Sometimes, just twenty minutes can be the difference between a truly great movie and one that almost reaches that level. Many famous films clock in between 150 and 180 minutes – a length that allows for a grand story, but also risks losing the audience’s attention. These movies aren’t failures; they’re often excellent. However, even a brilliant film needs to be focused. If a movie repeats itself, drags out the ending, or gets lost in unnecessary details, it can feel incredibly close to perfection, but ultimately fall short.
Movies generally hit their best point around two hours long. When they go much beyond that, it often feels unnecessary. Those extra minutes usually consist of scenes that repeat information or endings that drag on. Cutting those parts can make a film feel much more focused and enjoyable.
We’ve left out genuinely long, but deserving, films like Lawrence of Arabia and The Godfather Part II. This list focuses on movies that are good as they are, but could have been even better with a bit more editing. These 12 films demonstrate that shorter can sometimes be stronger.
12
‘Boogie Nights’ (1997)
Runtime: 155 minutes
New Line Cinema
Paul Thomas Anderson’s acclaimed film follows the story of Eddie Adams, known as Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg), as he navigates the adult film industry in the San Fernando Valley during the late 1970s. For the first two hours, the movie confidently and vividly portrays this world, showcasing the director’s skill. With its dynamic long takes and a memorable soundtrack, the film is both humorous and touching, offering a generous look at a unique time and place.
Boogie Nights is fundamentally a story about business, belonging, and putting on a show. However, the movie drags a bit in the middle. We already understand how Dirk’s self-assurance fades, so the scenes involving drug deals and failed recording sessions could be trimmed. This would make the shift from the group’s high point to its downfall more impactful without sacrificing the film’s core themes.
11
‘King Kong’ (2005)
Runtime: 160 minutes
Universal Pictures
Peter Jackson’s King Kong isn’t just a thrilling monster movie; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the classic adventure films of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The film vividly recreates 1930s New York and a perilous journey to Skull Island, focusing on the touching, if tragic, relationship between Naomi Watts’ character, Ann Darrow, and the giant ape. The emotional connection between Ann and Kong is at the core of the film, making it easy to appreciate Jackson’s detailed and immersive world-building.
Despite being almost perfect, King Kong feels a bit too long – about 20 to 30 minutes could be cut. The film doesn’t need so many monster encounters to get its message across. The journey to the island and especially the time spent on Skull Island feel drawn out, with one creature encounter happening right after another. While moments like the brontosaurus stampede and the insect pit are exciting on their own, they become repetitive when combined. Removing just a couple of these scenes would heighten the feeling of danger and make the tragic climax in New York feel more unavoidable.
10
‘The Insider’ (1999)
Runtime: 157 minutes
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Michael Mann’s ‘The Insider’ is a tense and carefully made film about a former tobacco company chemist, Jeffrey Wigand, who bravely reveals the industry’s deceit with the aid of ’60 Minutes’ producer Lowell Bergman. The film explores questions of right and wrong, set against the stark backdrop of offices and parking lots, and is beautifully shot with a distinctive visual style and excellent sound. While thought-provoking, the story truly comes alive through the details of phone conversations and internal documents.
Russell Crowe and Al Pacino deliver the strongest performances in the film. However, the movie becomes a bit drawn out during its middle section, as it repeatedly shows the obstacles faced by the characters. Although the political maneuvering at CBS is interesting, some scenes of meetings and legal discussions revisit the same ethical issues without building tension. Overall, The Insider is a very good film, but it feels a little longer and more tiring than necessary.
9
‘The Departed’ (2006)
Runtime: 151 minutes
Warner Bros. Pictures
Few crime films start with as much impact as The Departed. Martin Scorsese immediately immerses viewers in a Boston setting where an undercover police officer infiltrates a powerful crime boss’s gang, and simultaneously, a mole rises within the police force itself. The film’s tension comes from the parallel and increasingly stressed lives of Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon’s characters. Jack Nicholson’s intense performance as Frank Costello dominates the movie, making every scene feel dangerous.
The Departed quickly became a classic and finally won Martin Scorsese his Best Director Oscar. The film feels like a showcase of everything he loves about gangster movies, with its clever writing and bursts of shocking violence. At over two and a half hours long, it mostly keeps you engaged, though some of the scenes tracking who knows what and who is being watched become repetitive. Cutting down on these repeated sequences would make the ending even more intense and thrilling.
8
‘Lincoln’ (2012)
Runtime: 150 minutes
20th Century Studios
Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln portrays the fight to pass the 13th Amendment not as a political process, but as a deeply human story of conviction and compromise. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers a remarkable performance, completely embodying Lincoln through subtle physical details – a soft, raspy voice, approachable storytelling, and unwavering determination. The film unfolds largely through conversations – from cabinet meetings to private negotiations and personal scenes – creating a realistic and insightful historical drama.
Spielberg’s film Lincoln is a thoughtful and impactful movie, but it sometimes feels drawn out. The scenes showing the vote tally go on for too long, repeating the same arguments and building tension without revealing anything new. The ending, while moving, overemphasizes Lincoln’s legacy – the final vote already made his impact clear. With a more focused edit, the film could have been a more gripping and suspenseful story.
