everything from depression to mental illness. Everyone needs to see this.
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsHenry FondaLee J. CobbMartin BalsamThe jury in a New York City murder trial is frustrated by a single member whose skeptical caution forces them to more carefully consider the evidence before jumping to a hasty verdict.You don't find out the names of the characters and the film is set in a single room. However, it's compelling, devilishly smart and gripping to the last minute.
- DirectorRuben FleischerStarsJesse EisenbergEmma StoneWoody HarrelsonA shy student trying to reach his family in Ohio, a gun-toting bruiser in search of the last Twinkie and a pair of sisters striving to get to an amusement park join forces in a trek across a zombie-filled America.Usually when the comedy and horror genre try to mix, it ends badly, but this is a welcome exception. Brutal, quotable, hilarious and even a little bit romantic, its got something for everybody.
- DirectorRichard AyoadeStarsJesse EisenbergMia WasikowskaWallace ShawnThe unenviable life of a government-agency clerk takes a horrific turn with the arrival of a new co-worker who is both his exact physical double and his opposite otherwise--he's a confident, charismatic ladies' man.It's quirky, it's confusing, it's science fiction, it's ambiguous and most importantly it's like nothing else ever made. Not sure quite how to describe it other than actually quite beautiful.
- DirectorDaniel KwanDaniel ScheinertStarsPaul DanoDaniel RadcliffeMary Elizabeth WinsteadA hopeless man stranded on a deserted island befriends a dead body, and together they go on a surreal journey to get home.A truly surreal, sad and touching experience. I'm surprised the outlandish concept could be drawn out even as long as it did, but I loved every minute of it. Truly moving.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJason SchwartzmanBill MurrayOlivia WilliamsA teenager at Rushmore Academy falls for a much older teacher and befriends a middle-aged industrialist. Later, he finds out that his love interest and his friend are having an affair, which prompts him to begin a vendetta.Wes Anderson strikes again, this time with a brilliantly crafted tale of a quirky schoolboy. I'm always pleasantly surprised by vast amount of content in Anderson's sharp and succinct films.
- DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsViggo MortensenMaria BelloEd HarrisA mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence, which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very core.Filled with intrigue, suspense and anticipation, a lot is crammed into this brief Cronenberg masterpiece. 96 minutes is more than enough time to paint shock onto the faces of all audience members.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJared GilmanKara HaywardBruce WillisTwo 12-year-olds, who live on an island, fall in love with each other and elope into the wilderness. While people set out on a search mission, a violent storm approaching them catches their attention.Wes Anderson has a knack for bringing to life short and powerful narratives that carry with them wit, adventure, sophistication and a great sense of passion for cinema.
- 19641h 35mPG8.3 (520K)97MetascoreDirectorStanley KubrickStarsPeter SellersGeorge C. ScottSterling HaydenAn unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.There's a lot to think about in the short space of time Kubrick gives us, but the subtle and intelligent comedy helps to take the edge off the dark and existential matters at hand.
- DirectorShane CarruthStarsShane CarruthDavid SullivanCasey GoodenFour friends/fledgling entrepreneurs, knowing that there's something bigger and more innovative than the different error-checking devices they've built, wrestle over their new invention.This is the shortest movie on the list, clocking it at 77 minutes. It is also the single most confusing film of all time. Anything saying it isn't is lying. Kudos to you if you can figure out even half of it.