The Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB) contains a list of the ‘Top 250 Films‘ of all time. I’ve decided to set myself a project and offer reviews for all the titles. The order of the 250 comes from members ratings so like any list the rankings are not going to be agreed with by everyone, but as the biggest movie database in the world I feel the IMDB list is the most respected order.
As much as I want to try and see them all personally, some of the movies that make up the Top 250 just don’t appeal to me, and therefore I feel someone else might be able to review them with more enthusiasm and passion. If anyone ever feels they would like to help me out as a Guest Contributor (and add your name and site details to those HERE) I would love to hear from you. Full credit and links back to your site would of course be given. Please either leave a comment below or use the ‘contact me‘ form on the page above.
Without further ado, here is the list in its entirety. Any film that has already been reviewed will have a link to it.
| 1 |  |
The Shawshank Redemption 1994 |
| 2 |  |
The Godfather 1972 |
| 3 |  |
The Godfather: Part II 1974 |
| 4 |  |
Pulp Fiction 1994 |
| 5 |  |
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly 1966 |
| 6 |  |
12 Angry Men 1957 |
| 7 |  |
Schindler’s List 1993 |
| 8 |  |
The Dark Knight 2008 |
| 9 |  |
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2003 |
| 10 |  |
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 1975 |
| 11 |  |
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back 1980 |
| 12 |  |
Fight Club 1999 |
| 13 |  |
Seven Samurai 1954 |
| 14 |  |
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 2001 |
| 15 |  |
Inception 2010 |
| 16 |  |
Goodfellas 1990 |
| 17 |  |
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope 1977 |
| 18 |  |
City of God 2002 |
| 19 |  |
The Matrix 1999 |
| 20 |  |
Casablanca 1942 |
| 21 |  |
Once Upon A Time In The West 1968 |
| 22 |  |
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 2002 |
| 23 |  |
The Silence Of The Lambs 1991 |
| 24 |  |
Rear Window 1954 |
| 25 |  |
Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981 |
| 26 |  |
Forrest Gump 1994 |
| 27 |  |
Se7en 1995 |
| 28 |  |
The Usual Suspects 1995 |
| 29 |  |
Psycho 1960 |
| 30 |  |
It’s a Wonderful Life 1946 |
| 31 |  |
Léon 1994 |
| 32 |  |
Sunset Boulevard 1950 |
| 33 |  |
Memento 2000 |
| 34 |  |
Dr. Strangelove 1964 |
| 35 |  |
Apocalypse Now 1979 |
| 36 |  |
American History X 1998 |
| 37 |  |
Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991 |
| 38 |  |
North by Northwest 1959 |
| 39 |  |
Saving Private Ryan 1998 |
| 40 |  |
Citizen Kane 1941 |
| 41 |  |
Alien 1979 |
| 42 |  |
City Lights 1931 |
| 43 |  |
Spirited Away 2001 |
| 44 |  |
The Avengers 2012 |
| 45 |  |
American Beauty 1999 |
| 46 |  |
Toy Story 3 2010 |
| 47 |  |
Taxi Driver 1976 |
| 48 |  |
The Shining 1980 |
| 49 |  |
Vertigo 1958 |
| 50 |  |
M 1931 |
| 51 |  |
Paths of Glory 1957 |
| 52 |  |
Modern Times 1936 |
| 53 |  |
The Pianist 2002 |
| 54 |  |
The Departed 2006 |
| 55 |  |
Amélie 2001 |
| 56 |  |
Double Indemnity 1944 |
| 57 |  |
WALL·E 2008 |
| 58 |  |
The Lives of Others 2006 |
| 59 |  |
Aliens 1986 |
| 60 |  |
Back to the Future 1985 |
| 61 |  |
A Clockwork Orange 1971 |
| 62 |  |
Life is Beautiful 1997 |
| 63 |  |
To Kill a Mockingbird 1962 |
| 64 |  |
Lawrence of Arabia 1962 |
| 65 |  |
Das Boot 1981 |
| 66 |  |
