And so it begins, my very first attempt at a top 1000. Iâm not claiming that these are the best, just my current favorites. And thereâs still so much more that iâve got to see.
The list consists of a combination of personal favorites, hidden gems and cinemaâs favorites. Some inclusions, exclusions and placements might raise an eyebrow but I believe that thereâs something for everyone here who wishes to discover more cinema, especially those into the cinematic and historical aspect of film.
Iâve carefully gone through every single inclusion, taking these ten categories in consideration. Everyone has their own opinion on what makes a film great and these are the categories that I look for in a film.
(not in order of preference)
[spoiler]1- Performances / Star power – How powerful were the performances in this film. How memorable were the faces, the star power. How notable were the characters.
2 – Musical score / Feeling – The choice of music, how much did it add to the ambiance. Lack of music is also a choice, itâs all about how it matched the celluloid picture.
3 – Camera flow / Cinematography – One of the most crucial categories for me, iâm a very visual person so beautiful cinematography, color contrasts and especially fluid camera movement is key.
4 – Editing – The editing flow of the picture is very important, whether it has many cuts or little is unimportant but the way it is presented and how it matches the style is.
5 – Directing / Production design – I studied directing so this is what I look for most in film. How is the overall production of the film and its design by the creator.
6 – Story / Originality – How original is the story or what is presented to us. Story does not necessarily mean plot. Looking for originality and authenticity.
7 – Cinematic power – How much does this film stand out within the rest of cinema. How powerful and influential is it. Does it make me scream LE CINEMA!
8 – Ending impact – Some great films have forgettable endings and some average films have powerful finales. Endings are important because they leave a lasting impression.
9 – Replay Value – How badly does this film make me want to go back and watch it again. Is it one of those you can play over and over again.
10 – Personal Experience – My personal connection with the film. For a film to be a favorite there must be a reason beyond technicalities. There should be a personal journey with the film to leave a lasting imprint. [/spoiler]
Ps: Only requirement is the minimal length of 40 minutes.
Previous Years: 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018
1000. Beast of No Nation (2015)
Cary Joji Fukunaga / Ghana / USA
Welcome to childhood soldier hell. The reality of far too many children. I dig the story a lot more than the presentation.
999. Prison (1949)
Ingmar Bergman / Sweden
Here for the abstract dream sequences and incredible visuals. Bergman was already showing his impressive skills as a director, even if the film wasn’t as thematically strong compared to his best work but I would say it’s his first film for essential viewing.
998. JapĂłn (2002)
Carlos Reygadas / Germany / Spain / Mexico / Netherlands
My favorite thing about Japon was its aspect ratio and film quality, how did it look so good? Reygadas finds beauty in ugly, and thereâs a lot of ugliness and ignorance in full display here. The animal cruelty in his films seems unnecessary and I wouldnât call Japon enjoyable by any means. But thereâs something special here, a minor gem however unlikable it may be.
997. Madadayo (1993)
Akira Kurosawa / Japan
A mighty fine send-off to Kurosawa, who had one if not the greatest and longest career in cinema. Slightly slow in certain parts but mainly a meditation on old age. The entire cat sequence in particular moved me to bits.
996. Arsenal (1929)
Aleksandr Dovzhenko / Soviet Union
An impressive, experimental and somber Soviet set in post-WWI. Poetic struggle in moving pictures.
995. A Night at the Opera (1935)
Sam Wood / USA
Best Marx Brothers film besides Duck Soup. The crowded room gag is iconic.
994. Jigoku (1960)
Nobuo Nakagawa / Japan
Experimental Japan taking a trip through hell. If you get past some of the initial cheesiness you’ll find a bizarre psychedelic experience. Who knew hell could be so artistic.
993. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)
David Mirkin / USA
Every now and then comes a film so silly and so ridiculous that I can’t help but love, and few stuck around in my heart like this silly comedy. Lisa Kudrow was always my favorite Friend and here she brings her A-game.
992. First Reformed (2017)
Paul Schrader / USA
A trippy religious film. It tackles environmental issues perhaps better than any Hollywood film Iâve seen so far.
991. Crash (1996)
David Cronenberg / Canada / UK
Me: I just can’t get into Cronenberg’s work Also me: A bizarre film about people and their car crash fetish? Count me in.
990. Toy Story (1995)
John Lasseter / USA
Toys have feelings too so don’t go around torturing them, k kids? A childhood classic of course.
989. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Tim Burton / Germany / USA
Gothic Burton. I had a traumatic experience while watching this film which makes it memorable I guess. And as a child the headless horseman would frequently visit my dreams so that also made it memorable.
988. Garden of the Finzi-Continis (1970)
Vittorio de Sica / Italy
A wealthy Jewish family’s life crumbling during the Nazi regime. Visconti makes tragedy seem so romantic.
987. Children of Paradise (1945)
Marcel Carné / France
One that I expected to appreciate more than I did, but regardless it is a classic and it has so many beautiful moments. Just found some of it a little flat and sluggish (it’s 3 hours!) but essential cinema for sure.
986. A Short Film About Love (1988)
Krzysztof Kieslowski / Poland
A short film about stalking. Originally part of the Dekalog series and ultimately adapted into a feature film. The sense of longing can be felt in this film more than any other KieĆlowski.
985. The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
George Stevens / Netherlands / USA
We all know the story, and this Hollywood film does a fine job at retelling it. A little polished and sweeter than it probably should’ve been, but heartbreaking regardless. Millie Perkins made a good Anne Frank.
