IMDb Top 100 Movies of All Time: The Definitive List

The Top 10: Masterpieces That Define Cinema (#1–10)

The Shawshank Redemption has held the #1 spot for over a decade. It is the ultimate underdog story, a film about hope in the darkest circumstances, anchored by Morgan Freeman's narration and Tim Robbins' quiet dignity. The Godfather films at #2 and #4 are the greatest two-part story in cinema. The Dark Knight at #3 is the highest-ranked superhero movie — a crime epic that happens to feature a man in a bat suit.

The Epicenter (#11–20)

Notice something? Christopher Nolan appears three times in this stretch alone (Inception, Interstellar, and The Dark Knight above). David Fincher also lands two entries with Fight Club and Se7en. Forrest Gump at #12 is a sentimental favorite that some argue is too high — but its cultural footprint is undeniable.

The Classics (#21–30)

Parasite at #30 is the highest-ranked film from the 2020s (well, 2019). It won the Palme d'Or and Best Picture at the Oscars, becoming the first non-English language film to do so. Seven Samurai is Kurosawa's masterwork — the template for every ensemble action film that followed. And Across the Spider-Verse proves that modern animation can hang with the all-time greats.

The Auteurs (#31–40)

Dune: Part Two at #39 is the most recent film on the entire top 100. Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic earned near-universal acclaim and proved that big-budget blockbusters can be genuinely artistic. Whiplash at #35 is the most intense film about drumming you will ever see — J.K. Simmons' Oscar-winning performance is unforgettable.

The New Millennials (#41–50)

Spirited Away at #47 is the highest-ranked animated film on the list, and the only film not in English to crack the top 50. Casablanca at #44 remains the most-quoted Hollywood film of all time — "Here's looking at you, kid" still lands every time. And Alien at #49 is proof that horror and sci-fi at their best are indistinguishable from art.

The Middle Ground (#51–60)

This range is full of genre-defining entries, from war epics to psychological thrillers.

The Cult Classics & International Gems (#61–70)

This stretch showcases the diversity of the IMDb rankings — from Hong Kong action to Italian westerns to South Korean thrillers.

The Heavyweights (#71–80)

War films, westerns, and Scorsese — this group has serious muscle.

The Stretch Run (#81–90)

As we near the finish line, the list gets more personal and idiosyncratic — these are films with passionate fanbases.

Rounding Out the 100 (#91–100)

The final ten includes a few surprises and some films that are climbing the rankings.

Movies That Should Be Higher

The IMDb Top 100 is a popularity contest as much as a quality ranking. Here are the films that deserve a better spot.

• <strong>Parasite (#30)</strong> — The first non-English Best Picture winner should be top 15. It is a flawless film that works on every level: thriller, comedy, drama, and social commentary.
• <strong>Dune: Part Two (#39)</strong> — In twenty years, this will be remembered as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made. It should be top 25 right now. Give it time.
• <strong>Spirited Away (#47)</strong> — The highest-ranked anime at #47 is still too low. Miyazaki's masterpiece is a top 20 film in any language.
• <strong>Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (#83)</strong> — The most innovative romantic drama of the 21st century, stuck at #83. A crime.
• <strong>Whiplash (#35)</strong> — This deserves to be top 20. It is the most tense film of the 2010s and features one of the greatest final scenes ever filmed.
• <strong>Your Name. (#79)</strong> — The highest-grossing anime film worldwide and a storytelling miracle. It should be top 50 at minimum.
• <strong>WALL·E (#56)</strong> — Pixar's masterpiece about a lonely robot says more about humanity than most live-action dramas. Top 40, easy.

Movies That Shouldn't Be on the List

Let's be honest — not every film in the IMDb Top 100 deserves to be there. Here are our controversial takes.

• <strong>The Dark Knight Rises (#65)</strong> — A messy, overstuffed finale that does not belong in the same conversation as its predecessor. The Bane voice alone should drop it 100 spots.
• <strong>Avengers: Endgame (#73)</strong> — A spectacular fan service event, not a great film. The first hour is a slog and the time travel logic is held together with duct tape.
• <strong>Forrest Gump (#12)</strong> — This high? It is a charming film, but #12 of all time? It beat Pulp Fiction, The Matrix, and Goodfellas. Let that sink in.
• <strong>Joker (#100)</strong> — A derivative Taxi Driver homage that does not understand its own politics. It made the list because of controversy, not quality.
• <strong>Braveheart (#71)</strong> — Historically inaccurate to the point of absurdity and directed by a man whose views on certain topics have aged very poorly.
• <strong>Scarface (#94)</strong> — Entertaining? Yes. Top 100 material? Not even close. It is a cartoonish, over-the-top gangster film that gets by on pure style.

How Many Have You Seen?

Here is a quick challenge: count how many of the top 100 you have watched. If you have seen 50 or more, you are a certified cinephile. If you have seen 75 or more, you might have a problem (or a very healthy hobby). If you have seen all 100, we salute you — and we want to know your ranking.

The beauty of the IMDb Top 100 is that it is democratically voted. These are not critics' picks or academic lists — they are the films that millions of people around the world have chosen to rate highly. That gives the list an energy and accessibility that more curated lists sometimes lack. Yes, there are omissions (where is Vertigo? Where is The Seventh Seal?). Yes, there are inclusions that make no sense. But the core of the list — from Shawshank to Parasite — represents something beautiful: the global consensus of what makes a great movie.