What's so great about European cinema, you ask? Well, for starters, Europeans were the actual pioneers of movie-making - Louis Le Prince with his first-ever celluloid film record, the Skladanowsky brothers with their "Bioscop," and the Lumiere brothers with their cinematograph. All that and plenty more in just the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th! Then came the 1920s and waves of new cinema, such as German expressionism and French impressionism, that inspired new and unique ways of visual storytelling. In fact, the basis of all Hollywood movie tropes come from exactly these old school movies on which European cinema was born and bred. So, if you're in for original cinema defying all possible cliches - be our guest on this European movie list!
You will definitely find some vintage movies here, but don't expect to see any naivete or rosy-colored life in them - Europeans loved and still love to show the true reality with all its darkest corners, unlike the glossy versions that Hollywood gives us. Truthfully, even these vintage movies, if watched today, are still plenty cool, relevant, and fresh, despite being made some sixty, or even more, years ago.
Then there's the modern European cinema - still not giving in to the tropes of Hollywood, but now grown and adapted to the modern-day viewer's demands. However, you won't still see anything shiny in these original movies, except for maybe breathtaking views, flawless acting, and thoroughly unique stories. Even a love story told through a European movie director's eyes is both charming and heartbreaking, relatable and unbelievable at the same time.
Now, get ready for some quality cinema time, as our top picks for the best European movies are just a tiny bit further down! To make your choice easier, we've supplied the first twenty movies with short descriptions. Of course, before pressing play, be sure to vote for the best movies on this list and share them with your cinephile friends!
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