Best Movies of All Time: 12 Essential Films to Start With

Key takeaways

There’s no single objective answer to what the best movies of all time are.
The BFI’s 2022 Sight and Sound poll offers a useful, internationally minded starting point—not a universal verdict.
The 12 films in this guide span different genres, countries, eras and styles.
Choose a first film based on your mood and interests, rather than its ranking.

There’s no single objective answer to what the best movies of all time are. A film can be celebrated for its influence, artistic ambition, emotional impact or popularity—and those measures don’t always point to the same titles. For a credible starting point, this guide draws on the British Film Institute’s 2022 Sight and Sound poll, then groups films by the kind of movie experience you might be looking for.

The poll’s critics’ list was led by Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, followed by Vertigo, Citizen Kane, Tokyo Story and In the Mood for Love. Its filmmakers’ poll had a different winner: 2001: A Space Odyssey. That difference is a useful reminder that even film experts don’t agree on one definitive canon. The BFI’s 2022 poll results reflect the choices of their voters, not a universal verdict on what everyone should enjoy.

Best movies of all time: a quick-start list

If you want a cross-section of major film traditions, these 12 are a strong place to begin. Every title below appears in the BFI critics’ top 20, according to the poll results.

Film	A good starting point if you want…
The Godfather	A sweeping crime drama about family and power
Citizen Kane	A landmark classic with an inventive narrative
Vertigo	A psychological mystery with an unsettled mood
Singin’ in the Rain	A buoyant, widely approachable musical
Seven Samurai	A long-form action-adventure with an ensemble cast
Tokyo Story	A thoughtful, quiet family drama
In the Mood for Love	A restrained romantic drama
Jeanne Dielman	A formally adventurous, deliberately patient film
2001: A Space Odyssey	Speculative science fiction that leaves room for interpretation
The Rules of the Game	A sharp ensemble satire
Man with a Movie Camera	Experimental silent-era filmmaking
Mulholland Dr.	A dreamlike mystery that resists easy answers

The BFI list is a helpful reference, but it’s not a ranking of the most-watched or most universally entertaining films. A critic-led canon answers a different question from an audience popularity poll.

Widely recognized classics

These films make useful first stops if you’re exploring titles that have become familiar points of reference in film history. They vary considerably in style, so “classic” doesn’t mean they all feel alike—or that every viewer will respond to them in the same way.

The Godfather (1972)

A strong choice if you’re drawn to crime stories built around family, loyalty and authority. The Godfather is one of the most recognizable titles in the BFI critics’ top 20. Its place on a list of “best” films makes it a natural entry point for viewers who want a major classic without beginning with a silent or formally experimental film.

Citizen Kane (1941)

Citizen Kane is a landmark option for anyone curious about how a film can arrange information and shape a story. It ranked third in the BFI critics’ 2022 poll. Its position also shows how long-standing classics can remain central to discussions of great filmmaking even as a poll’s top spot changes over time.

Vertigo (1958)

For viewers in the mood for psychological suspense rather than a straightforward action thriller, Vertigo is a compelling classic to consider. It placed second in the BFI critics’ poll. Its high ranking makes it an important reference point in film discussion, but the best reason to choose it is simpler: it offers a very different experience from the grand scale of The Godfather or the narrative play of Citizen Kane.

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

If you’d rather begin with a musical, Singin’ in the Rain offers a change of pace from crime dramas and psychological mysteries. It appears in the BFI critics’ top 20, alongside films with very different tones and approaches. That range is part of the value of using a poll as a guide: it can lead you beyond a single genre.

Seven Samurai (1954)

Choose Seven Samurai if you’re ready for an expansive action-adventure with an ensemble at its center. It’s another title in the BFI critics’ top 20, and a good contrast with the more intimate family dramas elsewhere in this list. If you’re deciding what to watch first, consider whether you’re in the mood for a longer, large-scale story or a quieter film.

International films with different rhythms

A list of the best movies of all time shouldn’t be limited to Hollywood. The BFI critics’ top five includes films from Japan and Hong Kong, while its wider top 20 also recognizes work from other national cinemas. These choices offer a useful way to explore styles and storytelling traditions beyond familiar American classics.

Tokyo Story (1953)

At fourth in the BFI critics’ poll, Tokyo Story is a worthwhile choice if you prefer a restrained family drama to a plot driven by suspense or spectacle. Its quiet approach makes it a useful counterpoint to films such as Seven Samurai: both are highly regarded, but they offer very different viewing experiences.

