What are the top 10 films of all time? Consider all types of films including documentaries, features, & anime.
Apart from screenplay, cinematography, score, acting, etc., this time, I have added emotions/poeticness to the mix. Because of this element, some of the films that have usually been on my lists have missed out.
Below is my list (not necessarily favorites) in the order of release (1 film per director and series where applicable):
Man with a Movie Camera (1929): A film with no traditional script, no professional actors, powerful editing, strong images, and a mesmerizing score conducted by the Alloy Orchestra (2014 restoration) to document everyday life in the Soviet Union around a 100 years ago! Can be said to be an inspiration for films such as Baraka (1992) and Samsara (2011).
City Lights (1931): A love story, among the first (if not the first notable one) rom-com films, in the inimitable Charlie Chaplin style. Boasts of a memorable feel-good ending. Also, among a handful of feel-good films on this list.
Late Spring (1949): A touching tale where the daughter avoids marriage to take care of her aging father, who has to devise a plan to get her married. Great cinematography with low camera angles, frames, and “pillow shots”. Simplicity at its best. Ozu’s Tokyo Story (1953) is equally impactful.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952): A musical romantic comedy that takes you to a different world through its sets, costumes, use of colors, and dance numbers. A film about films, dealing with the transition from silent films to talkies in the 1920s. A feel-good film where eventually the good, the talented, and the hardworking triumph.
Seven Samurai (1954): One of the most referenced & remade films. An epic that encompasses various themes including friendship, sacrifice, code of honor, and so on.
Vertigo (1958): A film noir masterpiece. Beside sporting well thought out color concepts and framing techniques, along with a brilliant score by Bernard Herrmann, this film charts an emotional journey of a man hopelessly in love and the inability to let go.
The Conformist (1970): A film that highlights the negatives of fascism by presenting a case study on conformism and dilapidated morals in 1930s Italy in a relatively sarcastic fashion. The lead character, who is shaped by various negative experiences in childhood, shows no empathy for almost anyone apart from himself. The film has a notable mix of excellent cinematography (many frames are like paintings), score (gets bonus points for it), non-linear storytelling, and acting.
The Godfather I & II (1972-1974): Both films are clubbed together as they are more or less like a one-long film (made into a series as well where the stories from different periods were presented linearly). Valued for acting, cinematography, score, and an emotion packed adaption of the Mario Puzo novel.
In the Mood for Love (2000): An unusual romantic drama by and large set in 1960s Hong Kong. It is a pleasing film to not only look at but also listen to. A hallmark of this film is the flow of emotions through non-verbal acting.
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009): The story is told non-linearly to weave historical events in Argentina from the 70s and the 90s into the story, which covers love stories, crime, police procedural elements, and the quest for justice. Excellent screenplay and acting drive this film to its emotion packed ending that can leave a lasting impression.
An honorable mention:
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984): Weaves thought provoking visuals of the apocalyptic future to provide a great message on anti-war, ecological, and environmental themes. The background score is probably the best among Studio Ghibli films (the film led to the foundation of the studio). Often described as anime’s answer to Dune, dieselpunk or steampunk post-apocalypse, etc.
Amityville: The Next Generation
House II: The Second Story
C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud
Son of the Blob
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone
Cyborg 2
Spontaneous Combustion
Demonic Toys
Ninja III: The Domination
Street Trash
Last edited by DR Herbert West; 12-24-2022 at 09:11 AM.
Amityvile: The Next Generation
House II: The Second Story
C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud
Son of the Blob
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone
Cyborg 2
Spontaneous Combustion
Demonic Toys
Ninja III: The Domination
Street Trash
Amityvile: The Next Generation
House II: The Second Story
C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud
Son of the Blob
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone
Cyborg 2
Spontaneous Combustion
Demonic Toys
Ninja III: The Domination
Street Trash
No love for Avenging Angel? You wouldn't know a good movie if it bit you on your rump.
Amityvile: The Next Generation
House II: The Second Story
C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud
Son of the Blob
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone
Cyborg 2
Spontaneous Combustion
Demonic Toys
Ninja III: The Domination
Street Trash
Ninja III is the one that topped Sight and Sound didn’t it?
Based on emotions and poeticness, my picks are, in chronological order:
Terje Vigen(V. Sjostrom, 1919) Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans(F.W. Murnau, 1927) City Lights(C. Chaplin, 1931) Les Enfants du Paradis(M. Carnè, 1943) Ludwig(L. Visconti, 1973) C'Eravamo Tanto Amati(E. Scola, 1974) The Purple Rose of Cairo(W. Allen, 1985) The Age of Innocence(M. Scorsese, 1993) The Straight Story(D. Lynch, 1999) Shoplifters(H. Kore-eda, 2018)
Based on emotions and poeticness, my picks are, in chronological order:
Terje Vigen(V. Sjostrom, 1919) Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans(F.W. Murnau, 1927) City Lights(C. Chaplin, 1931) Les Enfants du Paradis(M. Carnè, 1943) Ludwig(L. Visconti, 1973) C'Eravamo Tanto Amati(E. Scola, 1974) The Purple Rose of Cairo(W. Allen, 1985) The Age of Innocence(M. Scorsese, 1993) The Straight Story(D. Lynch, 1999) Shoplifters(H. Kore-eda, 2018)
Considering film makers like Kurosawa, Miyazaki, and Ozu. I am beginning to wonder if Japanese films esp. when talking about emotional/poetic elements would dominate discussions. Their relatively wide spread acceptance could be hindered by culture/language issues.
A few days back I watched Floating Clouds (1955) - not to be confused with Floating Weeds (1959), which is a quality film as well. It turned out to be among the best experience that I have had with films this year. However, the transfer wasn’t good so this one needs a restoration (if not done so far). Since I only watched Floating Clouds recently, did not include it on my list but it could be a prospect for a future list if it holds up to multiple viewings.
PS I was in a middle of a storm y’day so thought it was a good time to watch a couple of films. Felt like reconnecting with Nolan’s Prestige, however, it felt run of the mill so quit watching it (may revisit it later). Had to revert to watching a Japanese film.
Amityville: The Next Generation
House II: The Second Story
C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud
Son of the Blob
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone
Cyborg 2
Spontaneous Combustion
Demonic Toys
Ninja III: The Domination
Street Trash
1. Hard Boiled
2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
3. Seven Samurai
4. John Carpenter's The Thing
5. Nightbreed
6. Drunken Master II
7. Transformers: The Movie
8. BaadAsssss!
9. Freaked
10. Dead Alive aka Braindead
This list could change depending on how i am feeling.
Citizen Kane
Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope
The Matrix
Batman Begins
The Lord of the Rings-The Two Towers
The Terminator
Back to the Future
Die Hard
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Raiders of the Lost Ark
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Top 5-10 films of all time
I know you're joking but....
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