7
‘Dances with Wolves’ (1990)
Runtime: 161 minutes
Orion Pictures
Kevin Costner’s film, Dancing with Wolves, is a remarkably peaceful and thought-provoking movie, and a true classic. It won Best Picture and invites viewers to immerse themselves in its sweeping story. The film centers on Lt. John J. Dunbar’s journey of self-discovery as he explores the American frontier and questions his understanding of civilization. Through his developing friendship with Kicking Bird, his love story with Stands With A Fist, and the shared experience of the buffalo hunt, the film beautifully portrays themes of trust and finding a sense of community.
Kevin Costner, who both directed and stars in the film, prefers lengthy, uninterrupted shots and pays close attention to the natural setting. He uses quiet moments, the sound of wind, and wide-open landscapes to tell the story. This approach is heartfelt and well-intentioned, and many viewers appreciate it. However, this willingness to include so much can sometimes lead to scenes that feel too long. For example, the detailed depictions of everyday life on the frontier – like the journey, taking stock of the fort, and reading lengthy journal entries – go on longer than necessary to show things from the main character’s point of view. Shortening these scenes at Fort Sedgewick could make the film more impactful while still getting the message across.
6
‘Interstellar’ (2014)
Runtime: 169 minutes
Paramount Pictures
Though it’s a grand space adventure, Interstellar starts small, focusing on a bleak and dusty Earth before venturing into space. This emotional connection, particularly through Matthew McConaughey’s powerful performance as Cooper, is a key reason why the film resonates with audiences. The film’s ambitious scientific accuracy, combined with Hans Zimmer’s dramatic score and stunning visuals, elevates the experience to something truly epic.
The docking sequence is still one of Nolan’s most impressive feats. It’s rare for a movie to be so ambitious yet still feel personal. However, Interstellar becomes overly complicated as it tries to resolve too many ideas at once. The final act throws a lot at the audience – emotional moments, complex science, and philosophical ideas – demanding they both feel and think critically. The film would be more impactful if some of the explanations were cut, allowing the central story to unfold more smoothly.
5
‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ (2008)
Runtime: 166 minutes
Paramount Pictures
David Fincher’s film, based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, feels like a hazy recollection – one that’s strangely personal. Brad Pitt plays Benjamin, a man who ages in reverse, experiencing life from infancy to old age with a gentle beauty. He’s less a character and more a representation of time passing. Cate Blanchett plays Daisy, the woman he loves, and their relationship is marked by missed connections and a bittersweet sense of longing.
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The film is a stunning technical achievement, showcasing impressive digital effects that make Brad Pitt appear younger, beautiful cinematography by Claudio Miranda, and a moving score by Alexandre Desplat. Director David Fincher’s signature attention to detail, combined with a thoughtful and nostalgic atmosphere, earned the movie widespread praise and several Academy Awards. However, people tend to remember The Curious Case of Benjamin Button more for the emotional experience it provides than for the story itself. This emphasis on mood and feeling – seen in scenes like the hospital setting, the quiet moments on the tugboat, and the central romance – also contributes to the film’s lengthy runtime.
4
‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016)
Runtime: 151 minutes
Warner Bros.
The movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice came with a lot of hype. Director Zack Snyder portrays superheroes not as simple heroes, but as figures that inspire both fear and worship, and can be used for destructive purposes. The film introduces a tired and aggressive Batman, played by Ben Affleck, amidst the ruins of Metropolis, and pits him against Henry Cavill’s Superman, who is constantly under public scrutiny. The movie itself is very aware of its own public image and the responsibility that comes with it.
Jesse Eisenberg’s energetic portrayal of Lex Luthor sets the stage, while Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman makes a memorable mid-movie entrance. The warehouse battle is a truly impressive highlight, and the music by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL is powerfully dramatic. While the film was initially divisive, it’s gained appreciation over time for its scope. Its biggest weakness isn’t a lack of ambition, but rather that it tries to do too much at once – balancing political themes, character conflicts, setting up future movies, and establishing the mythology – when some of these elements could have been streamlined.
3
‘West Side Story’ (2021)
Runtime: 156 minutes
20th Century Pictures
Steven Spielberg’s take on the beloved Broadway musical, West Side Story, is a vibrant and compelling film. Released in 2021, it successfully updates the classic story for modern audiences while remaining true to its core. Rather than trying to completely reimagine the original, the film aims to recapture the story’s original power and relevance. While the familiar *Romeo and Julietinspired romance remains, the movie feels fresh and realistic, particularly in its depiction of the rival gangs and a changing New York City. The film powerfully portrays the conflict as something deeply rooted in the city’s landscape and history.
Okay, so “America” is just bursting with energy – you can practically feel the streets! Rachel Zegler’s Maria is so warm and genuine, and Ariana DeBose as Anita? She really carries the emotional weight of the whole thing. My only issue is the pacing. The musical numbers are beautiful and clearly made with a lot of love, but some of them go on a little too long. It kind of slows down the momentum and dulls the impact of what’s coming. Honestly, a tighter edit would have made the tragic parts hit way harder and left a more lasting impression. It’s a great movie, but it could have been even more powerful.
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2026-01-10 03:37