BBC ranks the Top 100 Greatest American Films of All Time (1 Viewer)

[AAABatteries]

I have seen all these movies that are not rated r or worst. This list looks right.

I love this alias. Whoever runs this please PM me so I can buy you a non-alcoholic beverage some day.

 

[FUBAR]

They should have made room for at least one porn.

You mean these aren't porn?

100. Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder, 1951)

98. Heavens Gate (Michael Cimino, 1980)

96. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008)

89. In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950)

81. Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991)

78. Schindlers List (Steven Spielberg, 1993)

75. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Steven Spielberg, 1977)

72. The Shanghai Gesture (Josef von Sternberg, 1941)

70. The Band Wagon (Vincente Minnelli, 1953)

66. Red River (Howard Hawks, 1948)

63. Love Streams (John Cassavetes, 1984)

61. Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick, 1999)

43. Letter from an Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls, 1948)

28. Pulp Friction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)

 

[sports_fan]

I forgot how annoying Woody Allen was until I tried to watch Annie Hall. I just could not get past it and could not watch.

I've still never seen a Woody Allen movie.

 

[Christo]

No Blade Runner either

 

[lardonastick]

I forgot how annoying Woody Allen was until I tried to watch Annie Hall. I just could not get past it and could not watch.

I've still never seen a Woody Allen movie.

Same. I've tried, but I've come to the conclusion that his movies just aren't for me.

 

[Godsbrother]

The Exorcist (William Friedkin, 1973) belongs on the list.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Will never get the love for Rocky. Why would that belong on the list over the 100s of similar sports movies?

 

[NCCommish]

Sorry but a bunch of those films, while good, should not be on this list or at least not in their current position. Citizen Kane at number one is a travesty. While it was a technical marvel the movie itself was a rather boring 2 hour attack on Hurst. I have trouble staying awake through it. I simply can not see it at the best American movie of all time. Can't.

It's been deemed the best movie of all time for so long it's almost an automatic selection. Our film appreciation professor talked incessantly about it back in 98.that said, I agree that it shouldn't be there. Probably godfather imo.

Yeah it's a very cliched choice. As I said it was pioneering in the shots and angles. The cinematography was leading edge. But the story hasn't aged well at all as it is so period specific. Godfather would definitely sit with me better.

I saw Kane for the first time a few months ago, and thought it was fantastic. I was not bored at all, and was surprised that it lived up to the hype. I have seen it a few times since.

I needed a lot of caffeine to not fall asleep.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

No Blade Runner either

 

[jon_mx]

Annie Hall is awesome. Anyone who doesn't like it is an anti-Semite.

Did you like Annie Hall?

No. Jew?

Your love for directors who are into incest/pedophiles is well established. :coffeee3.

 

[Christo]

Will never get the love for Rocky. Why would that belong on the list over the 100s of similar sports movies?

It's the best sports movie I've seen. I think the franchise kind of tainted it in some people's eyes. But the original is a fantastic movie. Go watch it again with an open mind. You will not be disappointed.

 

[Jack White]

You guys realize these things are subjective, right?

There is no right or wrong list.

 

[rockaction]

Will never get the love for Rocky. Why would that belong on the list over the 100s of similar sports movies?

It's the best sports movie I've seen. I think the franchise kind of tainted it in some people's eyes. But the original is a fantastic movie. Go watch it again with an open mind. You will not be disappointed.

Rocky was pretty radical for its time period and location. Lots of race and class issues if that turns you on, gender issues if that's your thing, and just generally a great movie. What a happy accident.

 

[KarmaPolice]

There is no right or wrong list.

That is where you are incorrect.

 

[Thunderlips]

Will never get the love for Rocky. Why would that belong on the list over the 100s of similar sports movies?

Classic underdog story.

Great setting. Philadelphia was as much a character as the actors.

Decent enough acting with touching moments ( Mickey, hat in hand....basically crawling back to Rocky and Rocky's " At least you had a prime" rhetoric)

Engaging characters.

And

Spoiler

He doesn't win. That's great. He doesn't even want a rematch.

. That's cool.

