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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:Ben_Hur.jpg|link=Ben Hur|right|The poster art alone is freakin' epic!]]
[[File:Ben Hur.jpg|link=Ben-Hur|frame|The poster art alone is freakin' epic!]]


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{{quote|'''Don Wilson:''' Orson, what's the title of this picture you're making?
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'''[[Orson Welles]]:''' Well, I've called my story very simply ''The March of Destiny,'' and it deals with everything that ever happened. From the beginning of creation to the present day.
|''[[The Jack Benny Program]]'', March 21, 1943}}


⚫
'''Epic Movies''' are ''movie'' movies. These movies are what make Hollywood ''Hollywood''. These movies are so big they need ''italic emphasis''. These movies are what we think of when we think of the stars getting out of limousines to walk down red carpets while being shot by the paparazzi and entering rooms with grand staircases and lit by chandeliers. The grand, gigantic, sweeping, glossy, flamboyant spectacles that define and are the triumphs of the film industry. The scope of these Greatest Stories Ever Filmed and the amount of time and money invested in them means that only one comes along every few years. 5 years in the making! 3-and-a-half hours long! Two [[intermission]]s! $200,000,000 budget! [[Loads and Loads of Characters|50,000 cast members]]! [[All-Star Cast]]! A+ list actors! [[Oscar Bait]] to the core! Coming soon to an IMAX theater near you! These are the ''[[War and Peace]]s'' and ''[[Moby Dick]]s'' of cinema. If they were books, they'd be [[Doorstopper]]s (especially if they're adapted from books that ''are'' Doorstoppers.)
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{{quote|'''Don Wilson:''' Orson, what's the title of this picture you're making?<br />
⚫
'''[[Orson Welles]]:''' Well, I've called my story very simply ''The March of Destiny,'' and it deals with everything that ever happened. From the beginning of creation to the present day.|''[[The Jack Benny Program]]'', March 21, 1943}}


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In short, the direct inversion of the [[B-Movie]] or the [[Short Film]].
⚫
[[Epic Movie|Epic Movies]] are ''movie'' movies. These movies are what make Hollywood ''Hollywood''. These movies are so big they need ''italic emphasis''. These movies are what we think of when we think of the stars getting out of limousines to walk down red carpets while being shot by the paparazzi and entering rooms with grand staircases and lit by chandeliers. The grand, gigantic, sweeping, glossy, flamboyant spectacles that define and are the triumphs of the film industry. The scope of these Greatest Stories Ever Filmed and the amount of time and money invested in them means that only one comes along every few years. 5 years in the making! 3-and-a-half hours long! Two [[Intermission|intermissions]]! $200,000,000 budget! 50,000 cast members! [[All Star Cast]]! A+ list actors! [[Oscar Bait]] to the core! Coming soon to an IMAX theater near you! These are the ''[[War and Peace|War and Peaces]]'' and ''[[Moby Dick|Moby Dicks]]'' of cinema. If they were books, they'd be [[Doorstopper|Doorstoppers]] (especially if they're adapted from books that ''are'' Doorstoppers.)


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[[Cliché Storm|Often, these movies are somewhat hammy and contrived]]. [[Tropes Are Not Bad|But that's precisely why they're so successful and why one enjoys watching them]]. They evoke the feeling of reading one of aforementioned great novels of our time. They are representations of quintessential human fantasies and fables. Such movies are usually darlings of critics and audiences alike. However, if things get [[World of Ham|too hammy]], the movie crosses over the line from charming to silly, and critical reception of them can be lukewarm at best and scathing at worst (such was to be the fate of the ambitious but ineptly executed ''[[Caligula]]'' and ''[[Cleopatra]]'' - and even modern films like ''[[Waterworld]]'').
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In short, the direct inversion of the [[B Movie]].


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An '''Epic Movie''' should have a) dramatic ambitions of some sort and b) epic scope. If a movie is artistically ambitious, but focuses on a [[Minimalist Cast|small number of characters]], it probably isn't an '''Epic Movie'''. Exceptions are rare: ''[[Das Boot]]'' and ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' are possible examples of films with a claustrophobic setting that are epic in scope.
⚫
[[Cliche Storm|Often, these movies are somewhat hammy and contrived]]. [[Tropes Are Not Bad|But that's precisely why they're so successful and why one enjoys watching them]]. They evoke the feeling of reading one of aforementioned great novels of our time. They are representations of quintessential human fantasies and fables. Such movies are usually darlings of critics and audiences alike. However, if things get [[World of Ham|too hammy]], the movie crosses over the line from charming to silly, and critical reception of them can be lukewarm at best and scathing at worst (such was to be the fate of the ambitious but ineptly executed ''[[Caligula]]'' and ''[[Cleopatra (Film)|Cleopatra]]'' - and even modern films like ''[[Waterworld (Film)|Waterworld]]'').


