30 Greatest Movies Of All Time

By Scott Campbell /

23. Blade Runner (1982)

Regardless of whether you prefer the theatrical version, Director's Cut or the 25th anniversary Final Cut, there is simply no denying that Blade Runner is both Ridley Scott's finest moment behind the camera as well as one of the greatest and most influential works of sci-fi ever made. Boasting some of the most stunning production design ever seen on film, the dystopian Los Angeles of 2019 is a vivid and immersive neo-noir cityscape that is just as important to the movie as the narrative, which is incredibly complex and incorporates several recurring motifs as well as posing numerous moral and philosophical questions. Of course, the underlying messages never truly overshadow what is at its core a superbly written, brilliantly directed and strongly acted sci-fi masterpiece. As we all know, Blade Runner was a huge commercial disappointment when it was released in theaters, barely recouping the $28m production budget. Critical reaction to the movie was also polarized at the time, but in the passing years it has only grown in reputation and is now widely regarded as one of the seminal entries in the genre.