The Enduring Quest for Cinema's Greatest Films

Cinema has captivated audiences for over a century, sparking endless debates about what constitutes the best movie ever made. From blockbuster spectacles to intimate character studies, films have the power to transcend time, culture, and language. But who better to settle the score than cinema experts themselves? Prestigious polls conducted by film institutions gather thousands of critics, programmers, curators, archivists, and academics to vote on the greatest films of all time. These lists not only reflect artistic merit but also innovation, cultural resonance, and lasting influence.

In the United States, where Hollywood dominates global box offices, such rankings hold particular sway. They guide film students, directors, and enthusiasts alike, shaping syllabi in universities and inspiring new generations of storytellers. The most authoritative of these is the decennial Sight & Sound poll by the British Film Institute, which in 2022 expanded to include 1,639 participants—the largest ever. This poll dethroned longtime favorite Citizen Kane and crowned an unexpected champion, signaling shifts in cinematic tastes.

These expert revelations offer more than rankings; they illuminate cinema's evolution. Classics from the silent era rub shoulders with experimental works, proving that greatness defies eras or genres. As streaming platforms democratize access, revisiting these masterpieces reveals why they endure amid thousands of new releases annually.

A Brief History of Greatest Films Polls

Film polls date back to the early 20th century, with critics like those at the National Board of Review compiling informal lists. The Sight & Sound poll, launched in 1952, became the gold standard. Initially dominated by Orson Welles's Citizen Kane, which topped it from 1962 to 2002, the rankings have evolved with societal changes. Vertigo overtook Kane in 2012, only for a radical shift in 2022.

In the US, the American Film Institute's (AFI) 1998 poll focused on American movies, celebrating Hollywood's golden age. Updated in 2007, it highlighted enduring favorites like Casablanca and The Godfather. Rotten Tomatoes aggregates critic scores, while Metacritic weighs reviews numerically. Audience-driven lists from IMDb contrast sharply, favoring recent blockbusters like The Shawshank Redemption.

These polls reveal biases: critics prize formalism and subversion, while audiences lean toward emotional narratives. Yet overlaps—such as Seven Samurai and Singin' in the Rain—underscore universal appeal. By 2026, with AI-generated films emerging, experts continue to champion human ingenuity.

The 2022 Sight & Sound Critics' Poll: Methodology and Surprises

Every ten years since 1952, Sight & Sound invites global film experts to submit top-ten ballots. The 2022 edition, the eighth, drew 1,639 votes, expanding beyond traditional critics to include diverse voices. Ballots were tallied by points: first place earned 10, second 9, and so on. The result? A seismic shift, with Chantal Akerman's Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles topping the list—a three-hour feminist epic unseen by many voters but lauded for its radical gaze on domestic labor.

Surprises abounded: no single film garnered more than 5% of first-place votes, reflecting fragmentation. Classics like Citizen Kane dropped to third, while modern entries like Mulholland Drive entered the top ten. Women directors gained prominence, with Akerman, Claire Denis, and Agnès Varda represented. The poll's directors' counterpart favored 2001: A Space Odyssey first, highlighting practitioner perspectives.

This diversity mirrors cinema's globalization, from Japanese minimalism to Iranian docudramas. For US audiences, the inclusion of American icons like Vertigo and The Godfather reaffirms Hollywood's centrality. Explore the full Sight & Sound list here.

Unveiling the Top 20 Greatest Movies Ever

• 1. Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975, Chantal Akerman)
• 2. Vertigo (1958, Alfred Hitchcock)
• 3. Citizen Kane (1941, Orson Welles)
• 4. Tokyo Story (1953, Yasujirō Ozu)
• 5. In the Mood for Love (2000, Wong Kar-wai)
• 6. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968, Stanley Kubrick)
• 7. Beau Travail (1999, Claire Denis)
• 8. Mulholland Drive (2001, David Lynch)
• 9. Man with a Movie Camera (1929, Dziga Vertov)
• 10. Singin' in the Rain (1952, Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen)
• 11. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927, F.W. Murnau)
• 12. The Godfather (1972, Francis Ford Coppola)
• 13. The Rules of the Game (1939, Jean Renoir)
• 14. Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962, Agnès Varda)
• 15. The Searchers (1956, John Ford)
• 16. Meshes of the Afternoon (1943, Maya Deren)
• 17. Close-Up (1990, Abbas Kiarostami)
• 18. Persona (1966, Ingmar Bergman)
• 19. Apocalypse Now (1979, Francis Ford Coppola)
• 20. Seven Samurai (1954, Akira Kurosawa)

This eclectic lineup spans silent experiments to postmodern puzzles, proving cinema's boundless potential.

Deep Dive: The Top 5 Revolutionaries

At #1, Jeanne Dielman meticulously chronicles three days in a widow's routine, unraveling through subtle disruptions. Akerman's static shots and real-time peeling potatoes challenge viewers' patience, earning praise as a feminist landmark. Critics hail its influence on slow cinema, with a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score despite limited initial release.

Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, #2, weaves obsession and identity in San Francisco's shadows. James Stewart's detective spirals into delusion, innovating with the 'Vertigo effect' zoom. A box-office flop then, it now boasts 94% approval, topping 2012's poll for its psychological depth.

Citizen Kane, #3, Orson Welles's debut dissects media tycoon ambition via nonlinear flashbacks and deep-focus cinematography. Though Oscar-snubbed for Best Picture, its techniques reshaped Hollywood. Adjusted for inflation, it ranks among top earners.

#4 Tokyo Story portrays aging parents visiting indifferent children in postwar Japan. Ozu's tatami-level shots and ellipses capture familial drift universally, influencing directors like Wes Anderson.

Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love, #5, simmers with unspoken desire between neighbors in 1960s Hong Kong. Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung's chemistry, Christopher Doyle's neon cinematography, and Shigeru Umebayashi's score make it a sensual masterpiece, grossing over $12 million globally.AFI's American icons provide a patriotic counterpoint.

Photo by Hakim Menikh on Unsplash

Innovators and Genre Masters: Positions 6-10

#6 2001: A Space Odyssey redefined sci-fi with Kubrick's philosophical odyssey from apes to AI. Practical effects and classical score earned $146 million (adjusted $500M+), winning Kubrick an Oscar.

Claire Denis's Beau Travail (#7) reimagines Bizet's opera in Djibouti, where legionnaires' bodies evoke homoerotic tension. Its rhythmic editing and Benjamin Biolay soundtrack mesmerize.

#8 Mulholland Drive's Lynchian Hollywood nightmare blurs reality and dream, starring Naomi Watts. Revived from a scrapped TV pilot, it netted $20 million and Palme d'Or nods.

Dziga Vertov's Man with a Movie Camera (#9) montages Soviet life sans actors, pioneering self-reflexive documentary. A silent symphony influencing Godard and music videos.

#10 Singin' in the Rain joyously satirizes talkies' advent, with Gene Kelly's iconic dance. Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor shine; it holds 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Timeless Epics and Social Satire: 11-15

F.W. Murnau's Sunrise (#11) blends expressionism and romance in a husband's redemption arc. Academy Award for Unique Artistic Picture, it pioneered tracking shots.

#12 The Godfather chronicles the Corleone mafia dynasty. Coppola's adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel won three Oscars, grossed $250M (adjusted $1B+), launching sequels.

Jean Renoir's The Rules of the Game (#13) skewers French aristocracy pre-WWII via weekend chaos. Banned then restored, it's farce as social critique.

Agnès Varda's Cléo from 5 to 7 (#14) tracks a singer awaiting cancer results in real-time Paris. Blending fiction and documentary, it empowers female subjectivity.

John Ford's The Searchers (#15), John Wayne's conflicted Civil War vet quests for his niece. Complex racism portrayal influenced Star Wars and Taxi Driver.

Experimental Visions and Moral Dramas: 16-20

Maya Deren's Meshes of the Afternoon (#16) loops dream logic in 14 minutes, birthing American avant-garde. Symbolic mirrors and keys prefigure postmodernism.

#17 Close-Up blends trial footage and reenactments of a fraud impersonating Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Kiarostami probes truth and cinema's illusions.

Ingmar Bergman's Persona (#18) merges actress and patient identities. Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann's faces fuse in meta-psychodrama.

#19 Apocalypse Now plunges into Vietnam madness. Coppola's $30M gamble (over budget) won two Oscars; Hearts of Darkness doc reveals chaos.

Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (#20) epic of farmers hiring ronin against bandits. Influenced Magnificent Seven, Star Wars; 98% RT, multiple Oscars.

AFI's American Take: Top 20 US Films

AFI's 2007 poll ranks US productions: 1. Citizen Kane, 2. Casablanca, 3. The Godfather, ..., 20. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Overlaps with Sight & Sound include Kane, Godfather, Singin' in the Rain, underscoring Hollywood's prowess.

This patriotic lens prioritizes narrative accessibility.

Cultural Impacts and Box Office Legacies

These films reshaped society: Vertigo inspired thrillers, Godfather glamorized mobsters (prompting disclaimers), Seven Samurai spawned Western remakes. Collectively, they've won 50+ Oscars. Adjusted grosses: Gone with the Wind ($4B), Star Wars ($3B), though polls favor artistry over commerce. Streaming views on platforms like Criterion Channel exceed millions, preserving legacies.

Photo by Josh Rich on Unsplash

Why These Movies Still Resonate in 2026

Themes of identity, power, and humanity persist amid AI cinema. Jeanne Dielman's domestic critique echoes gig economy burnout; Mulholland Drive mirrors influencer dreams. Younger viewers discover them via TikTok edits, proving timelessness.

Looking Ahead: Future Contenders

Oppenheimer (2023), Parasite (2019), and Top Gun: Maverick climb charts. The 2032 poll may elevate diverse voices further. Until then, these 20 stand as cinema's pinnacle.Rotten Tomatoes' adjusted rankings offer ongoing insights.