984. Zelig (1983)
Woody Allen / USA
I think it is Woody’s visually most ambitious film almost told entirely in fake or edited stock footage. Mockumentaries are an underrated genre.
983. Veronika Voss (1982)
Rainer Werner Fassbinder / West Germany
Fassbinder returns to black & white in his penultimate film. A bit of a combination of some previous films, but with the added B&W contrast and incredible cinematography. His love/hate letter to cinema.
982. The House That Jack Built (2018)
Lars von Trier / Denmark / France / Germany / Sweden
Leave it up to von Trier to make a super artsy film about mass murder. The last 10 minutes was next level cinema, and no other modern director is quite on the same level of insanity as this guy.
981. The Fly (1986)
David Cronenberg / USA
Cool Sci-fi horror where a dude turns into a giant fly, and the process is pretty disgusting.
980. Samurai III – Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)
Hiroshi Inagaki / Japan
An apt conclusion to this Samurai melodrama. I didn’t like the second at all, but the third ends on a high note with stunning cinematography and an iconic final duel.
979. Black Narcissus (1947)
Michael Powell / Emeric Pressburger / UK
Story is about a British nunnery in India. Includes great color tinting and a nun gone wild.
978. Elle (2016)
Paul Verhoeven / Belgium / France / Germany
Leave it to Paul Verhoeven and Isabelle Huppert to portray a sexually frustrated woman that secretly enjoys sexual assault. A big taboo in society executed well.
977. Sympathy For Mr Vengeance (2002)
Park Chan-wook / South Korea
Cruel and devoid of morality but man does Chan-wook make vengeance look aesthetically pleasing.
976. The Witch (2015)
Robert Eggers / UK / USA
To be or not to be a witch. Horror films have looked so cheap lately but every so then comes a film like The Witch. Stay clear of the devil ya’ll.
975. Limelight (1952)
Charles Chaplin / USA
Chaplin and Keaton sharing their only on-screen performance is cinematic bliss but I wish it was under better circumstances, this really was Chaplinâs swan song even though not his final film.
974. Paisan (1946)
Roberto Rossellini / Italy
Six separate stories focusing on different perspectives and ideologies right before the end of WWII. Possibly the most visual of Rosselliniâs neo trilogy, but also the least impactful as we only got to know these stories for 20 minutes each. Devastating regardless.
973. Oedipus Rex (1967)
Pier Paolo Pasolini / Italy
The tale of Oedipus Rex that made love to his mom and killed his dad retold by Pasolini. Not quite as great as some of his earlier work, but this is one of the great greek tragedies.
972. Nerves (1919)
Robert Reinert / Weimar Republic
The first truly notable German expressionist film in which a man gradually loses his damn mind. Incredible cinematography and editing. Essential despite being relatively unknown.
971. Touki Bouki (1973)
Djibril Diop Mambéty / Senegal
A standout experimental film from Senegal. Some troublesome animal cruelty but expected. Essential for those interested in African cinema.
970. Immortals (2011)
Tarsem Singh / USA
A quilty pleasure but ticks off many things I like; awesome visuals, an interesting story if you’re into mythology and so much sexiness. A feast for the eyes.
969. All That Heaven Allows (1955)
Douglas Sirk / USA
A doomed love affair in Technicolor.
968. Some Like It Hot (1959)
Billy Wilder / USA
Straight men in drag and Marilyn Monroe. I never got the full appeal but nobody’s perfect. It’s entertaining for sure.
967. Hausu (1977)
Nobuhiko Ăbayashi / Japan
Somewhere near the top of strangest films i’ve ever seen. A psychedelic horror comedy for those that like weird stuff.
966. Only Yesterday (1991)
Isao Takahata / Japan
No other animation captures childhood love quite like this one.
965. The White Balloon (1995)
Jafar Panahi / Iran
The whole plot of this film is about a little girl wanting to buy a goldfish but lost her money on the way. A good example of less is more.
964. A Swedish Love Story (1970)
Roy Andersson / Sweden
Before Roy Andersson got weird he made this gorgeously shot coming of age Swedish love story.
963. On His Own (1939)
Mark Donskoy / Soviet Union
“People are just people, one’s clever the next’s a fool”. The second of the Maxim Gorky trilogy, featuring the boy in his teenage years, his struggles, loneliness, search for a deeper meaning in life and with strong cinematography.
962. The Wicker Man (1973)
Robin Hardy / UK
Iconic for inspiring Burning Man. There’s also an amusing scene of Britt Ekland dancing and singing naked. A cult classic.. literally.
961. Ikiru (1952)
Akira Kurosawa / Japan
Often praised as Kurosawa’s greatest. I struggled with liking/relating to the main character, but that ending is cinema! A somber look at a dying man who did not live his life.
960. Il Posto (1961)
Ermanno Olmi / Italy
A simple Italian coming of age film about a kid who gets his first job and falls in love for the first time. There’s no big reveal or anything beyond that, but for a brief moment, we become him.
959. Ben-Hur (1925)
Fred Niblo / Charles Brabin / Christy Cabanne / J.J. Cohn / Rex Ingram / USA
Regardless of how I may feel about the story, this was exceptional filmmaking. Its overall production can even compete against the ’59 Oscar-winning version.
958. Fando y Lis (1968)
Alejandro Jodorowsky / Mexico
QuĂ© bonito es un entierro! – Jodorowsky is my spiritual father and this was his first feature. There’s nudity, drag queens, bathing in mud and fun at the cemetery. Jodorowsky wasted no time.
957. Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)
Hiroshi Inagaki / Japan
My favorite of the Samurai trilogy. A tale of love, betrayal and survival. Japan was a beast in the 50s.
