The 60 Best Movies of All Time, Ranked

Cinema’s greatest films combine artistry with lasting popular influence. Here are 50 movies that perfectly balance both sides of that equation.

Movies encompass the length and breadth of the human experience, making any Best Of list hopelessly subjective. Comparing, say, The Silence of the Lambs to Fantasia to determine which one is “better” actively insults both movies. Similarly, scholarly lists — like the British Film Institute’s once-a-decade model which sets the pace on this front — tend to overlook “base” genres like horror and comedy, which often prove more influential. If a reader isn’t already inclined to seek arthouse fare like The 400 Blows or The Passion of Joan of Arc, their inclusion in a given list means very little.

Influential films, however, can be measured a little more objectively, as well as encompassing popular movies that find the sweet spot between art and commerce. While it can be difficult to separate the true game-changers from the flashes in the pan, time has a way of revealing. Below is a list of the greatest films — subjective, as every list is — measured both by their artistic accomplishments and their lasting impact on the medium.

Updated on March 24th, 2024 by David Giatras: While it is impossible to restrict the number of the greatest films ever made to just 60 films, the list will continue to grow right alongside the film industry. There have been many influential films released since the beginning of motion pictures, yet some have even come from the 21st century. As subjective as the lists can be, they will continue to change over the years until the end of time.

60 Avengers (2012) Brought Marvel’s Iconic Heroes Together
59 Duck Soup (1933) Is a Beloved Marx Brothers Film
58 Dr. No (1962) Cemented the James Bond Franchise’s Legacy
57 The Truman Show (1998) Features One Of Jim Carrey’s Best Performances
56 Everything Everywhere all at Once (2022) Is an Unforgettable Experience
55 Toy Story (1955) Was The First Animated Movie To Be Nominated For Best Original Screenplay
54 Stagecoach (1939) Featured Impressive Stunts for Its Time
53 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Kicked Off the Iconic Trilogy
52 Bonnie and Clyde (1967) Was Willing to Think Outside the Box
51 Dr. Strangelove (1964) Is Arguably The Best Political Satire Movie Ever Made
50 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Brought The Franchise Back After 30 Years
49 Chinatown (1974) Became a Renowned Mystery Film
48 The Dark Knight (2008) Redefined Batman and the Joker
47 Akira (1988) Inspired Countless Movies After It
46 Goodfellas (1990) Competes with The Godfather
45 Brokeback Mountain (2005) Delivers a Gripping LGBT Romance
44 All The President’s Men (1976) Is A Great Depiction Of United States Journalism
43 Jaws (1975) Became the First Hollywood Summer Blockbuster
42 The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966) Made Clint Eastwood Famous
41 Django Unchained (2012) Didn’t Shy Away From Its Gritty Story
40 The Shining (1980) Cemented Itself as One of the Greatest Horror Movies
39 Rear Window (1954) Is an Iconic Mystery Film
38 Double Indemnity (1944) Became a Noir Classic
37 Taxi Driver (1976) Crafts a Harrowing Tale
36 The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003) Closed Out the Iconic Trilogy
35 The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Greatly Influenced the Horror Genre
34 There Will Be Blood (2007) Won Daniel Day Lewis an Academy Award
33 All Quiet On The Western Front (1930) Broke Records at the Academy Awards
32 On The Waterfront (1954)
31 Saving Private Ryan (1998) Earned Praise for Its Visuals and Accuracy
30 Pulp Fiction (1994) Became One of Quentin Tarantino’s Most Famous Movies
29 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) Ushered In the Era of Disney Animation
28 Lawrence Of Arabia (1962) Won Numerous Awards
27 The Apartment (1960) Earned 5 Academy Awards
26 Apocalypse Now (1979) Captured the Brutality of The Vietnam War
25 Do the Right Thing (1989) Boldly Explored the Reality of Racism
24 Oldboy (2003) Raised the Bar for Films of Its Kind
23 Rocky (1976) Kick-Started a Legendary Franchise
22 North By Northwest (1959) Is a Classic Thriller Film
21 It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) Became a Christmas Tradition
20 The Godfather Part II (1974) Rivaled Its Predecessor
19 Maltese Falcon (1941) Drew Inspiration from Classic Noirs
18 12 Angry Men (1957) Is a Compelling Courtroom Drama
17 City Lights (1931) Delivers an Endearing Romance
16 Casablanca (1942) Raised the Bar for Wartime Romance Films
15 Psycho (1960) Wasn’t Afraid to Push Boundaries
14 Metropolis (1927) Inspired the Future of Sci-Fi
13 Schindler’s List (1993) Delivered an Unforgettable WW2 Film
12 Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981) Made Indiana Jones Famous
11 To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) Became Legandary for a Reason
10 The Godfather (1972) Remains the Number One Mobster Film
9 Seven Samurai (1954) Inspired a Famous Star Wars Character
8 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Was Unlike Anything Viewers Had Seen Before
7 Singin’ In The Rain (1952) Is One of the Greatest Musical Ever Made
6 Gone With The Wind (1939) Earned 8 Academy Awards
5 Some Like It Hot (1959) Changed the Film Industry’s Censorship Guidelines
4 The Wizard of Oz (1939) Brought L. Frank Baum’s Novel to Life
3 Shawshank Redemption (1994) Became One of the Most Memorable Movies of All Time
2 Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) Forever Changed Cinema
1 Citizen Kane (1941) Is the Greatest Movie of All Time