⚫
Genres especially prone to epic treatment include [[Sword and Sandal]], [[Historical Fiction]], [[High Fantasy]], [[Space Opera]]. Failed attempts are often a rich source of [[Narm]] and [[So Bad It's Good]]. See also [[Doing It for the Art]], [[Loads and Loads of Characters]], [[Costume Porn]], [[Scenery Porn]].
⚫
An [[Epic Movie]] should have a) dramatic ambitions of some sort and b) epic scope. If a movie is artistically ambitious, but focuses on a [[Minimalist Cast|small number of characters]], it probably isn't an [[Epic Movie]]. Exceptions are rare: ''[[Das Boot]]'' and ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (Film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' are possible examples of films with a claustrophobic setting that are epic in scope.

⚫
Genres especially prone to epic treatment include [[Sword and Sandal]], [[Historical Fiction]], [[High Fantasy]], [[Space Opera]]. Failed attempts are often a rich source of [[Narm]] and [[So Bad Its Good]]. See also [[Doing It for The Art]], [[Loads and Loads of Characters]], [[Costume Porn]], [[Scenery Porn]].


Not to be confused with a [[Summer Blockbuster]]. While superficially similar, that is a separate and distinct offshoot often playing in the same genres. Though it might have a similarly huge budget and scale, it usually isn't as plot-heavy or artistically ambitious. A good way to think of it would be "[[Summer Blockbuster]] [[X Meets Y|meets]] [[Oscar Bait]]."
Not to be confused with a [[Summer Blockbuster]]. While superficially similar, that is a separate and distinct offshoot often playing in the same genres. Though it might have a similarly huge budget and scale, it usually isn't as plot-heavy or artistically ambitious. A good way to think of it would be "[[Summer Blockbuster]] [[X Meets Y|meets]] [[Oscar Bait]]."


Not all [[Oscar Bait]] is this: A period drama may count, if it involves [[Stuff Blowing Up|a war]] at [[During the War|some point]], but probably not a dark drama about the mind of a killer or three generations of people living in a house. Generally speaking, a [[Disaster Movie]] or [[Kaiju|Giant Monster]] film is a type of [[Summer Blockbuster]] that is ''not'' described as [[The Epic|"An Epic"]]. It may be "epic" in the [[Totally Radical]] sense, or an "event movie" due to visuals alone -- terms which generally describe any [[Summer Blockbuster]], but that is different. These are event films [[Kneel Before Zod|by definition]], due to subject matter that merely demands such treatment. [[The Epic|Epicosity]] must ensue, so the list is necessarily limited.
Not all [[Oscar Bait]] is this: A period drama may count, if it involves [[Stuff Blowing Up|a war]] at [[During the War|some point]], but probably not a dark drama about the mind of a killer or three generations of people living in a house. Generally speaking, a [[Disaster Movie]] or [[Kaiju|Giant Monster]] film is a type of [[Summer Blockbuster]] that is ''not'' described as [[The Epic|"An Epic"]]. It may be "epic" in the [[Totally Radical]] sense, or an "event movie" due to visuals alone—terms which generally describe any [[Summer Blockbuster]], but that is different. These are event films [[Kneel Before Zod|by definition]], due to subject matter that merely demands such treatment. [[The Epic|Epicosity]] must ensue, so the list is necessarily limited.


These tend to come in waves, egged on by some new technology that makes the studios feel the go-see-a-movie-in-a-theater business model is threatened. Radio in the '30s, TV in the '50s and home video in the late '70s/early'80s all sparked waves of Epic Movies, and now it's digital downloading's turn.
These tend to come in waves, egged on by some new technology that makes the studios feel the go-see-a-movie-in-a-theater business model is threatened. Radio in the '30s, TV in the '50s and home video in the late '70s/early'80s all sparked waves of Epic Movies, and now it's digital downloading's turn.
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Not the same thing as a [[Big Damn Movie]], which is an [[The Movie|adaptation]] that [[Cerebus Syndrome|ups the stakes]] for the characters from an existing show.
Not the same thing as a [[Big Damn Movie]], which is an [[The Movie|adaptation]] that [[Cerebus Syndrome|ups the stakes]] for the characters from an existing show.


Also not to be confused with [[Seltzer and Friedberg]]'s ''[[Epic Movie (Film)|Epic Movie]]'', which is this genre [[In Name Only]].
Also not to be confused with [[Seltzer and Friedberg]]'s ''[[Seltzer and Friedberg|Epic Movie]]'', which is this genre [[In Name Only]].