 

[QuizGuy66]

http://wtop.com/entertainment/2015/07/bbc-ranks-100-greatest-american-films/

100. Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder, 1951)

99. 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen, 2013) excellent

98. Heavens Gate (Michael Cimino, 1980)

97. Gone With the Wind (Victor Fleming, 1939) excellent

96. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) excellent

95. Duck Soup (Leo McCarey, 1933) very good

94. 25th Hour (Spike Lee, 2002)

93. Mean Streets (Martin Scorsese, 1973)

92. The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, 1955)

91. ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982) excellent

90. Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979) great cinematography, but a bit overrated

89. In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950)

88. West Side Story (Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, 1961) excellent

87. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)

86. The Lion King (Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, 1994) good

85. Night of the Living Dead (George A Romero, 1968) really? Don't see it.

84. Deliverance (John Boorman, 1972) very good

83. Bringing Up Baby (Howard Hawks, 1938)

82. Raiders of the Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg, 1981) excellent

81. Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991) good

80. Meet Me in St Louis (Vincente Minnelli, 1944) very good

79. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick, 2011)

78. Schindlers List (Steven Spielberg, 1993) in my top 10

77. Stagecoach (John Ford, 1939) good

76. The Empire Strikes Back (Irvin Kershner, 1980) very good

75. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Steven Spielberg, 1977) excellent

74. Forrest Gump (Robert Zemeckis, 1994) overrated

73. Network (Sidney Lumet, 1976) excellent

72. The Shanghai Gesture (Josef von Sternberg, 1941)

71. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993) annoying

70. The Band Wagon (Vincente Minnelli, 1953)

69. Koyaanisqatsi (Godfrey Reggio, 1982) visually stunning

68. Notorious (Alfred Hitchcock, 1946) very good

67. Modern Times (Charlie Chaplin, 1936) excellent

66. Red River (Howard Hawks, 1948) very good

65. The Right Stuff (Philip Kaufman, 1965) good

64. Johnny Guitar (Nicholas Ray, 1954)

63. Love Streams (John Cassavetes, 1984)

62. The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980) good

61. Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick, 1999) terrible

60. Blue Velvet (David Lynch, 1986) strange but good

59. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (Milo Forman, 1975) in my top 10

58. The Shop Around the Corner (Ernst Lubitsch, 1940)

57. Crimes and Misdemeanors (Woody Allen, 1989) excellent

56. Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis, 1985) very good

55. The Graduate (Mike Nichols, 1967) very good

54. Sunset Boulevard (Billy Wilder, 1950) excellent

53. Grey Gardens (Albert and David Maysles, Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer, 1975)

52. The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah, 1969) excellent

51. Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958)

50. His Girl Friday (Howard Hawks, 1940)

49. Days of Heaven (Terrence Malick, 1978)

48. A Place in the Sun (George Stevens, 1951) in my top 10

47. Marnie (Alfred Hitchcock, 1964) good

46. Its a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, 1946) overrated

45. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford, 1962) good

44. Sherlock Jr (Buster Keaton, 1924) very good

43. Letter from an Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls, 1948)

42. Dr Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964) overrated

41. Rio Bravo (Howard Hawks, 1959)

40. Meshes of the Afternoon (Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid, 1943)

39. The Birth of a Nation (DW Griffith, 1915) dated so hard to appreciate

38. Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975) in my top 10

37. Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk, 1959)

36. Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977) excellent

35. Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder, 1944) very good

34. The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939) in my top 10

33. The Conversation (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)

32. The Lady Eve (Preston Sturges, 1941)

31. A Woman Under the Influence (John Cassavetes, 1974)

30. Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959) good

29. Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980) excellent

28. Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994) in my top 10

27. Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick, 1975) good

26. Killer of Sheep (Charles Burnett, 1978)

25. Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989) excellent

24. The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960) very good

23. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977) in my top 10

22. Greed (Erich von Stroheim, 1924)

21. Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)

20. Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990) in my top 10

19. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976) very good

18. City Lights (Charlie Chaplin, 1931) excellent

17. The Gold Rush (Charlie Chaplin, 1925) excellent

16. McCabe & Mrs Miller (Robert Altman, 1971) good

15. The Best Years of Our Lives (William Wyler, 1946)

14. Nashville (Robert Altman, 1975) very good

13. North by Northwest (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) excellent

12. Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974) excellent

11. The Magnificent Ambersons (Orson Welles, 1942)

10. The Godfather Part II (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974) in my top 10

9. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942) excellent

8. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)excellent

7. Singin in the Rain (Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, 1952) excellent

6. Sunrise (FW Murnau, 1927)

5. The Searchers (John Ford, 1956) excellent

4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968) overrated

3. Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958) excellent

2. The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972) in my top 10

1. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941) excellent

Cross off ones I never saw.