956. Nostos: The Return (1989)
Franco Piavoli / Italy
Dreamlike meditation set during ancient times. A perfect film to play in the background when sleeping and that’s a compliment, the sound design is blissful as it is visually.
955. Mad Max (1979)
George Miller / Australia
Set in an dystopian ozzie hellhole starring Mel Gibson when he looked like a model. Cool revenge flick with fast cars and motorcycles.
954. The Childhood of Maxim Gorky (1938)
Mark Donskoy / Soviet Union
First of the Maxim Gorky trilogy is an early standout Soviet talkie, more story-focused than the average Russian film of its time. It follows the boy’s abusive childhood and an interesting insight on how he became a writer and activist. One of the strongest films to come from the late 30s.
953. Fires on the Plain (1959)
Kon Ichikawa / Japan
Witness soldiers losing their humanity and slowly withering into skeleton shells of their former selves. Some serious hunger games going on here. The actors in this film were actually starving themselves.
952. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Henry Selick / USA
Is it a Halloween movie? Is it a Christmas movie? It is both! Genius. Good fun stuff with great animation and songs. One to watch with the kids/family/friends or when high af.
951. Hallelujah! (1929)
King Vidor / USA
Vidor’s first sound film is also the first major studio picture with an all-black cast. Not without faults and stereotypes but essential in the evolution of cinema and carries the heart and soul of New Orleans.
950. Lady Snowblood (1973)
Toshiya Fujita / Japan
Kill Bill’s main source of inspiration. A delightful tale of blood and vengeance.
949. Summer Interlude (1951)
Ingmar Bergman / Sweden
Bergman and ballet. Summer Interlude is considered to be his first great film, as he dove deeper into the human subconscious as well as explored the realms of film as an art form.
948. Fox and His Friends (1975)
Rainer Werner Fassbinder / Germany
Fassbinder stars in his own film about a naive man that falls prey to the vultures of the world. While inherently pessimistic, Fox is relevant for being one of the first complex and stylized films to portray the gay community.
947. The Company Of Wolves (1984)
Neil Jordan / UK
A surreal 80s take on red riding hood mixing the fairy tale with horror dreams. Campy fun plus wolves are cool.
946. True Romance (1993)
Tony Scott / USA
A fun 90s Bonnie & Clyde starring Christian Bale and THE Patricia Arquette. The 90s were all about these passionate crime duos and this is among the freshest of them.
945. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Bryan Singer / UK / USA
To me this film succeeded because it created more Queens/Rami Malek fans and I was lucky enough to see it with the right audience. I get the criticism though as the film could’ve been more complex and less flashy in editing. Regardless it was a cinematic ride for me and Malek did solid in bringing Freddy back from the dead.
944. Mustang (2015)
Deniz Gamze ErgĂŒven / Qatar / France / Germany / Turkey
Five youthful Turkish girls consumed by boredom after their strict parents lock them up in their own home. A Turkish Virgin Suicides, about female struggles that are still going on today. There’s an exuberant energy and claustrophobia in this film worth exploring.
943. Sparrows (1926)
William Beaudine / Tom McNamara / USA
A fun little 20’s adventure film starring orphans and crocodiles. To top it off it’s splendidly color tinted and nicely shot.
942. The Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Steven Spielberg / USA
First and best of the franchise. The right amount of a silly wholesome family adventure.
941. Clue (1985)
Jonathan Lynn / USA
A set of goofy characters are invited for dinner and one of them gets murdered. Good fun and the film comes with three alternative endings.
940. Aladdin (1992)
Ron Clements / John Musker / USA
“You were born a street rat, you’ll die a street rat, and only your fleas will mourn you!”. A hyperactive children’s movie with great animation, music and characters. Not recommended for kids with ADD.
939. Dodesukaden (1970)
Akira Kurosawa / Japan
Kurosawa’s first color film marks a clear more experimental style, and while not all of it worked it fascinated me nonetheless. Borderline creepy and nightmarish, and Kurosawa fully utilized colors.
938. Day of Wrath (1943)
Carl Theodor Dreyer / Denmark
Religious persecution is scary ya’ll. A religious film Dreyer style, implicating the dangers of fear and leaving much up to the audience’s interpretation.
937. Anna (1951)
Alberto Lattuada / Italy
Silvana Nangano in Anna is the Italian equivalent of Rita Hayworth in Gilda. âEl Negro Zimbabweâ is my jam. Also worth noting that three main actors from Bitter Rice (1949) find themselves in a similar love triangle.
936. The Champ (1931)
King Vidor / USA
Great child acting and I believed the genuine relationship between a broken old boxer and his brave son.
935. Se7en (1995)
David Fincher / USA
What’s in the boxxx! A gritty crime flick, not my favorite genre but Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt going after Kevin Spacey is adequate.
934. High And Low (1963)
Akira Kurosawa / Japan
A Kurosawa kidnapping case, he mastered B&W photography mixing a noirish tone with Japanese culture.
933. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Hayao Miyazaki / Japan
A Ghibli film about a witch that delivers goods on her broomstick and her adorable black cat. Cute film with fine animation.
932. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Jean-Marc Vallée / USA
Two great performances put together, for which both Matthew Mcconaughey and Jared Leto won an Oscar for.
931. The Lion King (2019)
Jon Favreau / USA
Perhaps the most controversial inclusion. For me it was pure nostalgia, yes it doesnât have the personality of the original but itâs possible to like BOTH for different reasons. This remake looked incredible, it mightâve been even more realistic without the voices and just the lions roaring at each other for two hours straight. Iâm curious to see if itâll develop a cult following eventually.
