Rotten Tomatoes recently compiled a list of the 100 best classic movies based on their ranking system. This list is based on a variety of factors, but mostly on their adjusted score, which factors in audience ratings, the positivity of reviews, and the number of reviews. To quote the Rotten Tomatoes article, “We define ‘classic’ as everything released up until the late-1960s, a tumultuous era that signaled a passing of the guard with national cultural revolutions, destruction of the Motion Picture Production Code, and the impending arrival of New Hollywood filmmakers.”
Updated May 25th, 2023: If you enjoy watching timeless cinematic masterpieces whose legacy still lives on today, you’ll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional content by Darren Gigool.
While many of these movies’ initial reactions might not be as widely circulated, and many of the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are based on reviews published years after many of the films on this list came out, these films still have a timeless legacy to them. They have been studied, quoted, and referenced for generations, and their legacy continues to endure. With that in mind, these are the greatest classic movies of all time based on Rotten Tomatoes.
15 The Adventures of Robin Hood
Dashing and daring, The Adventures of Robin Hood embarks on the unforgettable journey of the classic English outlaw. This Robin Hood, brought to life by Errol Flynn, steals from the wealthy under the tyranny of Prince John. Hailed as innovative at the time, its technicolor cinematography brought Sherwood Forest to life, which dazzled the audience and left them in awe.
In the decades after its release, the film’s influence was seen in countless movies and television series, maintaining its status as a definitive classic. To many, this is the Robin Hood for which all Robin Hoods will forever be judged.
14 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Embedded deeply in the human psyche, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre explores greed and suspicion in a tale of gold hunting. It unfolds the story of two Americans, Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart), Bob Curtin (Tim Holt), and an old-timer Howard (Walter Huston), in pursuit of wealth in 1920s Mexico. Shot in a location outside the United States, one of the first films to do so at the time, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre was among the pioneering Hollywood productions, bringing authenticity to its plot.
The film’s dialogue and moral exploration have echoed in pop culture since its release. Recognized as a masterpiece from the get-go, praise is still given to the film for its potent themes and stellar performances. Its influence has been cited from Steven Speilberg on Raiders of the Lost Ark to Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood.
13 The Philadelphia Story
Bursting with charm and wit, The Philadelphia Story weaves an intricate tale of love, divorce, and remarriage. At the center is Katherine Hepburn’s character Tracy Lord, a sophisticated socialite torn between her ex-husband and fiancé. This romantic comedy staple has left its mark on film history with its strong female lead and clever narrative. Categorized as “box office poison” after numerous commercial failures, The Philadelphia Story marked Katherine Hepburn’s glorious comeback to Hollywood.
Standing as a bold cultural statement, the film’s legacy continues to resonate, securing its place in the National Film Registry. Praised widely for its exceptional acting and intelligent script, it garnered six Oscar nominations, bagging two, including one for James Stewart’s stellar performance.
12 Psycho
Psycho is one of the most influential movies of all time and is arguably the most famous film by director Alfred Hitchcock. Psycho is a movie about Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), a woman who has stolen some money and is running away from her life. Unfortunately, she runs right into the grips of Bates Motel owner Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins).
Psycho was a box office smash, and its shocking twist of killing off the main star would later influence 1996’s Scream. Psycho, in many ways, helped create the slasher genre and the Scream Queen, and its impact will be felt for years to come.
11 Casablanca
Casablanca is one of the greatest movies of all time. Taking place largely in a nightclub, Rick Blaine must help his old lover and her new husband in the French Resistance escape the country with undeniable romance all around. Casablanca has many accolades to its name, from winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards to being one of the first movies inducted into the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry and is the movie with the most quotes on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movie Quotes list.
10 Singin’ in the Rain
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Singin’ in the Rain is one of the most remarkable Hollywood musicals, and critics do not let this masterpiece go unnoticed. Singin’ in the Rain tells the chaotic tale of the 1920s Hollywood transition from silent movies to “talkies,” and when only the male half of a silent movie power couple can sing, he falls for the chorus girl who dubs his leading lady’s vocals. There isn’t a person alive who, when it’s raining outside, doesn’t at least hum to themselves the titular track.
9 It Happened One Night
Rotten Tomatoes’ summation of It Happened One Night is short and sweet, stating that it simply “remains unsurpassed by the countless romantic comedies it has inspired.” It Happened One Night is the modern blueprint for ‘spoiled girl meets grumpy guy’ films and helped create the cinematic standard of will-they-or-won’t-they.
Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable star in this romantic comedy that practically invented the genre. While both stars were originally skeptical of the movie, they eventually both went on to win Academy Awards for their performances. It was the first of only three films to win the five major Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
8 Modern Times
Modern Times is a slapstick comedy about industrial America, and Rotten Tomatoes calls it “as politically incisive as it is laugh-out-loud hilarious.” Director Charlie Chaplin reprises his Little Tramp character as silent cinema transitioned into the talkies; here, he works at a modern factory where he feels overwhelmed by the technology and frequents trouble that lands him in jail. Alongside an orphan girl he meets, the pair try to navigate the quickly modernizing world, eventually becoming a performer.
7 Metropolis
Metropolis takes place in a modern oasis where the young Freder wants to put his great privilege to good use once he realizes that below the beautiful futuristic city he lives in, there is a dark and despairing working-class underworld. He forms an unlikely alliance with a like-minded teacher, and the disapproval from his father drives strong conflict, especially for a silent film. Metropolis is a German science fiction film that is visually awe-inspiring and whose sci-fi visuals are still felt today, most notably in Star Wars, as C3PO is designed after the main robot in the film.
6 All About Eve
All About Eve is the story of a manipulative young actress who uses a sorrowful life story to win the attention and help of star Margo Channing. Margo and her friends take the poor young actress under their wing, not realizing Eve is taking advantage of Margo’s kindness. The critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes states that this movie is “smart, sophisticated, and devastatingly funny” and has only gotten better with time.
5 The Third Man
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The Third Man is called “one of the undisputed masterpieces of cinema” by Rotten Tomato critics. The Carol Reed and Orson Welles film is an atmospheric thriller set in postwar Vienna and follows the story of a poor writer, Holly Martins, who visits his childhood friend only to find that he is dead. Reeling from his death, Martins theorizes that there was a third man there when his friend died. This theory lands him on the radar of a British officer and in the arms of his late friend’s lover.
4 Pinocchio
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Snow White and the Seven Dwarves might be Disney’s first animated film, but Pinocchio is certainly the best and one that perfected the Disney formula. This story of a wooden puppet who believes in becoming a real boy has become a Disney icon despite being a box office bomb. It pioneered animation techniques that Disney would expand upon for years, and the movie’s song “When You Wish Upon a Star” became the signature tune for all of Disney. There is no doubt that Pinocchio is a masterpiece.
3 Seven Samurai
Legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai is a masterpiece. The film tells the story of a group of samurai hired to protect a farming village from a group of raiders. This simple premise has become the basis of an American remake, The Magnificent Seven, which is set in the wild west. Pixar made a comedic spin in the form of A Bug’s Life.
An argument can be made superhero team-up films like The Avengers, Justice League, and Guardians of the Galaxy owe as much to Seven Samurai as they do the comics. Even after all these years, Seven Samurai remains an amazing watch and one that still resonates with audiences.
2 Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane has earned its place in film history. Charles Foster Kane’s (Orson Welles) final word was “Rosebud,” and with that, a reporter must try to piece together his life through the lens of the late Kane’s friend Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten) and his mistress, Susan Alexander (Dorothy Comingore). While the reporter finds that Kane went from rags to riches, he fears he may never truly unveil the complex and full story of the man that was Charles Foster Kane.
Citizen Kane has often been cited as one of the greatest movies of all time. It was a technical innovation and laid the groundwork for many films still today. “Rosebud” has become a common part of the popular lexicon. It is difficult to imagine what movie could beat Citizen Kane, yet it would have to be a film that can capture the hearts and minds of young audiences, which still sticks with them as they get older.
1 The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is one of the few acceptable answers when asked what the greatest movie of all time is, and Rotten Tomatoes agrees. They call it “an absolute masterpiece whose groundbreaking visuals and deft storytelling are still every bit as resonant.” With the help of their new friends, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog, Toto, must navigate the yellow brick road to find the Wizard and get back home after a tornado sends her from Kansas all the way to Oz. Their new friends are all missing something, whether is a heart, a brain, or courage, but while traveling the yellow brick road to help Dorothy, they find they had it in themselves all along.
The Wizard of Oz might have been a box office disappointment at the time, but it is the quintessential family film that has been the inspiration for live-action fantasy for generations. Everybody knows these characters, this iconography, and quotes from the movies.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