In the Mood for Love (2001)

This is an option for viewers looking for romance told with restraint rather than grand gestures. It placed fifth in the BFI critics’ 2022 list, making it one of the poll’s highest-ranked films. If you’re exploring the list in stages, watching it alongside Tokyo Story can help show how different kinds of intimacy and family life can shape a film.

The Rules of the Game (1939)

For a classic that leans on an ensemble rather than a single central hero, consider The Rules of the Game. It appears in the BFI critics’ top 20 and broadens the list beyond Hollywood and Japanese cinema. Its inclusion is also a reminder that “best of all time” lists can make older films from several countries part of the same conversation.

Films for a more adventurous watch

Some films are best approached with an appetite for unusual structure, deliberate pacing or ambiguity. These selections are not necessary first choices for every viewer. They’re here for people who want to see how far apart films on a “greatest” list can be.

Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

The highest-ranked film in the BFI critics’ poll is also a clear example of why these lists don’t simply measure easy entertainment. Its distinction comes from its place in the poll, where voters could weigh historical importance, aesthetic achievement or personal impact. If you’re choosing it for your own viewing, be prepared for a markedly more patient experience than you’d get from a conventional thriller or comedy.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The filmmakers’ poll named 2001: A Space Odyssey its top film, even though the critics’ poll had a different winner. That contrast is one of the strongest reasons to treat expert rankings as a guide rather than a final answer. Choose it if you’re open to science fiction that invites interpretation instead of spelling everything out.

Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

This is a good pick if you’re curious about silent cinema and experiments with film form. It appears in the critics’ top 20, but it offers a very different starting point from narrative classics such as The Godfather. Rather than choosing it because you feel obliged to work through a canon, choose it when you want to explore a less conventional film experience.

Mulholland Dr. (2001)

If you like mysteries that don’t provide a simple, tidy explanation, Mulholland Dr. is worth considering. Its place in the BFI critics’ top 20 makes it one of the more recent films represented among these selections. Go in expecting uncertainty, not a puzzle with one universally agreed solution.

How to choose your first film

Start with your mood, not the ranking. For a familiar crime drama, try The Godfather. If you’d prefer a musical, choose Singin’ in the Rain. For a quieter story, consider Tokyo Story; for science fiction, try 2001: A Space Odyssey. If you’re curious about experimental filmmaking, Man with a Movie Camera offers a more unusual starting point.

You can also use a list to explore by contrast: watch a Hollywood classic, then choose a film from another country or era. That makes the exercise less like completing a checklist and more like finding out which kinds of films speak to you.

What makes a movie one of the “best”?

Different lists use different standards. The BFI’s Sight and Sound poll has been conducted once a decade since 1952. In 2022, 1,639 critics, academics, programmers, curators, archivists and other contributors submitted ballots. Voters could define “greatest” through historical importance, aesthetic achievement or personal impact, so the results combine several ideas of merit rather than measuring one quality alone.

The American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Movies list takes a different approach: it focuses on American films and uses criteria including critical recognition, awards, popularity over time, historical significance and cultural impact. It’s useful for exploring an American canon, but it isn’t a global ranking. Meanwhile, They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They? describes its aggregate list as critic-driven, emphasizing influence, innovation and critical consensus rather than user popularity.

That’s why one list can’t settle the question. A film may be historically influential without being a viewer’s personal favorite; a popular film may not rank as highly with critics. For a satisfying watchlist, treat rankings as a map—not a set of instructions.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one definitive list of the best movies of all time?

No. The BFI poll is a prominent international reference, but its rankings reflect the people who voted and the criteria they brought to the question. Other lists use different voters, boundaries and measures of greatness.

What is the best film to start with?

There’s no single right first choice. For a familiar crime drama, try The Godfather; for a musical, Singin’ in the Rain; for science fiction, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Pick the genre and pace that appeal to you rather than starting with the highest-ranked title by default.

Are critics’ lists the same as popularity rankings?

No. A critics’ poll and a popularity ranking answer different questions. A list built around critical consensus, historical influence or artistic innovation shouldn’t be read as a measure of what the largest number of viewers prefer.

The best movies of all time aren’t a settled set. The BFI poll provides a useful, internationally minded starting point, but your own list can—and should—look different. Pick one film that suits your mood, then use what you enjoy to choose the next.

Best Movies of All Time: 12 Essential Films to Start With