Hollywood mega-star Glen Powell was asked to rank his top five favorite movies, and he put a beloved musical from the 1950s at the top. Kicking off his career in the early 2000s with small roles in films like Spy Kids 3D: Game Over and The Dark Knight Rises, Powell would eventually reach superstar status in Top Gun: Maverick and the hit rom-com, Anyone But You. Powell is known for playing the affable everyman, but he has also gravitated toward action hero roles when the need arises. This has made him one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors in the 2020s.

Though he is now known for his standard blockbuster movie appearances, Powell has worked with a handful of celebrated directors in his lengthy career. Teaming up with fellow Austin, Texas native Richard Linklater, or appearing in a Christopher Nolan film, Powell is no stranger to more artistic outings as well. This interest in the art of cinema has clearly influenced his career, and though he's a movie star, he has a respect for the history of filmmaking and the amazing movies that shaped the industry before he arrived.

Glen Powell Believes Singin' In The Rain Is One Of Hollywood's Best Movies

He Ranked The Classic Musical As His Favorite Film Of All Time

Glen Powell participated in a series of interviews conducted by The Academy which asks famous actors and other figures in the film industry to list their favorite movies. Powell selected the 1952 hit Singin' in the Rain as his favorite, and actually mentioned that it was one of his greatest influences when getting into the performing arts. The iconic slice of Hollywood cinema follows a group of actors who try to survive the changing landscape of the movie industry as films transition from the silent era to sound. It stars Gene Kelly, who also co-directed the film alongside Stanley Donen.

Speaking of the film, Powell said "Singin' in the Rain is a near-perfect movie," and he isn't alone. The American Film Institute ranked Singin' in the Rain as the 10th best film of all time, and was actually bumped up to the fifth spot on their 2008 list. It's an iconic movie about Hollywood, and Powell also cited that as a reason why he loves it so much. "I feel like there's always this chatter about the death of movies," said Powell, "the way in which people consume stories will change, but...the medium of film has never been more exciting."

Powell is a classic movie star in many respects, and most of his picks reflect traditional Hollywood values.

Powell's love-affair with Hollywood is evident with the rest of his list, and the entire top five is populated with quintessential American movies. Along with Singin' in the Rain, Hollywood Golden Age classic Casablanca takes the third spot, and the beloved western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid takes second. Powell is a classic movie star in many respects, and most of his picks reflect traditional Hollywood values.

Glen Powell's top five list includes:

Why Singin' In The Rain Has Held Up So Well Over 70 Years Later

It's A Classic Story That Never Gets Old No Matter How Many Years

There are a million reasons why Singin' in the Rain is still a classic after 70 years, but the biggest one is that it isn't dated. Though it was made in the 1950s, and is about the late 1920s, the film doesn't age itself. The timeless struggle of the regular Joe versus an unfeeling world is essentially the basis for all storytelling, and Gene Kelly's Don Lockwood is a perfect protagonist. Though most people haven't worked in the movie industry, they understand the anxiety and hardship of change, something that's a constant no matter when the movie is viewed.

On top of that, the film is perfectly executed, from its brilliant choreography to its memorable music. Singin' in the Rain belongs among the best ever put to film, and each number moves the plot along and actually accomplishes something. Gene Kelly is ed by Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds, both of whom steal the show in their own ways as well. Even if someone hasn't seen Singin' in the Rain, Gene Kelly's iconic dance that gave the movie its title is forever ingrained in popular culture.

Surprisingly, Singin' in the Rain was only nominated for two Oscars (Best ing Actress and Best Scoring of a Musical Picture), losing both.

Powell's comments about the state of change in Hollywood are particularly telling, and Singin' in the Rain is really about the constancy of stories. The movie is still essential today for the same reason it was so big in 1952, it's a promise that storytelling will endure. The sky may have been falling when movies transitioned to sound, but films have persisted. They have weathered a number of storms since Gene Kelly sang while swinging from a light post, and they'll weather even more in the future.