930. Black Rain (1989)
ShĆhei Imamura / Japan
Black Rain follows a family in the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing. While a little goofy in places, itâs mainly a horrifying representation of a hell on earth. The style is intentionally dated and could pass as a 50s film.
929. Turkish Delight (1973)
Paul Verhoeven / Netherlands
A sexually liberated Dutchman falls for a crazy ginger. There’s a lot of sex in this and we read the book in high-school.
928. Across the Universe (2007)
Julie Taymor / USA
To like this film all you gotta do is like the Beatles. Strawberry fields forever~
927. A Man There Was (1917)
Victor Sjöström / Sweden
Victor Sjöström wrote, directed and starred in this film. Watching this felt like time travel, as the feeling of an angst-ridden Swede came over me. My favorite director Bergman was clearly influenced by it as well.
926. Rosario Tijeras (2005)
Emilio Maillé / Brazil / Colombia / Mexico / Spain
A trashy Colombian film but in the best way possible. A guilty pleasure that iâd only recommend to those interested in a Colombian femme fatale, except itâs also damn tragic as the violence of the story is a reality to many.
925. The Conformist (1970)
Bernardo Bertolucci / Italy / France / West Germany
Why couldn’t The Godfather be this stylish? Bertolucciâs strength here lies in the repressed sexual overtones. Visually it is spectacular.
924. Stand by Me (1986)
Rob Reiner / USA
A coming-of-age film starring leeches and friends you’d kill for. River Phoenix was a star.
923. Slacker (1990)
Richard Linklarter / USA
So Linklarter and so 90s. He makes a bunch of randos talking to each other seem so interesting.
922. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Victor Fleming / George Cukor / Mervyn LeRoy / Norman Taurog / USA
I like this film. It’s a childhood film. It has wizards and witches and a little dog too.
921. Phantom Of The Paradise (1974)
Brian De Palma / USA
A delicious rock opera / horror musical with great music and a bizarre tale. Rocky Horror’s less famous brother.
920. Force Majeure (2014)
Ruben Ăstlund / Denmark / France / Norway / Sweden
A happy family at a ski resort is torn apart after a near-death avalanche experience. Intriguing tale of forgiveness.
919. The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Sofia Coppola / USA
Helicopter parenting is a fate worse than death and this is the tale of how five virgins died because of it. High school films peaked in the 90s.
918. El Sur (1983)
VĂctor Erice / Spain / France
Exceptionally pretty film about a girl falling out of love with her father.
917. Caravaggio (1986)
Derek Jarman / UK
An interesting, somewhat abstract biopic on the great Caravaggio. Feels like that R.E.M. music video.
916. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
MiloĆĄ Forman / USA
Jack Nicholson and Nurse Ratched is the love story of the ages.
915. Europa Europa (1990)
Agnieszka Holland / France / Germany / Poland
About a Jewish boy passing as Nazi in order to survive the war. His circumcision is his main adversary.
914. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Rob Reiner / USA
A ridiculous mockumentary on the ups and downs of a rockband. Dry humor and rock ‘n roll, baby.
913. Two Days, One Night (2014)
Luc Dardenne / Jean-Pierre Dardenne / Italy / Belgium / France
The Dardenne brothersâ most recognized film yet, starring Marion Cotillard who gave it her all. Good to see Bressonâs spirit live through them.
912. A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven / USA
Nightmare was my favorite horror franchise back in the early days. And Freddy Kruger makes for good nightmare fuel. Would also recommend Dream Warriors and New Nightmare.
911. Fucking Ă
mÄl (1998)
Lukas Moodysson / Denmark / Sweden
Minimalist filmmaking focusing on the youth of Sweden, particularly two girls that fall for the other. The filming style gives it a nice flare of intimacy.
910. Midnight Express (1978)
Alan Parker / USA
The consequences of getting caught drug trafficking and imprisoned in a foreign land, in this case a very grimy Turkish prison. Based on a true story and the guy nearly lost his sanity.
909. Audition (1999)
Takashi Miike / Japan
A dark tale of revenge. Audition is Miike’s most psychologically disturbing film despite being perhaps his least violent overall.
908. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Rupert Julian / Lon Chaney / Ernst Laemmle / Edward Sedgwick / USA
Classic silent horror based on this popular opera, saw it for the first time decades ago in unwatchable quality but has now been fully restored and what a beauty it is.
907. Tarzan (1999)
Kevin Lima / Chris Buck / USA
Tarzan surfing on trees and the Phil Collins soundtrack made this a childhood favorite.
906. Ginger Snaps (2000)
John Fawcett / Canada / USA
Went through a werewolf obsession when I was a kid and Ginger Snaps was responsible. I love it when gingers snap.
905. Girl Interrupted (1999)
James Mangold / Germany / USA
Angelina Jolie outshines a group of strong actresses inside a mental institution. What fun to be a lunatic.
904. Hair (1979)
MiloĆĄ Forman / Germany / USA
A nice hippie musical. It got life, laughs, freedom and good times.
903. Paths of Glory (1957)
Stanley Kubrick / USA
28 year-old Kubrick’s first anti-war epic. The best scene was of a young woman forced to sing the folk song ‘The Faithful Hussar’ to a group of German soldiers.
902. L’inferno (1911)
Francesco Bertolini / Adolfo Padovan / Italy
Impressive that this was made over a 100 years ago, yes it’s chunky but there’s something seriously trippy about watching an impression of hell from 109 years ago. And the images still look great especially now with the restored version! First saw this on youtube in terrrible quality so itâs nice to be alive today.
901. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
James Cameron / USA
Hasta la vista, baby~ Robert Patrick was a mean mofo.
900. SĂĄtĂĄntangĂł (1994)
BĂ©la Tarr / Germany / Hungary / Switzerland
Canât say that I ENJOYED this film, itâs 7+ hours long and the most notable sequence involves a little girl torturing a cat. Itâs uncomfortable, itâs unpleasant but itâs an experience unlike anything else. I look forward to revisiting it even if it felt like torture while watching.
899. Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015)
Brett Morgen / USA
A rock doc about Kurt’s Cobain, interviewing key people and including footage from his childhood as well as with Courtney and their baby. There’s some great animation here and pages from his notebooks. Essential for Nirvana fans.
898. 3 Women (1977)
Robert Altman / USA
What starts off as a little lesbian crush becomes a surreal psychological nightmare. Altman’s Persona.
897. A Prophet (2009)
Jacques Audiard / France / Italy
A complex look at the corrupt prison system and living with guilt.
896. Blind Chance (1987)
Krzysztof Kieslowski / Poland
Kieslowski playing with three alternate timelines all related to a single moment. Highly political and Polish, questioning the concept of free will.
895. Beetlejuice (1988)
Tim Burton / USA
A gothic haunting that is trippy and fun back when Burton was really creative.
894. The Exorcist (1973)
William Friedkin / USA
One of the first horror films I remember watching and the thrill of fear became an addiction. It hasnât aged incredibly well, but a classic it remains.
893. Watership Down (1978)
Martin Rosen / John Hubley / UK
A disturbing film for children about the survival of rabbits in the harsh nature of life.
892. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Frank Oz / USA
An absurd hilarity of a musical, with a fantastic cast and songs. Perrrrfect stoner movie. Gets a little too much there at the end but name a more iconic dentist than Steve Martin.
891. Ichi the Killer (2001)
Takashi Miike / Japan
Miike’s torture porn extravaganza. His films are often a miss but here he uses blood as a paint brush. Not for the faint at heart.
890. The Scarlet Empress (1934)
Josef von Sternberg / USA
Ivan the Terrible lite. Starring Marlene Dietrich as Catherine the great. The production design is so grand, would love to see this fully restored some day.
889. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Francis Ford Coppola / USA
I understand the respect and appeal of the Godfather trilogy but personally I find these films somewhat overrated. And how dull and predictable it is to see them atop of all film lists. Best thing about Part II for me were the flashbacks of Vito Corleone’s life and the music.
888. Pina (2011)
Wim Wenders / France / Germany / UK
An experimental tribute to a legendary dancer and choreographer. Iâve taken contemporary dance classes in the past and this film brought back memories of why I love to dance.
887. Werckmeister Harmonies (2000)
BĂ©la Tarr / Ăgnes Hranitzky / Hungary
Similarly to SĂĄtĂĄntangĂł but shorter and nicer, starring a dead whaleâs eye. It was all very heavy and tragic and enchanting but not quite a favorite.
886. A Hen in the Wind (1948)
YasujirĂŽ Ozu / Japan
Ozu explores the reality of living with the choices people had to make in order to survive WWII. There’s a powerful scene where husband pushes wife down the stairs and she just picks herself back up and keeps going. What better representation of 40s Japan.
885. Miracle in Milan (1951)
Vittorio De Sica / Italy
Magic among the homeless slums of Italy. A charming film by De Sica, while some of the effects aged poorly it is bound to leave a positive impact.
884. To Be or Not to Be (1942)
Ernst Lubitsch / USA
My favorite Lubitsch. Who knew impersonating Hitler could be so funny, besides Chaplin of course? Also this is Carole Lombard’s final film before her fatal plane crash.
883. Russian Ark (2002)
Aleksandr Sokurov / Russia / Germany / Canada / Finland
An impressive production in massive scale. Sukorov made Russian history come to life and all was shot in a single take.
882. Heathers (1988)
Michael Lehmann / USA
A fun silly high school movie where young Christian Bale and Winona Ryder kill a bunch of people.
881. Alice (1988)
Jan Ć vankmajer / Czechoslovakia / Switzerland / UK / West Germany / Russia
I’m impressed that Alice in Wonderland was able to inspire so many great artists. This is about as trippy as the Disney version, with stop-motion animation. Very unique.
880. Gone Girl (2014)
David Fincher / USA
Not crazy about films that revolve around one big moment or plot twist, but gotta say Gone Girl… worked. And good job to Rosamund Pike for carrying this film.
879. Through the Olive Trees (1994)
Abbas Kiarostami / Iran / France
The final film in Abbas trilogy and it amuses me how he created an entire film out of a random moment from his previous one. You can tell that Abbas inspires himself and that is pivotal. My least favorite of the trilogy but still an original entry.
878. A Sixth Part of the World (1926)
Dziga Vertov / Soviet Union
The closest you’ll get to time travel around the world in 1926, with a psychedelic soundtrack to accommodate you. The only thing that sucked was the animal cruelty (do I sound like a broken record).
877. Stranger by the Lake (2013)
Alain Guiraudie / France
A murder is committed at a gay nudist site. Grounded in realism, the conversations and affairs of the men in the film feel organic. But the murder angle didnât engage me as much.
876. Finding Neverland (2004)
Marc Forster / UK / USA
Finding Neverland explores the life of the creator of Peter Pan and the family that inspired him. As well as dying gracefully.