{{examples|Examples}}
{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
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* ''[[Akira]]''
* ''[[Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise]]''
* [[Hayao Miyazaki]] films:
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** ''[[Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind]]''
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** ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'' is one of [[Anime]]'s biggest examples.
** ''[[Spirited Away]]'', becoming the highest grossing anime film for nineteen years.
** ''[[Howl's Moving Castle (anime)|Howl's Moving Castle]]''


== Film ==
* ''[[Novecento|1900]]''
* ''[[Novecento|1900]]''
* ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (Film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]''
* ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]''
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* ''[[Akira (Manga)|Akira]]''
* ''The Alamo'' (both the 1960 [[John Wayne]] directed version and the 2003 version with Billy Bob Thorton as [[Davy Crockett]].
* ''The Alamo'' (both the 1960 [[John Wayne]] directed version and the 2003 version with Billy Bob Thorton as [[Davy Crockett]].
* ''[[Alexander Nevsky]]''
* ''[[Alexander Nevsky]]''
* ''[[All Quiet On the Western Front (Literature)|All Quiet On the Western Front]]''
* ''[[All Quiet on the Western Front]]''
* ''[[Apocalypse Now]]''
* ''[[Apocalypse Now]]''
* ''[[Apocalypto]]''
* ''[[Apocalypto]]''
* ''[[Armageddon]]''
* ''[[Armageddon]]''
* ''[[Around the World In Eighty Days (Literature)|Around the World In Eighty Days]]''
* ''[[Around the World in Eighty Days]]''
* ''[[Australia (2008 film)|Australia]]''
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* ''[[Asura's Wrath]]'': a rare attempted [[Video Game]] example of this.
* ''[[Australia]]''
* ''[[Avatar (film)|Avatar]]''
* ''[[Avatar (Film)|Avatar]]''
* ''[[The Avengers (film)|The Avengers]]''
* ''[[The Avengers (Film)|The Avengers]]''
* ''[[The Battleship Potemkin]]''
* ''[[The Battleship Potemkin]]''
* ''[[Ben Hur]]''
* ''[[Ben-Hur]]''
* ''[[Beowulf (Film)|Beowulf]]''
* ''[[Beowulf (film)|Beowulf]]''
* ''[[The Big Trail]]'' The 1930 epic western that was supposed to turn [[John Wayne]] into a star but it flopped and instead stalled his career until ''[[Stagecoach]]'' nine years later.
* ''[[The Big Trail]]'' The 1930 epic western that was supposed to turn [[John Wayne]] into a star but it flopped and instead stalled his career until ''[[Stagecoach]]'' nine years later.
* ''[[The Big Country]]''
* ''[[The Big Country]]''
* ''[[The Birth of a Nation (Film)|The Birth of a Nation]]'', [[Trope Maker]] / [[Ur Example]]
* ''[[The Birth of a Nation]]'', [[Trope Maker]] and [[Ur Example]]
* ''[[Braveheart (Film)|Braveheart]]''
* ''[[Braveheart]]''
* ''[[A Bridge Too Far]]''
* ''[[A Bridge Too Far]]''
* ''[[The Bridge On the River Kwai]]''.
* ''[[The Bridge on the River Kwai]]''.
* ''[[Cabiria]]''
* ''[[Cabiria]]''
* ''[[Caligula]]'' - Possibly the only epic move, certainly the only one with [[Malcolm McDowell]], [[Helen Mirren]], Peter O'Toole and Sir John Gielgud, to contain [[Explicit Content|unsimulated hardcore sex]].
* ''[[Caligula]]'' - Possibly the only epic move, certainly the only one with [[Malcolm McDowell]], [[Helen Mirren]], Peter O'Toole and Sir John Gielgud, to contain [[Explicit Content|unsimulated hardcore sex]].
* ''[[Cleopatra (Film)|Cleopatra]]''
* ''[[Cleopatra]]''
* ''[[Citizen Kane (Film)|Citizen Kane]]''
* ''[[Citizen Kane]]''
* ''[[Cold Mountain]]''
* ''[[Cold Mountain]]''
* ''[[Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon]]''
* ''[[Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]''
* ''[[The Dark Knight]]''
* ''[[The Dark Knight]]''
* ''[[Das Boot]]''
* ''[[Das Boot]]''
* ''[[Duel In The Sun]]''
* ''[[Duel In The Sun]]''
* ''[[Dune]]''
* ''[[Dune]]''
* ''[[Doctor Zhivago (Film)|Doctor Zhivago]]''
* ''[[Doctor Zhivago (film)|Doctor Zhivago]]''
* ''[[El Cid (Film)|El Cid]]''
* ''[[El Cid]]''
* ''[[Empire of the Sun (Film)|Empire of the Sun]]''
* ''[[Empire of the Sun (film)|Empire of the Sun]]''
* ''[[The English Patient]]''
* ''[[The English Patient]]''
* ''[[Enter the Dragon]]''
* ''[[Enter the Dragon]]''
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* ''[[Gettysburg]]''
* ''[[Gettysburg]]''
* ''[[Giant]]''
* ''[[Giant]]''
* ''[[Gladiator (Film)|Gladiator]]''
* ''[[Gladiator (film)|Gladiator]]''
* ''[[The Godfather (Film)|The Godfather]] I & II''
* ''[[The Godfather]] I & II''