Notable omissions:

Boogie Nights

Quiz Show

Airplane!

Rocky

On the Waterfront

Cabaret

Judgment at Nuremberg

Inherit the Wind

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

The Shawshank Redemption

The Sting

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Letters from Iwo Jima

Saving Private Ryan

To Kill A Mockingbird

The Silence of the Lambs

Manhattan

12 Angry Men

Beauty and the Beast

Pinnochio

Really wanted there to be a separate a Tim thread for this topic

-QG

 

[Flying V]

Apparently Ben Hur was never released in England.

 

[Freelove]

There is no right or wrong list.

That is where you are incorrect.

Interesting that you would hold this opinion, yet wonder why people pine for Rocky's inclusion.

What criteria could you possibly be using?

Read, at a minimum, Robert McKee, Syd Field, and everything you can find by Joseph Campbell. It's pretty much impossible to understand writing and not see how Rocky kind of laps the field among sports movies.

 

[KarmaPolice]

There is no right or wrong list.

That is where you are incorrect.

Interesting that you would hold this opinion, yet wonder why people pine for Rocky's inclusion. What criteria could you possibly be using?

Read, at a minimum, Robert McKee, Syd Field, and everything you can find by Joseph Campbell. It's pretty much impossible to understand writing and not see how Rocky kind of laps the field among sports movies.

The same as everyone else- my own criteria. Sports movies pretty much feel the same to me, so I have never been a fan. Also not a Stallone fan. Basically what you posted can be echoed for anybody saying C.Kane and 2001 aren't brilliant. How can you read about cinematography and direction and not think they are among the best movies ever?

Yes, it is subjective, but I would argue that is the case to a point. Lists should vary, but I would bet most of us reading a list of the greatest movies that included Transformers and Mortal Kombat would say it is wrong.

 

[tommyboy]

If blazing saddles isn't on it, the BBC can #### right off

 

[tommyboy]

Will never get the love for Rocky. Why would that belong on the list over the 100s of similar sports movies?

Classic underdog story.

Great setting. Philadelphia was as much a character as the actors.

Decent enough acting with touching moments ( Mickey, hat in hand....basically crawling back to Rocky and Rocky's " At least you had a prime" rhetoric)

Engaging characters.

And

Spoiler

He doesn't win. That's great. He doesn't even want a rematch.

. That's cool.

10 nominations in 9 academy award categories, 3 Oscars.

 

[Rohn Jambo]

Apparently Ben Hur was never released in England.

The BBC list is based on a poll of "international film critics".

No 2 people will come up with the same list and ranking them is like comparing apples to oranges. The best BBC Culture could aim for is identify movies which appeal to a lot of people around the world. It would get different results than other polls for audiences or people who work in the film industry.

Some directors have multiple movies on both the BBC and API lists and I think few will disagree that they are great.

Charlie Chaplin (3) - The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936)

Billy Wilder (4) - Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Boulevard (1950), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock (3) - Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), Psycho (1960)

Stanley Kubrick (2) - Dr. Strangelove (1964), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1964)

Francis Ford Coppola (3) - The Godfather (1972), The Godfather II (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979)

Steven Spielberg (4) - Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Schindler's List (1993)

Martin Scorsese (3) - Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990)

 

[Rohn Jambo]

Will never get the love for Rocky. Why would that belong on the list over the 100s of similar sports movies?

Classic underdog story.

Great setting. Philadelphia was as much a character as the actors.

Decent enough acting with touching moments ( Mickey, hat in hand....basically crawling back to Rocky and Rocky's " At least you had a prime" rhetoric)

Engaging characters.

And

Spoiler

He doesn't win. That's great. He doesn't even want a rematch.

Spoiler

. That's cool.

10 nominations in 9 academy award categories, 3 Oscars.

