The Best Movies Of All Time Films
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The Best Movies Of All Time

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Best Movies of All Time, ranked by movie experts and film fans alike. What are the best movies of all time? This list of the top movies of all time was created by taking best movie suggestions from Ranker users, and then holding an open vote on which selected films were, in fact, the top films ever made.

So, what's the best movies of all time? The list includes a wide range of films, from art house European cinema to dance movies to established, highly-regarded classics of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The entries span many genres and include some of the best movie villains created by the best writers and best directors in the industry. Included are movies that were recognized in their own time - including a number of Academy Award recipients and even Best Picture selections - as well as cult movies or sleeper hits that took time to find an audience. ("Shawshank Redemption," for example, was not highly regarded or popular in theaters when it first opened, but has since risen to the top of Best Movies lists such as this one across the Web.)

If your favorite movies still aren't included with this group of the Best Movies of All Time, add them by making your own list. Or just vote for the titles below that are most worthy of the Greatest Movie Ever title.
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Rank     Name
  1. 1
    Up 4012
    Down 1911

    The Godfather

    1972
    BUY
  2. 2
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    Down 2322

    Pulp Fiction

    1994
    BUY
  3. 3
    Up 4193
    Down 1536

    The Shawshank Redemption

    1994
    BUY
  4. 4
    Up 2393
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    Goodfellas

    1990
    BUY
  5. 5
    Up 3195
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    The Dark Knight

    2008
    BUY
  6. 6
    Up 2452
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    The Godfather Part II

    1974
    BUY
  7. 7
    Up 3658
    Down 1563

    Forrest Gump

    1994
    BUY
  8. 8
    Up 3499
    Down 1362

    Star Wars

    BUY
  9. 9
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    Fight Club

    1999
    BUY
  10. 10
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    Gladiator

    2000
    BUY
  11. 11
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    Schindler's List

    1993
    BUY
  12. 12
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    The Matrix

    1999
    BUY
  13. 13
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    Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

    1981
    BUY
  14. 14
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    Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

    1980
    BUY
  15. 15
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    The Silence of the Lambs

    1991
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  16. 16
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    Saving Private Ryan

    1998
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  17. 17
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    Casablanca

    1942
    BUY
  18. 18
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    Back to the Future

    1985
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  19. 19
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    One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

    1975
    BUY
  20. 20
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    Braveheart

    1995
    BUY
  21. 21
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    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

    2003
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  22. 22
    Up 1206
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    Citizen Kane

    1941
    BUY
  23. 23
    Up 1194
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    The Usual Suspects

    1994
    BUY
  24. 24
    Up 1835
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    Inception

    2010
    BUY
  25. 25
    Up 1910
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    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    2001
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  26. 26
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    Die Hard

    1988
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  27. 27
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    Taxi Driver

    1976
    BUY
  28. 28
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    Apocalypse Now

    1979
    BUY
  29. 29
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    The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

    1966
    BUY
  30. 30
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    Titanic

    1997
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  31. 31
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    The Big Lebowski

    1998
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  32. 32
    Up 1008
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    A Clockwork Orange

    1971
    BUY
  33. 33
    Up 1367
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    Seven

    1995
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  34. 34
    Up 1203
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    The Departed

    2006
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  35. 35
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    Full Metal Jacket

    1987
    BUY
  36. 36
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    Slumdog Millionaire

    2008
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  37. 37
    Up 1329
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    The Shining

    1980
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  38. 38
    Up 1391
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    Jaws

    1975
    BUY
  39. 39
    Up 1415
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    Terminator 2: Judgment Day

    1991
    BUY
  40. 40
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    Psycho

    1960
    BUY
  41. 41
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    The Terminator

    1984
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  42. 42
    Up 1021
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    No Country for Old Men

