About once every ten years, and sometimes more often, a film comes out that dramatically changes the rules of the game, sets new industry standards and shapes approaches to filming for many years to come. 
In this analytical article we will analyze the most important and significant breakthroughs in cinema of the second half of the last and beginning of the present centuries.
The Godfather (1972) 
In 1972, Francis Ford Coppola and the film's producer Albert Ruddy did the incredible - the film adaptation of Mario Puzo's popular novel surpassed the original in power by several heads and changed the public's understanding of how gangster films should be made. The three-hour epic, decorated with excellent acting (Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall starred in the film), still ranks first in all ratings of the best cinema of “all time” - and deservedly so. Before us is real magic, a revived world, decorated with three-dimensional images of the film’s characters. By the way, the entire difficult journey of filming the film is now described in the series “The Proposal” - hurry up and read it.
Star Wars: Episode 4 - A New Hope/ Star Wars (1977) 
In 1977, few believed that upstart George Lucas would be able to turn this story into something even slightly better than Barbarella. Alas and ah, in spite of the envious people, Star Wars turned out not to be trash, but the most important science-fiction film in the history of cinema. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher take us to another Universe - in which you believe immediately and unconditionally, and the visual effects of the film even today give a hundred points ahead to all newfangled computer gadgets.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) 
It seems that James Cameron in 1992 reached the ceiling for pumping adrenaline - polished to a shine and thoroughly verified in every mise-en-scène, “Terminator 2” (the film starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong and Robert Patrick) looks like a true standard of an action movie worthy of entry in all cinema textbooks. In addition, the film set the standards for computer special effects that are so widely used today.
The Matrix (1999) 
The “Matrix” of the Wachowski brothers (then still brothers) synthesized many of the breakthrough ideas that were in the air at the end of the last century, and became the very door to the new millennium. Strange, but even in 2022 the picture does not look outdated in any way. The adventures of the heroes Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss are more relevant than ever, and make you think deeply about the nature of reality.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) 
Another portal - now from Peter Jackson, who took on the film adaptation of the novel of the same name, which was unsustainable by the standards of many. Well, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen helped shape some of the most striking fantasy images, and the concept of “visiting a fairy tale” after this film grew into “the fairy tale takes the viewer away.”
Avatar (2009) 
It would seem that “Terminator 2” would be enough to forever inscribe the name of James Cameron in the golden pantheon of Hollywood, but in 2009 the creator again revolutionized the industry with his “Avatar”. Gorgeous 3D, a perfectly told story, sweeping away everything and everyone in a storm in the finale - this is how the highest-grossing project of our time was born.
Avengers: Endgame (2019) 
The only film that could compete on equal terms with “Avatar” in terms of box office receipts was the film by Anthony and Joe Russo. Yes, “Endgame” has a great legacy and a “preparatory period” from many previous films, but it is impossible not to recognize the skill of the creators. A hymn to modern spectacular cinema, the apotheosis of drive - and a subtle, heartfelt story, decorated with the roles of Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson, made the film a diamond in the crown of blockbusters.
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