Reservoir Dogs 1992 |
| 67 |  |
Requiem for a Dream 2000 |
| 68 |  |
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind 2004 |
| 69 |  |
The Third Man 1949 |
| 70 |  |
The Prestige 2006 |
| 71 |  |
The Green Mile 1999 |
| 72 |  |
The Intouchables 2011 |
| 73 |  |
The Great Dictator 1940 |
| 74 |  |
Gladiator 2000 |
| 75 |  |
Cinema Paradiso 1988 |
| 76 |  |
A Separation 2011 |
| 77 |  |
Chinatown 1974 |
| 78 |  |
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre 1948 |
| 79 |  |
L.A. Confidential 1997 |
| 80 |  |
Once Upon a Time in America 1984 |
| 81 |  |
Rashômon 1950 |
| 82 |  |
Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1975 |
| 83 |  |
Full Metal Jacket 1987 |
| 84 |  |
Singin’ in the Rain 1952 |
| 85 |  |
Some Like It Hot 1959 |
| 86 |  |
Bicycle Thieves 1948 |
| 87 |  |
Amadeus 1984 |
| 88 |  |
All About Eve 1950 |
| 89 |  |
Metropolis 1927 |
| 90 |  |
Braveheart 1995 |
| 91 |  |
Raging Bull 1980 |
| 92 |  |
Oldboy 2003 |
| 93 |  |
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi 1983 |
| 94 |  |
2001: A Space Odyssey 1968 |
| 95 |  |
The Bridge on the River Kwai 1957 |
| 96 |  |
The Apartment 1960 |
| 97 |  |
Princess Mononoke 1997 |
| 98 |  |
Unforgiven 1992 |
| 99 |  |
Pan’s Labyrinth 2006 |
| 100 |  |
The Lion King 1994 |
| 101 |  |
The Sting 1973 |
| 102 |  |
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1989 |
| 103 |  |
Downfall 2004 |
| 104 |  |
Grave of the Fireflies 1988 |
| 105 |  |
Die Hard 1988 |
| 106 |  |
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1939 |
| 107 |  |
Inglourious Basterds 2009 |
| 108 |  |
Up 2009 |
| 109 |  |
On the Waterfront 1954 |
| 110 |  |
The Seventh Seal 1957 |
| 111 |  |
Yojimbo 1961 |
| 112 |  |
The Elephant Man 1980 |
| 113 |  |
The Great Escape 1963 |
| 114 |  |
The Maltese Falcon 1941 |
| 115 |  |
Batman Begins 2005 |
| 116 |  |
Witness for the Prosecution 1957 |
| 117 |  |
Gran Torino 2008 |
| 118 |  |
Rebecca 1940 |
| 119 |  |
Snatch 2000 |
| 120 |  |
For A Few Dollars More 1965 |
| 121 |  |
The General 1926 |
| 122 |  |
Heat 1995 |
| 123 |  |
Blade Runner 1982 |
| 124 |  |
Fargo 1996 |
| 125 |  |
Ran 1985 |
| 126 |  |
Toy Story 1995 |
| 127 |  |
Wild Strawberries 1957 |
| 128 |  |
Sin City 2005 |
| 129 |  |
Touch of Evil 1958 |
| 130 |  |
The Big Lebowski 1998 |
| 131 |  |
Ikiru 1952 |
| 132 |  |
The Deer Hunter 1978 |
| 133 |  |
Jaws 1975 |
| 134 |  |
No Country for Old Men 2007 |
| 135 |  |
Cool Hand Luke 1967 |
| 136 |  |
Hotel Rwanda 2004 |
| 137 |  |
Scarface 1983 |
| 138 |  |
It Happened One Night 1934 |
| 139 |  |
The Wages of Fear 1953 |
| 140 |  |
Strangers on a Train 1951 |
| 141 |  |
The Kid 1921 |
| 142 |  |
The Wizard of Oz 1939 |
| 143 |  |
The Sixth Sense 1999 |
| 144 |  |
The King’s Speech 2010 |
| 145 |  |
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 2003 |
| 146 |  |
Annie Hall 1977 |
| 147 |  |
The Gold Rush 1925 |
| 148 |  |
Platoon 1986 |
| 149 |  |
Black Swan 2010 |
| 150 |  |
High Noon 1952 |
| 151 |  |
Warrior 2011 |
| 152 |  |
Trainspotting 1996 |
| 153 |  |
Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels 1998 |
| 154 |  |
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 1969 |
| 155 |  |
The Artist 2011 |
| 156 |  |
Into the Wild 2007 |
| 157 |  |
The Secret in Their Eyes 2009 |
| 158 |  |
The Thing 1982 |
| 159 |  |
The Grapes of Wrath 1940 |
| 160 |  |
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans 1927 |
| 161 |  |
