Let's be honest. Most "best of" lists are basically just a group of critics trying to look smarter than each other. You see the same black-and-white titles, the same sweeping epics, and usually a lot of subtitles. But when we talk about all time top movies, we aren’t just talking about what some professor in a turtleneck thinks is "cinema." We’re talking about the stuff that actually sticks. The movies that changed how people looked at the world, or at least how they looked at a bucket of popcorn.
It’s weird. You can have a movie like The Godfather that everyone agrees is a masterpiece, and then you have something like The Shawshank Redemption, which basically failed at the box office but now sits at the very top of IMDb like it owns the place. Why? Because rankings aren't just about technical skill. They’re about how a film feels when you watch it for the fifth time at 2:00 AM.
That’s the thing about greatness. It’s sticky.
The IMDb Phenomenon and Why Shawshank Rules the Roost
If you look at the IMDb Top 250—which is essentially the "People’s Choice" of all time top movies—The Shawshank Redemption has held the #1 spot for what feels like forever. It’s kind of a miracle. When it came out in 1994, it got smoked by Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump. It was a "bomb" by most financial standards.
But then cable TV happened. TNT played it on a loop for a decade.
People started realizing that Frank Darabont’s adaptation of a Stephen King novella wasn't just a prison movie. It was a story about hope that didn't feel cheesy. It’s got that narration by Morgan Freeman—who, let’s face it, could narrate a grocery list and make it sound like a divine revelation—and a pacing that just works. It’s comfortable. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a warm blanket, even with all the, you know, prison trauma.
Contrast that with The Godfather. Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 epic is objectively perfect. The lighting by Gordon Willis (they called him the "Prince of Darkness" for a reason) changed how movies were shot. But The Godfather is heavy. It’s a commitment. You don’t just "put it on." You experience it.
What Critics Actually Look For
Critics at Sight & Sound or Rotten Tomatoes usually prioritize "innovation." They want to see the moment the language of film changed. That’s why Citizen Kane was the undisputed king for fifty years. Or why Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles suddenly jumped to the top of the Sight & Sound poll in 2022.
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It’s about the "Firsts."
- First to use deep focus? Citizen Kane.
- First to use jump cuts effectively? Breathless.
- First to make a blockbuster out of a mechanical shark that barely worked? Jaws.
The Big Three: Godfather, Kane, and Vertigo
If you’re trying to build a watchlist of all time top movies, you basically have to start with the holy trinity.
First, The Godfather. It’s a family drama disguised as a crime thriller. Marlon Brando’s performance is legendary, but Al Pacino’s descent from war hero to cold-blooded killer is what actually holds the movie together. It’s a slow burn. It takes its time. It’s also incredibly violent in ways that still feel shocking because the violence has weight.
Then there’s Citizen Kane. Orson Welles was only 25 when he made it. Think about that. Most 25-year-olds today are just trying to figure out how to pay rent, and Welles was busy reinventing cinematography, structure, and sound design. It’s the story of Charles Foster Kane, a newspaper tycoon who dies alone. People call it "boring" because they’ve seen its tricks copied in every movie since 1941. It’s a victim of its own success.
Finally, Vertigo. Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 masterpiece wasn’t even well-liked when it premiered. People thought it was too long and weirdly obsessive. But that’s exactly why it’s great. It’s a movie about a man (James Stewart) who is obsessed with a woman who might not exist. It’s dark, it’s colorful, and it uses the "dolly zoom" to make you feel as dizzy as the main character.
The "New" Classics That Shifted the Conversation
We have to talk about the 90s.
Something happened in that decade. It was like a lightning strike. You had Schindler’s List, which is probably the most "important" movie ever made. Steven Spielberg, the guy who gave us E.T., suddenly decided to show the world the absolute darkest parts of human history with a terrifying level of precision. It’s a movie you only watch once, but it stays with you for life.
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Then there’s Pulp Fiction. Quentin Tarantino didn’t just write a movie; he wrote a vibe. He proved that characters talking about "Royale with Cheese" or the ethics of a foot massage could be just as engaging as a car chase. It broke the linear timeline. It made it cool to be a cinephile again.
