Top Movies By Decade (Compiled List)

With the completion of my 10 favorite 80s movies, which will be posted momentarily, I have decided to gather parts one through six as they were published over the span of the past two years.

Top Movies By Decade: Part 1 - "You ain't heard nothing yet!"

As many of my friends know, I am a movie freak. I have seen thousands of movies numerous times and love all genres of film. While bored at work today, I decided to rank my favorite movies by decade and post them in a series.

To compile this list, I took all of the ranked films from my IMDb account, which I grade after every movie I see, and sorted them from highest to lowest. I then looked at every movie in each decade and came up with my favorite ten.
I have included some honorable mentions for each decade to show what the top ten were up against. We will begin with the 1920s.

1920s
Honorable Mention: The Kid (1921), The Navigator (1924), and Wings (1927)

10. The Jazz Singer (1927)

While finding the first movie to be filmed in color is a bit muddled, the beginning of sound pictures can be pinpointed to the Al Jolson musical The Jazz Singer. Featuring synchronized dialogue sequences, The Jazz Singer had such an immediate impact on the film industry, eccentric aviator and film producer/director Howard Hughes incorporated the new technology into his half-completed silent movie, Hell’s Angels, and converted the movie into a talkie at an increased cost. Another memorable footnote from The Jazz Singer is Jolson’s performance in blackface, which in today’s society almost always is looked upon as racist. The Jazz Singer received Academy Award nominations for Writing Adapted Screenplay and Engineering Effects and Warner Bros. production chief Darryl F. Zanuck received a special Academy Award for producing “the pioneer outstanding talking picture, which has revolutionized the industry.” It is included among the group of films preserved in the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress.

9. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

This French silent film chronicles the imprisonment, trial, and execution of the controversial religious warrioress. What makes The Passion of Joan of Arc such a historically important film, both in regard to textbooks and moviemaking, is how closely the script follows the trial records and the camera-work that highlights the actors facial expressions through close-ups. Richard Einhorn’s soundtrack to the film, titled Voices of Light, is also a powerfully chilling score that accentuates the gripping performances, which are made even more eerie by actors with no makeup applied. The Passion of Joan of Arc has consistently made it on (credible) top ten lists, including Sight & Sound magazine and the Village Voice, and is considered to contain one of the greatest performances on film of any era from Renée Jeanne Falconetti.

8. Safety Last! (1923)

The most lasting image from this silent romantic comedy is star Harold Lloyd hanging from a clock several stories up on a skyscraper. Besides the impressive stunts Lloyd does throughout the final sequence climbing a 12-story building, the comedic bits are also a hoot-and-a-half. Unlike some movies in this list that were panned by critics to begin with and later found a cult following that grew to become sincere appreciation, Safety Last! was a critical and financial success and is still a hit at revivals. It was selected in 1994 to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

7. Battleship Potemkin (1925)

This is a dramatization of the 1905 mutiny by the crew of the Russian Battleship Potemkin against its czarist regime. However, it is not simply a propaganda film from Sergei Eisenstein, but an experiment in the art of montage. Eisenstein wanted to edit the film in such a way as to invoke sympathy for the rebels and abhorrence for the upper class. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you might have seen its most famous scene, which is of the czar’s soldiers marching in unison down the Odessa Steps and firing into the crowd, killing men, women, and children at random. Eisenstein’s montage theory is executed flawlessly in the Odessa Steps scene, creating some today to believe the made-for-film scene was a historically accurate event. Along with being one of the finest propaganda films ever, The Battleship Potemkin has garnered praise for more than 85 years as one of the greatest films of all time. Empire magazine listed it at #3 in its 100 Best Films of World Cinema in 2010.

6. The General (1926)

Originally panned by critics and a flop at the box office, The General has gone on to become one of the greatest silent-era films of all time. Both thrilling and comedic, Buster Keaton’s stunts and direction are still compelling, even in today’s action-heavy movie world. Keaton was not only the star, but also contributed to writing, editing, producing, and directing the picture as well. Despite its poor financial run, thus resulting in Keaton having to abandon his dream to be an independent filmmaker and enter into a restrictive contract deal with MGM, it has since gained much favor with both critics and audiences. The American Film Institute celebrated The General on both its 100 Laughs and 100 Films 10th Anniversary Edition lists. The National Congress included it among the first selections in 1989 to the National Film Registry.

5. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

The first ever Academy Award winner for Unique and Artistic Production, which the next year would be combined with another category to become the Best Picture award, Sunrise was an American production from director F.W. Murnau in the style of German Expressionism, which features distorted art design for symbolic effect. The silent film used few title cards and experimented in long tracking shots, with the longest ever being filmed up to that point at more than four minutes for one take. Sunrise was immediately loved and was nominated in four categories at the Academy Awards, winning three Oscars for best actress, best cinematography, and best picture. It was also among the original films included in the National Film Registry, Sight & Sound magazine’s critics’ poll for Top 10 best films ever made, and the American Film Industry’s Top 100 Passions film list.

4. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
Being one of the most influential German Expressionist movies and among the earliest examples of executing the frame story in film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari also introduced another aspect of film that is highly common today, which I am not going to state here as it will spoil some of the movie for those who have yet to see it. The art design of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is unique in that shadows and light were painted directly on the sets’ walls, floors, and backgrounds. This movie inspired directors for decades afterward, is considered to be among the first horror films, and had a great influence on the genre film noir.

3. Nosferatu (1922)

Another exceptional example of German Expressionism in the 1920s, Nosferatu is an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, resulting in the bankruptcy of the company as Stoker’s estate sued the filmmakers for copyright infringement. Even to this day, Max Schrek’s Count Orlock, substituting for the more famous Count Dracula, is one of the most horrifying and iconic portrayals of a vampire. In a time where vampires are written to be sexy, misunderstood creatures who only want to find true love among the humans instead of utilizing our species like cattle for their unending bloodlust, it is Schrek’s ghastly makeup and eerie performance that reminds us vampires were originally created to be our enemy. In 2010, Empire magazine listed Nosferatu at number 21 among its 100 Best Films of World Cinema.