    2007
    BUY
  43. 43
    Up 859
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    Reservoir Dogs

    1992
    BUY
  44. 44
    Up 1119
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    Blade Runner

    1982
    BUY
  45. 45
    Up 1249
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    Rocky

    1976
    BUY
  46. 46
    Up 754
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    Fargo

    1996
    BUY
  47. 47
    Up 982
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    Toy Story

    1995
    BUY
  48. 48
    Up 1117
    Down 895

    It's a Wonderful Life

    1946
    BUY
  49. 49
    Up 1263
    Down 635

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

    2002
    BUY
  50. 50
    Up 1316
    Down 829

    Alien

    1979
    BUY

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    1. Ileen Painton
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 12/16/2012 6:30 PM
      top movies of all time! Woah!
    2. Rob Cuizon
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 11/30/2012 6:30 AM
      Wonderful. best movies of all times!
    3. jerkstoreowner
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 11/29/2012 7:30 PM
      Woah. the best movies ever.
    4. Hammer-and-Creamsickle
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 11/28/2012 11:30 PM
      So this is about good movies of all time?
    5. Valene Filsinger
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 11/26/2012 6:30 PM
      That is just must see movies all timefor you.
    6. Ludivina Marasigan
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 11/10/2012 9:30 AM
      This was about top ten movies of all time here.
    7. Bibi Demuro
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/28/2012 7:30 PM
      This is one of the good things about top movies ever.
    8. Beaulah Lomay
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/09/2012 5:30 AM
      That's complicated about the whole greatest movies of all time.
    9. Jeffry Booty
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/05/2012 2:30 AM
      Oh that's fantastic the best movies of all time.
    10. Brain Esplain
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 9/30/2012 6:30 AM
      Oh hey, looks like an article of best films of all time.
    11. Ludivina Marasigan
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 9/18/2012 1:30 PM
      There's some other good article about the best movies.
    12. Hal Burgraff
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 9/07/2012 2:30 AM
      That's an awesome way to read must see movies of all time.
    13. Ming Feldkamp
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 8/27/2012 6:30 PM
      Not only best all time movies here.
    14. Lanie Brander
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 8/21/2012 10:30 PM
      Well that's awesome best movies.
    15. Marcel Ziv
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 8/06/2012 5:30 PM
      Sweet the greatest movies of all time, bro.
    16. Carey Ravitz
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 7/30/2012 5:30 AM
      So that's a fine display of things about greatest movie of all time.
    17. Dane Cornelio
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 7/23/2012 7:30 AM
      That's great movies of all time for ya.
    18. Genna Trauernicht
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 7/20/2012 10:30 PM
      ha. best movie of all time.
    19. Keren Malaney
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 7/05/2012 7:30 AM
      No way. the best movie of all time.
    20. Rob Goethals
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 7/04/2012 12:30 PM
      What a good thing to read about, favorite movies of all time.
    21. Dane Griffth
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 7/04/2012 9:30 AM
      Let me guess, another thing about best movies ever?
    22. Francene Krafft
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 6/30/2012 12:30 AM
      That an impressive display of best movies all time! Right?!
    23. Shakia Horsford
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 6/28/2012 1:30 PM
      Sweet all time best movies, man.
    24. Emely Brockert
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 6/13/2012 7:30 PM
      That is an awesome display of what is the best movie of all time.
    25. Lianne Hauf
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 6/13/2012 5:30 AM
      Really. best movie ever.
    26. Loria Pentland
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 6/07/2012 1:30 PM
      Definitely a good round up on this top 10 best movies of all time.
    27. fieldsosu1@yahoo.com
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 4/07/2012 2:52 PM
      As much as I like most of your selections, I would like to submit a few others I believe merit consideration.