The number of Oscar nomination is not the only way to tell if a film is good or not. Truly great films will stand the test of time.

Compare the AFI Top 100 Lists for 1997 vs. 2007 and you see new appreciation for some underrated movies:

A few big movers:

The Searchers (1956) - up 84

City Lights (1931) - up 65

Vertigo (1958) - up 52

http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/100Movies.pdf

 

[KarmaPolice]

Will never get the love for Rocky. Why would that belong on the list over the 100s of similar sports movies?

Classic underdog story.

Great setting. Philadelphia was as much a character as the actors.

Decent enough acting with touching moments ( Mickey, hat in hand....basically crawling back to Rocky and Rocky's " At least you had a prime" rhetoric)

Engaging characters.

And

Spoiler

He doesn't win. That's great. He doesn't even want a rematch.

Spoiler

. That's cool.

10 nominations in 9 academy award categories, 3 Oscars.

Titanic and Shakespeare in Love have 16Oscars and 25 nominations between them. Guess we had better make room for them on the list too.

 

[Rohn Jambo]

Will never get the love for Rocky. Why would that belong on the list over the 100s of similar sports movies?

Classic underdog story.

Great setting. Philadelphia was as much a character as the actors.

Decent enough acting with touching moments ( Mickey, hat in hand....basically crawling back to Rocky and Rocky's " At least you had a prime" rhetoric)

Engaging characters.

And

Spoiler

He doesn't win. That's great. He doesn't even want a rematch.

Spoiler

. That's cool.

10 nominations in 9 academy award categories, 3 Oscars.

Spoiler

Titanic and Shakespeare in Love have 16Oscars and 25 nominations between them. Guess we had better make room for them on the list too.

Clearly BBC did not poll as many Japanese girls, but the IFA has Titanic on their list and it "beat" a bunch of other movies James Cameron must have stuffed the ballot boxes.

83 TITANIC (1997)

84 EASY RIDER (1969)

85 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1935)

86 PLATOON (1986)

87 12 ANGRY MEN (1957)

88 BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

89 THE SIXTH SENSE (1999)

90 SWING TIME (1936)

91 SOPHIE'S CHOICE (1982)

92 GOODFELLAS (1990)

93 THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)

94 PULP FICTION (1994)

95 THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (1971)

96 DO THE RIGHT THING (1989)

97 BLADE RUNNER (1982)

98 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

99 TOY STORY (1995)

100 BEN-HUR (1959)

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

The Searchers somewhat low rating in the AFI poll was a surprise at the time. If I recall correctly, the AFI panel was a bit more diverse. Critics, to be sure. But also filmmakers and actors and even guys like Bill Clinton.

This list could reasonably be criticized for being relying solely on critics, but both lists are pretty good. Both overrate some movies to my taste and underrate others. Both leave off movies that are beloved by some. And both make judgment calls where movies are likely being compared to their immediate peers. Rocky came out the year in between Jaws and Star Wars. Its much less a calucalated blockbuster than either, but that would be three crowd pleasers from a three year stretch. Not to mention the more serious films from that immediate era like Nashville. I find it hard to complain about Rocky getting lost in the shuffle, even if I think it holds up much better than Episode IV, for example.

 

[NCCommish]

There is no right or wrong list.

That is where you are incorrect.

Interesting that you would hold this opinion, yet wonder why people pine for Rocky's inclusion. What criteria could you possibly be using?

Read, at a minimum, Robert McKee, Syd Field, and everything you can find by Joseph Campbell. It's pretty much impossible to understand writing and not see how Rocky kind of laps the field among sports movies.

The same as everyone else- my own criteria. Sports movies pretty much feel the same to me, so I have never been a fan. Also not a Stallone fan. Basically what you posted can be echoed for anybody saying C.Kane and 2001 aren't brilliant. How can you read about cinematography and direction and not think they are among the best movies ever?

Yes, it is subjective, but I would argue that is the case to a point. Lists should vary, but I would bet most of us reading a list of the greatest movies that included Transformers and Mortal Kombat would say it is wrong.

