I recently calculated that I’ve seen around 700 movies at the cinema in the last twenty years.
That of course doesn’t count all the films I’ve seen on TV, VHS, DVD etc, and the ones I saw before that.
About six years ago I compiled a list ranking my top 50 favourite movies. Just under four years ago I then did a revision of the list.
Given how many great movies I’ve seen since writing that list, and how my views have changed over the time, I thought it was well and truly time to do another update!
However, I quickly realised there were at least twenty new films I wanted to add, and a lot of other favourites I thought worthy of a mention.
So, I’ve expanded the list to Top 100!
These are my own personal choices; nothing more, nothing less.
I’ve also included in brackets the place the movie had previously on the list. There’s not a lot of change in the Top 10 – although a couple of new films have broken in there. But below that some films have dropped down the list… in most cases to make room for new films, in other cases because I feel less strongly about them as time as passed.
However, some films have held their position even against new entries, and others have actually moved up the list as I’ve come to regard them more highly with repeated viewings.
And a lot of old favourites finally get a mention!
Quite a number of actors get multiple films included. Some famous names, some less favourites… Alan Rickman, Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Dane DeHann, Ezra Miller, River Phoenix, Tom Hanks, Thomas Sangster, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Denzel Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Emile Hirsch, Jesse Eisenberg, Daniel Radcliffe… and many more!
Please have a read, and see how the list compares to your favourites!
The list….
1. Empire of the Sun (1)

2. Good Will Hunting (2)

3. American Pie (3)

4. Cruel Intentions (4)

5. A Few Good Men (5)

6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (6)
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7. Sing Street (New)

8. Sommersturm (7)
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9. Brooklyn (New)

10. Dogma (9)

11. The Talented Mr Ripley (10)

12. Jurassic Park (16)

13. The Social Network (13)

14. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (21)

15. The Big Short (New)
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16. Pleasantville (14)

17. Boyhood (New)

18. Chronicle (11)

19. We Need To Talk About Kevin (8)

20. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (22)

21. Edge of Seventeen (15)

22. The Basketball Diaries (19)

23. Neverending Story (New)

24. The Place Beyond the Pines (New)

25. Manchester by the Sea (New)

26. Galaxy Quest (23)

27. Dead Poet’s Society (New)

28. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (New)

29. My Own Private Idaho (20)

30. The Muppet Movie (24)

31. Milk (32)

32. Jaws (25)

33. Love, Actually (26)

34. Paul (New)

35. The American President (27)
36. (500) Days of Summer (36)

37. Inside Out (New)

38. Primary Colors (29)

39. The Way, Way Back (New)

40. Nowhere Boy (New)

41. Up In The Air (35)

42. Crimson Tide (42)

43. Catch Me If You Can (New)

44. Argo (New)

45. Stand By Me (43)

46. What Dreams May Come (17)

47. Chariots of Fire (31)

48. Help! (28)

49. Saving Mr Banks (New)

50. Philadelphia (47)

51. Pride (New)

52. Downfall (37)

53. Evita (33)

54. The Great Dictator (34)

55. Conspiracy (40)

56. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (41)

57. The Rock (New)

58. Love and Mercy (New)

59. The Martian (New)

60. Silence of the Lambs (44)

61. Kingsmen (New)
62. Juno (39)

63. Holding the Man (New)

64. Paper Towns (New)

65. Beaches (46)

66. Men, Women and Children (New)

67. The Emperor’s Club (38)

68. Signs (New)

69. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (New)

70. The Lion King (48)

71. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (New)

72. Kill Your Darlings (New)
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73. Running on Empty (49)

74. Clerks (New)

75. Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (New)

76. Into the Wild (50)

77. The Blues Brothers (New)

78. In The Loop (45)

79. Star Wars: Rogue 1 (New)

80. How I Live Now (New)

81. Prayers for Bobby (30)

82. Ender’s Game (New)

83. Batman (New)

84. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (New)

85. The History Boys (New)

86. Invictus (New)

87. Deep Blue Sea (New)

88. Money Ball (New)

89. Remember the Titans (New)

90. Full Metal Jacket (New)

91. Nixon (New)

92. The Deal (New)

93. Serenity (New)

94. King Kong (New)

95. Starship Troopers (New)

96. The Queen (New)

97. Truman (New)

98. Mysterious Skin (New)

99. Lord of the Flies (New)

100. Dr Who and the Daleks