2. The Gold Rush (1925)

Any list of early cinema is not complete without a Charlie Chaplin film, and this one isn’t going to be the last in my rankings. Not only starring as his Little Tramp character, who debuted in 1914 and continued to star in silent movies until 1936’s Modern Times, but also writing, producing, and directing, some of Chaplin’s most memorable sequences can be found in The Gold Rush, including the roll dance. The Gold Rush is the fifth highest grossing silent film and the most successful silent comedy in cinema history. The American Film Institute includes The Gold Rush among its 100 Movies (at #74), 100 Laughs (#25), and 100 Movies 10th Anniversary Edition list (#58). It was also selected to the National Film Registry for preservation in 1992.

1. Metropolis (1927)

German filmmakers knew what they were doing in the 20s as this is the fourth Expressionist film to be in the top four of my best of the decade list. A dystopian study of social upheaval between the workers and owners of capitalism set in a science-fiction world, Metropolis is the most expensive silent film ever made, and its lavishness can be appreciated in each viewing. The film is still impressive, even by today’s standards, in its art direction and special effects. Following its premiere in Germany, Metropolis was drastically altered and many never saw the same footage or at the correct speed (as not all movies were filmed at 24 frames per second like they are today) that director Fritz Lang intended. Until 2008, a portion of the film was believed lost, but a copy of the original film was discovered in Argentina. Despite being a classic today, when it was initially released Metropolis was not the darling of the silent era like it is now. Ranked 12th in Empire magazine’s list of the Best 100 Films of World Cinema, it came in second in a list of the greatest movies of the silent era.

Analysis

The 1920s is easily one of the weaker decades in film history, but that is not really the fault of the filmmakers of the era. As technology improved, so did the movies. People today find it very hard to sit through silent movies that don’t explain everything to them through dialogue. In the 20s, movies were still learning what could and couldn’t be done, and with the discovery of sound on film with 1927’s The Jazz Singer the medium changed forever. While this decade is probably my least favorite when it comes to all movies made during that time period, the ones on this list are among some of the best and most iconic in all of film history.

Top Movies By Decade: Part 2 – "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."

1930s

Honorable Mentions: M (1931), Horse Feathers (1932), The Thin Man (1934), The 39 Steps (1935), A Night at the Opera (1935), and Wuthering Heights (1939)

10. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Watching this movie for the first time was a seminal moment in my life as it helped me realize the individual soldier my country is at war with doesn’t necessarily have the same ideals as what we are led to believe when fighting whomever. Often our enemy is a scared, disillusioned boy who got wrapped up in the idea of patriotism and is now trapped in a war he regrets joining. All Quiet on the Western Front illustrates the realism of what a human being went through during World War I. It received instant praise from critics and audiences alike, winning the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director and receiving nominations for Best Writing and Best Cinematography as well. It has since made many lists for best film, including the American Film Institute’s 100 Years 100 Movies and 10 Top 10 lists. It was also selected in 1990 to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry as being deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

9. Grand Illusion (1937)

Feeling like a prison escape movie but having overtones that deal with social classes and race relations, Le grande illuision, or Grand Illusion, is unique in that it is a war film with no battle scenes. Set during World War I, the film follows a group of French soldiers trying to escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp. As well as being named by critics as one of the great masterpieces of French cinema and ranking at #35 in Empire magazine’s The 100 Best Films of World Cinema in 2010, Grand Illusion was honored by director Orson Wells when he stated it was one of the films he would take with him “on the ark.” Despite winning Best Artistic Ensemble at the Venice Film Festival, the movie was banned in both Germany, for obvious reasons, and France, so as not to lower soldiers’ morale.

8. Bringing Up Baby (1938)

Screwball comedies are a mixed bag for me because I sometimes can’t get past the implausible situations the characters find themselves in, but Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant give such sharp performances in Bringing Up Baby that the entire plot seems to flow effortlessly. Considered a failure when initially released and leading theater owners to label Hepburn “box office poison,” its popularity has grown to become one of the most memorable of the screwball comedy genre. AFI placed it on its 100 Movies, 100 Laughs, 100 Passions, 100 Quotes, and 100 Movies 10th Anniversary lists. Bringing Up Baby had an influence on comedy films later in the decade.

7. It Happened One Night (1934)

You might be scratching your head after I made the proclamation about screwball comedies not being my favorite genre of film and then I list another such movie in the very next spot, but this Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Frank Capra hit is a special kind of movie. It Happened One Night was the first to win the “Big Five” of Oscar (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay), which has only happened three times in Academy Award history. The film was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress in 1993. It was also selected to AFI’s 100 Movies, 100 Laughs, 100 Passions, 100 Movies Anniversary Edition, and 10 Top 10 lists.

6. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

This was the pioneering first full-length animated feature production from Walt Disney Studios that resulted in a string of cartoon classics that have lasted decades and entertained countless children. The American Film Institute listed it as one of two animated movies in its 100 Movies list, the only animated film in its 10th Anniversary list and later named it the greatest American animated film of all time. AFI also listed the film among its 100 Heroes and Villains and 100 Songs lists. In 1989, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant by the United States National Film Registry. Prior to being a box office smash, the film premiered to a standing ovation from numerous Hollywood celebrities and a week later Walt Disney and the seven dwarfs made the cover of Time magazine. During its original theatrical run, it was the most financially successful film up to that time. Disney received an Academy Honorary Award for providing a “significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field.”

5. Stagecoach (1939)

The first of many westerns directed by John Ford, starring John Wayne, and featuring Monument Valley, Stagecoach is a thrilling adventure with memorable performances and has influenced directors for decades. During his time directing Citizen Kane, Orson Welles claims to have watched this movie about 40 times, claiming it is a perfect textbook of filmmaking. It won Oscars for Best Supporting Actor and Best Music and was nominated in five other categories, including Best Picture and Best Director. Ford did end up winning for Best Director at the New York Film Critics Awards. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1995 and AFI listed it among its 100 Movies and 10 Top 10 westerns lists.

4. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The quintessential idea of how film can take its viewer to a fantastical new world while never leaving their seat in the movie theater or couch at home, The Wizard of Oz combines the use of special effects, Technicolor, musical hits, and standout characters to create one of the most beloved motion pictures of all time. Due to being such an expensive production, the film started out as a box office failure, however, it went on to receive encouraging reviews, two Academy Awards wins, and numerous nominations including Best Picture of the year, losing to a movie yet to be mentioned on this list. The Wizard of Oz, thanks to annual telecasts beginning in 1956, has become the most-watched film in history and is often among the highest ranked movies in critics’ polls. It made the AFI lists 100 Movies, 100 Thrills, 100 Heroes and Villains, 100 songs (twice), 100 Quotes (three times), 100 Musicals, 100 Cheers, 100 Movies Anniversary Edition, and 10 Top 10 Fantasy. Other notable honors include rankings in Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Maverick Movies, Entertainment Weekly’s 100 Greatest Films, The Village Voice’s 100 Best films of the 20th Century, Sight & Sound’s Greatest Film Poll of Directors, Total Film’s 100 Greatest Films and 23 Weirdest Films lists, and The Observer’s 50 greatest film soundtracks. It was selected to the National Film Registry its first year of eligibility in 1989.

3. Frankenstein (1931)

Launching the career of Boris Karloff as the Monster, Frankenstein is a historic film that, along with the help of Bela Lugosi’s Dracula, helped launch Universal’s monster movie genre popular until the late 50s. The titular monster is portrayed as a hapless individual who is more of a misunderstood creature than the horrifying villain of the book. Considered to be one of the best movies of the year, Frankenstein was received to universal acclaim and is ranked among AFI’s 100 Movies, 100 Thrills, and 100 Quotes lists. It also ranked on The New York Times Best 1000 Movies Ever list, Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments list, and is among the Chicago Film Critics Association’s scariest films ever made. The United States National Film Registry selected it for preservation in 1991.

2. Gone With the Wind (1939)

An epic that rivals all epic films, producer David O. Selznick and director Victor Fleming made a movie that garnered 10 Academy Awards, a record at the time, and won the Best Picture Oscar in a year that is considered the greatest individual season of filmmaking ever that included such nominees as Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Ninotchka, Of Mice and Men, Stagecoach, The Wizard of Oz, and Wuthering Heights. The movie premiere was such a big event, it was shown at the end of a three-day climax of festivities in Atlanta, which included a parade of limousines featuring stars from the film, false antebellum fronts on stores and homes, and a costume ball. Becoming the highest-grossing film of all time and holding the position until 1966, Gone With the Wind was the longest running American sound film made up to that point, coming in at 3 hours 44 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. When inflation is taken into account, it still holds the record for most money earned in theaters. The AFI listed it fourth on its 100 Movies and 10 To 10 Epic, second on its 100 Passions and 100 Film Scores, first, 31st, and 59th, on its 100 Quotes, 43rd on its 100 Cheers, and sixth on its 100 Movies Anniversary lists. This classic was among the inaugural films to be deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and selected for preservation in the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry.

1. King Kong (1933)

Being filmed nearly 80 years ago, shooting in black-and-white, and use of stop-motion animation, this monster adventure film still stands up today as an exciting story with sentiment running throughout. Not the first movie to follow a formula of having a scientist or explorer test a theory in some strange, new land only to discover a monstrous aberration, with its solid casting, impressive animation, and striking soundtrack, King Kong is now a legendary Hollywood icon with unforgettable scenes at the top of the Empire State Building and battling a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Among the many accolades, AFI included it among its 100 Movies, 100 Thrills, 100 Passions, 100 Quotes, 100 Film Scores, 100 Movies Anniversary Edition, and 10 Top 10 Fantasy lists. In 1991, King Kong was preserved by the Library of Congress in its National Film Registry.

Analysis

The year 1939 is considered to be the most outstanding 365 days in Hollywood's history, with releases including Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Stagecoach (all of which make my top ten list), Wuthering Heights, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Mice and Men, and other fabulous motion pictures. Coupled with other great titles that made their way to theaters throughout the decade, the 1930s is one of the most celebrated decades regarding the film industry.

Top Movies By Decade: Part 3 – "Here's looking at you, kid."

1940s
Honorable Mentions: The Philadelphia Story (1940), Rebecca (1940), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946), and Bicycle Thieves (1948)

10. Gilda (1946)

One of the most sensuous characters in movie history, Rita Hayworth oozes sex as the femme fatale title character. Not earning any major award nominations, Gilda is a great mix of tense film noir and hard-edged romance drama with powerful performances from Hayworth and Glenn Ford. Another memorable moment of the movie is Hayworth’s performance (although dubbed by Anita Ellis) during “Put the Blame on Mame.” Although not an award show darling film, critics showed a great liking for the movie and it has increased its legacy through references and being featured in other films since its debut.

9. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Considered one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time, as a stand-alone feel-good drama, Miracle on 34th Street is an audience favorite that shouldn’t be overlooked. Edmund Gwenn gives one of the most convincing performances of all time as the questionable Kris Kringle. Winning Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Gwenn), Best Original Story Writing, and Best Screenplay, the film was also up for Best Picture. The American Film Institute included it on the 100 Cheers and 10 Top 10 Fantasy lists. Miracle on 34th Street was also nominated to AFI’s 100 Movies, 100 Movies Anniversary Edition, and 100 Scores lists. In 2005, the Library of Congress selected this film to its National Film Registry for preservation due to it being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

8. Double Indemnity (1944)
Written by detective fictionist Raymond Chandler and director Billy Wilder, this is a paramount example of the film noir genre, setting the standard for decades as to what a gritty crime story should look like. The original story the film is based on was involved in a multi-studio bidding war but wouldn’t be made for eight years after the Hays Office sent out a warning to not make the film due to its “low tone and sordid flavor” that would harden the impressionable audience members. While garnering high praise from critics, Double Indemnity received seven Oscar nominations but lost in all categories. The film entered the National Film Registry in 1992 and was among AFI’s 100 Movies and 100 Movies Anniversary winners. Having to contend with two legends of the screen in Edward G. Robinson and Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck portrays the cold-hearted wife who wants her husband dead for the insurance money with magnificent effect.

