There’s so little fallacious with an motion film clocking in at about 90 minutes that, if something, you may in all probability discover extra individuals bemoaning motion motion pictures which might be two or extra hours lengthy, relatively than complaining about any feeling too quick. It’s a bit like that with horror, too. Most, however undoubtedly not all, motion pictures in these two specific genres profit from protecting runtimes as manageable/slim as attainable.
Specializing in motion, although, not all the pieces must maintain issues quick to maintain issues enjoyable. The next motion pictures are both wholly motion motion pictures, or belong to some genres, with the motion style being one among them. They’re throughout three hours lengthy, too, being ranked under not by how for much longer than 180 minutes they’re, however roughly when it comes to high quality, beginning with the superb and ending with the good.
10
‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ (2021)
242 Minutes
Picture by way of HBO Max
Justice League (2017) was too rushed, and possibly too quick. It’s a good criticism to make, as a result of it felt prefer it was mandated to be now not than two hours, and the runtime was precisely 120 minutes. In the event you wished to be charitable, you could possibly say, “Not a second was wasted.” However at what value was no second wasted? Shouldn’t the movie simply have been given a number of extra seconds? No, much more seconds.
It was, truly, provided that, a number of years later. Zack Snyder’s Justice League was about double the size of Justice League (2017)and although it wasn’t an ideal epic (the continuous epilogues had been a bit a lot), it was an enormous enchancment. The primary lower of Justice League is greatest averted, regardless of how a lot you would possibly like this kind of superhero film. Zack Snyder’s Justice Leaguehowever, has some nice componentsand is generally value devoting one’s night (or most of 1’s afternoon) to.
9
‘Avatar: The Means of Water’ (2022)
192 Minutes
Picture by way of twentieth Century Studios
Time will inform whether or not this one stays the second a part of a trilogy, or if the collection turns into one thing greater, however for now, the Avatar motion pictures make up a trilogy, and it’s a tremendously jaw-dropping trilogy, too. Say what you need about all of the non-technical stuff, and so many have already got, however in the case of delivering superb particular results and satisfying motion scenes that regularly escalate in scale, James Cameron tends to ship.
However there’s some déjà vu with sure components of Hearth and Ash, and The Means of Water delivers a bit extra of a punch for a number of totally different causes.
Avatar: The Means of Water would possibly effectively be the perfect of the three thus far, nevertheless it’s not the longest. The third, Hearth and Ashis, and that one would possibly effectively have much more motion. However there’s some déjà vu with sure components of that film, and The Means of Water delivers a bit extra of a punch for a number of totally different causes. Or it delivers a number of extra punches or one thing. No matter. Punches, right here, are good. Cameron’s at all times punching above his weight. There are at all times issues to admire together with his mega-budget blockbusters, flaws be damned (in the event that they’re even noticeable/not overshadowed to start with).
8
‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
181 Minutes
There was a lot in Avengers: Infinity Struggle that it’s a bit of shocking that film solely clocked in at about 2.5 hours. To their credit score, they made it work inside that type of runtime, even with so many alternative characters and varied battles being fought in numerous areas. Everybody was united in opposition to Thanos, although, which saved issues constant. However then all of it went to hell when he gained.
So, Avengers: Endgame is about attempting to reverse that victory. It finally ends up bringing many characters again, however earlier than the ultimate battle, it’s acquired a smaller solid than Infinity Struggle. It’s nonetheless an epic with all of the journey performed (a lot of it by way of time), after which the runtime does find yourself being proper on three hours, however justifiably so, since there’s loads of story, emotion, and motion packed into the runtime right here.
7
‘RRR’ (2022)
185 Minutes
Picture by way of DVV Leisure
RRR takes place throughout an precise time in historical pastand the 2 primary characters had been additionally real-life individuals, however their assembly – and far of what they do right here – is fictionalized. Name it historic fiction, then, with a revolutionary spirit and a glee in depicting motion and spectacle, as a result of RRR is a wild epic full of completely large motion scenes that aren’t afraid to get excessive.
It’s excessive whereas additionally being simple to get wrapped up in emotionally, and such a stability can’t have been simple to attain, however that’s simply what RRR manages to do. Additionally, out of all the 180+ minute-long motion pictures on the marketthis is without doubt one of the best to observe and revel in. It’s exceptionally well-paced, and it has an actual knack for ensuring every huge set piece impresses a bit of greater than the final.
6
‘It is a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’ (1963)
192 Minutes
A bit sillier in comparison with all the pieces else, however what else are you able to anticipate out of an epic-length slapstick comedy? The movie is It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Worldand it’s about grasping individuals racing one another to a supposedly large fortune buried someplace, and the shortage of teamwork is the place a lot of the comedy comes from. And the entire journey angle it has additionally results in motion.