875. The Lobster (2015)
Yorgos Lanthimos / Ireland / UK / Greece / France / Netherlands
Arthouse cinema’s most absurd black comedy. Set in a dystopian reality where being single is illegal and can turn you into an animal. Leave it up to a Greek director to make the most original and bizarre comedy in recent times.
874. Out of the Past (1947)
Jacques Tourneur / USA
Film Noirs are not my preferred choice but Out of the Past is easily one of the prettiest of this genre. And the chemistry between Jane Greer and Robert Mitchum is magic.
873. Sanjuro (1962)
Akira Kurosawa / Japan
A more than worthy sequel to Yojimbo even if just for that ending alone. Toshiro Mifune is the best fictional samurai.
872. Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013)
Lars von Trier / Germany / Belgium / Denmark / France / UK / Sweden
Six shades of pain. Less playful and far bleaker compared to Vol 1, but still some of the things von Trier comes up with… what a peculiar and interesting dude.
871. The Killing Fields (1984)
Roland Joffé / UK
The ugly of humanity put on display. The Killing Fields focuses on the Cambodian genocide, specifically on two reporters during that time. Haing Ngor went on to win an Oscar for best supporting actor and was murdered in ’96. Incredible survival story despite the disturbing history that comes with it.
870. A Summerâs Tale (1996)
Ăric Rohmer / France
My first Rohmer and while not the best place to start I was captivated by his narrative style. His films are usually about dilemmas in relationships and this one in particular about a Don Juan and three of his baes. Itâs part of a Tetralogy, each focusing on a different season.
869. 2046 (2004)
Wong Kar-wai / Germany / Hong Kong / China / France / Italy
Wong’s most surreal work as we spent time with a heartbroken writer. Faye Wong adds to the beauty of this film.
868. Jane Eyre (2011)
Cary Joji Fukunaga / UK / USA
I was unfamiliar with the story but found it quite haunting and hopelessly romantic. Mia Wasikowska made a fine Jane Eyre.
867. Memories of Murder (2003)
Joon-ho Bong / South Korea
An exceptional Korean crime film. Phenomenally shot and carries a haunting tone throughout. Some memories are best left forgotten.
866. Les Enfants Terribles (1950)
Jean-Pierre Melville / France
Sibling rivalry and love. The Romeo and Juliet of French incestuous cinema.
865. Goodbye South, Goodbye (1996)
Hou Hsiao-hsien / Taiwan / Japan
Reminded me of Rebels of the Neon God focusing more on the feeling of youth, rebellion and crime. Films like these are about experiencing the time and space of the film, and that can be trippy.
864. Electra (1962)
Mihalis Kakogiannis / Greece
Electra is a greek tale of revenge in which two siblings plot to murder their mother. Stories such as this has stood the test of time and is as interesting today as it was in 410s BC.
863. The Lost Boys (1987)
Joel Schumacher / USA
The 80s was known for its goofy horror, and few aged as well as the Lost Boys. A neat vampire flick by the notorious Batman & Robin director.
862. Playtime (1967)
Jacques Tati / France
Playtime is just french people having fun with pushing the boundaries of what makes a film. Experimental, entertaining and without much of a coherent plot.
861. U.S. Go Home (1994)
Claire Denis / France
Radical French kids singing those 60s tunes and doing their anti-U.S. things. Short in length because it was originally made for TV. Denis captures the teen fever beautifully.
860. The Artist (2011)
Michel Hazanavicius / France
As a fan of silent cinema it was nice to see a homage be rewarded with the best picture price. A little generic but cute and effective.
859. Aniki BĂłbĂł (1942)
Manoel de Oliveira / Portugal
A Portuguese film reminiscing childhood, both experimental yet grounded in realism. I’ve always treasured the coming of age theme- and this simple gem is an early standout.
858. Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982)
Carl Reiner / USA
A gift to noir lovers; a story constructed through conversations between Steve Martin and clips from 40s movies. An actually funny parody/tribute to the genre with cameos to geek out on.
857. The Letter (1940)
William Wyler / USA
A standout noir, if only for its beautiful shadows, the moon and Bette Davis.
856. Hercules (1997)
Ron Clements / John Musker / USA
My favorite of the more OTT comedic Disneys. Love the characters, the music and the animation. Baby Pegasus is TOO cute.
855. Life of Pi (2012)
Ang Lee / USA / Taiwan / UK
THAT CGI TIGER carried this film, pretty much everything involving him was grand. And the meerkat island. A blockbuster I can get behind.
854. Bully (2001)
Larry Clark / UK / USA / France
Teenagers being vengeful killers, based on a true story. Unpleasant yet thoroughly compelling.
853. Shoplifters (2018)
Hirokazu Kore-eda / Japan
“If they say they hit you because they love you, that is a lie.” A film about parenting and how blood does not necessarily make good ones. The story follows a group of outcasts that have become a family, the one problem is that they shoplift as means to survive. It lies in a grey area and explores justifying the wrong thing for the right intentions.
852. Uncut Gems (2019)
Josh Safdie / Benny Safdie / USA
The Safdies thrive on anxiety. Ending with a Gigi Dâagostino tune legit cracked me up so much.
851. You, the Living (2007)
Roy Andersson / Sweden / Japan / Germany / France / Denmark / Norway
Possibly the most bizarre film ever made about depression. Although Andersson did a similar thing but better with Songs from the Second Floor. Still impressed by how oddball Swedes create such memorable images.
850. The Snake Pit (1948)
Anatole Litvak / USA
A sympathetic look at the insane. Olivia Havilland is an excellent actress and the snake pit shot is unforgettable.