Gone with the Wind 1939 |
| 162 |  |
Notorious 1946 |
| 163 |  |
Donnie Darko 2001 |
| 164 |  |
Casino 1995 |
| 165 |  |
Diaboliques, Les 1955 |
| 166 |  |
My Neighbour Totoro 1988 |
| 167 |  |
Million Dollar Baby 2004 |
| 168 |  |
Life Of Brian 1979 |
| 169 |  |
There Will Be Blood 2007 |
| 170 |  |
How to Train Your Dragon 2010 |
| 171 |  |
Finding Nemo 2003 |
| 172 |  |
Amores Perros 2000 |
| 173 |  |
Ben-Hur 1959 |
| 174 |  |
V For Vendetta 2005 |
| 175 |  |
Good Will Hunting 1997 |
| 176 |  |
The Terminator 1984 |
| 177 |  |
Groundhog Day 1993 |
| 178 |  |
Harakiri 1962 |
| 179 |  |
The Big Sleep 1946 |
| 180 |  |
Stand by Me 1986 |
| 181 |  |
Slumdog Millionaire 2008 |
| 182 |  |
The Best Years of Our Lives 1946 |
| 183 |  |
Dog Day Afternoon 1975 |
| 184 |  |
Judgment at Nuremberg 1961 |
| 185 |  |
Twelve Monkeys 1995 |
| 186 |  |
Network 1976 |
| 187 |  |
The Graduate 1967 |
| 188 |  |
The Bourne Ultimatum 2007 |
| 189 |  |
The Night of the Hunter 1955 |
| 190 |  |
Mary and Max 2009 |
| 191 |  |
The 400 Blows 1959 |
| 192 |  |
Moonrise Kingdom 2012 |
| 193 |  |
The Manchurian Candidate 1962 |
| 194 |  |
Gandhi 1982 |
| 195 |  |
Dial M for Murder 1954 |
| 196 |  |
The Battle of Algiers 1966 |
| 197 |  |
Persona 1966 |
| 198 |  |
The Princess Bride 1987 |
| 199 |  |
District 9 2009 |
| 200 |  |
The Killing 1956 |
| 201 |  |
8½ 1963 |
| 202 |  |
Howl’s Moving Castle 2004 |
| 203 |  |
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 1966 |
| 204 |  |
La strada 1954 |
| 205 |  |
Sherlock Jr. 1924 |
| 206 |  |
The Hustler 1961 |
| 207 |  |
The Passion of Joan of Arc 1928 |
| 208 |  |
Ratatouille 2007 |
| 209 |  |
The Exorcist 1973 |
| 210 |  |
Fanny and Alexander 1982 |
| 211 |  |
The Wild Bunch 1969 |
| 212 |  |
The Wrestler 2008 |
| 213 |  |
Rocky 1976 |
| 214 |  |
Kind Hearts and Coronets 1949 |
| 215 |  |
Barry Lyndon 1975 |
| 216 |  |
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II 2011 |
| 217 |  |
Stalag 17 1953 |
| 218 |  |
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly 2007 |
| 219 |  |
A Beautiful Mind 2001 |
| 220 |  |
Nights of Cabiria 1957 |
| 221 |  |
A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 |
| 222 |  |
Star Trek 2009 |
| 223 |  |
High and Low 1963 |
| 224 |  |
All Quiet on the Western Front 1930 |
| 225 |  |
Ip Man 2008 |
| 226 |  |
Rope 1948 |
| 227 |  |
The Truman Show 1998 |
| 228 |  |
Stalker 1979 |
| 229 |  |
Roman Holiday 1953 |
| 230 |  |
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962 |
| 231 |  |
Tokyo Story 1953 |
| 232 |  |
Infernal Affairs 2002 |
| 233 |  |
Come and See 1985 |
| 234 |  |
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 2003 |
| 235 |  |
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind 1984 |
| 236 |  |
Rosemary’s Baby 1968 |
| 237 |  |
Monsters Inc 2001 |
| 238 |  |
Mystic River 2003 |
| 239 |  |
Let the Right One In 2008 |
| 240 |  |
Anatomy of a Murder 1959 |
| 241 |  |
Festen 1998 |
| 242 |  |
Beauty And The Beast 1991 |
| 243 |  |
Throne of Blood 1957 |
| 244 |  |
Nosferatu 1922 |
| 245 |  |
Shutter Island 2010 |
| 246 |  |
Manhattan 1979 |
| 247 |  |
Castle in the Sky 1986 |
| 248 |  |
La Haine 1995 |
| 249 |  |
Like Stars on Earth 2007 |
| 250 |  |
Le Samouraï 1967 |
This is a really cool idea! I wouldn’t mind lending a review at some point. Some of them also aren’t my cup of tea, but let me know if there’s anything in particular you’d like me to have a go at.