      The Last of the Mohicans
      Rob Roy
      Apocalypto
      The Patriot
      Dances With Wolves
      What About Bob?
      My Cousin Vinny
      Weekend At Berries
      Far and Away
      Master and Commander
      Legends of the Fall
      A Simple Plan
      Two Days in the Valley
      The Italian Job
      Burn After Reading
      Pulp Fiction
      Get Shorty
      Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
      The Green Mile
      Open Range
      The Bourne Identity
      Trading Places
      The Producers (2005)
      Rudy
      National Lampoon's Vacation
      Moby Dick
      The Missing
      Young Frankenstein
      City Slickers
      Ghostbusters
      Waking Ned Devine
      An Officer and a Gentleman
      Jerry McGuire
      Shooter
      Blazing Saddles
      Men in Black
      Beverly Hills Cop
      The Caine Mutiny
      A Few Good Men
      The Producers (1968)
      Doctor Zhivago
      The American President
      Dave
      Air force One
      The Departed
      The Sting
      Home Alone
      Get Smart
      The Whole Nine Yards
      Bourne Supremacy
      Bourne Ultimatum
      Etc.
      Etc.
      Etc.

      I'm not sure if I repeated any of your selections, but almost every "Best" or "Greatest" excludes most of the ones I have listed. Almost as the judges have been living in a cave.
      The Last of The Mohicans, Rob Roy, Dances With Wolves, Apocalypto, and The Patriot are five of the greatest adventure movies ever made.
      What About Bob, My Cousin Vinny, Weekend at Bernie's, Ruthless People, and The Producers (2005) are five of the best comedies ever made.
      And Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, A Simple Plan, The Italian Job, and Burn After Reading are right there with Jackie Brown and Snatch.
    28. Mariam
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 4/07/2012 12:00 AM
      les faltó Shutter Island exc peli se la recomiendo a todos y faltaron una q otra mas la vdd... entre ellas guns of NY, El limpiador, Big Fish jaja bno a mi criterio y creo q Psicosis debería estar en el primer lugar y de segundo Naranja Mecánica ambas obras de arte!!!!
    29. Snappyjo
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 3/27/2012 8:52 PM
      There will only ever be one Godfather.
    30. Jonny
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 3/05/2012 10:11 PM
      This person has no idea! If they knew anything about good fil Kurosawa would have at least ONE on here if not 3 in the top 25. A lot of me don't belong on the top 1000 let alone 100. And ranked the worst lord of the ring film(two towers) the highes. Yuck
    31. KirkSawyers
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 3/03/2012 5:05 AM
      This is a list that rates Airplane! ahead of The Passion of Joan of Arc. I stopped reading! Seriously people?
    32. Gookin
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 3/01/2012 7:48 PM
      this list the shit i like how you incorporated newer movies that for some people dont consider when they talk about the best
    33. Eamonn breslin
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 1/31/2012 2:32 AM
      There's a tendency in nearly all these lists of 'best films' to favour films of the last few decades. People seem to think that because a film is 'old' or 'black and white' (30's or 40's) it must automatically be less good. It's like saying 'Although he wrote in the 16th century and in a language not of today, Shakespeare is not a bad dramatist!
    34. DannyPitt
      Pulp Fiction at 1/26/2012 6:07 PM
      I'm sorry, but Pulp Fiction is not the third best film ever made.
    35. DannyPitt
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 1/26/2012 6:06 PM
      I'm sorry, but Pulp Fiction is not the third best film ever made. It barely even belongs in the top 25. It is indeed a great film, but it's definitely not better than Citizen Kane, Kramer vs. Kramer, The Grapes of Wrath, or hell, even Star Wars.
    36. johnylord7
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 11/20/2011 4:49 AM
      scarface is a GREAT movie is among the top 3 of all time and all the new generation gangster films is based on this concept anyone who disagree with that simply dont know anything about movies
    37. locohoya
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/30/2011 10:00 AM
      Scarface has no business being mentioned in the list. Dreadful movie, one of the worst
    38. Roo Doo
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/28/2011 10:09 AM
      the japanese movie SEVEN SAMURAI in 1954 is the best whith out any thinking ...... see that movie and you will be amazed
    39. MikeBridgeforth
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/24/2011 2:34 AM
      avatar titanic andpulpfiction deserves to be on the front of the list as well as scar face good fellas and shaw shank
    40. MikeBridgeforth
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/24/2011 2:31 AM
      im knowing Crash is one of the best movies of all time Kathene Bigalow is one innovater of the human sycei and realism in racial profiling simply captivating
    41. Anonymous
      The Godfather at 10/19/2011 2:20 AM
      good
      1. Anonymous
        The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/19/2011 5:45 AM
        yes
    42. Chad
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 8/11/2011 10:08 PM
      Not a bad list... would have liked to see Dances With Wolves in the top 30
    43. The Dark Knight
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 7/28/2011 6:15 PM
      GREAT LIST! i love your list... my list is little different..