7. The Maltese Falcon (1941)

While Double Indemnity set one of the standards that all film noirs would be compared to, John Huston’s The Maltese Falcon is considered the first major work in the genre. Bogart’s representation of the hard-hearted, quick-witted, morally ambiguous detective Sam Spade, Mary Astor as his femme fatale, and Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet, in his film debut, rounding out the characters couldn’t be more perfectly cast. Like another movie included later on this list, the cinematography was ground-breaking at the time. Accomplishing a rare feat in film, this of The Maltese Falcon is actually the third version to be made. The original was released ten years prior to the Hays Code preventing such lewd material from reaching the silver screen and the second, more light-hearted comedy version was released in 1946 under the title Satan Met a Lady. The Maltese Falcon received three Oscar nominations in the Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay categories with no wins acquired, was among the inaugural selections to the Library of Congress National Film Registry, and has been hailed as one of the greatest films of all time by critic Roger Ebert and Entertainment Weekly. Among its many other praises from critics and film groups alike, AFI has included this film among its 100 Films, 100 Thrills, 100 Quotes, 100 Films Anniversary Edition, and 10 Top 10 Mystery lists, and it was also nominated for AFI’s 100 Heroes and Villains twice and a second dialogue line for 100 Quotes.

6. The Third Man (1949)

Another film noir to make this list, albeit one from Britain cinema, this Orson Welles-starring, Carol Reed-directing murder mystery sets a perfect tone with its brilliant performances, moody tone and cinematography, and unforgettable music, created with only a zither. All aspects of the film come together to give it the right touch of drabness that personifies post-World War II Vienna. The Third Man received the top prizes at that year’s Cannes Film Festival and British Academy Awards, as well as receiving an Academy Award for Best Black and White Cinematography. In 1999, the British Film Institute selected it as the best British film of the 20th century. Total Film magazine ranked it the fourth best film of all time. It has also made many AFI lists, including 100 Movies, 100 Thrills, 100 Heroes and Villains, and 10 Top 10 Mystery. It also received nominations on AFI’s 100 Quotes, 100 Scores, and 100 Movies Anniversary Edition lists. There is also a Third Man Museum in Vienna dedicated to the movie.

5. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

If you haven’t seen It’s a Wonderful Life yet, stop what you’re doing right now, go to your local Blockbuster (if you can find one), and rent this movie. Forget that it’s generally considered a Christmas movie. Certainly it belongs in the pantheon of holiday favorite films, but it is also a heartfelt and inspiring tear-jerker of a movie. Directed by the iconic Frank Capra, whose filmmaking career garnered a total of 53 Oscar nominations and 14 wins including two Best Picture and three Best Director statues, It’s a Wonderful Life stars James Stewart as George Bailey, who when attempting to commit suicide on Christmas Eve is shown by his guardian angel Clarence what impact George has made because of his existence. Initially a financial disappointment, time has been kind to the feature, with it topping AFI’s most inspirational films list. Other AFI lists acknowledging the importance of It’s a Wonderful Life include 100 Movies, 100 Passions, twice on 100 Heroes and Villains, 100 Movies Anniversary Edition, and 10 Top 10 Fantasy. At the Academy Awards, It’s a Wonderful Life received five nominations, but won none of them. The Library of Congress included the movie among its 1990 inductees to the National Film Registry and for decades it has topped many favorite film lists among national and international media outlets. Seneca Falls holds a It’s a Wonderful Life festival every December, opened The Hotel Clarence named after the guardian angel, and recently opened a It’s a Wonderful Life Museum.

4. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

Another John Huston/Humphrey Bogart collaboration, this is one of the first American films to be shot almost entirely on location outside the United States. The source of one of the most misquoted film lines of all time, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre exemplifies the moral descent mankind will tailspin into when greed and distrust creep into a friendship. Huston won the Academy Award for directing and writing. Walter Huston, the director’s father, won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor the same year. It was also nominated for Best Picture, but lost. Director Stanley Kubrick listed The Treasure of the Sierra Madre as his fourth favorite movie of all time. AFI recognized the movie by placing it on its 100 Movies, 100 Thrills, 100 Quotes, and 100 Movies Anniversary lists. It also received nominations on the 100 Heroes and Villains and 100 Scores lists. In 1990, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre was selected to the National Film Registry.

3. The Great Dictator (1940)

In Charlie Chaplin’s first true “talkie,” the legendary filmmaker wrote, produced, directed, and starred in the first major motion picture to satirize Nazism and Adolph Hitler, resulting in a masterpiece of film. The Great Dictator was also Chaplin’s greatest financial success. The film’s out-of-character plea regarding war and oppression is one of the most moving moments this form of art has ever captured on celluloid. It was winless in five categories at the Academy Awards, losing in Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Outstanding Production. The Library of Congress included The Great Dictator in its 1997 class to the National Film Registry. It was ranked at 37 on AFI’s 100 Laughs list.

2. Citizen Kane (1941)

Six sentences isn’t enough to extol the litany of great things Orson Welles’s directorial debut provided the history of cinema. A few of the innovations Citizen Kane provided for the film industry include narrative techniques, cinematography, camera angles, use of shadow and light, and experimentation with editing and sound. To be blunt, it completely changed the way movies were watched. A critical darling when first released, the movie did not do well at the box office, but since then it has frequently topped Best Of lists, including AFI’s 100 Movies and 100 Movies Anniversary lists, Sight & Sound, Editorial Jaguar, FIAF Centenary List, France Critics Top 10, Cahiers du cinéma 100 films pour une cinémathèque idéal, Kinovedcheskie Russia Top 10, Romanian Critics Top 10, Time Out Magazine Greatest Films, and Village Voice 100 Greatest Films. Citizen Kane was among the National Film Registry’s inaugural group in 1989. It received nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography, but ended up winning only in the Best Original Screenplay category.

1. Casablanca (1942)

The winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing, Casablanca has become a legendary film due to its flawless characters and memorable dialogue. Shot in sequence due to only half the script being completed at the start of filming, the movie reunites The Maltese Falcon stars Humphrey Bogart, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre with Ingrid Bergman, Claude Raines, and Paul Henreid. While not a true film noir, the movie does implement many of director Michael Curtiz’s lighting and camera styles to give it a brooding tone. Casablanca expertly combines elements of romance, drama, suspense, and humor resulting in a classic for audiences of both sexes and all ages. Due to its wide audience appeal, the film finds itself on countless lists of great films. Along with the three Oscars it received, it was nominated in another five categories. In its first year of induction, the National Film Registry included Casablanca amongst the films deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The Writers Guild of America deemed the screenplay the best of all time. AFI repeatedly have selected Casablanca to its 100 Years lists, including 100 Movies, 100 Thrills, 100 Passions, 100 Heroes and Villains, 100 Songs, 100 Quotes (with six lines making it on the list), 100 Cheers, and 100 Movies Anniversary.