Cheers James. Had a few people now say they would be happy to help which is great! If you (and anyone else) wants to drop me an email to tysoncarter@hotmail.co.uk I’ll get in touch and see what the best way to approach it is. There are definitely films on there I have no interest in seeing so would love the help!
What kinds of films do you think you wouldn’t like to review? I’m up for a little collaboration down the road if you want…just email me. presentlygifted@yahoo.com
Thanks, will definitely be in touch. I’m currently looking through the list and trying to work it out, and then I think Ill email everyone and anyone that volunteers to help out along the way to see if there are any they would like to do. I’m all over anything with crime and violence, but anything aimed at kids I’m going to struggle to muster up enthusiasm
I would be interested in helping, sounds like a good project. This could fit in with my #Netflix365 project, (not entirely mine, I just jumped on the idea of Mark Duplass). I would want to, if possible, do a review(s) of any on the list that are on Netflix Streaming. Let me know if I can help, are you doing them in any order? or just as you see and write about them?
Hey Sean, thanks for the offer, I would love to take you up on that! Just read about your Netflix project (in the uk netflix is awful!) and I’m sure there’s a good way to combine them to benefit us both. I’m not reviewing them in any order but there will be some I really don’t want to watch! Drop me an email if you like to tysoncarter@hotmail.co.uk and I’ll be in touch. Had a few offers of support with this project so really looking forward to it
Thanks again
I’ll look forward to these reviews. Obviously many of my favourite films are on this list. If you need any help with some of the earlier films I’d be happy to help. Silent film is one of my specialities.
Would love that Tom, not a genre I was looking forward to if I’m honest. Drop me an email and Ill get in touch. Thanks again
If it’s not already in there, I would highly suggest “Perfume: Portrait of a Murderer”. I haven’t met anyone yet who hasn’t been absolutely blow away after watching it. LetMeWatchThis has it available to stream for free.
Sadly after checking that film scored a 7.5 on IMDB so doesn’t make it on the Top 250. (250th place has 8.0). I have heard about the film before though, so I’ll try and catch it at some point anyway as its one I’ve been meaning to see. Thanks for the comment and recommendation Brad.
Right, but then they put movies like ‘Citizen Kane’ on the list, and at the top, no less! When you watch ‘Perfume’, let me know what you think. I would very much like to discuss it. Have a good day/night/morning/ or afternoon.
Shawshank Redemption is #1! I will try watch it in the next couple of weeks, I’ll do a review of it and you can agree/disagree and we will talk it out
Cheers buddy
I’d be willing to help in any way, if I’m not busy. Looking at the Top 250, I can see a ton of movies that I would review or watch in a heartbeat.
Cheers Austin, the more obscure ones on the list the better! If you do want to help at any time, drop me an email and I’ll forward you a list of the films not reserved.
Can’t wait to read more of these! I could help you out with the Disney a lot are in my collection if you need to borrow lol
You keep your Disney stuff, my dvd player actually wont play any of your films
I left my email in your Desert Island movies. If you want help with this too feel free to discuss it with me dude.
Thanks matey, actually I did just email you and I’m pretty sure I brought up the IMDB list on the email. Let me know if you didnt get either email and Ill resend them when I get chance. Thanks for the offer, would love your help!
I would love to contribute a review. Email me when you know what films you aren’t interested in: gmoorej316@gmail.com
Thanks Garrett, appreciate it! Email is on it’s way to you!
I can be of some help if u need. Reviewed some of the movies in my blog..
Grt concept this
Thanks Mithil! If you want to drop me an email to – tysoncarter@hotmail.co.uk I can let you know what films are available if you would like to submit a review. I would be honoured to add you to my ‘guest contributors’. Look forward to hearing from you buddy.
Hey Tyson, here are the movies i have already reviewed in the top 250, I am happy for you to use them all if you wish, should go some way to getting them all reviewed, let me know what you would like to do mate.
The Dark Knight
Alien
The Avengers
Heat
Warrior
Thanks mate, I’ll drop you an email
Appreciate your generosity greatly!
At the risk of beginning to sound like my husband, this list is a mix of genuinely great films and a trendy trash. Who makes these “lists?” The AFI list merely annoys me, but this one could make take me round the bend.
