20 Best Movies Over Three Hours Long

Runtime: 3 hours, 6 minutes

In 1972, following the success (and controversy) of A Clockwork Orange and the failure of his attempts to get a Napoleon biopic off the ground, Stanley Kubrick decided to adapt the William Thackery novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon for the big screen, and the resulting film is surely one of his very best.

Following the exploits of Irish outsider Redmond Barry, whose attempts to climb the social hierarchy of 18th century England leads to a series of duels, betrayals and ironic twists of fate, Barry Lyndon uses spare natural lighting and bold camerawork to tell a story as violent as it is alluring, and as cynical as it is eventually tragic.

Renowned for its innovation, Kubrick's costume drama features a large collection of moving parts, each working in perfect harmony, from its compelling ensemble cast (led by a brilliant Ryan O'Neal), enveloping musical score, and stunning production design.

Barry Lyndon still feels fresh and shocking to this day, and for a career spent pushing the boundaries, it may just be Kubrick's boldest accomplishment.