      check out mine:

      http://www.imdb.com/list/Pi7vfAbGS4Y/
    44. pallen1065
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 6/20/2011 12:29 PM
      The choices listed thus far show bias toward younger contributors (not that there's anything wrong with that..).



      My problem is in differentiating between my favorites and 'the best'. Expect a bit of both.
      1. analise.dubner
        The Best Movies Of All Time at 7/12/2011 12:09 PM
        Totally true. People have a very hard time separating those two things. But I think the more people who add to the list, the data should even out.... as the better the movie is, the more people put it near or at the top. Cancelling out those "favorite" movies that will inevitably be added in and sifting them to the bottom.
    45. josevlago
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 5/20/2011 11:35 PM
      What a pitty not to see any Tim Burton's creation in the first page. But thanks goodness I don't see his creations in the worst movies' list neither!!! BTW I agree with number 1, the godfather and the lord of the rings!
      1. Desertrat89
        The Best Movies Of All Time at 6/04/2011 8:23 AM
        I do love his movies.... Edward Scissorhands would probably be his best? Hmm, someone should make a list of all Tim Burton's movies to rank!
    46. Silvanna
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 5/02/2011 7:55 PM
      Hay muchas películas que se merecen estar ahí, tanto por los actores que trabajaron en ellas, los directores, la calidad del trabajo, su propósito cumplido, pero hay algunas que son pésimas, por ejemplo, ¿Que hace Iron Man en este ranking?, trabajan actores respetados, pero queda hasta ahí no más, es una película horrible, con el típico mensaje gringo de salvadores del planeta, aparte de todo el nacionalismo incluido, y con un final que ni siquiera corresponde al de los cómics. Hay muchas más que no deberían estar en este ranking, porque no cumplen con un mínimo de criterios para considerarse dentro de las grandes de la historia, ni siquiera como de culto, y que conste, hay algunas de las que no deberían estar, que las encuentro entretenidas y todo, pero sobran en este ranking
    47. Silvanna
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 5/02/2011 7:42 PM
      Como es posible que Forrest Gump se encuentre en dos rankings opuestos a la vez??? .. en el de las mejores películas de la historia y las peores de la historia. Seriamente deberían pensar en más criterios para determinar la calidad de las películas, y no en categorias banales sin ninguna seriedad.
    48. JieHu
      The Godfather at 4/06/2011 7:08 PM
      Absolutely No.1
    49. pauline paula
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 2/22/2011 9:22 AM
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    50. Bed and breakfast in Devon
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 2/22/2011 9:17 AM
      this could be a good source if we wanted to go out and have fun just to watch movies...its a good source in selecting what movie should be watch. please click this site: http://www.devonholidayguide.co.uk
    51. CyndeHarven
      The Godfather at 2/21/2011 10:59 AM
      Sure it belongs on the list....but not at No. 1.
      1. Snappyjo
        The Best Movies Of All Time at 3/27/2012 8:57 PM
        If the Godfather is not number 1 then where would you put the greatest film ever?
    52. analise.dubner
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 2/13/2011 5:08 PM
      It's amazing... just amazing that Shawshank is so high. Look how many votes it got! Not that its not a good movie, it is, but... its up there with Godfather, Goodfellas and Star Wars!
      1. logblobo
        The Best Movies Of All Time at 4/16/2011 9:51 AM
        I absolutely agree with you. It's a good film but there are hundreds of films that are better than it.
    53. mollie
      The Godfather at 1/31/2011 4:50 PM
      Great movie.
    54. zepode
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 12/24/2010 8:59 PM
      2001: A Space Odyssey. Hands down the greatest movie ever.
    55. crazy2
      Jaws at 11/24/2010 10:05 AM
      Jaws...... I remember this movies very well. Living in Hawaii and surfing!!!! Damn!!!! it.. keep out of the waters for 2 weeks.....
    56. nascar1130
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 11/24/2010 8:14 AM
      Jaws is the best movie of all time!
    57. lemac
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 11/12/2010 10:11 AM
      Rocky???
    58. ShaaboX
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 11/12/2010 9:53 AM
      Where is Inception?
      1. logblobo
        The Best Movies Of All Time at 4/16/2011 9:56 AM
        At the bottom, where it belongs. It's not a bad film, but this is the best films of all time. I'm afraid Inception isn't half as good as films like The Godfather and 2001.
    59. RankingRocks
      Avatar at 11/11/2010 4:33 PM
      Are you kidding me? Avatar was one of the worst movies ever made. I want my money back!
      1. xaroulis
        The Best Movies Of All Time at 2/02/2012 11:25 AM
        c'mon man! you are an american (?) so how can't you like this movie? i'm a greek and i like it! how can it be??
    60. lotterman
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/29/2010 6:32 AM
      Sex and the City: The Movie??? Are you freakin kiddin me??
      1. Clark Benson
        The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/30/2010 8:55 AM
        yeah. we know. but the only way the list gets better is to add more inputs to it (and, shortly, now that we have enough testing data, we will be adding the "Belongs on List" votes into the algortithm, which will make these list a LOT more credible). Can we add your 101 definitive to the aggregation? can do it behind the scenes, you won't have to actually do anything.
        On the bright side, at least it wasn't Sex and the City 2 . . .
    61. THE Critic
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/16/2010 6:58 PM
      To Stud:

