What Is the Best Movie of All Time?

Movies have been captivating audiences since the late 1800s, becoming a favorite pastime for people worldwide. They can spark our creativity, help us chill out, whisk us away from our everyday lives, and even raise awareness about important issues. Whether you’re in the mood for a good scare, a hearty laugh, a touching romance, a thrilling adventure, or an exciting sci-fi journey, there’s a genre for everyone and each movie tells its own unique story. So, with all these options, how do you decide which one is the best?

Our PixlParade team set out to find the answer to that question. Rather than just throwing together another random top 50 list, we took our time to really dig into hundreds of popular films. We looked at ratings from trusted sites like Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, and Metacritic. And we didn’t stop there; we also factored in inflation-adjusted box office earnings and the number of major awards each film won or was nominated for. Each factor was given a different level of importance to help us rank the movies fairly. The result? The higher the film’s final score, the higher it placed on our list. So, check out which movies made the list and which film claimed the top spot!

Ranking the 50 Greatest Movies of All Time

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What Makes a Movie Truly Great

There are many ways to judge a movie, but the greatest films usually share three things: a smooth flow, a strong story, and lasting appeal. When music, acting, directing, and editing all work well together, a film draws you in and keeps you interested. The best movies make you feel like you’re part of their world. If a film’s message or theme still matters years later, it stands the test of time. Memorable characters with depth and real emotions keep us engaged and connected. The best movies get people talking and leave us thinking long after the credits roll.

The Best Movie of All Time

More than 50 years after its premiere, The Godfather is still one of the greatest movies ever made. It’s a long watch and might take a few viewings to really soak it in, but it’s a classic that’s often called a masterpiece. The story follows the Corleone family and dives into themes like family bonds, greed, loyalty, and crime, tapping into some deep human emotions. You really connect with the characters as they develop, especially Michael Corleone, who evolves from an outsider to a powerful leader in a memorable character arc.

The Godfather tackles themes that still hit home today, like what people will do for those they love. Its message resonates even now, and the film has left a huge mark on pop culture, inspiring many filmmakers. Overall, The Godfather is a timeless film with a powerful story and great artistry, which is why it is often considered the best movie of all time, and it’s no surprise it topped our list.

The Top Five Greatest Films

We’ve ranked these movies in the top five based on their critical acclaim, audience reception, award wins, and lasting influence:

1. 1. The Godfather: As previously mentioned, we picked this film as the best movie of all time. This classic scored an impressive 77.86 out of 100 and a fantastic 9.2 rating on IMDb, a perfect 100 on Metacritic, and took home the Best Picture award along with three Oscars.
   2. Schindler’s List: In the runner-up spot, this powerful film boasts a remarkable 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has won seven Oscars, and pulled in strong worldwide earnings.
   3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: This epic adventure grabs the third spot, driven by nearly $2 billion in adjusted box office earnings and an impressive 11 Oscar wins.
   4. Parasite: Taking fourth place, this groundbreaking film made history as the first non-English language film to win Best Picture, earning widespread praise and numerous awards.
   5. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Rounding out our top five, this installment of the epic trilogy achieved high audience ratings and box office triumphs, proving that even without the Best Picture award, it remains a beloved favorite.

The Best Movies Today

The Godfather remains a classic, but modern audiences are often drawn to different kinds of stories than past generations. Superhero films, animated adventures, and big fantasy franchises dominate theaters, pulling in massive box office numbers and building passionate fan communities online. Recent hits, like Spider-Verse: Across the Spider-Verse and Avengers: Endgame, connect with today’s audiences through exciting stories, lots of action, and a range of themes that speak to today’s world. These trends show that the idea of the “best” movie is always changing, shaped by what resonates most with each new generation.

At the end of the day, picking the “best movie of all time” really depends on how you measure it — and who you ask. While our research crowned one clear winner, it’s obvious that every era has its own standouts. Whether you love timeless dramas, groundbreaking international films, or today’s blockbuster heroes, the best movie is often simply the one that makes the biggest impression on you.

Methodology:

The 50 best movies of all time were selected by comparing hundreds of popular films across several metrics. The movies were scored based on metrics that include ratings and rankings from the leading websites for movie reviews — Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, and Metacritic — as well as their box office earnings. The metrics also include the number of awards each movie won or was nominated for, emphasizing the two most prestigious movie awards: the Academy Awards (Oscars) and the Golden Globes. Each metric was assigned a different weight to reflect its importance in determining the rankings of the “best movies.”

Movie Evaluation Metrics:

• • Rotten Tomatoes – Total weight: 25%
    • “300 Best Movies of All Time” Ranking: 15%
    • Rotten Tomatoes Score: 10%
  • IMDb – Total weight: 25%
    • “IMDb Top 250 Movies” Ranking: 15%
    • IMDB Score: 10%
  • Metacritic – Total weight: 10%
    • Metascore: 5%
    • User Score: 5%
  • Worldwide Box Office Earnings (Inflation-Adjusted) – Total weight: 10%
  • Academy Awards (Oscars) – Total weight: 10%
    • Won Best Picture: 5%
    • Nominated for Best Picture: 2.5%
    • Number of Oscars Won: 1.5%
    • Number of Oscar Nominations: 1%
  • Golden Globes – Total weight: 10%
    • Won Best Motion Picture (Drama, Comedy, or Musical): 5%
    • Nominated for Best Motion Picture: 2.5%
    • Number of Golden Globes Won: 1.5%
    • Number of Golden Globe Nominations: 1%
  • Total Number of Awards Won/Nominations – Total weight: 10%
    • Total Number of Awards Won: 6%
    • Total Number of Award Nominations: 4%

The 50 Best Movies of All Time

To see the remaining columns, use the scroll bar at the bottom of the table.

Note: Metacritic was weighted less than Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb due to fewer critics and users providing ratings for the movies.

Sources:

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-movies-of-all-time/
https://www.imdb.com/chart/top
https://www.metacritic.com/
https://www.boxofficemojo.com
https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/