5 Best Milos Forman Movies Of All Time

Many of the great Movies in the past came from the directorial vision of one man: Milos Forman. That director was taken from us this week when Forman passed away at the age of 86. While he left us, however, he also left behind a treasure trove of great films.

In honor of Forman's incredible life, here are the five best movies he gave us.

5. 'Valmont'

"Valmont" is not as heralded as some of Forman's other movies.

The French-American drama, starring Colin Firth, was based on "Les Liaisons Dangereuses." It reeled in less than $2 million at the box office. Part of the issue is that the Film differed in major ways from the novel that served as its source material. Forman didn't direct another film for seven years after this one.

4. 'Ragtime'

James Cagney and Pat O'Brien closed their respective legendary careers in "Ragtime," a 1981 drama. It also brought the likes of Jeff Daniels and Samuel L. Jackson into the film world. The movie takes viewers into the thrilling world of Atlantic City and New York City at the turn of the 20th century.

Forman's movie was nominated for eight Oscars, although it didn't win any of them; he was nominated for Best Director by the Golden Globes.

3. 'The People vs. Larry Flynt'

This biopic chronicles the rise of Larry Flynt, creator of Hustler magazine. The movie was a critical success as people witnessed Flynt rise from poverty to pornography. Woddy Harrelson gave one of his best performances as the titular character, earning an Academy Award nomination. Forman was also nominated for Best Director. "The People vs. Larry Flynt" has a score of 87 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

2. 'Amadeus'

Forman's best biopic, however, was the fictionalized "Amadeus." This is one of the best movies ever made about a classical composer, with Mozart's music orchestrating through the background.

F. Murray Abraham stars as rival composer Antonio Salieri. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning eight of them. Those victories included Best Picture and Best Director.

1. 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'

Forman's biggest masterpiece, however, was "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." The comedy-drama is considered an all-time classic. In addition to solidifying the star power of Jack Nicholson, it also launched the career of Christopher Lloyd. Nurse Ratched remains an indelible character in many minds. More than four decades after it came out, it remains a critical sensation. That's the mark of a legendary movie.