To me Rocky is a lot of things but the sport aspect isn't central. The main theme is redemption. I really don't think of it as a boxing movie

 

[tommyboy]

I'd put Titanic on the list

 

[tommyboy]

And sharknado 3

 

[Eephus]

I'm surprised Bonnie and Clyde didn't make the critics' cut

 

[rockaction]

Will never get the love for Rocky. Why would that belong on the list over the 100s of similar sports movies?

Classic underdog story.

Great setting. Philadelphia was as much a character as the actors.

Decent enough acting with touching moments ( Mickey, hat in hand....basically crawling back to Rocky and Rocky's " At least you had a prime" rhetoric)

Engaging characters.

And

Spoiler

He doesn't win. That's great. He doesn't even want a rematch.

Spoiler

. That's cool.

10 nominations in 9 academy award categories, 3 Oscars.

Spoiler

The number of Oscar nomination is not the only way to tell if a film is good or not. Truly great films will stand the test of time.

Compare the AFI Top 100 Lists for 1997 vs. 2007 and you see new appreciation for some underrated movies:

A few big movers:

The Searchers (1956) - up 84

City Lights (1931) - up 65

Vertigo (1958) - up 52

http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/100Movies.pdf

And it's a righteous jump. I'm lucky that I took a collegiate freshman seminar elective called "Love In The Western World." While it sounds like a stupid sentiment, we read "Virga Vay and Allan Cedar" by Sinclair Lewis, "The Eighty Yard-Run" by Irwin Shaw, "The Symposium," and had a professor that made us watch Vertigo.

I'll never forget that professor. Vertigo, Chinatown, and Vivre Sa Vie have to be, at this point in my life, the three most memorable movies I've ever seen.

 

[timschochet]

It's true that one of the great things about Rocky is that he doesn't win. Another film with a similar ending (the good guys don't win) is The Bad News Bears. In fact, that might be my very favorite sports movie ever.

 

[timschochet]

Vertigo is one of those films which is different when seen on a big screen. There's a few others like that on the list: Star Wars, Gone With the Wind, Deliverance.

And Lawrence of Arabia, which wasn't eligible for this list.

 

[rockaction]

Vertigo is one of those films which is different when seen on a big screen. There's a few others like that on the list: Star Wars, Gone With the Wind, Deliverance.

And Lawrence of Arabia, which wasn't eligible for this list.

How so? I'll hang up and listen.

 

[timschochet]

Vertigo is one of those films which is different when seen on a big screen. There's a few others like that on the list: Star Wars, Gone With the Wind, Deliverance.

And Lawrence of Arabia, which wasn't eligible for this list.

How so? I'll hang up and listen.

The scenes in San Francisco, and later at the mission, are visually stunning. For instance the scene when Kim Novak jumps into the bay.

 

[Jack White]

It's true that one of the great things about Rocky is that he doesn't win. Another film with a similar ending (the good guys don't win) is The Bad News Bears. In fact, that might be my very favorite sports movie ever.

It was the first movie I ever saw in a theater.

I watched it again as an adult.

And you're right, it's a terrific film.

 

[sharptongued1]

The inclusion of The Lion King is somewhat mystifying to me, since The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin were all better films, as were Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and Fantasia.

Yeah, if there's only going to be one animated feature on the list, there's so many better choices to be made than Lion King. Pixar deserves some love. Toy Story/Monsters Inc./Finding Nemo/Incredibles/Up should be somewhere on the list.

 

[elbowrm]

No Coen Bros is a travesty

 

[Godsbrother]

Apparently Ben Hur was never released in England.

The BBC list is based on a poll of "international film critics".

No 2 people will come up with the same list and ranking them is like comparing apples to oranges. The best BBC Culture could aim for is identify movies which appeal to a lot of people around the world. It would get different results than other polls for audiences or people who work in the film industry.

Some directors have multiple movies on both the BBC and API lists and I think few will disagree that they are great.

Charlie Chaplin (3) - The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936)

Billy Wilder (4) - Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Boulevard (1950), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock (3) - Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), Psycho (1960)

Stanley Kubrick (2) - Dr. Strangelove (1964), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1964)

Francis Ford Coppola (3) - The Godfather (1972), The Godfather II (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979)

Steven Spielberg (4) - Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Schindler's List (1993)

Martin Scorsese (3) - Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990)

ET is a good movie but I watched it recently and it has not aged all that well IMO. There are probably half-dozen or more Disney films I would rank higher.

