Back in the 1920s, Russian formalism introduced a sensitivity that revolutionized how filmmakers perceived the potential of cinema. Sergei Eisenstein and Dziga Vertov are among the greatest and most original auteurs in the world.
Russian filmmakers became pioneers of a unique cinematic style that emphasized refined cinematography and the use of editing to convey deeper meaning within scenes. Here is a selection of the best Russian films, according to prestigious Western ranking sites, that have had a tremendous influence on world cinema.
15. The Island (2006)
Set during World War II, the story follows Anatoly (Pyotr Mamonov), who is captured by the Germans aboard a barge. He is given a choice that will haunt him forever: shoot his friend and survive or kill himself. When Anatoly chooses the former, the decision stays with him for the rest of his life, eventually leading him to become an Orthodox monk in search of forgiveness and redemption. Directed by Pavel Lungin, The Island is an ambitious story about guilt and salvation, filled with a sincere and optimistic message.
14. Burnt by the Sun (1994)
In the summer of 1936, Red Army commander Sergei Petrovich Kotov (Nikita Mikhalkov) is enjoying a family vacation with his wife Marusya (Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė) and daughter Nadia (Nadezhda Mikhalkova). But when Marusya’s former lover Mitya (Oleg Menshikov) arrives, it soon becomes clear that his presence is far from innocent — his intentions are deceptively sinister.
Directed and co-written by Nikita Mikhalkov, the film unfolds on the eve of mass political repressions in the USSR, when no one was safe from baseless accusations of crimes against the state.
13. Hard to Be a God (2013)
Based on the science fiction novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Hard to Be a God tells the story of scientists sent to a distant planet with a backward civilization to protect its inhabitants from repeating the historical mistakes once made on Earth. The 2013 adaptation was directed by Aleksei German and became his final work. The film won numerous Nika Awards.
12. Loveless (2017)
Originally, Andrey Zvyagintsev intended to remake Ingmar Bergman’s Scenes from a Marriage (1974) but instead created one of the best original films of the 2010s. Loveless tells the story of Zhenya (Maryana Spivak) and Boris (Aleksey Rozin), whose relationship has turned bitter after a painful divorce. However, when their 12-year-old son Alyosha (Matvey Novikov) disappears, they are forced to reunite. The result is a thought-provoking observation of a family in crisis.
11. Russian Ark (2002)
Russian filmmakers were among the first to take advantage of the growing possibilities of the digital revolution. Alexander Sokurov’s Russian Ark is not only visually stunning and rich in set design — it is one of the first films ambitiously shot in a single continuous take. No hidden cuts, no camera tricks, no editing gimmicks. It is pure, innovative cinema at its finest, telling the story of nearly three centuries of the Winter Palace.
10. The Cranes Are Flying (1957)
Directed by Mikhail Kalatozov, this is one of the most heartbreaking Soviet war films ever made. It tells the story of Veronika (Tatyana Samoilova), who witnesses the horrors of World War II while waiting for her beloved to return from the front. A powerful film about loss, grief, and tragedy, it captured the hearts of both Soviet and international audiences.
9. Brother (1997)
Brother is a crime drama filled with philosophical questions and existential themes — simply put, a masterpiece, according to international critics. It follows Danila Bagrov (Sergei Bodrov), a young man who has just completed military service and becomes involved with the St. Petersburg mafia through his brother. Unfortunately, this new criminal life takes over, and he soon loses his sense of identity.
8. Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
Part documentary, part avant-garde masterpiece, Dziga Vertov’s Man with a Movie Camera completely shattered conventions upon its release. The film focuses on a typical day in a Russian city, capturing everyday life without professional actors. It is a genuine slice of life, filmed using highly experimental techniques.
Modern cinema owes much to Vertov’s innovative methods. In retrospect, it is safe to say that Man with a Movie Camera is one of the most important documentaries ever made.
7. Andrei Rublev (1966)
Andrei Tarkovsky appears multiple times on this list, beginning with Andrei Rublev. This lyrical film tells the story of the life of the real Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev (Anatoly Solonitsyn), but it is especially remembered for its stunning depiction of medieval Russia. It is often regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.
6. Leviathan (2014)
Andrey Zvyagintsev returns to the list with the film that made his name internationally. Leviathan centers on Kolya (Aleksey Serebryakov), a fisherman living in a coastal town ruled by a corrupt mayor (Roman Madyanov).
When authorities attempt to seize Kolya’s house for the mayor’s benefit, he fights back with all his strength — leading to starkly realistic consequences. The film is both ambitious in scope and bleak in tone.
5. Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Arguably one of the most important films ever made, Battleship Potemkin represents a revolution not only in cinema but in real life as well. The sailors aboard the Potemkin are treated unjustly — they are exhausted, underfed, and subjected to harsh punishment. When they rebel, it only leads to further oppression by authorities. Sergei Eisenstein’s work on the film has influenced countless directors and continues to shape cinema to this day.
4. Solaris (1972)
Andrei Tarkovsky’s science fiction film is often seen as a response to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Psychologist Kris Kelvin (Donatas Banionis) is sent to a space station to investigate strange occurrences, including a suspicious death, mental breakdowns among the crew, and a growing sense that nothing is as it seems. Based on the novel of the same name, Solaris honors its source material and rightfully stands as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made.
3. Stalker (1979)
Another Tarkovsky masterpiece, Stalker is one of the most important science fiction films ever created. Set in an unspecified time and place, the story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic landscape. A man known only as the Stalker (Alexander Kaidanovsky) guides a Professor and a Writer through a desolate zone in search of a mysterious room said to grant one’s deepest desires.
Along the way, he recounts the events that transformed the once-thriving world into a barren wasteland. Made on a modest budget, Stalker stunned audiences upon release and is still widely considered one of the greatest films of all time.
2. Come and See (1985)
Only the very best can surpass films like Stalker, Solaris, and Battleship Potemkin — and Come and See does exactly that. For years, it held the top spot on Letterboxd’s list of the 250 best narrative films before recently moving to second place.
The film depicts the horrors of World War II through the eyes of a young boy (Aleksei Kravchenko) who joins the Belarusian resistance after German soldiers invade his village. Director Elem Klimov combines hyperrealism and surrealism to create a deeply poetic, existential, and devastating narrative.
1. Mirror (1975)
Andrei Tarkovsky takes the top spot with his fourth and final entry on the list, Mirror. So unique and original that it defies categorization, the film explores love, time, family, death, memory, childhood, and what it means to be human — in short, everything. Mirror has frequently appeared on lists of the greatest films of all time, and it is only fitting that it ranks first here as the best Russian film.