849. The Wind Rises (2013)
Hayao Miyazaki / Japan
A more serious Miyazaki, it lacked the same sense of wonder that I treasure in his films. But still beautiful, tragic and confusing!
848. Ten Canoes (2006)
Rolf de Heer / Peter Djigirr / Australia
Ten Canoes is interesting mainly because of its subject matter, being very close and personal with an aboriginal tribe. A simple story largely narrated, and mightâve been better without so much voice over. But overall itâs a unique experience and thatâs what cinema is about for me.
847. The Kingâs Speech (2010)
Tom Hooper / UK
The story of a stuttering King George VI that took speech therapy in order to give speeches. Boring on paper but solid filmmaking and acting combined made this a deserving best picture winner.
846. A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
Sergio Leone / Germany / Spain / Italy
Sergio’s spaghetti-western remake of Yojimbo is all heart starring the charming Clint Eastwood and his poncho. The first and weakest of the Dollar trilogy but still a classic and with Ennio Morricone’s killer score.
845. Agora (2009)
Alejandro AmenĂĄbar / Spain
Amenabar’s most underrated film and easily my favorite. An infuriating piece of human history, focusing on the destruction of the ancient library of Alexandria starring Greek philosopher Hypatia. Should be required viewing in middle schools.
844. The World of Kanako (2014)
Tetsuya Nakashima / Japan
Itâs been so long since Iâve watched something so violent, and apparently anything set to opera/classical music is bound to be beautiful, even violence.
843. Vive LâAmour (1994)
Tsai Ming-liang / Taiwan
Lonely people in empty places. A sad portrait of longing to be loved.
842. Battle Royale (2000)
Kinji Fukasaku / Japan
This came out at the peak of Japanese horror and glorifies a bunch of teenagers killing each other. The animal instinct of survival is on full display here and it translates well into the story.
841. Late Autumn (1960)
YasujirĂŽ Ozu / Japan
Sluggish at first but its quirky charm had won me over by the end of it. There was also a sweet little callback to Late Spring between Setsuko Hara and Chishu Ryu. Ozu is just wholesome.
840. Burning (2018)
Lee Chang-dong / South Korea
A romantic tragedy disguised as thriller. Jun Jong-seo smoking a blunt and dancing topless at the sunset is a mood. Also nice to see Steven Yeun all grown up.
839. Rebecca (1940)
Alfred Hitchcock / USA
Hitchcock made his mark in Hollywood with his only best picture winner. When the help tries to kill you.
838. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
James Gunn / USA
Can’t stand Marvel but I was a huge Farscape fan and this is the closest i’ll probably ever get to that again. Plus all these characters are so relatable. Rocket Raccoon is my dude.
837. The River (1951)
Jean Renoir / France / India / USA
Renoir’s first color picture is filmed in India on the banks of the Ganges River. Visually beautiful and culturally important, if only it had focused less on a stuffy British family. A film iâd like to revisit after living there for a couple months.
836. Caligula (1979)
Tinto Brass / Bob Guccione / Giancarlo Lui / Italy / USA
This film has gotten a lot of hate in the past and yet I canât help but to stan. The 70s was trying to mix pornographic content with cinema but was not too well received. To me Caligula is bold, fun and notable and so ridiculous that iâm glad it exists. Starring Clockwork Orange as the batshit insane Roman emperor.
835. Paris, Texas (1984)
Wim Wenders / West Germany / France / UK / USA
A nostalgic poem to broken love. It has a 20 minute scene of two people opening their hearts to the other behind glass.
834. Sullivanâs Travels (1941)
Preston Sturges / USA
A studio picture with a nice message. We all need to laugh more and be less dramatic.
833. Central Station (1998)
Walter Salles / Brazil
Not your regular roadtrip film starring a middle-aged woman and a newly orphaned boy in search of his family. The chemistry between the two leads makes it a memorable trip through Brazil.
832. The Sound of Music (1965)
Robert Wise / USA
A wholesome Christian musical that I grew up with. It’s pure nostalgia now but the songs are still so do re me fa so la ti do.
831. Mishima – A Life In Four Chapters (1985)
Paul Schrader / Japan / USA
The destruction of a man’s purity in a highly stylized approach, following the real story of a Japanese writer/nationalist that committed public seppuku.
830. Manila in the Claws of Light (1975)
Lino Brocka / Philippines
A bleak Filipino tale set in 70s Manila, where humanity is corrupt and the kind suffer. Rough viewing knowing that there’s no real hope for the characters. Now restored and it is such a beauty.
829. Fellini’s Casanova (1976)
Federico Fellini / Italy
Fellini’s majestic and deranged epic. But why he chose Donald Sutherland to be his Casanova will remain a mystery.
828. Babel (2006)
Alejandro Gonzålez Iñårritu / USA / Mexico / France
We need a universal language ya’ll. This is a powerful film at times, with excellent performances and musical score. But it can also be such a buzzkill, nothing goes right for the characters in this film. Sucks to be them.
827. Whatâs Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Lasse Hallström / USA
A real tear-jerker starring three of 90s greatest stars; Depp, Lewis and my favorite DiCaprio performance. Obesity is not a subject that is often represented in films, most probably because there aren’t many 575 pound actors.
826. Angel’s Egg (1985)
Mamoru Oshii / Japan
A dreamlike animation that truly encapsulates an otherworldly sense. Iâm still not quite sure about what was witnessed here.