 

[Thunderlips]

Vertigo is one of those films which is different when seen on a big screen. There's a few others like that on the list: Star Wars, Gone With the Wind, Deliverance.

And Lawrence of Arabia, which wasn't eligible for this list.

Large televisions have muted that point a little bit; but there definitely are movies that are better experienced on the big screen.

 

[kentric]

http://wtop.com/entertainment/2015/07/bbc-ranks-100-greatest-american-films/

100. Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder, 1951)

99. 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen, 2013) excellent

98. Heavens Gate (Michael Cimino, 1980)

97. Gone With the Wind (Victor Fleming, 1939) excellent

96. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) excellent

95. Duck Soup (Leo McCarey, 1933) very good

94. 25th Hour (Spike Lee, 2002)

93. Mean Streets (Martin Scorsese, 1973)

92. The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, 1955)

91. ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982) excellent

90. Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979) great cinematography, but a bit overrated

89. In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950)

88. West Side Story (Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, 1961) excellent

87. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)

86. The Lion King (Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, 1994) good

85. Night of the Living Dead (George A Romero, 1968) really? Don't see it.

84. Deliverance (John Boorman, 1972) very good

83. Bringing Up Baby (Howard Hawks, 1938)

82. Raiders of the Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg, 1981) excellent

81. Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991) good

80. Meet Me in St Louis (Vincente Minnelli, 1944) very good

79. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick, 2011)

78. Schindlers List (Steven Spielberg, 1993) in my top 10

77. Stagecoach (John Ford, 1939) good

76. The Empire Strikes Back (Irvin Kershner, 1980) very good

75. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Steven Spielberg, 1977) excellent

74. Forrest Gump (Robert Zemeckis, 1994) overrated

73. Network (Sidney Lumet, 1976) excellent

72. The Shanghai Gesture (Josef von Sternberg, 1941)

71. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993) annoying

70. The Band Wagon (Vincente Minnelli, 1953)

69. Koyaanisqatsi (Godfrey Reggio, 1982) visually stunning

68. Notorious (Alfred Hitchcock, 1946) very good

67. Modern Times (Charlie Chaplin, 1936) excellent

66. Red River (Howard Hawks, 1948) very good

65. The Right Stuff (Philip Kaufman, 1965) good

64. Johnny Guitar (Nicholas Ray, 1954)

63. Love Streams (John Cassavetes, 1984)

62. The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980) good

61. Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick, 1999) terrible

60. Blue Velvet (David Lynch, 1986) strange but good

59. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (Milo Forman, 1975) in my top 10

58. The Shop Around the Corner (Ernst Lubitsch, 1940)

57. Crimes and Misdemeanors (Woody Allen, 1989) excellent

56. Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis, 1985) very good

55. The Graduate (Mike Nichols, 1967) very good

54. Sunset Boulevard (Billy Wilder, 1950) excellent

53. Grey Gardens (Albert and David Maysles, Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer, 1975)

52. The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah, 1969) excellent

51. Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958)

50. His Girl Friday (Howard Hawks, 1940)

49. Days of Heaven (Terrence Malick, 1978)

48. A Place in the Sun (George Stevens, 1951) in my top 10

47. Marnie (Alfred Hitchcock, 1964) good

46. Its a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, 1946) overrated

45. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford, 1962) good

44. Sherlock Jr (Buster Keaton, 1924) very good

43. Letter from an Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls, 1948)

42. Dr Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964) overrated

41. Rio Bravo (Howard Hawks, 1959)

40. Meshes of the Afternoon (Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid, 1943)

39. The Birth of a Nation (DW Griffith, 1915) dated so hard to appreciate

38. Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975) in my top 10

37. Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk, 1959)

36. Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977) excellent

35. Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder, 1944) very good

34. The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939) in my top 10

33. The Conversation (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)

32. The Lady Eve (Preston Sturges, 1941)

31. A Woman Under the Influence (John Cassavetes, 1974)

30. Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959) good

29. Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980) excellent

28. Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994) in my top 10

27. Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick, 1975) good

26. Killer of Sheep (Charles Burnett, 1978)

25. Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989) excellent

24. The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960) very good

23. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977) in my top 10

22. Greed (Erich von Stroheim, 1924)

21. Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)

20. Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990) in my top 10

19. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976) very good

18. City Lights (Charlie Chaplin, 1931) excellent

17. The Gold Rush (Charlie Chaplin, 1925) excellent

16. McCabe & Mrs Miller (Robert Altman, 1971) good

15. The Best Years of Our Lives (William Wyler, 1946)

14. Nashville (Robert Altman, 1975) very good

13. North by Northwest (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) excellent

12. Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974) excellent

11. The Magnificent Ambersons (Orson Welles, 1942)

10. The Godfather Part II (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974) in my top 10

9. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942) excellent

8. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)excellent

7. Singin in the Rain (Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, 1952) excellent

6. Sunrise (FW Murnau, 1927)

5. The Searchers (John Ford, 1956) excellent

4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968) overrated

3. Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958) excellent

2. The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972) in my top 10

1. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941) excellent

Cross off ones I never saw.

Notable omissions:

Boogie Nights

Quiz Show

Airplane!

Rocky

On the Waterfront

Cabaret

Judgment at Nuremberg

Inherit the Wind

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

The Shawshank Redemption

The Sting

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Letters from Iwo Jima

Saving Private Ryan

To Kill A Mockingbird

The Silence of the Lambs

Manhattan

12 Angry Men

Beauty and the Beast

Pinnochio

I'm curious as to whether you have actually seen any of the movies which you cross off.

I agree on 12 Angry Men, TKAM and a few others, but Boogie Nights? Really?

 

[timschochet]

I have not seen any of the movies that I crossed off.

And Boogie Nights was, IMO, one of the very best films of the 1990s and certainly deserves consideration in the top 100.

 

[Christo]

No Coen Bros is a travesty

Over . . . rated!

Clap, clap . . . , clap, clap, clap!

 

[Christo]

Vertigo is one of those films which is different when seen on a big screen. There's a few others like that on the list: Star Wars, Gone With the Wind, Deliverance.

And Lawrence of Arabia, which wasn't eligible for this list.

Large televisions have muted that point a little bit; but there definitely are movies that are better experienced on the big screen.

I can't hear you!

 

[-arcK-]

This list has a LOT of problems, but despite what Christo says, leaving off No Country is the biggest oversight that I see.

 

[kentric]

I have not seen any of the movies that I crossed off.

And Boogie Nights was, IMO, one of the very best films of the 1990s and certainly deserves consideration in the top 100.

I liked the movie too, but top 100??? Sounds like a poll in the waiting to me. haha

 

[Thunderlips]

http://wtop.com/entertainment/2015/07/bbc-ranks-100-greatest-american-films/

100. Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder, 1951)

99. 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen, 2013) excellent

98. Heavens Gate (Michael Cimino, 1980)

97. Gone With the Wind (Victor Fleming, 1939) excellent

96. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) excellent

95. Duck Soup (Leo McCarey, 1933) very good

94. 25th Hour (Spike Lee, 2002)

93. Mean Streets (Martin Scorsese, 1973)

92. The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, 1955)

91. ET: The Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982) excellent

90. Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979) great cinematography, but a bit overrated

89. In a Lonely Place (Nicholas Ray, 1950)

88. West Side Story (Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, 1961) excellent

87. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)

86. The Lion King (Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, 1994) good

85. Night of the Living Dead (George A Romero, 1968) really? Don't see it.

84. Deliverance (John Boorman, 1972) very good

83. Bringing Up Baby (Howard Hawks, 1938)

82. Raiders of the Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg, 1981) excellent

81. Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991) good

80. Meet Me in St Louis (Vincente Minnelli, 1944) very good

79. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick, 2011)

78. Schindlers List (Steven Spielberg, 1993) in my top 10

77. Stagecoach (John Ford, 1939) good

76. The Empire Strikes Back (Irvin Kershner, 1980) very good

75. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Steven Spielberg, 1977) excellent

