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Persistent Cinema

The canon

Film History

Two lists of the films that shaped cinema: the IMDb Top 250 and Roger Ebert's Great Movies. Every title opens on its source.
Daily Worker newspaper page, New York, Saturday, May 3, 1941, headlined 'Citizen Kane Makes Film History', with a photo of Orson Welles as Kane gesturing before his giant campaign poster, and David Platt's review: 'Based on Best Traditions of Theatre and Screen' and 'Opens New Paths in Script Writing and Direction'.
Daily Worker, New York · Saturday, May 3, 1941 · "Citizen Kane Makes Film History" · By David Platt

As ranked by IMDb users

IMDb Top 250

  1. 1The Shawshank Redemption1994 · ★ 9.3 · Drama
  2. 2The Godfather1972 · ★ 9.2 · Crime
  3. 3The Dark Knight2008 · ★ 9.1 · Crime
  4. 4The Godfather Part II1974 · ★ 9.0 · Crime
  5. 5The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King2003 · ★ 9.0 · Adventure
  6. 612 Angry Men1957 · ★ 9.0 · Crime
  7. 7Schindler's List1993 · ★ 9.0 · Biography
  8. 8The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring2001 · ★ 8.9 · Adventure
  9. 9Pulp Fiction1994 · ★ 8.8 · Crime
  10. 10The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers2002 · ★ 8.8 · Adventure
  11. 11Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo1966 · ★ 8.8 · Adventure
  12. 12Forrest Gump1994 · ★ 8.8 · Drama
  13. 13Inception2010 · ★ 8.8 · Adventure
  14. 14Fight Club1999 · ★ 8.8 · Crime
  15. 15Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back1980 · ★ 8.7 · Adventure
  16. 16The Matrix1999 · ★ 8.7 · Action
  17. 17Interstellar2014 · ★ 8.7 · Adventure
  18. 18GoodFellas1990 · ★ 8.7 · Biography
  19. 19One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest1975 · ★ 8.6 · Drama
  20. 20Se7en1995 · ★ 8.6 · Crime
  21. 21It's a Wonderful Life1946 · ★ 8.6 · Drama
  22. 22The Silence of the Lambs1991 · ★ 8.6 · Crime
  23. 23Saving Private Ryan1998 · ★ 8.6 · Drama
  24. 24Shichinin no samurai1954 · ★ 8.6 · Action
  25. 25The Green Mile1999 · ★ 8.6 · Crime
  26. 26Cidade de Deus2002 · ★ 8.6 · Crime
  27. 27La vita è bella1997 · ★ 8.6 · Comedy
  28. 28Terminator 2: Judgment Day1991 · ★ 8.6 · Action
  29. 29Back to the Future1985 · ★ 8.5 · Adventure
  30. 30Star Wars1977 · ★ 8.6 · Action
  31. 31Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi2001 · ★ 8.6 · Animation
  32. 32Gladiator2000 · ★ 8.5 · Action
  33. 33The Pianist2002 · ★ 8.5 · Biography
  34. 34Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair2004 · ★ 8.7 · Action
  35. 35Gisaengchung2019 · ★ 8.5 · Drama
  36. 36Hotaru no haka1988 · ★ 8.5 · Animation
  37. 37Seppuku1962 · ★ 8.6 · Drama
  38. 38The Lion King1994 · ★ 8.5 · Animation
  39. 39Psycho1960 · ★ 8.5 · Drama
  40. 40The Departed2006 · ★ 8.5 · Crime
  41. 41Whiplash2014 · ★ 8.5 · Drama
  42. 42The Prestige2006 · ★ 8.5 · Drama
  43. 43American History X1998 · ★ 8.5 · Crime
  44. 44Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse2023 · ★ 8.5 · Animation
  45. 45Nuovo Cinema Paradiso1988 · ★ 8.5 · Drama
  46. 46Léon1994 · ★ 8.5 · Action
  47. 47Casablanca1942 · ★ 8.5 · Drama
  48. 48Intouchables2011 · ★ 8.5 · Comedy
  49. 49The Usual Suspects1995 · ★ 8.5 · Crime
  50. 50Django Unchained2012 · ★ 8.5 · Drama
  51. 51Alien1979 · ★ 8.4 · Horror
  52. 52Rear Window1954 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  53. 53Modern Times1936 · ★ 8.5 · Comedy
  54. 54C'era una volta il West1968 · ★ 8.5 · Drama
  55. 55WALL·E2008 · ★ 8.4 · Animation
  56. 56City Lights1931 · ★ 8.5 · Comedy
  57. 57Apocalypse Now1979 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  58. 58Memento2000 · ★ 8.4 · Mystery
  59. 59Avengers: Infinity War2018 · ★ 8.4 · Action
  60. 60Dune: Part Two2024 · ★ 8.4 · Action
  61. 61Raiders of the Lost Ark1981 · ★ 8.4 · Adventure
  62. 62Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse2018 · ★ 8.4 · Animation