* ''[[Gojira (Film)|Godzilla]]'' (The original Japanese film.)
* ''[[Gojira (film)|Godzilla]]'' (The original Japanese film.)
* ''[[Gone With the Wind]]''
* ''[[Gone with the Wind]]''
* ''[[The Great Escape (Film)|The Great Escape]]''
* ''[[The Great Escape]]''
* ''[[Greed (Film)|Greed]]'', a 1925 silent film directed by Erich von Stroheim, is an early example, with an [[Missing Episode|early cut]] that ran ''nine and a half hours'', but was eventually re-edited to 140 minutes and later "restored" to a four-hour running time. In any case, it's the cinematic equivalent of a [[Doorstopper]].
* ''[[Greed (film)|Greed]]'', a 1925 silent film directed by Erich von Stroheim, is an early example, with an [[Missing Episode|early cut]] that ran ''nine and a half hours'', but was eventually re-edited to 140 minutes and later "restored" to a four-hour running time. In any case, it's the cinematic equivalent of a [[Doorstopper]].
* Greystoke: The Legend of [[Tarzan]]
* Greystoke: The Legend of [[Tarzan]]
* ''[[The Hallelujah Trail]]''
* ''[[The Hallelujah Trail]]''
* ''[[Hamlet (Theatre)|Hamlet]]'', the [[Kenneth Branagh]] version. (Most other filmed versions take their cue from [[Laurence Olivier]] and are far too claustrophobic to qualify.)
* ''[[Hamlet]]'', the [[Kenneth Branagh]] version. (Most other filmed versions take their cue from [[Laurence Olivier]] and are far too claustrophobic to qualify.)
* ''[[Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows]]'', so much they had to split it into two films.
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (novel)|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'', so much they had to split it into two films.
* ''[[Heavens Gate (Film)|Heavens Gate]]'': an [[Genre Killer|infamous]] example of an [[Epic Movie]] that did poorly at the box office.
* ''[[Heaven's Gate (film)|Heavens Gate]]'': an [[Genre Killer|infamous]] example of an '''Epic Movie''' that did poorly at the box office.
* ''[[Hells Angels]]''
* ''[[Hells Angels]]''
* ''[[Hero (Film)|Hero]]''
* ''[[Hero (film)|Hero]]''
* ''[[How the West Was Won (Film)|How the West Was Won]]''
* ''[[How the West Was Won]]''
* ''[[Inception]]''
* ''[[Inception]]''
* ''[[Independence Day (Film)|Independence Day]]''
* ''[[Independence Day]]''
* ''[[Intolerance (Film)|Intolerance]]''
* ''[[Intolerance]]''
* ''[[Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (Film)|Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World]]'' and ''[[Nineteen Forty One (Film)|1941]]'' are rare comedy examples.
* ''[[It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]]'' and ''[[1941]]'' are rare comedy examples.
* ''[[Ivan the Terrible]]''
* ''[[Ivan the Terrible]]''
* ''[[Kingdom of Heaven]]''
* ''[[Kingdom of Heaven]]''
* ''[[King Kong]]''. ([[Peter Jackson]] version.)
* ''[[King Kong]]''. ([[Peter Jackson]] version.)
* ''[[The Last of the Mohicans (Literature)|The Last of the Mohicans]]''
* ''[[The Last of the Mohicans]]''
* ''[[The Last Samurai]]''
* ''[[The Last Samurai]]''
* ''[[Lawrence of Arabia]]''
* ''[[Lawrence of Arabia]]''
* ''[[The Legend Of Suriyothai]]'', Queen of Thailand produced, intended 8-hour length, [[Francis Ford Coppola|Coppola]] [[Macekre|re-edit]], and battle elephants.
* ''[[The Legend Of Suriyothai]]'', Queen of Thailand produced, intended 8-hour length, [[Francis Ford Coppola|Coppola]] [[Macekre|re-edit]], and battle elephants.
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* ''[[The Lion King (Disney)|The Lion King]]'' (Arguably the most popular animated version.)
* ''[[The Longest Day]]''
* ''[[The Longest Day]]''
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings (Film)|The Lord of the Rings]]'', taken as one film, is nine and a half hours long. The extended editions are [[Up to Eleven|more than eleven]].
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film)|The Lord of the Rings]]'', taken as one film, is nine and a half hours long. The extended editions are [[Up to Eleven|more than eleven]].
* ''[[Love Exposure]]''. Four hours cut down from ''six'' hours.
* ''[[Love Exposure]]''. Four hours cut down from ''six'' hours.
* ''[[The Matrix (Film)|The Matrix Revolutions]]'' more so than the original movie, which was an origin / setpiece story.
* ''[[The Matrix|The Matrix Revolutions]]'' more so than the original movie, which was an origin / setpiece story.
* ''[[Metropolis (Film)|Metropolis]]''
* ''[[Metropolis]]''
* ''[[Master and Commander (Film)|Master And Commander: The Far Side of the World]]''