Analysis
Despite restrictions from the Hays Office and having to endure budget cuts due to the war, Hollywood was still able to make some remarkable movies that have endured and become greater as time marches on. Some of the most memorable and paramount films were produced during this period. Legends of the big screen struck it big in this decade and are still considered the most identifiable products of Tinseltown to this day. With the advent of television, the decline of the studio system, and the unclear threats of a Cold War, Hollywood would never again see the height of theater attendance as it did during the 1930s and 40s.

Top Movies By Decade: Part 4 - "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

1950s
Honorable Mentions: All About Eve (1950), Winchester ’73 (1950), High Noon (1952), Shane (1953), Sabrina (1954), Blackboard Jungle (1955), Diabolique (1955), 12 Angry Men (1957), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Paths of Glory (1957), and Vertigo (1958)

10. Cinderella (1950)

Due to World War II and low box office returns, this was the first feature-length, full-bodied animation film in nearly a decade from Walt Disney Studios, which was heavily in debt and had not had a big hit since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Cinderella is considered the last of the “golden age” of Disney animations that spanned the 1930s and 40s. The generous profits from this film, along with additional money made from record sales, music publishing, and other merchandise, gave Disney a resurgence of cash flow to proceed with new films, both animated and live action, establish his own distribution company, enter television production, and begin building Disneyland. Cinderella received three Academy Award nominations, all in the sound and song categories. At the inaugural Berlin International Film Festival, it won the Golden Bear (Music Film) award and the Big Bronze Plate award. The AFI included Cinderella among its 10 Top 10 Animated films, ranking ninth.

9. Rear Window (1954)

Some viewers are bored by the single set, slow-moving story, however, those fascinated by Rear Window are not alone, as the film received four Oscar nominations, was ranked 42nd and 48th on AFI’s 100 Movies and 100 Movies Anniversary lists, was universally praised by critics, and in 1997 was included in the United States National Film Registry. As the movie is all about voyeurism, Hitchcock’s film exquisitely display’s the human need to look in on other people’s lives, ignoring what is going on right in their own home. With the explosion of Facebook and Twitter, the insatiable need to make a connection with others without ever becoming involved is a successor to Hitchcock’s feature of a man and his camera looking out into an apartment building courtyard. Rear Window uses a natural soundtrack, with diegetic sounds and music stemming from James Stewart’s neighboring apartments. Along with the 100 Movies wins, the AFI also included Rear Window in its 100 Thrills and 10 Top 10 Mystery lists.

8. Seven Samurai (1954)

Possibly better known to American audiences in remakes such as The Magnificent Seven or A Bug’s Life, the idea of recruiting individuals with special skills to perform a specific task was originally seen on the Japanese screen in Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece, Seven Samurai. The now-common plot element introduced in this film can be seen in popular American cinema, such as The Guns of Navarone, Ocean’s Eleven, and The Dirty Dozen. Seven Samurai is described as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made, making it on Sight & Sound’s list of the 10 greatest films of all time in 1982 and the directors’ top ten film in 1992 and 2003 polls. It was also ranked number one in Empire magazine’s The 100 Best Films of World Cinema in 2010. Winner of the Silver Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, the film was also honored with several nominations and wins for acting and directing at the British Academy Film Awards, Jussi Awards, and Mainichi Film Awards. Seven Samurai received two Academy Award nominations as well.

7. Sleeping Beauty (1959)

The final fairy tale animated feature produced by Walt Disney himself and the last of Disney’s features to use hand-inked cels, Sleeping Beauty was initially a financial failure, resulting in the first annual loss in a decade and leading to massive layoffs in the animation department. It took nearly a decade to get the movie made, with story work beginning eight years prior to its theatrical release and voice recordings taking place seven years before as well. The film was initially met with mixed reviews, most critics claiming poor character development, but with the unique stylized design of the artwork and lavish musical score have resulted in a sustained interest in the movie and ultimately it is now one of the most praised animated features ever made. Sleeping Beauty was nominated for an Oscar and a Grammy for its soundtrack, but lost at both ceremonies.

6. The Killing (1956)

Where Seven Samurai set up the concept of showing the audience the process of hiring a group of mercenaries to do a job, Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing showcased a heist picture from several different viewpoints and the precise planning and undertaking it takes to pull off a multi-million dollar robbery, much like the number one movie for this decade's list. Like many movies considered classics of their genre and decade, this one was a disappointment at the box office. However, The Killing showed off the talent Kubrick had as a director, cinematographer, and storyteller, giving audiences a glimpse into what was to come later in his career. Critics respected the picture, praising Kubrick as the next great director with skills that hadn’t been seen since Orson Welles. The only major award nomination for The Killing was at the BAFTAs for Best Film from any Source, but its legacy has influenced many, including Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs.

5. Sunset Boulevard (1950)

One of the most well written film noirs, Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard is an absorbing movie with an unforgettable leading lady and countless memorable quotes. Told through William Holden’s character, unsuccessful screenwriter Joe Gillis, about his meeting and subsequent tumultuous relationship with former silent-film star Norma Desmond, the film is a disturbed showcase of Desmond’s fantasy world where she believes a comeback to Hollywood stardom is near. Sunset Boulevard was an instant success, nominated for 11 Academy Award nominations, winning three, was included in the first group of films selected for preservation in the National Film Registry, and saw its inclusion in the top 20 greatest films by the American Film Institute in its 100 Movies and 100 Movies Anniversary lists, at 12 and 16 respectively. It is highly regarded as the greatest movie about Hollywood ever made.

4. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Another movie about Hollywood, this one takes a much more comedic and light-hearted tone of Tinseltown. Tackling the period of time when films transitioned from silent to talkies, Singin’ in the Rain has become known as one of the greatest musicals to ever be made, but it was not originally accepted so pleasantly. Co-director and star Gene Kelly’s dance number to the titular song with an umbrella in the rainy streets has become an iconic moment in film history, recognized by even those who have not seen the movie. The film received two Academy Award nominations for Supporting Actor and Original Music Score, a Golden Globe for Donald O’Connor’s performance, and recognition for best written American musical at the Writers Guild of America. Singin’ in the Rain has twice appeared on Sight & Sound’s list of the 10 best films of all time. The film was among the United States Library of Congress’s first 25 films chosen for the newly established National Film Registry. The American Film Institute included the musical among its 100 Movies, 100 Laughs, 100 Passions, 100 Songs (three times), 100 Musicals, and 100 Movies Anniversary lists.