Why Sci-Fi Finally Got Respect
For a long time, sci-fi was seen as "kid stuff." Then 2001: A Space Odyssey happened. Stanley Kubrick didn't want to tell a story; he wanted to create an experience. There’s barely any dialogue. It’s just music and massive, beautiful shots of space. It’s basically a silent movie set in the future.
Years later, The Dark Knight did something similar for superheroes. Christopher Nolan took a guy in a bat suit and turned it into a gritty Michael Mann-style crime drama. Heath Ledger’s Joker wasn’t a cartoon. He was a force of nature. It’s one of the few all time top movies that actually feels like it belongs in the modern era while maintaining the craftsmanship of the old school.
The Cultural Impact Factor
A movie can be technically perfect but have zero soul. That’s why Casablanca is still on every list. It was filmed during World War II, and most of the extras were actual refugees from Nazi Germany. When they sing "La Marseillaise" in the bar, those aren't just actors. They’re people crying for their homes. You can’t fake that.
Casablanca is the ultimate "lightning in a bottle" film. The script wasn't even finished when they started shooting. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman didn't know how it was going to end. That uncertainty is baked into the performances. It’s messy, it’s romantic, and it’s perfectly paced.
The Problem With Global Lists
Usually, these lists are way too focused on Hollywood. If you really want to dive into all time top movies, you have to look at Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai. It’s the blueprint for every "team on a mission" movie ever made—from The Magnificent Seven to A Bug’s Life.
Kurosawa’s use of rain, movement, and geography is a masterclass. You always know where every character is in a fight. Modern action directors could learn a thing or two from a movie made in 1954.
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Then you have Parasite (2019). It was the first non-English language film to win Best Picture. It’s a thriller, a comedy, and a social commentary all wrapped into one. It proved that "the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles," as Bong Joon-ho put it, shouldn't stop us from seeing greatness.
How to Actually Watch These Movies
You don’t just sit down and watch Seven Samurai or Lawrence of Arabia (which is nearly four hours long) on your phone while scrolling TikTok. You’ll hate it. These films were designed for big screens and dark rooms.
- Turn off your phone. Seriously. These movies rely on atmosphere.
- Contextualize. If you're watching Psycho, remember that in 1960, showing a toilet flushing was considered scandalous, let alone a murder in a shower.
- Ignore the "Hype." Just because a movie is at the top of a list doesn't mean it’ll be your favorite. I know people who think The Godfather is a snooze-fest. That’s fine. Film is subjective.
Where to Start Your Journey
If you’re overwhelmed, don't try to watch the Top 100 in a month. Start with the "gateway" classics.
- The Shawshank Redemption: For when you want to feel something.
- Goodfellas: For when you want high energy and incredible editing.
- The Apartment: If you want a rom-com that actually has a brain and a heart.
- Parasite: If you want something modern that will keep you guessing.
- Singin' in the Rain: Honestly, if you don't smile during this movie, check your pulse.
The search for all time top movies isn't about checking boxes on a "must-watch" list. It’s about finding those specific stories that change your DNA just a little bit. Whether it's the sweeping desert of Lawrence of Arabia or the claustrophobic hallways of The Shining, these films are the high-water marks of what humans can do with a camera and a dream.
Go find a high-quality stream, turn the lights down, and actually pay attention. You might be surprised by why these movies haven't been forgotten.
Next Steps for the Aspiring Cinephile
- Audit Your Streaming Services: Check out The Criterion Channel or Mubi. They curate the "all time top movies" so you don't have to scroll through endless trash on mainstream platforms.
- Cross-Reference Lists: Compare the IMDb Top 250 (voted by fans) with the Sight & Sound Decennial Poll (voted by experts). The overlap between these two lists usually reveals the true "immortals."
- Follow the Directors: If you loved The Dark Knight, don't just look for more superhero movies. Look for more Christopher Nolan films like Memento or Inception. Greatness usually follows the creator.
- Check Local Listings: Many independent theaters do "Classic Nights." Seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey on a 70mm print is a completely different experience than watching it on a laptop. Do it at least once.