825. Rome 11:00 (1952)
Giuseppe De Santis / Italy
Impressive how it crammed so many different storylines all related to one big incident and have it work. Based on a true story where a building’s stairwell collapsed due to an overflow of job applicants. We get to meet several of these girls before, during and after the collapse and is really a slice of regular Italian life during the early 50s.
824. Tampopo (1985)
Juzo Itami / Japan
A Japanese film on food and the art of cooking. Thinking about this film makes me want to eat some Ramen so it left an impression. Also egg yolk will never be seen the same again.
823. Melancholia (2011)
Lars von Trier / Denmark / France / Germany / Sweden
Von Trierâs gloominess and the end of the world go well together.
822. Frida (2002)
Julie Taymor / Canada / Mexico / USA
Would’ve been better in Spanish, but regardless a fine tribute to a legendary artist with great art design and music, LA LLORONA. It did Frida proud.
821. Yellow Earth (1984)
Chen Kaige / China
Lyrical and essential in the birthing of a new generation of Chinese filmmakers. Quiet dissonance filmed in the mountains of Shaanxi.
820. Mother (1926)
Vsevolod Pudovkin / Soviet Union
The best of Pudovkinâs war trilogy. Iâm a fan of strong mothers in film, so this Soviet silent based on motherhood, sacrifice and revolution is grand. Vera Baranovskaya portrays the heart of Soviet Russia.
819. Hereditary (2018)
Ari Aster / USA
A fun and unexpected surprise. I’ve mostly given up on the horror genre, but every now and then a film like Hereditary pops up and reminds me of the appeal. The suspense and chills brought on the adrenaline I can get from a rollercoaster ride. And Toni Colette is always great.
818. Christine (1983)
John Carpenter / USA
An underrated horror classic about a sexy vengeful killer car. This shouldn’t work on paper but it does and it’s cool.
817. Peter Pan (1953)
Clyde Geronimi / Wilfred Jackson / Hamilton Luske / USA
Peter Pan fulfills the childhood wish of never having to grow up. This brings me back to my childhood perhaps more than any other film.
816. Zorba the Greek (1964)
Mihalis Kakogiannis / Greece / USA
The treatment of women in the film was cringe and the story couldâve been trimmed down just a bit. That being said Lila Kedrovaâs performance is one of the all time greats, and it ended on such a strong note that I canât help but feel good about it.
815. Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)
Elia Kazan / USA
This film is as relevant today as it was back then and the things that are said in this film needed to be said. I often find 40s Hollywood a bit too shallow so to see such an important film win an Oscar is just swell.
814. The Army of Shadows (1969)
Jean-Pierre Melville / France / Italy
Melville was best known for his haunting crime thrillers, the color tones and film quality has prevented this film from aging one bit.
813. Empire of Passion (1978)
Nagisa Oshima / France / Japan
Oshima enjoyed putting his characters through a hellish existence and in Empire of Passion the two protagonists create their hell through passion.
812. On the Waterfront (1954)
Elia Kazan / USA
The plot is perfectly competent but it is Brando’s screen power that truly peaks.
811. Punishment Park (1971)
Peter Watkins / USA
A fictional documentary showing both sides of the corrupt and violent political system that is still so present in modern American politics.
810. Jackie Brown (1997)
Quentin Tarantino / USA
Tarantino’s tribute to Pam Grier and blaxploitation. I’d take this over his recent work any time.
809. Farewell (1983)
Elem Klimov / Soviet Union
Klimov’s wife Larisa Sheptiko died during the pre-production for this film. It ended up being a perfect visual exercise in preparation for his gut-wrenching “Come and See”. It follows the last days of a small village before the displacement from their homes.
808. Talk To Her (2002)
Pedro AlmodĂłvar / Spain
Male nurse falls in love with comatose women and impregnates her. Love is strange. Also there’s a B&W scene where a man enters a giant vagina all in the name of art.
807. The Tale of the Fox (1937)
Irene Starewicz / Wladyslaw Starewicz / France
Starewicz began production in ’26 and it went on to become his only feature film, coming out eight months before Snow White. This charming oddball tale deserves a lot more recognition, and is very much the 30s “Fantastic Mr. Fox”.
806. Vivre Sa Vie (1962)
Jean-Luc Godard / France
One of my favorite scenes inside a movie theater is of Anna Karinaâs reaction to Dreyerâs Passion of Joan of Arc. This is one of Godardâs most simplistic films that brings us into the world of a beautiful woman that descends into prostitution Godard style.
805. Sherlock, Jr. (1924)
Buster Keaton / USA
Good times with Buster Keaton, who nearly got hit by an actual train.
804. The Birth of a Nation (1915)
D.W. Griffith / USA
A highly controversial film as it is inherently racist to the core, but from a cinematic perspective this film is a stepping stone in filmmaking history and essential for film historians. From a more contemporary perspective I find the story so ridiculous that it almost becomes more of an ironic comedy. What can’t be denied is that Griffith constructed a near-perfect celluloid picture for 1915.
803. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
George Roy Hill / USA
Paul Newman and Robert Redford starring as the legendary outlaws. The buddy version of Bonnie & Clyde and go down in a similar grand style.
802. Itâs a Wonderful Life (1946)
Frank Capra / USA
A wholesome all-American Christmas story. It’s cute and charming plus one can’t go wrong with a suicidal Jimmy Stewart that is given a second chance at life.
801. Syndromes and a Century (2006)
Apichatpong Weerasethakul / Thailand
Weerasethakul is perhaps the most openly meditative director that mixes arthouse cinema with spirituality creating a seamless balance between realism and experimental filmmaking. Whatever little we were able to grasp from this story it sure was intriguing.