  63. 63Das Leben der Anderen2006 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  64. 64The Odyssey2026 · ★ 8.4 · Action
  65. 65Sunset Boulevard1950 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  66. 66Witness for the Prosecution1957 · ★ 8.4 · Crime
  67. 67Paths of Glory1957 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  68. 68Inglourious Basterds2009 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  69. 69The Shining1980 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  70. 70The Great Dictator1940 · ★ 8.4 · Comedy
  71. 71Aliens1986 · ★ 8.4 · Action
  72. 72Tengoku to jigoku1963 · ★ 8.4 · Crime
  73. 7312th Fail2023 · ★ 8.7 · Biography
  74. 74Avengers: Endgame2019 · ★ 8.4 · Action
  75. 75Good Will Hunting1997 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  76. 76Coco2017 · ★ 8.4 · Animation
  77. 77Toy Story1995 · ★ 8.3 · Animation
  78. 78The Dark Knight Rises2012 · ★ 8.4 · Crime
  79. 79Amadeus1984 · ★ 8.4 · Biography
  80. 80Kimi no na wa.2016 · ★ 8.4 · Animation
  81. 813 Idiots2009 · ★ 8.4 · Comedy
  82. 82Braveheart1995 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  83. 83Das Boot1981 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  84. 84Mononoke-hime1997 · ★ 8.3 · Animation
  85. 85Oldeuboi2003 · ★ 8.3 · Action
  86. 86Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb1964 · ★ 8.3 · Comedy
  87. 87American Beauty1999 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  88. 88Capharnaüm2018 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  89. 89Shingeki no Kyojin: The Last Attack2024 · ★ 8.9 · Animation
  90. 90Singin' in the Rain1952 · ★ 8.3 · Comedy
  91. 91C'era una volta in America1984 · ★ 8.3 · Crime
  92. 92Joker2019 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  93. 93Toy Story 32010 · ★ 8.3 · Animation
  94. 94Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi1983 · ★ 8.3 · Action
  95. 95Idi i smotri1985 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  96. 96Requiem for a Dream2000 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  97. 97Incendies2010 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  98. 98Ikiru1952 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  99. 99Jagten2012 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  100. 100Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind2004 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  101. 101The Apartment1960 · ★ 8.3 · Comedy
  102. 102Lawrence of Arabia1962 · ★ 8.3 · Adventure
  103. 103Heat1995 · ★ 8.3 · Action
  104. 104Scarface1983 · ★ 8.3 · Crime
  105. 105Up2009 · ★ 8.3 · Animation
  106. 106Reservoir Dogs1992 · ★ 8.2 · Crime
  107. 1072001: A Space Odyssey1968 · ★ 8.3 · Adventure
  108. 108Double Indemnity1944 · ★ 8.3 · Crime
  109. 109Taare Zameen Par2007 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  110. 110North by Northwest1959 · ★ 8.2 · Action
  111. 111Full Metal Jacket1987 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  112. 112Jodaeiye Nader az Simin2011 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  113. 113I Swear2025 · ★ 8.3 · Biography
  114. 114Die Hard1988 · ★ 8.2 · Action
  115. 115M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder1931 · ★ 8.3 · Crime
  116. 116Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade1989 · ★ 8.2 · Adventure
  117. 117To Kill a Mockingbird1962 · ★ 8.2 · Crime
  118. 118Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain2001 · ★ 8.2 · Comedy
  119. 119Vertigo1958 · ★ 8.2 · Mystery
  120. 120Citizen Kane1941 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  121. 121The Sting1973 · ★ 8.2 · Comedy
  122. 122A Clockwork Orange1971 · ★ 8.2 · Crime
  123. 123The Truman Show1998 · ★ 8.2 · Comedy
  124. 124The Wolf of Wall Street2013 · ★ 8.2 · Biography
  125. 125Metropolis1927 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  126. 12619172019 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  127. 127Snatch2000 · ★ 8.2 · Comedy
  128. 128Shutter Island2010 · ★ 8.2 · Mystery
