My Favorite Movies of All Time

My Top 21 List

As a lover of film, therefore I often get asked what my favorite movie is. I answer with a monologue about how I can’t possibly have one “favorite movie” as there are so many that have immense importance to me. This response leads to the follow-up question, “Oh, so what are your favorite movies?” The question is not met with another monologue, just silence. I know I have a list, I just need to organize it. Hence, the inspiration behind this post.

I wanted to have a top ten (influenced by AFI’s Top 10) but quickly realized I would be unable to a, keep the list at 10 films, and b, have a favorite film in each genre that AFI highlights. (Sorry, you will find no Westerns, Courtroom Dramas, Gangster, or Mystery films in my list). I went through the movies I own, and years of Oscar nominations to narrow down my favorite movies of all time: my top 21 list. I didn’t set out to name my favorite 21 films, but as the list was complied it just stop in completion. 21 is the number. In no particular order, here we go.

1. The Dark Knight (2008) 94% (8 noms, 2 wins)

2. The Social Network (2010) 96% (8 noms, 3 wins)

3. An Education (2009) 95% (3 noms, 0 wins)

4. Beauty and the Beast (1991) 94% (6 noms, 2 wins)

5. About Time (2013) 68% (0 noms, 0 wins)

6. Gigi (1958)* 78% (9 noms, 9 wins)

7. West Side Story (1961)* 94% (11 noms, 10 wins)

8. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf (1966) 95% (13 noms, 5 wins)

9. Short Term 12 (2013) 98% (0 noms, 0 wins)

10. Eighth Grade (2018) 99% (0 noms, 0 wins)

11. Jaws (1975) 97% (4 noms, 3 wins)

12. Psycho (1960) 97% (0 noms, 0 wins)

13. Finding Nemo (2003) 99% (4 noms, 1 win)

14. Arrival (2016) 94% (8 noms, 1 win)

15. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)* 91% (10 noms, 8 wins)

16. Jurassic Park (1993) 91% (3 noms, 3 wins)

17. Australia (2008) 58% (0 noms, 0 wins)

18. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) 76% (2 noms, 0 wins)

19. Pride and Prejudice (2005) 86% (4 noms, 0 wins)

20. The Wife (2018) 85% (1 nom, 1 win)

21. Doubt (2008) 80% (4 noms, 0 wins)

Code:

• % Percentages- From Rotten Tomatoes,

• Noms- Nominations (From the Academy Awards)

• * Best Picture Winner

  That’s an average percentage of 89% Rotten Tomatoes score, and a combined

  48 Academy Award wins and 98 nominations.

Honorable Mentions:

• Roma (2018)

• The Lion King (1991)

• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

• Pocahontas (1995)

• Cloverfield (2008)

• Room (2015)

• The Shape of Water (2017)

• Coco (2017)

• The Intouchables (2012)

• Inception (2010)

• Spider-Man (2002)

• The Prestige (2006)

• Annie Hall (1977)

• The Florida Project (2017)

Perhaps over time, these films will slip into my top 21; or maybe the list will be extended to 25 or 30 films! Who knows for sure, right now my top 21 is near perfection for me. I encourage you to list your favorite films. I surprisingly learned a lot about myself by doing this. It’s worth the time.

- Louis