Feb 26, 2011
The best 13 movies ever (according to votes at IMDB)
From IMDB’s list of the top 250 movies as voted by their users.
| Rank |
Rating | Title | Votes |
| 1. | 9.2 | The Shawshank Redemption (1994) | 563,757 |
| 2. | 9.2 | The Godfather (1972) | 439,609 |
| 3. | 9.0 | The Godfather: Part II (1974) | 266,399 |
| 4. | 8.9 | The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) | 177,075 |
| 5. | 8.9 | Pulp Fiction (1994) | 449,650 |
| 6. | 8.9 | Schindler’s List (1993) | 298,476 |
| 7. | 8.9 | 12 Angry Men (1957) | 132,661 |
| 8. | 8.8 | Inception (2010) | 303,046 |
| 9. | 8.8 | One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) | 233,020 |
| 10. | 8.8 | The Dark Knight (2008) | 503,204 |
| 11. | 8.8 | Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | 297,206 |
| 12. | 8.8 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) | 391,992 |
| 13. | 8.8 | Seven Samurai (1954) | 103,990 |
If you were The Decider, what movies would be in here that aren’t?
* * * * *
I don’t know what to include. I was looking at the rest of the list, and it looks like the Matrix should be higher. I will say that I think we got a little bit too swept up in the hype behind the Dark Knight, and the fact that the movie is so high is due in large part to all of the people who watched it at midnight, went home, and gave it a 10.
Not one Marx Brothers movie, not one, in the top 13? Egads!
Oh, and maybe it is just a little before my time, but I thought One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was very dull. Seven Samurai was fantastic though.
The first two movies of The Lord of the Rings, Amadeus, The Hunt for Red October, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Stranger Than Fiction, Braveheart, Master and Commander, The Big Sleep (the Bogart/Bacall one).
I have a theory that imdb users are primarily male, haha.
Yeah, this list did seem a little masculine – not a single strong female lead in the bunch.
It’s also very U.S.-oriented. Not one single non-U.S. movie? Not one? Not even a U.K. or French one? Really?
Life Is Beautiful
Saving Private Ryan
The Truman Show
Braveheart
The Princess Bride is 190 on the list, while Pulp Fiction is number 5? I weep for this generation.
amen brother!
You speak the truth, Lee.
Pulp Fiction > Princess Bride #justsayin
I would definitely have Master and Commander on that list.
Bladerunner (1982)
I find it sad that Pulp Fiction leads Schindler’s List.
Also, Gone with the Wind MUST be included. I would insert 2001 up there as well
Shawshank shouldn’t on the list. Neither should The Dark Knight. Inception? Probably not either.
Ben-Hur should be, as well as Modern Times, North by Northwest (or Rear Window or Psycho), THX 1138, and On the Waterfront.
Oh, and I agree with Denny on Life is Beautiful.
Also, Dumb and Dumber.
I agree that Rear Window and THX 1138 are great movies. THX 1138 was George Lucas’ fist movie. Dumb and Dumber, though? That’s just dumber(er).
I would be willing to bet money that the vast majority of respondents to this poll were male.
To Kill A Mockingbird
I’ve always loved Glory. Brilliant performances by Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. One of the rare movies that has made me cry.
If you liked Glory, check out Gods and Generals.
Life is Beautiful for sure should be there. Training Day is a possibility, but I hesitate a little there. Blade Runner if for no other reason than they way it defined a genre that has been copied for years over and over again.
Also, Glitter (the Mariah Carey version). I can’t believe it’s not on here. It changed my life.
Casablanca
One of the best films. Ever. Period. End of story.
I agree with most of the list but I think Back to The Future’s absence is apalling. That movie defined a generation.
Brazil. Pure genius
The Fall directed by Tarsem. It’s one of the most unique, gorgeous, visually stunning films I’ve ever seen. It made me cry but not for the normal reasons (death of a beloved character, farewells between friends, utter happiness, etc). It made me cry because of the love that a little child has for a completely undeserving man and how it changes his life. Brilliant film.
2001: A Space Odyssey
I also wonder what the age demographics are of the poll takers.
Inception?!
usual suspects?
I am quite aware of being female as I add to the list:
Little Dorrit (recent BBC version)
Bleak House (recent BBC version)
Sense and Sensibility (recent BBC versions)
All three Lord of the Rings movies
I can’t say these would make the best movies ever made list, but they’re favorites and pretty darn good for being children’s movies:
The Prince of Egypt (animated; cry every time)
Joseph (animated)
Madeline
Beyond what was already said here:
Hachi
Slumdog Millionaire
Pay it Forward
Love Actually (for us girls)
Young Frankenstein
Blazing Saddles