74. Forrest Gump (Robert Zemeckis, 1994) overrated

73. Network (Sidney Lumet, 1976) excellent

72. The Shanghai Gesture (Josef von Sternberg, 1941)

71. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993) annoying

70. The Band Wagon (Vincente Minnelli, 1953)

69. Koyaanisqatsi (Godfrey Reggio, 1982) visually stunning

68. Notorious (Alfred Hitchcock, 1946) very good

67. Modern Times (Charlie Chaplin, 1936) excellent

66. Red River (Howard Hawks, 1948) very good

65. The Right Stuff (Philip Kaufman, 1965) good

64. Johnny Guitar (Nicholas Ray, 1954)

63. Love Streams (John Cassavetes, 1984)

62. The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980) good

61. Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick, 1999) terrible

60. Blue Velvet (David Lynch, 1986) strange but good

59. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (Milo Forman, 1975) in my top 10

58. The Shop Around the Corner (Ernst Lubitsch, 1940)

57. Crimes and Misdemeanors (Woody Allen, 1989) excellent

56. Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis, 1985) very good

55. The Graduate (Mike Nichols, 1967) very good

54. Sunset Boulevard (Billy Wilder, 1950) excellent

53. Grey Gardens (Albert and David Maysles, Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer, 1975)

52. The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah, 1969) excellent

51. Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958)

50. His Girl Friday (Howard Hawks, 1940)

49. Days of Heaven (Terrence Malick, 1978)

48. A Place in the Sun (George Stevens, 1951) in my top 10

47. Marnie (Alfred Hitchcock, 1964) good

46. Its a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, 1946) overrated

45. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (John Ford, 1962) good

44. Sherlock Jr (Buster Keaton, 1924) very good

43. Letter from an Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls, 1948)

42. Dr Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964) overrated

41. Rio Bravo (Howard Hawks, 1959)

40. Meshes of the Afternoon (Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid, 1943)

39. The Birth of a Nation (DW Griffith, 1915) dated so hard to appreciate

38. Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975) in my top 10

37. Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk, 1959)

36. Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977) excellent

35. Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder, 1944) very good

34. The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939) in my top 10

33. The Conversation (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)

32. The Lady Eve (Preston Sturges, 1941)

31. A Woman Under the Influence (John Cassavetes, 1974)

30. Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959) good

29. Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980) excellent

28. Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994) in my top 10

27. Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick, 1975) good

26. Killer of Sheep (Charles Burnett, 1978)

25. Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989) excellent

24. The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960) very good

23. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977) in my top 10

22. Greed (Erich von Stroheim, 1924)

21. Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)

20. Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990) in my top 10

19. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976) very good

18. City Lights (Charlie Chaplin, 1931) excellent

17. The Gold Rush (Charlie Chaplin, 1925) excellent

16. McCabe & Mrs Miller (Robert Altman, 1971) good

15. The Best Years of Our Lives (William Wyler, 1946)

14. Nashville (Robert Altman, 1975) very good

13. North by Northwest (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) excellent

12. Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974) excellent

11. The Magnificent Ambersons (Orson Welles, 1942)

10. The Godfather Part II (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974) in my top 10

9. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942) excellent

8. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)excellent

7. Singin in the Rain (Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, 1952) excellent

6. Sunrise (FW Murnau, 1927)

5. The Searchers (John Ford, 1956) excellent

4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968) overrated

3. Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958) excellent

2. The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972) in my top 10

1. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941) excellent

Cross off ones I never saw.

Notable omissions:

Boogie Nights

Quiz Show

Airplane!

Rocky

On the Waterfront

Cabaret

Judgment at Nuremberg

Inherit the Wind

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

The Shawshank Redemption

The Sting

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Letters from Iwo Jima

Saving Private Ryan

To Kill A Mockingbird

The Silence of the Lambs

Manhattan

12 Angry Men

Beauty and the Beast

Pinnochio

I'm curious as to whether you have actually seen any of the movies which you cross off.

I agree on 12 Angry Men, TKAM and a few others, but Boogie Nights? Really?

I think most younger people who fancy themselves cinephiles would have it somewhere in their GOAT. The subject matter mos def turns some people off.....but its hard to argue against the acting and cinematography in it.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Surprised that not even 1 of the 3 Sharknado movies made the list.

 

[joffer]

Surprised that not even 1 of the 3 Sharknado movies made the list.

to be fair, the 2nd one was a little unrealistic