      Rosebud, and I heard it, was a sled. It was a symbol of his childhood. He simply hated growing old, and didn't want to die. He wanted to be 10 forever.
    62. THE Critic
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/16/2010 6:57 PM
      I don't know how anyone can compile a list of greatest movies and not put "Planet of the Apes" (the Charlton Heston version)...It had the writing, the directing, makeup for the late/early 60's/70's. Not to mention the greatest ending of all time...that's right all you "The Sixth Sense" fans. Also, where is "The Girl Next Door", or "The Postman Always Rings Twice", or "One Flew Over the Coocoo's(sp?) Nest"? What about "The Exorcist", "Rosemary's Baby", or "Halloween"?



      Why do people consider "Gone With the Wind" a great movie? It is over acted, over directed, over produced, and over written!
    63. Tom
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 10/16/2010 12:22 PM
      Too many utterly stupid films listed.
    64. Stinger
      Titanic at 10/09/2010 10:00 PM
      Just awful!
    65. sa
      Pulp Fiction at 9/15/2010 3:08 AM
      as
    66. Wrongway
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 8/21/2010 8:45 PM
      No Cool Hand Luke in the top 159?



      Crazy.
    67. Stud
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 8/20/2010 12:37 PM
      Titanic stunk. Citizen Kane makes no sense. A bunch of reporters try to figure out what Kane's last word, 'Rosebud', meant? He died alone in his room - who exactly heard him say 'Rosebud'?
      1. xaroulis
        The Best Movies Of All Time at 2/02/2012 11:20 AM
        When he was a child he had a snowbord or something like that which was named ''Rosebud''.In the end of the film you can see that snowboard burning.The beginning of the film is its end too.I think that he was whispering that word because he remembered the years when he was young and..that's all :P I don't like this movie so i wanna see it again!
    68. Greg
      The Best Movies Of All Time at 8/04/2010 9:57 AM
      The community skews a little genre heavy, but it's all very good genre stuff. So, kudos on the good taste people.

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