  129. 129Der Untergang2004 · ★ 8.2 · Biography
  130. 130L.A. Confidential1997 · ★ 8.2 · Crime
  131. 131Green Book2018 · ★ 8.2 · Biography
  132. 132Dangal2016 · ★ 8.3 · Action
  133. 133Ladri di biciclette1948 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  134. 134Judgment at Nuremberg1961 · ★ 8.3 · Drama
  135. 135Suna no onna1964 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  136. 136Jurassic Park1993 · ★ 8.2 · Adventure
  137. 137Batman Begins2005 · ★ 8.2 · Crime
  138. 138Oppenheimer2023 · ★ 8.2 · Biography
  139. 139Per qualche dollaro in più1965 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  140. 140Hamilton2020 · ★ 8.3 · Biography
  141. 141There Will Be Blood2007 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  142. 142Some Like It Hot1959 · ★ 8.2 · Comedy
  143. 143Taxi Driver1976 · ★ 8.2 · Crime
  144. 144The Father2020 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  145. 145The Sixth Sense1999 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  146. 146The Kid1921 · ★ 8.2 · Comedy
  147. 147All About Eve1950 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  148. 148Ran1985 · ★ 8.2 · Action
  149. 149The Thing1982 · ★ 8.2 · Horror
  150. 150Casino1995 · ★ 8.2 · Crime
  151. 151No Country for Old Men2007 · ★ 8.2 · Crime
  152. 152Prisoners2013 · ★ 8.2 · Crime
  153. 153Top Gun: Maverick2022 · ★ 8.2 · Action
  154. 154Kill Bill: Vol. 12003 · ★ 8.2 · Action
  155. 155El laberinto del fauno2006 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  156. 156Unforgiven1992 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  157. 157A Beautiful Mind2001 · ★ 8.2 · Biography
  158. 158Hauru no ugoku shiro2004 · ★ 8.2 · Animation
  159. 159The Treasure of the Sierra Madre1948 · ★ 8.2 · Adventure
  160. 160Finding Nemo2003 · ★ 8.2 · Animation
  161. 161Klaus2019 · ★ 8.2 · Animation
  162. 162Project Hail Mary2026 · ★ 8.2 · Adventure
  163. 163Gekijô-ban Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Jô-hen2025 · ★ 8.3 · Animation
  164. 164Yôjinbô1961 · ★ 8.2 · Action
  165. 165The Elephant Man1980 · ★ 8.2 · Biography
  166. 166The Great Escape1963 · ★ 8.2 · Adventure
  167. 167Monty Python and the Holy Grail1975 · ★ 8.1 · Adventure
  168. 168Dial M for Murder1954 · ★ 8.1 · Crime
  169. 169El secreto de sus ojos2009 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  170. 170Gone with the Wind1939 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  171. 171Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels1998 · ★ 8.1 · Comedy
  172. 172Catch Me If You Can2002 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  173. 173Chinatown1974 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  174. 174V for Vendetta2005 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  175. 175Dead Poets Society1989 · ★ 8.1 · Comedy
  176. 176Inside Out2015 · ★ 8.1 · Animation
  177. 177La meglio gioventù2003 · ★ 8.4 · Drama
  178. 178Trainspotting1996 · ★ 8.1 · Crime
  179. 179Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 22011 · ★ 8.1 · Adventure
  180. 180Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri2017 · ★ 8.1 · Comedy
  181. 181The Bridge on the River Kwai1957 · ★ 8.1 · Adventure
  182. 182Rashômon1950 · ★ 8.1 · Crime
  183. 183Barry Lyndon1975 · ★ 8.1 · Adventure
  184. 184Ben-Hur1959 · ★ 8.1 · Adventure
  185. 185The Wild Robot2024 · ★ 8.1 · Animation
  186. 186Hacksaw Ridge2016 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  187. 187Warrior2011 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  188. 188Ratatouille2007 · ★ 8.1 · Animation
  189. 189Mad Max: Fury Road2015 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  190. 190Million Dollar Baby2004 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  191. 191Fargo1996 · ★ 8.1 · Crime
  192. 192Bacheha-ye aseman1997 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  193. 193Tonari no Totoro1988 · ★ 8.1 · Animation