3. On the Waterfront (1954)

A tough, gritty look at union violence, corruption, and racketeering among longshoremen in New Jersey, On the Waterfront won eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Story. Based on a Pulitzer Prize winning 24-part series in the New York Sun, the film is considered to be the director’s rejoinder to critics for his identifying former Communists in the film industry before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Released to rave reviews from critics, On the Waterfront has since been deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry during its inaugural year and included among many critics top film lists it also made the Vatican’s list of 45 greatest films of all time. AFI included the film among its 100 Movies, 100 Heroes and Villains, 100 Quotes, 100 Film Scores, 100 Cheers, and 100 Movies Anniversary lists.

2. North by Northwest (1959)

My personal favorite of all of Hitchcock’s films, North by Northwest is also one of his most critically favored among the innocent man on the run stories. Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, and James Mason give commanding performances in this stylish thriller with a finale set amongst one of America’s most historic monuments. Ranking at 98 in Empire magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Films of All Time, North by Northwest is considered a masterpiece in filmmaking for its themes of deception, mistaken identity, and moral relativism. The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards and won a 1960 Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay. In 1995, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. Among AFI movie lists, North by Northwest ranked among its 100 Movies, 100 Thrills, 100 Movies Anniversary, and 10 Top 10 Mystery lists.

1. The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

A film noir caper film with a cast who’s most famous member now, Marilyn Monroe, was at the time unknown to audiences follows a group of men planning and executing a jewel robbery. The Asphalt Jungle, directed by John Huston, was nominated for four Academy Awards. Creating a legacy with its style and production, the film is one of the most influential crime films of the decade and presents an impressively staged robbery to be copied for years to come, creating its own subgenre of caper films. The Asphalt Jungle won awards at the Venice Film Festival, National Board of Review, and Edgar Allen Poe Awards, along with nominations at the Golden Globes, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Directors Guild of America, and Writers Guild of America. In 2008, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Analysis
Included in this list are animated pictures, heist movies, foreign films, and Hollywood movies about Hollywood. The 1950s are the end of the stranglehold Hollywood had on American audiences looking for visual stimulation as television began its competition, resulting in gimmicks and cheap ploys to herd people back into theaters. Big production, spectacle, widescreen techniques, and 3-D became prevalent in moviemaking. the 50s will also be well known for its heightening of interest in science fiction, thanks to Cold War paranoia and a renewed interest in science due to the atomic bomb. The western genre was revitalized and Alfred Hitchcock saw some of his most popular films released in this decade.

Top Movies By Decade: Part 5 – "Bond, James Bond."

1960s
Honorable Mentions: Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), The Birds (1963), The Great Escape (1963), High and Low (1963), A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), The Battle of Algiers (1966), The Graduate (1967), In the Heat of the Night (1967), Bullitt (1968), The Lion in Winter (1968), Night of the Living Dead (1968), and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

10. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Some of the best films in cinema history take multiple viewings to fully appreciate. 2001: A Space Odyssey takes multiple viewings to understand. Stanley Kubrick’s space epic, inspired by Arthur C. Clarke’s short story “The Sentinel,” premiered to varied opinions but acquired a cult following and has since become a mainstream masterpiece. Nominated for four Academy Awards, receiving a win for visual effects, and ranked in numerous top ten polls, including AFI’s 100 Movies, 100 Thrills, 100 Quotes, and 100 Heroes and Villains, Sight & Sound, and The Moving Arts Film Journal, the film is notable for its deep thematic elements, scientific accuracy, soundtrack, ambiguous imagery, unconventional storytelling, and minimal use of dialogue. 2001: A Space Odyssey was included in the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1991, being deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

9. Psycho (1960)

Not a critical success when released, Psycho was such a hit with moviegoers that it was re-evaluated and has since been seen as not just a classic, but one of the greatest films ever made. Following the abolition of the Production Code, director Alfred Hitchcock pushed the limits of violence and sexuality in film, and by filming one of the most well-known murder scenes in Hollywood history and a killer score to go with it, he was able to create a ghastly thriller that is probably Hitchcock’s most popular release. In 1992, the film was among those inducted into the Congress National Film Registry. At the time of its release, Psycho received four Oscar nominations, including Best Director and Best Supporting Actress, nominations from the Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement and the Writers Guild of America, East for Best Written American Drama. It won Best Motion Picture at the Edgar Allan Poe Awards and Janet Leigh won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Among its numerous praises as one of the greatest movies of all time, Psycho has been among many Best Of lists, including the AFI’s 100 Movies, 100 Movies Anniversary Edition, 100 Thrills, 100 Heroes and Villains, 100 Quotes, and 100 Scores lists.

8. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Spaghetti western, war epic, and Italian action film. You could label The Good, the Bad and the Ugly as any one of these genres and you would be correct. The scope of Sergio Leone’s grand conclusion for Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name is filled with chaotic American Civil War battles, gunfights, and hangings. Spaghetti westerns were not received with high praise at the time of their release, but since then The Good, the Bad and the Ugly has become very popular and has become European cinema’s best representation of the western genre. It is included among Time’s 100 Greatest Movies of the Last Century and Empire magazine’s Masterpiece Collection of 500 Greatest Movies at 25.

7. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

While The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is an overly violent and surreal depiction of the Old West, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid instead goes the comedic route with its interpretation of the American outlaw. The real treat in this movie is the chemistry between headliners Paul Newman and then-unknown Robert Redford. The two were such a great team, while only starring in two films together they are among the great film duos alongside Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, or Hanks and Ryan. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was the top grossing film of 1969 and won four Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Song, and Best Original Screenplay, while also being nominated for Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Sound. The film received numerous British Academy Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor (won by Redford), and Best Actress (won by Katherine Ross). The movie was preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Film Registry in 2003.

6. My Fair Lady (1964)

A musical film adaptation of a stage musical based on a film adaptation of the original stage play Pygmalion, the Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison vehicle won eight Academy awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director, and was nominated for an additional four awards. My Fair Lady also won three Golden Globes, a BAFTA, and was included in AFI’s 100 Movies, 100 Passions, 100 Songs, and 100 Musicals lists.