* ''[[Master and Commander (film)|Master And Commander: The Far Side of the World]]''
* ''[[Nausicaa of the Valley of The Wind]]''
* ''[[Once Upon a Time in America]]''
* ''[[Once Upon a Time In America]]''
* ''[[Once Upon a Time in the West]]''
* ''[[Once Upon a Time In The West]]''
* ''[[Paint Drying]]'' (at least in terms of length)
* ''[[The Passion of the Christ (Film)|The Passion of the Christ]]''
* ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]''
* ''[[The Patriot (Film)|The Patriot]]''
* ''[[The Patriot]]''
* ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_Time Playtime]'', Another comedy example. Just look at the sets!
* ''[[wikipedia:Play Time|Playtime]]'', Another comedy example. Just look at the sets!
* ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean (Film)|Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End]]'', among ''Pirates'' films thanks to [[Cerebus Syndrome]].
* ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean|Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End]]'', among ''Pirates'' films thanks to [[Cerebus Syndrome]].
** ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean (Film)|Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'' would count as well.
** ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean|Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'' would count as well.
* ''[[The Princess Bride]]''
* ''[[The Princess Bride]]''
⚫
* ''[[Princess Mononoke (Anime)|Princess Mononoke]]'' is one of [[Anime]]'s biggest examples.
* ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' is probably {[[Western Animation]]'s biggest attempt to emulate this genre.
* ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' is probably {[[Western Animation]]'s biggest attempt to emulate this genre.
* ''[[Quo Vadis]]''
* ''[[Quo Vadis]]''
* ''[[Ran (Film)|Ran]]''
* ''[[Ran]]''
* ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark (Film)|Raiders of the Lost Ark]]''
* ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]''
* ''[[Red Cliff]]'' - Chinese historical epic, [[Divided for Publication]] in English.
* ''[[Red Cliff]]'' - Chinese historical epic, [[Divided for Publication]] in English.
* ''[[The Right Stuff]]''
* ''[[The Right Stuff]]''
* ''[[The Robe (Film)|The Robe]]''
* ''[[The Robe]]''
* ''[[Saving Private Ryan (Film)|Saving Private Ryan]]''
* ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]''
* ''[[Schindler's List]]''
* ''[[Schindler's List]]''
* ''[[Seven Samurai]]''
* ''[[Seven Samurai]]''
* ''[[Spartacus]]''
* ''[[Spartacus]]''
* ''[[Star Wars (Franchise)|Star Wars]]''
* ''[[Star Wars]]''
** ''[[The Phantom Menace (Film)|The Phantom Menace]]''
** ''[[Attack of the Clones (Film)|Attack of the Clones]]''
** ''[[Revenge of the Sith (Film)|Revenge of the Sith]]''
** ''[[A New Hope (Film)|A New Hope]]''
** ''[[The Empire Strikes Back (Film)|The Empire Strikes Back]]''
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** ''[[Return of the Jedi (Film)|Return of the Jedi]]''
* ''[[Steamboy]]''
* ''[[Steamboy]]''
* ''[[The Sound of Music]]''
* ''[[The Sound of Music]]''
* ''[[Superman (Film)|Superman]]''
* ''[[Superman (film)|Superman]]''
* ''[[The Greatest Story Ever Told (Film)|The Greatest Story Ever Told]]''
* ''[[The Greatest Story Ever Told]]''
* ''[[The Ten Commandments]]''
* ''[[The Ten Commandments]]''
* ''[[The Thin Red Line]]''
* ''[[The Thin Red Line]]''
* ''[[The Tree of Life (Film)|The Tree of Life]]''
* ''[[The Tree of Life]]''
* ''[[Titanic (Film)|Titanic]]''
* ''[[Titanic]]''
* ''[[The Towering Inferno]]''
* ''[[The Towering Inferno]]''
* ''[[Tron (Film)|Tron]]'', which was basically ''[[Ben Hur]]'' [[Recycled in Space|In]] [[Inside a Computer System|A]] [[Cyberspace|Computer]]. ''[[Tron Legacy (Film)|Tron Legacy]]'' debatably fits the trope as well.
* ''[[Tron]]'', which was basically ''[[Ben-Hur]]'' [[Recycled in Space|In]] [[Inside a Computer System|A]] [[Cyberspace|Computer]]. ''[[Tron: Legacy]]'' debatably fits the trope as well.
* ''[[Troy (Film)|Troy]]''
* ''[[Troy]]''
* ''[[The Unknown Soldier]]''
* ''[[The Unknown Soldier]]''
* ''[[Waterloo]]''
* ''[[Waterloo]]''
* ''[[Waterworld (Film)|Waterworld]]''
* ''[[Waterworld]]''
* ''[[West Side Story]]''
* ''[[West Side Story]]''
* ''[[War and Peace]]'' (both the American and the Soviet version)
* ''[[War and Peace]]'' (both the American and the Soviet version)
* ''[[Wings of Honneamise Royal Space Force (Anime)|Wings of Honneamise Royal Space Force]]''
* ''[[The Wizard of Oz (film)|The Wizard of Oz]]''
* ''[[The Wizard of Oz (Film)|The Wizard of Oz]]''

