What is the first thing you think when someone asks, “What is the best story-driven movie”? Some people say Die Hard, others could say Red Notice, and you might hear a James Bond or two. Story-driven movies have been a part of Hollywood ever since the creation of filmmaking. People all over the world love turning their brains off to watch some high stakes, action heavy, slightly comedic pieces of cinema. But that’s not exactly what a story-driven movie is.
A story-driven movie is a film that focuses on a cohesive narrative and doesn’t drift too far from its theme. You can make the argument that every film is story driven but keep in mind that some movies don’t really have a story but more of a focus on the characters. Diary of a Wimpy kid is a good example of a movie that although has a story but it focuses more on the friendship between Greg and Rowley than having a cohesive narrative. So now knowing what story driven movies are, does your pick stay the same or does it change? This is the list for the Top 3 best story driven movies.
Before the article continues further it is important to note that this list will not include films that have sequels. However it can include different adaptations of the same source material. For example, The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) and Jim Carrey’s A Christmas Carol (2009) can be on the list since it’s a different adaptation based on the same source material. But Toy Story 2 (1999) will not be on the list since it is a direct sequel to Toy Story 1 (1995).
#3: Elvis (2022)
“Elvis” is a musical biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann who also directed “Moulin Rouge” (2001), “Romeo+Juliet” (1996), “The Great Gatsby” (2013), and more. The film stars Austin Butler as Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker. The movie is about Elvis’s life before, during, and after his fame in the entertainment industry. The film is great at showing you the complexities of the story and makes you have mixed emotions about every character and their actions. The cast do a great job at portraying their respective roles and their contributions to Elvis’s career. The actors also show a huge amount of emotion in a way that feels truly impactful and real. The writing is a little wonky at times and can come off a little cringy but it also can make you feel several types of emotions at once. The story itself is also very touching and sort of unique than other biopics since it doesn’t have the typical ending of one. It does have a bit of a pacing problem but overall it keeps moving along and keeps you entertained in a way most films struggle with. This film is very easy to rewatch and is one of those films where the more you watch the more you find the story endearing. One thing to note about this movie is that Luhrmann likes to have shaky camera shots, bright colorful lights, glamour, and very fast paced sequences full of different shots just shooting at your face. So viewers with light sensitivity may not want to watch this movie. Other than that, one of the reasons this movie isn’t higher on the list is because of its pacing and usage of Priscilla Presley. The pacing isn’t horrible but it can be all over the place. The usage of Priscilla in the movie is very bland and one dimensional to the point you sometimes forget she is a part of the movie. It’s also hard to remember a decent chunk of the characters other than our two leads and some of the main/supporting cast. “Elvis” (2022) is a very good movie that really pushes the glamour of Elvis’s life and gives you exactly what people felt when Elvis was alive, an experience.
#2: Forrest Gump (1994)
“Forrest Gump” (1994) is a movie adapted from the book of the same name originally written by Winston Groom. The book and the film is about Forrest Gump as he navigates life as a professional ping pong player, professional college football player, Vietnam veteran, business owner, and so much more. With only an IQ of 75 he discovers what it truly means to live. “Forrest Gump” (1994) stars Tom Hanks as the title character, Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan, Robin Wright as Jenny, and Sally Field as Mrs. Gump aka Forrest’s mother. While the story may seem all over the place, it truly isn’t. It keeps a very good pace and doesn’t linger on one thing for too long. It also does a very good job at incorporating Forrest into a fictional version of our world without it looking or feeling off. It’s convincing to the point you might actually think Forrest was a real life person. Similar to “Elvis” (2022), it gives off this vibe of rewatchability to it but unlike “Elvis” (2022) the more you watch the movie the more you notice smaller details in the story or certain jokes become hilarious on re-watch. It’s not just the story itself that makes this movie great. The cast feel so natural in their roles. The roles play into the actors strength while also showing truly how great they are as actors. Especially Tom Hanks who puts in an Oscar level performance. This could be considered a perfect movie since there are no real issues with the movie itself. But there is one nitpick that should be mentioned, the runtime. “Forrest Gump” (1994) is 2 and a half hours long. While some will not have a problem with that, it does mean there are a ton of scenes that feel kinda like filler and don’t really work into the story as well as it probably should. It’s a nitpick because you don’t really notice it and as mentioned before it doesn’t linger on the same thing for too long so it never becomes an active problem. “Forrest Gump” (1994) gives a wonderful showcase of the life of a man who never existed but definitely someone we have met throughout our life one way or another.
#1: The Mark of Zorro (1920)
“The Mark of Zorro” is one of the first feature films starring the titular character himself Zorro. The movie is based on the 1919 book “The Curse of Capistrano” written by Johnston McCulley. The film stars Douglas Fairbanks as Zorro/Don Diego Vega, Noah Beery Sr. as Sergeant Pedro Gonzales, Robert McKim as Captain Juan Ramonand, and Marguerite De La Motte as Lolita Pulido. The story follows our main protagonist Zorro, a wise cracking vigilante who stands up for the poor/lower class due to their treatment of people in higher power and slashes them with a “Z” thanks to his trusty sharp rapier. One of the men in higher power is Captain Juan Ramon and Sergeant Pedro Gonzales who hate Zorro with a burning passion. As their rivalry grows stronger and Zorro’s feelings for Lolita Pulido grow stronger too, the lower class get treated worse. Can Zorro stop the treatment of the lower class from getting too extreme or will he get stabbed by his worst enemy straight in the heart? This film is a silent film so every actor had to perform over the top in order to convey what the vibe of each scene was. Because of this the actors got cartoony with the characters in the very beginning but overtime started getting more and more serious to the point where the villains feel like an actual threat. The story itself is for its time groundbreaking for what a story could be when it comes to action, humor, and commentary. This movie has a lot of commentary about the rich, power in government, treatment of slaves and how they are people just like you, women being more than a piece of artwork, and more. The film’s story conveys that in a way that is genuine, wholesome, hilarious, and very interesting. The actors do a great job with the limitations of early cinema with how expressive they can be. The action is wacky and definitely unrealistic but it doesn’t need to be and it actually works in its favor. The music elevates the film into very suspicious but really catchy tunes that help the audience understand what type of scene it is. If it is funny, serious, filler, etc. Overall “The Mark of Zorro” (1920) is a very fun action comedy that has a lot of passion, spirit, and inspiration to the point it inspired a whole new sub-genre of film. The genre in question is the action-adventure style of movies. That is why it is subjectively considered the best story driven movie of all time.