5. Goldfinger (1964)

The quintessential Bond film that every other Bond movie is measured up against. Goldfinger began what is known as the Bond formula and blends plot, women, cars, gadgets, locations, and over the top action sequences seamlessly. The bond girls are unforgettable. The Aston Martin DB5 makes its first appearance. Oddjob is the first henchman to have an interesting method of killing, which would be copied by others like Jaws and Xenia Onatopp. Goldfinger won an Oscar for Best Sound Effects Editing and received nominations for a Grammy and BAFTA. It was selected to AFI’s 100 Thrills, 100 Quotes, 100 Songs, and 100 Heroes and Villains lists.

4. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Featuring one of the most morally upstanding, kindly father figures in cinematic history, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was adapted into a powerful story of growing up in America and learning about the hardships of life through the eyes of a little girl. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Musical Score and won the award in Best Actor, Best Art Direction, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also received three Golden Globe Awards and won an award at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival. To Kill a Mockingbird is among AFI’s 100 Movies, 100 Movies Anniversary Edition, 100 Heroes and Villains, 100 Scores, 100 Cheers, and 10 Top 10 lists. It was selected to the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1995.

3. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

If black comedies about nuclear war are your sort of thing, this is the movie for you. Directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Peter Sellers in three separate roles as President of the United States, a former Nazi wheel chair-bound scientist, and a Royal Air Force officer, Dr. Strangelove satirizes many Cold War attitudes, with its primary focus on the theory of mutual assured destruction. Often ranked among the greatest comedies of all time, the film was selected to the National Film Registry in 1989. It currently holds a 100% fresh rating on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes and is ranked highly on IMDB’s Top 250 movies. Among the numerous nominations from the Academy Awards and BAFTA Awards, it won four. In addition, it won the American comedy award from the Writers Guild of America and a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. Dr. Strangelove is rated the fifth greatest film in Sight & Sound’s directors’ poll, the only comedy in the top 10. AFI included the film on its 100 Movies, 100 Movies Anniversary Edition, 100 Laughs, and 100 Quotes lists.

2. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Moving performances, epic landscapes, and a mesmerizing score are all the things that make David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia an ambitious and masterful picture. Lean is able to take a bleak and savage place like the desert and romanticize it through the camera lens, creating a remarkable and beautiful backdrop to the story of World War I British army officer T.E. Lawrence, who helped mobilize a guerilla-style Arab revolt against the Ottoman Turkish rule. Although the historical accuracy is hotly debated, both in terms of events and representations of Lawrence, the film was an immediate success and has been fawned over for decades. Lawrence of Arabia is constantly among the top of lists touting the best in cinema, including the American Film Institute ranking it fifth, seventh, and first among its 100 Movies, 100 Movies Anniversary Edition, and 10 Top 10 Epic lists. Other AFI lists the film is included in are 100 Thrills, 100 Heroes and Villains, 100 Scores, and 100 Cheers. In 1991, the Library of Congress deemed the film “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and selected it for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. It received 10 Oscar nominations and won seven, including Best Picture and Best Director. The BAFTAs and Golden Globes also recognized its greatness, bestowing nine wins and another two nomination to the picture.

1. From Russia with Love (1963)

The film before Goldfinger, From Russia with Love is a true spy movie. Its utilization of fewer gadgets lets Bond use his wits rather than an Omega watch with built-in laser. There are twists and turns throughout the film that begins during the first Bond pre-title sequence where our hero is hunted down by a homicidal assassin named Donald "Red" Grant. From Russia with Love is adored by nearly all who view it, mixing humor, action, sexuality, and fun into a seamless adventure with suave Sean Connery carrying the picture the entire way.

Analysis

It is no accident that the decade of film most known for spy films and spaghetti westerns would land three of those types of movies on this list.  With the elimination of the Hayes Code, films became more experimental and were the forerunners to what would become the definitive of 70s filmmaking.  The 1960s saw the introduction of the MPAA rating system that is still used today.  Along with new experimentation in filmmaking and storytelling, this decade brought about more adult themes and graphic violence.  A youth movement was taking place that Hollywood capitalized on with films that embodied the changing values of society at the time.

Top Movies By Decade: Part 6 – "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse."

1970s

Honorable Mentions: Get Carter (1971), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Enter the Dragon (1973), The Sting (1973), Chinatown (1974), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), and Halloween (1978)

10. Rocky (1976)

Is it the greatest sports movie of all time? Possibly. Is it the greatest achievement of Sylvester Stallone’s career? Undeniably. Rocky is the criterion in underdog stories and average Joe given a shot at greatness. The first in a franchise that became a cliché of itself received critical acclaim and was a box office smash made on a shoestring budget. On a budget of only $950,000, Rocky went on to earn $225 million, the most money of any film released that year. The film originally received some mixed reviews with many calling it “schmaltzy,” but it is now fondly adored as a manly fairy tale about a nobody given the unlikely chance to become somebody. Empire included the film in its list of the 500 greatest films of all time. AFI ranked it second in its Ten Top 10 list of sports genre and included it on the 100 Films, 100 Thrills, 100 Heroes and Villains, 100 Songs, 100 Quotes, 100 Cheers, and 10th Anniversary 100 Films lists. Rocky won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It was nominated in another seven categories.

9. The Day of the Jackal (1973)

A political/crime thriller shot in a way that feels like a documentary, The Day of the Jackal presents a cat and mouse chase to track down an assassin who is targeting French president Charles de Gaulle. While the story is fictional with characters from the real world, the director’s intent was to create a suspenseful experience where the viewer knew the outcome of the film but would still be enthralled by the narrative. Following the plot of the novel by the same name, this film was very well received by critics and was nominated for numerous awards. Along with winning the BAFTA for best film editing, it was also nominated for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, and three other categories. The Day of the Jackal also received an Academy Award nomination and three Golden Globe nominations.

8. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

What can be said about this film that hasn’t already been covered in exhausting detail. It is an iconic movie that is one of the best of its genre. It started a series that has provided children (and now adults) an abundance of excitement, pleasure, and wonderment. The characters found in the Star Wars universe are all adored from the imaginative alien heroes like Yoda and Chewbacca to the tragic protagonist-turned-villain. While the decisions George Lucas has made regarding this series, in regard to both new stories and distribution and alterations to the originals, has marred the series some, but Episode IV is still a revered classic that changed how space movies were made. Star Wars: Episode IV grossed $460 million in the U.S. on its initial release, which adjusted for inflation is the second highest grossing of all time. The awards are too countless to list here, but just know that it is really, really well liked.

