Lists are inherently annoying. We love them, obviously, but we also love to hate them. There is something specifically grating about a group of "experts" sitting in a room and deciding that Citizen Kane is objectively better than The Godfather. Or that Singin' in the Rain belongs in the top five while Pulp Fiction is buried somewhere near the bottom.
The AFI top 100 movies of all time—officially known as the "100 Years... 100 Movies" list—is the granddaddy of these arguments.
First released in 1998 and then refreshed for a 10th-anniversary edition in 2007, this list has become the ultimate syllabus for anyone trying to call themselves a "cinephile." It's the reason you feel guilty for not having seen The Searchers yet. It’s also a time capsule of what Hollywood thought of itself at the turn of the millennium.
But here’s the thing: it hasn't been updated in nearly twenty years.
The Unshakeable Reign of Citizen Kane
If you look at the 2007 update, the top spot didn't budge. Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane (1941) held onto the crown like a stubborn king.
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Why? Honestly, it’s partially because of the "innovator's tax." Welles was 25 when he made that movie. He used deep focus, overlapping dialogue, and non-linear storytelling in ways that basically invented the language of modern cinema. 1,500 voters from the American Film Institute—actors, directors, critics—can't seem to get past that historical weight.
The Godfather (1972) is right on its heels at #2. It actually swapped places with Casablanca (1942) in the 10th-anniversary edition. There’s a constant tug-of-war between "technical perfection" and "emotional resonance." People like The Godfather more. They respect Citizen Kane more.
The Top 10 as of the Last Official Count:
- Citizen Kane (1941)
- The Godfather (1972)
- Casablanca (1942)
- Raging Bull (1980) — This was a huge jumper, moving up from #24 in 1998.
- Singin' in the Rain (1952)
- Gone with the Wind (1939)
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- Schindler's List (1993)
- Vertigo (1958) — Another massive leap; it used to be #61.
- The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Notice anything? Only one movie from the 1990s made the top ten. Nothing from the 21st century even came close to the single digits. This is the biggest criticism of the AFI list: it’s deeply, almost pathologically, nostalgic.
What the AFI Top 100 Movies of All Time Gets Wrong
The list is restricted to "American" films. That sounds simple, but the definition is kinda messy. Lawrence of Arabia is arguably a British film, but because it had American funding and distribution, it qualifies. Meanwhile, incredible world cinema—Kurosawa, Fellini, Godard—is completely ignored.
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It also has a major "stale" problem.
Because the last update was in 2007, the list is missing nearly two decades of absolute masterpieces. There is no No Country for Old Men. No The Social Network. No There Will Be Blood. Parasite wouldn't count anyway (it’s South Korean), but Everything Everywhere All At Once or Moonlight—movies that changed the cultural conversation—simply don't exist in the AFI's world yet.
Then there's the diversity issue. In the 2007 list, there were zero films directed by women. Zero. Not even Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation or anything by Kathryn Bigelow made the cut. Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing finally showed up at #96, but it felt like a "too little, too late" gesture for a movie that many critics consider a top-ten contender.
The Movies That Fell Off the Cliff
Watching the shifts between the 1998 and 2007 lists is like watching a popularity contest in a high school faculty lounge.
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The Graduate was #7 in 1998. By 2007, it had tumbled to #17. On the Waterfront dropped from #8 to #19. These are still great movies, but they’ve lost that "cool" factor that usually keeps a film in the top ten.
Newcomers in 2007 included The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at #50. It was the only "modern" blockbuster to really break through the gate. Saving Private Ryan (#71) and Titanic (#83) also managed to squeeze in, proving that the AFI voters aren't totally immune to box office behemoths.
How to Actually Use This List in 2026
If you're looking at the AFI top 100 movies of all time as a definitive "best ever" guide, you're going to be disappointed. It's too old and too biased toward mid-century Hollywood.
However, as a "History of Hollywood 101" course? It's unbeatable.
If you watch the top 20 movies on this list, you will understand every reference in every prestige TV show made in the last 40 years. You'll see where Spielberg got his lighting cues. You'll see why every crime director is still trying to be Scorsese.
Actionable Steps for the Modern Viewer:
- Don't start at #1. Citizen Kane is a masterpiece, but it’s a "homework" movie for many. Start with The Godfather (#2) or Singin' in the Rain (#5) to see why these films are actually fun to watch.
- Check the "Leapers." Look at the movies that jumped the most between editions—like Vertigo and The Searchers. These are the films that critics are re-evaluating as more complex than they first thought.
- Fill the Gaps. Use the list to find what you've missed, but supplement it with modern lists from Sight & Sound or even Letterboxd's top 250.
- Look for the "Firsts." Watch Toy Story (#99) to see the dawn of CGI, or Snow White (#34) for the birth of the animated feature.
The AFI list is a living document—or at least it’s supposed to be. Until they release a 20th or 30th-anniversary update, it remains a fascinating, flawed, and deeply American look at the power of the silver screen. It reminds us that while technology changes, a good story about power, family, or a guy looking for his sled usually stands the test of time.