  194. 194Gran Torino2008 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  195. 19512 Years a Slave2013 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  196. 196Raging Bull1980 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  197. 197How to Train Your Dragon2010 · ★ 8.1 · Animation
  198. 198Salinui chueok2003 · ★ 8.1 · Crime
  199. 199The Grand Budapest Hotel2014 · ★ 8.1 · Comedy
  200. 200Before Sunrise1995 · ★ 8.1 · Comedy
  201. 201Monsters, Inc.2001 · ★ 8.1 · Animation
  202. 202Blade Runner1982 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  203. 203Gone Girl2014 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  204. 204Ford v Ferrari2019 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  205. 205Jaws1975 · ★ 8.1 · Adventure
  206. 206In the Name of the Father1993 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  207. 207Gekijô-ban Chensô Man Reze-hen2025 · ★ 8.3 · Animation
  208. 208Spider-Man: No Way Home2021 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  209. 209Relatos salvajes2014 · ★ 8.1 · Comedy
  210. 210Koe no katachi2016 · ★ 8.2 · Animation
  211. 211The Gold Rush1925 · ★ 8.1 · Adventure
  212. 212Mary and Max.2009 · ★ 8.1 · Animation
  213. 213Sherlock Jr.1924 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  214. 214Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl2003 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  215. 215Logan2017 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  216. 216The Deer Hunter1978 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  217. 217Rocky1976 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  218. 218Le salaire de la peur1953 · ★ 8.1 · Adventure
  219. 219The General1926 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  220. 220Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939 · ★ 8.1 · Comedy
  221. 221Tôkyô monogatari1953 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  222. 222Maharaja2024 · ★ 8.3 · Action
  223. 223La haine1995 · ★ 8.1 · Crime
  224. 224The Sound of Music1965 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  225. 225Spotlight2015 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  226. 226Jai Bhim2021 · ★ 8.6 · Crime
  227. 227The Terminator1984 · ★ 8.1 · Action
  228. 228Smultronstället1957 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  229. 229The Best Years of Our Lives1946 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  230. 230On the Waterfront1954 · ★ 8.1 · Crime
  231. 231The Third Man1949 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  232. 232The Big Lebowski1998 · ★ 8.1 · Comedy
  233. 233The Incredibles2004 · ★ 8.0 · Animation
  234. 234Hachi: A Dog's Tale2009 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  235. 235Before Sunset2004 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  236. 236The Iron Giant1999 · ★ 8.1 · Animation
  237. 237The Exorcist1973 · ★ 8.1 · Horror
  238. 238Room2015 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  239. 239Hotel Rwanda2004 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  240. 240Platoon1986 · ★ 8.0 · Drama
  241. 241Det sjunde inseglet1957 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  242. 242Rush2013 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  243. 243La battaglia di Algeri1966 · ★ 8.1 · Drama
  244. 244Stand by Me1986 · ★ 8.1 · Adventure
  245. 245The Wizard of Oz1939 · ★ 8.1 · Adventure
  246. 246Babam ve Oglum2005 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
  247. 247La passion de Jeanne d'Arc1928 · ★ 8.1 · Biography
  248. 248Drishyam2015 · ★ 8.2 · Crime
  249. 249Gangs of Wasseypur2012 · ★ 8.2 · Action
  250. 250Yedinci Kogustaki Mucize2019 · ★ 8.2 · Drama
The full chart on IMDb

Chosen by Roger Ebert

The Great Movies

Roger Ebert's essays on the films he held above all others, A to Z.

Read the essays on RogerEbert.com

Lists as of October 24, 2026. Rankings and essays belong to IMDb and RogerEbert.com.