The 10 Most Acclaimed Films of All Time
Like most people, I use lists to keep track of things I need to do or that I need to buy or that I need to think about or that I need to remember to put on an upcoming list. Sometimes the lists are of my own creation and sometimes they come from my wife and are posted on the inside of the front door so that I will not miss them.
Last week, I put together a list for my Substack column of the next 10 books you should consider reading and it received some nice attention. Because of that, I decided to do a list of the 10 most acclaimed films of all time. Frankly, this was an easy task because the top 10 are just so good.
Of course, what makes a film iconic is a complex matrix of factors that run the gamut from timelessness to cultural impact to innovation and strong characters and performances. Quotable dialog, critical acclaim and awards also play an import role.
So here goes:
10 Most Acclaimed Films of All Time
1. Citizen Kane (1941)
Director: Orson Welles
Producer: Orson Welles
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Key Cast: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore
Reasons for Acclaim: Innovative storytelling, pioneering cinematography and a groundbreaking narrative structure.
Awards Won: 1 Oscar (Best Original Screenplay)
2. The Godfather (1972)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Producer: Albert S. Ruddy
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Key Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall
Reasons for Acclaim: Masterful direction, compelling storytelling and portrayal of the mafia world.
Awards Won: 3 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Actor for Marlon Brando, Best Adapted Screenplay)
3. Casablanca (1942)
Director: Michael Curtiz
Producer: Hal B. Wallis
Studio: Warner Bros.
Key Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid
Reasons for Acclaim: Timeless romance, memorable lines and atmospheric setting.
Awards Won: 3 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay)
4. Seven Samurai (1954)
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Producer: Sojiro Motoki
Studio: Toho
Key Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima
Reasons for Acclaim: Epic scale, memorable characters and intricate battle sequences.
Awards Won: 2 Silver Lions at Venice Film Festival, among other international accolades.
5. Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Director: Frank Darabont
Producer: Niki Marvin
Studio: Castle Rock Entertainment
Key Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman
Reasons for Acclaim: Uplifting narrative and themes of hope and redemption.
Awards Won: 0 Oscars but received 7 nominations, including Best Picture.
6. Schindler's List (1993)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Producers: Steven Spielberg, Gerald R. Molen, Branko Lustig
Studio: Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment
Key Cast: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley
Reasons for Acclaim: Harrowing portrayal of the Holocaust and powerful performances.
Awards Won: 7 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
7. 8½ (1963)
Director: Federico Fellini
Producer: Angelo Rizzoli
Studio: Cineriz, Francinex
Key Cast: Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée
Reasons for Acclaim: Dreamlike narrative and introspective exploration of creativity.
Awards Won: 2 Oscars (Best Foreign Language Film, Best Costume Design)
8. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Producer: Lawrence Bender
Studio: A Band Apart, Jersey Films, Miramax Films
Key Cast: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis
Reasons for Acclaim: Unique narrative structure and blending of humor and violence.
Awards Won: Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival; 1 Oscar (Best Original Screenplay)
9. The Bicycle Thief (1948)
Director: Vittorio De Sica
Producers: Umberto Scarpelli, Cesare Zavattini
Studio: Produzioni De Sica
Key Cast: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola
Reasons for Acclaim: Poignant portrayal of post-war Italy and its realistic style.
Awards Won: Special Foreign Language Film Academy Award (precursor to Best Foreign Language Film)
10. Vertigo (1958)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Alfred Hitchcock
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Key Cast: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes
Reasons for Acclaim: Intricate plot, innovative camera techniques and exploration of obsession.
Awards Won: 2 BAFTA Nominations (Best Film from any Source and Best Foreign Actor for James Stewart)
If you have not seen any of these films, I strongly recommend you make plans to do so. These ten are, in many ways, what movies are all about both as an art form and as an industry.