Movies are a business, but they’re also art. While production companies always (have to) prioritize the profits a movie makes them, the quality aspect cannot be underestimated as well. Oftentimes a movie, however, only fulfills the business aspect, while neglecting the quality one. In other words: A movie that does well at the box office does not necessarily have to be good. The following ranking lists the Top 10 Movies of all time. The ranking is based on the rating average taken from the leading three movie ranking services (IMDb, Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes) and normalized to a 1-10 rating.
Note: This Top 10 shows you the Top 10 Best Movies of all time by critical acclaim, if you want to see the Top 10 Highest-grossing movies, click here
The Top 10 Best Movies of All Time
1. The Godfather
The Godfather is the best movie of all time by critical acclaim. With an average rating of 9.67, the American crime drama about a mafia family starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino quite clearly beats all of the other film classics. The movie was directed by Francis Coppola based on the book of the same name written by Mario Puzo.
2. 12 Angry Men
The 1957 American courtroom drama 12 Angry Men is the second most critically acclaimed movie in history. The film tells the story of twelve men selected for jury duty who have to decide the fate of a 18-year old murder suspect. Henry Fonda and Lee Cobb play the two main roles in the movie directed by Sidney Lumet. The movie holds an average 9.50 rating.
3. Seven Samurai
Seven Samurai (original title: Shichinin no Samurai) is the third most critically acclaimed move of all time. At the same time, with an average rating of 9.47, the Japanese historical drama is also seen as the best non-American movie in history. The movie plot takes place in 16th Century Japan and follows the story of seven masterless Samurai who are hired to protect a village. The movie was directed by Akira Kurosawa and featured Japanese actors Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura in the leading roles.
4. Casablanca
Casablanca is another absolute film classic that belongs to the best movies of all time by critical acclaim. The American romantic drama was released and is set during World War II and follows an American involved in the war efforts against Nazi Germany and Vichy France. Casablanca currently holds an average rating of 9.43 (with a higher Box office gross compared to the 5th ranked movie). The film was directed by Michael Curtiz. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergmann play the starring roles.
5. Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane completes the best Top 5 movies of all time by critical acclaim. With an average rating of 9.43, it is on the same level with Casablanca, with a lower Box office gross however. The American drama film is partially based on the life of real-life American newspaper magnate Randolph Hearst. Orson Welles both directed and starred in the movie alongside Joseph Cotten and Dorothy Comingore.
6. Singin’ In The Rain
7. Parasite
8. Three Colours: Red
9. Schindler’s List
10. All About Eve
The Top 10 Best Movies of All Time
(at a glance)
(as of November 2019)
| Top 10 Best Movies of All Time: |
|---|
| 1. THE GODFATHER Average rating: 9.67/10 |
| 2. 12 ANGRY MEN Average rating: 9.50/10 |
| 3. SEVEN SAMURAI Average rating: 9.47/10 |
| 4. CASABLANCA Average rating: 9.43/10 |
| 5. CITIZEN KANE Average rating: 9.43/10 |
| 6. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN Average rating: 9.40/10 |
| 7. PARASITE Average rating: 9.37/10 |
| 8. THREE COLOURS: RED Average rating: 9.37/10 |
| 9. SCHINDLER’S LIST Average rating: 9.33/10 |
| 10. ALL ABOUT EVE Average rating: 9.33/10 |
(Top 10 Movies based on the average ratings by IMDb, Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, normalized to a 1-10 scale.
Tiebreaker: Higher Box office gross)