The Best Epic Movies of All Time According to the AFI

"Epic" is not precisely a film genre most people might think of. However, The American Film Institute does, defining it as "a genre of large-scale films set in a cinematic interpretation of the past." Under this definition, most sword-and-sandal films qualify, as do historical blockbusters, even those that might incorporate magical or fantastical elements into their plots. As part of their 2008 celebration of cinema, the AFI presented their 10 Top 10, honoring the ten greatest American movies across ten classic film genres. Their choices for the ten best epic movies should not surprise fans, as they include some of the film industry's most famous and beloved movies.