Comedic motion, certain, however there are stunts and spectacular scenes regardless, and so a lot of it’s surprisingly enjoyable to observe. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World has a number of totally different cuts, however the longest one clears the three-hour mark fairly comfortably (at 3 hours and 12 minutes all up), in order that additionally makes it eligible to be included right here.
5
‘A Contact of Zen’ (1970)
180 Minutes
Picture by way of Golden Harvest
You might watch about an hour or so of A Contact of Zen and end up questioning why individuals are inclined to name it a martial arts film. It’s one finally, and an amazing one at that, nevertheless it spends three hours doing another issues earlier than it will get round to the well-choreographed fights. And, actually, that’s okay, as a result of the vaguely mysterious slow-burn kind of story it tells earlier on is intriguing in its personal approach.
Characters are launched and developed slowly and, all of the whereas, A Contact of Zen by no means stops trying phenomenal, being visually one of the crucial putting epics ever made. Then there’s preventing, and the preventing is great, as long as you are a fan of the wuxia sub-genre (a distinct type of martial arts preventing in comparison with what you would possibly discover in, say, a Jackie Chan movieor The Raid motion pictures).
4
‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ (2012)
320 Minutes
Picture by way of Viacom 18 Movement Photos
In a bit, there’s going to be a point out of a sure revenge epic launched in two components, and a fantasy trilogy launched as three motion pictures, although these two initiatives are single tales. And the identical type of factor goes for Gangs of Wasseypurwhich is one large film, nevertheless it was break up into two, with each halves additionally being fairly lengthy on their very own. And each these components had been launched in 2012.
So, that makes it attainable to rely Gangs of Wasseypur as one epicand you’ll certainly watch it as a single movie that exceeds 5 hours in size. It’s paced in such a approach that you simply actually really feel such as you’re watching about 4 or 5 motion pictures crammed into one, with it being a powerful gangster epic spanning many years and generations, and succeeding as an motion filmsince there’s a ton of violence and demise right here. It’s a bit like Scarface, Goodfellas, The Godfather Half IIand Metropolis of God thrown right into a blender after which served to you as one gloriously messy but hard-to-resist dish.
3
‘Kill Invoice: The Entire Bloody Affair’ (2003–2004/2006/2025)
Time to confess a fault. This rating initially started with Grindhousewhich is a double-feature that’s technically one which belongs to the motion style, being a throwback to exploitation motion pictures and all. And one a part of that double characteristic was directed by Quentin Tarantino. However together with that and forgetting about Kill Invoice is sort of the oversight, and Grindhouse wasn’t fairly higher than any of the opposite motion pictures being featured right here.
Nonetheless, for some time, it was arduous to understand Kill Invoice as one film, nevertheless it was initially screened as The Entire Bloody Affair in 2006, after which a bigger variety of screenings a lot later, in 2025, which was the primary time many acquired to see it really as one film, versus watching Vol. 2 proper after Vol. 1 ended. It’s maybe the definitive revenge epicto not point out perhaps essentially the most thrilling English-language martial arts film of all timeso it deserves some reward in a rating like this.
2
‘The Lord of the Rings’ (2001–2003)
558 Minutes
Picture by way of New Line Cinema
There’s clearly extra than simply motion to be present in The Lord of the Rings. This trilogy was based mostly on J.R.R. Tolkien’s guide (break up into three components itself) of the identical identify, and battle scenes had been de-emphasized there, to some extent. You bought some motion, however that motion is type of centered on a bit of extra within the film adaptation(s), however not in a approach the place the journey or fantasy components get crushed, nor in a fashion that sacrifices character drama.
Most of The Lord of the Rings continues to be a couple of journey undertaken by two unlikely heroes who aren’t precisely warriors, and all of the whereas, the warfare they’re endeavoring to conclude will get waged round them. There are huge battles, heroic momentsmemorable villains, after which a complete lot of well-earned tear-jerking scenes, particularly close to the top (or ends) of The Return of the King.
1
‘Seven Samurai’ (1954)
207 Minutes
Maybe the definitive epic that’s additionally an motion film, Seven Samurai broke floor again in 1954, and you’ll nonetheless see the cracks such a breaking of the bottom brought on greater than 70 years later. Nicely, that implies destruction, however that’s probably not true, as a result of the groundbreaking stuff right here was good, and certainly in all probability led to the making of a bunch of the already-mentioned epic-length motion motion pictures.
You’ve acquired a superbly written screenplay right hereas sufficient consideration is paid to character growth, dialogue, construction, and the occasions of the narrative itself. Everybody’s additionally improbable on an performing entrance, Akira Kurosawa directs the film completelyand… look, this might go on and on. Like a fan of gangster motion pictures speaking about The Godfather and attempting to say all the pieces nice to be discovered there. This one is Seven Samuraiand it’s also good, in order that’s that; that’s all that must be stated, actually.