This one is from the biggest movie database in the world, so with millions of people voting it is in my opinion a pretty good list. Sure, there are more modern films that shouldn’t really be there, but like any list of this type it’s all subjective and to be taken with a pinch of salt. I just thought it was a project that whilst people may not agree with the order, at least it’s from a reputable source. Thanks for the comment
This sounds like a really great idea. There are some fab movies on this list that I’d love to review, so let me know if I can help as I’d love to take part. My taste in movies is a bit eclectic but some of my favourites on this list include Inception, Rebecca, Moonrise Kingdom (I love Wes Anderson) and Harry Potter. But I’m happy to give any of the movies a go…. Good luck with the project!
Hi Natalie, thanks for the comment! I’d love it if you could help out, some of those films you mentioned are still in need of a review. If you want to drop me an email to – tysoncarter@hotmail.co.uk I’d love to discuss this with you. Hope to hear from you soon
This is a really cool project. I’ll take note of the reviews I’ve written for any films in the 250, so I’ll drop you an email sometime this weekend.
Thanks, I look forward to your email!!
Hey Tyson! I just read about your top 250 project, and I’d love to contribute a review! I’ll drop you an email soon, ya?
Cheers Drew – I look forward to it!
Cool project! I hope you get through most of the 250! Btw Memento is definitely worth a watch… so good.
Thank you!! It will get done but may take a while…….thats why the guest contributors are so valuable, without them it would take forever
You are in for some awesome viewing! Great blog, I love your reviews.
Thanks very much, appreciate it!
Yeah lots of treats in store (although luckily guest contributors can take the crap ones!).
Please come by tomorrow … I’m bestowing upon your most deserving self yet anothe award … for this and for many other things, for giving both of us a chance to indulge in boring the world with our anecdotes and opinions, and helping me discover movies I’d otherwise probably never have considered. Widening my world, just a little bit more! Post should be up by tomorrow morning, I’m still working on it but wanted to let you know!!
Wow Thankyou, I look forward to it! You’re far too kind
Hey Tyson. I’ve already written favourably about 4 of these flicks. Are you happy to take reviews that have already been posted ir do you prefer new material?
Either would be perfect mate! If you want to use the ‘contact me’ page and drop me an email, I can tell you if any of the films you have done are free. Thanks very much!
Will do, dude!
Nice one
I’m now marauding through your entire site, commenting away like an internet-savvy zombie. Great feature – more than happy to drop a couple of reviews in here. Some of my favourite movies buried in that list. Notably District 9 – Neil Blomkamp’s amazing debut. Roll on Elysium in September!
Good to hear, comment away my friend!! Really looking forward to Elysium myself, and Oldboy, purely because of Copley, great actor.
As for the reviews, thank you so much, would love you to join the Guest Contributors list. Drop me an email, District 9 is taken sorry but sure we can find you something else!
hey =) this project seems really interesting. I’d love to do a review, maybe you could tell me which movies are supposed to be done =)
Thanks!! Anything not already linked is potentially still free. Some are reserved, but drop me an email if there are any you are interested in and we will sort something out
I’ll do that right away =)
Cheers!!
I guess Hollywood’s “Golden Age” never really existed and most of those legendary actors who gave us all that magic are no longer significant if the latest IMDb listing is to be believed. Too bad.
There are a few in there, but the list is populated by newer stuff. Sadly that’s how any list open to votes is. Still some classics near the top
i’d definitely be up for sending you some reviews, thanks for ‘liking’ my recent Human Centipede 2′ piece.
kendall.
Hey Kendall. That’s great man, just drop me an email and we will sort out what films your thinking of.
And my pleasure, always looking for horror reviews so was good to see your thoughts. Not that you asked me but i hated part 2!!
“north by northwest” and “vertigo” are too high. “raiders of the lost ark” too low. i hope i don’t have to wait too long for you to restructure the whole thing to my liking.
If you send me your order I will of course update this list
Cheers for checking it out anyway Rich
here’s why i knock out “north by northwest” the most famous scene – with the airplane. imagine you’re trying to kill someone. you send him out in the middle of nowhere. nobody around. you could easily just show up in a car and shoot them, then drive away unseen. but no – instead, they send an airplane. way too stupid and loses credibility with me. helps prove that hitchcock was an arrogant dude who really thought he could sell anything he wanted to an audience. he was mainly right, but he was still arrogant.
I hadn’t realised it was as high in the ranking. Tom reviewed it for me on here and scored it 6 out of 10, he wasn’t too happy with it either.
as for vertigo:
http://brainsnorts.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/alfred-hitchcocks-vertigo/
Pretty neat concept, as many of those as I have seen, I am surprised at how many I haven’t! Granted it’s hard to get me to sit still for some older movies.
Yeah there are a lot I haven’t seen either