Collider has published a ranked list of the ten greatest "epic" films made over the past 80 years, celebrating movies distinguished by their ambitious scale, whether in sweeping war dramas, historical biopics or grand-scale storytelling. The piece argues that while size alone doesn't guarantee quality, all genuine epics share an undeniable ambition, and this selection highlights those that fully achieve that ambition.

Among the films featured are Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk" (2017), praised for its immersive three-perspective structure covering land, sea and air during the WWII evacuation; Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" (1992), anchored by Denzel Washington's performance chronicling the civil rights leader's life; and Steven Spielberg's Holocaust drama "Schindler's List" (1993). The list spans decades and genres, reflecting how war films, biopics and dramas have each produced landmark large-scale cinema.