⚫
=== Miniseries: ===


== Live-Action TV ==
* ''[[Roots]]''
* ''[[Roots]]''
* ''[[Band of Brothers]]''
* ''[[Band of Brothers (TV series)|Band of Brothers]]''
* ''[[Game of Thrones]]''
* ''[[Game of Thrones]]''
* ''[[The Pacific]]''
* ''[[The Pacific]]''
* ''[[Taken (TV)|Stephen Spielberg's Taken]]''
* ''[[Taken (TV series)|Stephen Spielberg's Taken]]''
* ''[[The Stand|Stephen King's The Stand]]''
* ''[[The Stand|Stephen King's The Stand]]''
* ''[[V]]'' -- (original series)
* ''[[V (TV series)|V]]'' -- (original series)
* ''[[Lonesome Dove]]''
* ''[[Lonesome Dove]]''
* ''[[Asian Saga|Shogun]]''
* ''[[Asian Saga|Shogun]]''


== Video Games ==
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=== Parodies and fictional examples: ===
⚫
* ''[[Asura's Wrath]]'': a rare attempted [[Video Game]] example of this.


== Western Animation ==
⚫
* ''[[The Lion King]]'' (Arguably the most popular animated version.)

⚫
== Parodies and fictional examples ==

⚫
=== Comic Books ===
* ''[[Asterix]] and Cleopatra'' is heralded on its cover as "The Greatest Story Ever Drawn -- 14 litres of Indian ink, 30 brushes, 62 pencils, 1 hard pencil, 27 erasers, 1984 sheets of paper, 16 typewriter ribbons, 2 typewriters, 366 pints of beer went into its creation."
* ''[[Asterix]] and Cleopatra'' is heralded on its cover as "The Greatest Story Ever Drawn -- 14 litres of Indian ink, 30 brushes, 62 pencils, 1 hard pencil, 27 erasers, 1984 sheets of paper, 16 typewriter ribbons, 2 typewriters, 366 pints of beer went into its creation."
** [[The Film of the Book|The book's live-action adaptation]] ended up being a textbook [[Epic Movie]], with a budget that showed in every corner of the screen and famous actors all over the place...
** [[The Film of the Book|The book's live-action adaptation]] ended up being a textbook Epic Movie, with a budget that showed in every corner of the screen and famous actors all over the place...

=== Eastern Animation ===
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* The characters of Soviet animated short ''[[Film, Film, Film]]'' are trying to make a grandiose Russian history drama in the vein of ''[[Ivan the Terrible]]''.