7. Animal House (1978)

There used to be a time that putting the National Lampoon name on a movie title meant something. When Animal House was released, it was a major hit for the comedy group. Whatever your thoughts of the film’s low-brow jokes today, the film began an all-new genre that Hollywood is cashing in on still today. Wikipedia says it best: “The film, along with 1977’s The Kentucky Fried Movie, also directed by Landis, was largely responsible for defining and launching the gross-out genre of films, which became one of Hollywood’s staples.” This factoid is followed up with: “In 2001, the United States Library of Congress deemed Animal House ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’ and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.” Animal House was listed as Bravo’s number one funniest movie of all time, AFI’s 36th funniest on its 100 Laughs list, and is included in Empire magazine’s 500 Greatest Movies of All Time. Financially, the movie was the second most popular of the year.

6. The Exorcist (1973)

This is the scariest movie I have ever seen and am reluctant to watch it ever again as its images still give me frights. Partly what makes The Exorcist so horrifying is that I believe demon possessions and exorcisms do take place in the world. Earning 10 Oscar nominations, and winning two, The Exorcist is one of the highest grossing films of all time. It also received seven Golden Globe nominations. Touted the scariest film of all time by several film magazines, websites, and viewers themselves, it was listed at third on Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments and in 2003 came in second in Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Scary Moments in the United Kingdom. The Library of Congress selected it to be preserved in 2010.

5. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

One of only three films to win the Academy Award Grand Slam (which ironically is five categories, not four), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is the story of a convict who is put in a mental institution and reveals the philosophy and routines of such psychiatric wards of the time period. Along with Jack Nicholson’s Oscar winning performance and the Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Actress wins, this film was also nominated for Academy Awards in Supporting Actor, Cinematography, Editing, and Musical Score. It also won 12 other awards at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs and was nominated in another two categories. Other accolades include AFI’s Top 100 Films, 100 Films 10th Anniversary, 100 Heroes and Villains, and 100 Cheers lists. The film was included in the National Film Registry in 1993.

4. Alien (1979)

Trapped in the confines of a space craft as a monstrous extraterrestrial life form terrorizes the crew, Alien delivered on every level as a great science fiction, horror, suspense, and/or action movie. The film works for all types of moviegoers, ranging from the slow-paced thriller types to gore-fest enthusiasts. The original in a long-running series introduced various aspects of the alien creature, including the egg, facehugger, chestburster, and fully grown alien. Alien won the Academy Award for Visual Effects and was also nominated for Best Art Direction. It won three Saturn Awards in Best Science Fiction Film, Best Direction, and Best Supporting Actress, and was also nominated in four other categories. It received five BAFTA nominations and won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. Jerry Goldsmith's score received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and the Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack Album.

3. The Godfather: Part II (1974)

One of the most distinguishing accolades bestowed upon the Godfather series is that The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II are the only film and its sequel to win the Oscar for Best Picture. This is the continuation of the Corleone family as Michael attempts to legitimize the family business. It is balanced by the prequel story of a young Vito Corleone and his rise to power. The Godfather: Part II is as highly regarded as its predecessor, it is considered an influential piece of cinema history, especially in the crime/gangster genre. Financially, it was the fifth-highest-grossing film of the year, making $193 million on a $13 million budget. Among its numerous accolades, The Godfather: Part II was featured on Sight and Sound’s list of the ten greatest films of all time in 1992 and 2002, is ranked seventh on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time, and is first on TV Guide’s 1998 list of the 50 Greatest Movies of All Time on TV and Video. Pacino’s performance also garnered great praise throughout the film industry and media. In total, it received 19 Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations, winning in seven categories. It has also made five of AFI’s Top 100 lists.

2. Jaws (1975)

Movies need all of its parts to be spectacular. The acting, screenplay, music, cinematography, and effects all have to mesh fluidly. Another ingredient that sets the tone is the tagline, and Jaws had a great one: Don’t go in the water. Steven Spielberg’s classic about a shark terrorizing a beach town became a watermark moment in Hollywood as it started what has become the summer blockbuster season. Jaws became the most successful motion picture of all time financially, being beaten two years later by Star Wars. In 2001, it was included by the Library of Congress in the National Film Registry and in 2006 the screenplay was ranked 63rd best of all time by the Writers Guild of America. Winning three Academy Awards, it lost Best Picture to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Along with winning the Oscar, John Williams’ haunting theme also won the Grammy, BAFTA, and Golden Globe awards for best score. It received other nominations at the BAFTA, Golden Globe, Director’s Guild of America, and Writers Guild of America ceremonies. The American Film Institute included it at number 48 on its 100 Years list, 56 on its 10th Anniversary list, and many other sources have ranked it among the 50 and 100 greatest films of all time. It was also among AFI’s 100 Quotes, 100 Thrills and 100 Heroes and Villains lists.

1. The Godfather (1972)

This is my ultimate number one film of all time. It is the one that would go to a deserted island with me, the one I can put in at any time for any reason, and the one that will always be easily accessible for viewing on all types of medium. Where The Godfather: Part II continues the story of the Corleone family and shows its patriarchs violent rise to become the Godfather, the first film intimately introduces us to the characters and puts on display the inner-workings of a crime family. The countless accolades for The Godfather include three Academy Award wins, eight more nominations, seven Golden Globe nominations with five wins, five BAFTA nominations with one win, and a Grammy win. The film is ranked at the top of innumerable lists and has sealed a legacy in pop culture with its unforgettable quotes and cinematic influence.

Analysis

In my opinion, which isn't worth the money advertising could make on this piddly website, the 1970s is the weakest decade in filmmaking history.  It may be that I am a prude or I don't have the social angst of people who grew up in the 70s, but simply put I don't generally find movies of this decade to be near as entertaining or worthy of praise as other decades.  Despite Hollywood facing financial difficulties at the beginning of the decade, after a few years the blockbuster was created (thanks to Spielberg's Jaws) and audiences also saw the loosening of restrictions on language, sex, violence, and other adult content.  Young filmmakers, known as the Movie Brats, started making their mark in the industry, especially those with financial backing from Roger Corman, and location shooting became much more common among directors.