20 Most Important Films Ever

Low on substance, and very short, this is widely considered to be the first film ever.

The first sound picture, and though parts of it may be cringey by today's standards, it is an important film from a technological standpoint.

Though technically a short, not a film, this was considered to be an important step for the medium of animation. At first, animation was nothing more than a cheap gimmick to score some laughs. Here though, it was used to tell a story, and there was music made specifically for this short, making it the first to do so.

While the Censor Board was already in decline at this time, this was the film the practically broke it. Every single raunchy comedy that comes out owes everything to this film that said "Screw You" to the censors. This, in my eyes, is the defining moment when it was discovered film could be used to be provocative, controversial, and shocking.

The first summer blockbuster. It was a massive, colossal hit, and helped pave the way for the definition of a summer blockbuster, a film that was heavy on the action and tension, and light on deep, complex themes.

The first fully CG film ever made, this film reimagined and changed the face of animation forever. It also grounded animation a little more in reality than most cartoons up to that point, which in many people's eyes brought a whole new respect for animation that had never been seen before.

This is the film that led to a gateway of Indie filmmaking. It was made for the incredibly small budget of $60,000, and became a massive success, grossing a quarter of a billion dollars worldwide. This not only considered the film that reinvigorated interest in the found footage genre, but for indie filmmaking in general, and this was especially important in the age where everybody had access to a camera, which meant many more indie films started getting made.

This film redefined summer blockbuster and superhero films, in a manner similar to what "Jaws" did over 30 years prior. Though mainstream at first glance, it dealt with dark, complex themes, and felt more like a masterful crime saga similar to "The Godfather" than "Superman." The result? Both fans and critics were praising this film. Now most blockbusters follow this film as a guide, than "Jaws."