=== Film ===
* ''[[History of the World Part One]]'' by [[Mel Brooks]].
* ''[[History of the World Part One]]'' by [[Mel Brooks]].
* ''[[Life of Brian]]'' 's overblown title sequence is a parody of this.
* ''[[Life of Brian]]'' 's overblown title sequence is a parody of this.
⚫
* ''[[Seltzer and Friedberg|Epic Movie]]'', [[Subverted Trope|er]]... [[In Name Only|by name at least]]. It's actually just a spin-off of ''[[Scary Movie]]''.
⚫
* ''Blown Away'' in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Moving Pictures|Moving Pictures]]''.
⚫
* ''[[Epic Movie (Film)|Epic Movie]]'', [[Subverted Trope|er]]... [[In Name Only|by name at least]]. It's actually just a spin-off of ''[[Scary Movie]]''.
⚫
* The ''Radioactive Man'' movie adaptation in ''The Simpsons'' is intended as this.
* ''[[The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra]]'' parodied this in their [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe9Fs10IIk0 trailer for the film.]
* ''[[The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra]]'' parodied this in their [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe9Fs10IIk0 trailer for the film.]
* The [[Show Within a Show|Film within the film]] in ''[[Tropic Thunder]]'' parodies this, as well as being an example itself (an $80 million budget for a comedy is quite high)
* The [[Show Within a Show|Film within the film]] in ''[[Tropic Thunder]]'' parodies this, as well as being an example itself (an $80 million budget for a comedy is quite high)
* Parodied in the tagline of ''[[Scott Pilgrim vs. the World]]'': "An epic of epic epicness".
* Parodied in the tagline of ''[[Scott Pilgrim vs. the World]]'': "An epic of epic epicness".

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* In the [[Mass Effect|Cerberus Daily News]], mention is made of one of these. What, exactly, happens in it is not said, but production required ''hiring out a Mass Relay''.
=== Literature ===
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* ''Blown Away'' in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Moving Pictures]]''.
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* ''[[Nancy Drew]]'': "Lights, Camera, Curses!" is set at a film studio where a classic Epic Movie (''Pharaoh'') from the 1930s is being remade. Whether the remake is also Epic, or whether it tanks, depends on how easily Nancy solves the case.

=== Video Games ===
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* In the "Cerberus Daily News" in ''[[Mass Effect]]'', mention is made of one of these. What, exactly, happens in it is not said, but production required ''hiring out a Mass Relay''.

=== Web Original ===
* For those still wondering, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yudcSDxBM-c This video helps explain the phenomenon] of epic historical war epics.
* For those still wondering, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yudcSDxBM-c This video helps explain the phenomenon] of epic historical war epics.
{{quote| '''Comment:''' From what movie is the scene with the battle elephants?<br />
{{quote|'''Comment:''' From what movie is the scene with the battle elephants?
'''Uploader:''' Which ones? }}
'''Uploader:''' Which ones? }}
* ''[[The Horribly Slow Murderer With the Extremely Inefficient Weapon]]'' is a [[Real Trailer Fake Movie]] for a horror one of these.
* ''[[The Horribly Slow Murderer With the Extremely Inefficient Weapon]]'' is a [[Real Trailer, Fake Movie]] for a horror one of these.
{{quote| '''Narrator:''' A major motion picture event, twelve years in the making, filmed on five continents, with a running time of over nine hours.}}
{{quote|'''Narrator:''' A major motion picture event, twelve years in the making, filmed on five continents, with a running time of over nine hours.}}

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* ''[[Nancy Drew|Lights, Camera, Curses!]]'' is set at a film studio where a classic [[Epic Movie]] (''Pharaoh'') from the 1930s is being remade. Whether the remake is also Epic, or whether it tanks, depends on how easily Nancy solves the case.
=== Western Animation ===
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* The characters of Soviet animated short ''[[Film Film Film]]'' are trying to make a grandiose Russian history drama in the vein of ''[[Ivan the Terrible]]''.
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* The ''Radioactive Man'' movie adaptation in ''The Simpsons'' is intended as this.


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[[Category:Bigger Is Better]]
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[[Category:Turn of the Millennium]]
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[[Category:Bollywood]]
[[Category:Film Genres]]
[[Category:Film Genres]]
[[Category:Bigger Is Better]]
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[[Category:Spectacle]]
[[Category:Spectacle]]
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[[Category:index]]
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[[Category:Epic Movie]]
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[[Category:Trope]]

Latest revision as of 12:44, 7 October 2023

The poster art alone is freakin' epic!

Don Wilson: Orson, what's the title of this picture you're making?
Orson Welles: Well, I've called my story very simply The March of Destiny, and it deals with everything that ever happened. From the beginning of creation to the present day.

