Movie Magic
In the late 1990s, the American Film Institute polled more than 1,500 artists and notable figures in the film industry to make a definitive ranking of the best American films of all time. In 2007, they did it all over again, leaving us with this top ten—and creating all sorts of controversy in the process.
10. The Wizard Of Oz
The beloved musical fantasy film that so many of us grew up on ranked at #6 on the 1998 list, only to be knocked down to the bottom of the top ten in 2007. What happened? Well, quite a few upsets led to the change in status—but we still love this classic film for its charm, its daring use of color, and its performances…not to mention its heart, its brains, and its courage.
9. Vertigo
The big upset that caused so many films to change places between the 1998 and 2007 rankings? Well, that would be the meteoric rise of a film that was nearly 50 years old at the time of the change: Vertigo. The Alfred Hitchcock thriller went from #61 in 1998 to #9 in 2007—which begs the question: What movie would see such a massive ascent if the AFI were to redo the list today?
8. Schindler’s List
This touching—and devastating—WWII drama was only a few years old when the first version of the AFI list came out, but nonetheless, it captured the ninth spot, moving up one in 2007. It’s Steven Spielberg’s highest-ranking film on the list, with ET the Extraterrestrial at #24, Jaws at #56, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, Saving Private Ryan, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind further down the list.
Universal, Schindler's List (1993)
7. Lawrence of Arabia
The inclusion of Lawrence of Arabia—technically a British film, albeit with American funding—caused some controversy and raised the hackles of film critics. While it started out on the list at #5, the David Lean-directed epic starring Peter O’Toole and Alec Guinness dropped down to #7 in later rankings.
Columbia, Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
6. Gone With The Wind
Some two decades earlier than Lawrence of Arabia, Gone With the Wind defined the epic genre and became one of the most beloved films of all time. At first, it seemed like an unlikely success story, as multiple studios had passed on the film rights to the novel before David O Selznick ultimately snapped it up. The production had to be delayed to accommodate Clark Gable’s schedule, but clearly, it all worked out in the end.
MGM, Gone with the Wind (1939)
5. Singin’ In The Rain
Singin’ in the Rain isn’t just the highest-ranked musical on the list, it’s also the highest-ranked romantic comedy, and subject to a classic film trope: The movie that depicts Hollywood’s golden era. While it was only a slight hit when it was released, it’s grown in popularity ever since. In fact, it even moved up from #10 on the 1998 list to #5 on the 2007 list.
MGM, Singin' in the Rain (1952)
4. Raging Bull
Raging Bull is yet another entry that made a meteoric rise on the list between editions—starting at #24 in 1998 and moving to #4 in 2007. Director Martin Scorsese has two other entries on the list—Taxi Driver at #52 and Goodfellas at #92. The 1980 biographical sports drama initially received mixed reviews, but has come to be regarded as one of Scorsese’s best in the years since.
United Artists, Raging Bull (1980)
3. Casablanca
Ask anyone on the street to name one classic Hollywood film, and they’re likely to name Casablanca. The black & white romantic drama has been endlessly referenced and parodied. It came out at a time when Hollywood was producing so many well-written, directed, and acted films that even its own studio didn’t think it would make waves—but it went on to win Oscars for Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay.
Warner Bros., Casablanca (1942)
2. The Godfather
Mario Puzo’s crime novel The Godfather was a runaway hit—but before it climbed the best-seller charts, or was even published, one executive at Paramount saw potential in the then-unfinished novel, offering the author $12,500 for rights, and $80,000 if he completed it. What seemed like a huge gamble paid off, and brought us one of the greatest films of all time.
Paramount, The Godfather (1972)
1. Citizen Kane
Orson Welles wrote, directed, and starred in Citizen Kane—without ever having written, directed, or starred in a film before. And not only did it top the AFI list twice, it was also number one on the British Film Institute’s Sight & Sound poll in 1962, 1972, 1982, 1992, and 2002. And all that after it initially failed to make back its costs at the box office!
It was nearly forgotten after its release, until film critics like Andre Bazin drew attention to it and called for a re-release. Since then, appreciation for the classic has only increased.
Bonus: Most Inspiring Movie
It’s A Wonderful Life
AFI’s “100 Years… 100 Cheers” is a list of the most inspiring American films. Unsurprisingly to the more sentimental film lovers out there, the Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life topped the list, coming in above beloved films like To Kill A Mockingbird, Schindler’s List, Rocky, and another Jimmy Stewart classic, Mr Smith Goes to Washington.
RKO, It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Bonus: Most Exciting Movie
Psycho
The AFI “100 Years…100 Thrills” listed the most “exciting” American films, resulting in a list chockablock with thrillers, crime capers, and horror films. Psycho took the top spot over Jaws, The Exorcist, North by Northwest, and The Silence of the Lambs. Psycho director Alfred Hitchcock had a whopping nine films on the list.
Bonus: Funniest Movie
Some Like It Hot
AFI’s “100 Years…100 Laughs” list ranked the top 100 “funny” movies in American cinema. This meant the films included didn’t specifically have to be considered comedies, just that they had to be funny. The classic Marilyn Monroe/Tony Curtis/Jack Lemmon laugh-a-thon topped the list over competition like Tootsie, Dr Strangelove, Annie Hall, and Duck Soup.
United Artists, Some Like It Hot (1959)
Bonus: Greatest Love Story
Casablanca
AFI’s “100 Years…100 Passions” listed the greatest love stories in American cinema, with Casablanca, an entry from their top ten films of all time, grabbing the top spot. Other films in the top five were Gone With the Wind, West Side Story, Roman Holiday, and An Affair to Remember.
Warner Bros., Casablanca (1942)
Bonus: Greatest Musical
Singin’ in the Rain
As mentioned, Singin’ in the Rain is the top musical in the AFI “100 Years…100 Movies” list, so it’s unsurprising that it also topped the institute’s “Greatest Movie Musicals” list, beating out others like West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, and Cabaret.
MGM, Singin' in the Rain (1952)