—The Jack Benny Program, March 21, 1943

Epic Movies are movie movies. These movies are what make Hollywood Hollywood. These movies are so big they need italic emphasis. These movies are what we think of when we think of the stars getting out of limousines to walk down red carpets while being shot by the paparazzi and entering rooms with grand staircases and lit by chandeliers. The grand, gigantic, sweeping, glossy, flamboyant spectacles that define and are the triumphs of the film industry. The scope of these Greatest Stories Ever Filmed and the amount of time and money invested in them means that only one comes along every few years. 5 years in the making! 3-and-a-half hours long! Two intermissions! $200,000,000 budget! 50,000 cast members! All-Star Cast! A+ list actors! Oscar Bait to the core! Coming soon to an IMAX theater near you! These are the War and Peaces and Moby Dicks of cinema. If they were books, they'd be Doorstoppers (especially if they're adapted from books that are Doorstoppers.)

In short, the direct inversion of the B-Movie or the Short Film.

Often, these movies are somewhat hammy and contrived. But that's precisely why they're so successful and why one enjoys watching them. They evoke the feeling of reading one of aforementioned great novels of our time. They are representations of quintessential human fantasies and fables. Such movies are usually darlings of critics and audiences alike. However, if things get too hammy, the movie crosses over the line from charming to silly, and critical reception of them can be lukewarm at best and scathing at worst (such was to be the fate of the ambitious but ineptly executed Caligula and Cleopatra - and even modern films like Waterworld).

An Epic Movie should have a) dramatic ambitions of some sort and b) epic scope. If a movie is artistically ambitious, but focuses on a small number of characters, it probably isn't an Epic Movie. Exceptions are rare: Das Boot and 2001: A Space Odyssey are possible examples of films with a claustrophobic setting that are epic in scope.

Genres especially prone to epic treatment include Sword and Sandal, Historical Fiction, High Fantasy, Space Opera. Failed attempts are often a rich source of Narm and So Bad It's Good. See also Doing It for the Art, Loads and Loads of Characters, Costume Porn, Scenery Porn.

Not to be confused with a Summer Blockbuster. While superficially similar, that is a separate and distinct offshoot often playing in the same genres. Though it might have a similarly huge budget and scale, it usually isn't as plot-heavy or artistically ambitious. A good way to think of it would be "Summer Blockbuster meets Oscar Bait."

Not all Oscar Bait is this: A period drama may count, if it involves a war at some point, but probably not a dark drama about the mind of a killer or three generations of people living in a house. Generally speaking, a Disaster Movie or Giant Monster film is a type of Summer Blockbuster that is not described as "An Epic". It may be "epic" in the Totally Radical sense, or an "event movie" due to visuals alone—terms which generally describe any Summer Blockbuster, but that is different. These are event films by definition, due to subject matter that merely demands such treatment. Epicosity must ensue, so the list is necessarily limited.

These tend to come in waves, egged on by some new technology that makes the studios feel the go-see-a-movie-in-a-theater business model is threatened. Radio in the '30s, TV in the '50s and home video in the late '70s/early'80s all sparked waves of Epic Movies, and now it's digital downloading's turn.

Not the same thing as a Big Damn Movie, which is an adaptation that ups the stakes for the characters from an existing show.

Also not to be confused with Seltzer and Friedberg's Epic Movie, which is this genre In Name Only.

Examples of Epic Movie include:

Anime and Manga

Film

Live-Action TV

Video Games

Western Animation

Parodies and fictional examples

Comic Books

  • Asterix and Cleopatra is heralded on its cover as "The Greatest Story Ever Drawn -- 14 litres of Indian ink, 30 brushes, 62 pencils, 1 hard pencil, 27 erasers, 1984 sheets of paper, 16 typewriter ribbons, 2 typewriters, 366 pints of beer went into its creation."
    • The book's live-action adaptation ended up being a textbook Epic Movie, with a budget that showed in every corner of the screen and famous actors all over the place...

Eastern Animation

Film

Literature

  • Blown Away in Terry Pratchett's Moving Pictures.
  • Nancy Drew: "Lights, Camera, Curses!" is set at a film studio where a classic Epic Movie (Pharaoh) from the 1930s is being remade. Whether the remake is also Epic, or whether it tanks, depends on how easily Nancy solves the case.

Video Games

  • In the "Cerberus Daily News" in Mass Effect, mention is made of one of these. What, exactly, happens in it is not said, but production required hiring out a Mass Relay.

Web Original

Comment: From what movie is the scene with the battle elephants?
Uploader: Which ones?

Narrator: A major motion picture event, twelve years in the making, filmed on five continents, with a running time of over nine hours.

Western Animation

  • The Radioactive Man movie adaptation in The Simpsons is intended as this.
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