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Roger Ebert's Annual Top 10 Lists, Ranked

Every December from 1967 to 2012, Roger Ebert named the year's ten best films — 46 lists spanning his whole career at the Chicago Sun-Times. Here is every film from those year-end lists in our library, re-ranked by our composite score across 20+ lists, awards and polls.

473 films from this list are in our library; the top 100 by composite score are shown — the ranking is ours, not the list's own order.

  1. 1
    The Godfather1972 · Francis Ford Coppola · United States / Italy · crime, drama, thriller
    9.75

    Empire 500 (2008) #1 · Oscar Best Picture winner 1972 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #3

  2. 2
    2001: A Space Odyssey1968 · Stanley Kubrick · United States / United Kingdom · adventure, mystery, sci-fi
    7.43

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #6 · AFI 100 (2007) #15

  3. 3
    Apocalypse Now1979 · Francis Ford Coppola · United States · war, action, drama
    6.84

    Palme d'Or winner 1979 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #18 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #19

  4. 4
    Goodfellas1990 · Martin Scorsese · United States · biography, crime, thriller
    6.33

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1991 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #28 · Empire 500 (2008) #6

  5. 5
    Schindler's List1993 · Steven Spielberg · United States · war, biography, drama
    6.12

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1993 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1994 · AFI 100 (2007) #8

  6. 6
    Pulp Fiction1994 · Quentin Tarantino · United States · crime, drama, thriller
    5.76

    Palme d'Or winner 1994 · Empire 500 (2008) #9 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1994

  7. 7
    Raging Bull1980 · Martin Scorsese · United States · biography, drama, action
    5.71

    AFI 100 (2007) #4 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #22 · Siskel's annual top 10 1980 #1

  8. 8
    Annie Hall1977 · Woody Allen · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    5.55

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1977 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1978 · Siskel's annual top 10 1977 #1

  9. 9
    The Piano1993 · Jane Campion · France / Australia / New Zealand · drama, romance
    4.99

    Palme d'Or winner 1993 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1994 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #50

  10. 10
    Spirited Away2001 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, animation, drama
    4.98

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 2002 · Japan Academy Prize winner 2002 · Kehr's annual top 10 2002 #1

  11. 11
    Unforgiven1992 · Clint Eastwood · United States · western, drama, crime
    4.96

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1992 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1992 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1993 #1

  12. 12
    The Battle of Algiers1966 · Gillo Pontecorvo · Italy / Algeria · drama, war
    4.69

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1967 #1 · Venice Golden Lion winner 1966 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #22

  13. 13
    Mulholland Drive2001 · David Lynch · United States · mystery, thriller, crime
    4.61

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2001 #1 · Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #8

  14. 14
    Secrets & Lies1996 · Mike Leigh · United Kingdom · drama
    4.58

    Palme d'Or winner 1996 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1997 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1996

  15. 15
    Do the Right Thing1989 · Spike Lee · United States · comedy, drama
    4.39

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1989 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #24 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #29

  16. 16
    Chinatown1974 · Roman Polanski · United States · film-noir, mystery, thriller
    4.33

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #72 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1974 · AFI 100 (2007) #21

  17. 17
    Amadeus1984 · Miloš Forman · United States · biography, musical, drama
    4.33

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1984 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1985 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 1984 #1

  18. 18
    The Tree of Life2011 · Terrence Malick · United States · sci-fi, fantasy, drama
    4.26

    Palme d'Or winner 2011 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2011 #2

  19. 19
    MASH1970 · Robert Altman · United States · comedy, drama, war
    4.25

    Palme d'Or winner 1970 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1970 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1970 #5

  20. 20
    No Country for Old Men2007 · Ethan Coen, Joel Coen · United States · drama, thriller, western
    4.20

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2007 · Film Comment year-end poll 2007 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2008 #1

  21. 21
    E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial1982 · Steven Spielberg · United States · sci-fi, drama
    4.17

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1982 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1982 · AFI 100 (2007) #24

  22. 22
    The Deer Hunter1978 · Michael Cimino · United States · war, drama
    4.15

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1978 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1979 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #211

  23. 23
    Platoon1986 · Oliver Stone · United States / Philippines · war, drama, action
    4.09

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1986 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1987 #2 · Ebert's annual top 10 1986 #1

  24. 24
    The Hurt Locker2008 · Kathryn Bigelow · United States · action, thriller, war
    3.95

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2009 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2010 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #1

  25. 25
    The Last Emperor1987 · Bernardo Bertolucci · China / France / United Kingdom · drama, biography
    3.94

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1987 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1989 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1988 #1

  26. 26
    Blowup1966 · Michelangelo Antonioni · United Kingdom / Italy · mystery, thriller, drama
    3.93

    Palme d'Or winner 1967 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1967 #2 · Sarris's annual top 10 1966 #1

  27. 27
    The Graduate1967 · Mike Nichols · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    3.92

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1969 · AFI 100 (1998) #7 · AFI 100 (2007) #17

  28. 28
    Paris, Texas1984 · Wim Wenders · France / Germany · drama
    3.89

    Palme d'Or winner 1984 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #185 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1985 #6

  29. 29
    Bonnie and Clyde1967 · Arthur Penn · United States · drama, crime, biography
    3.82

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1968 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 1967 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1967

  30. 30
    Shakespeare in Love1998 · John Madden · United Kingdom / United States · comedy, romance, drama
    3.77

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1998 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1999 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1999 #1

  31. 31
    The Conversation1974 · Francis Ford Coppola · United States · thriller, drama, mystery
    3.76

    Palme d'Or winner 1974 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #72 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1974

  32. 32
    Titanic1997 · James Cameron · United States · drama, romance
    3.72

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1997 · Kehr's annual top 10 1997 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1998 #4

  33. 33
    Rocky1976 · John G. Avildsen · United States · drama, action
    3.65

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1976 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1977 #1 · AFI 100 (2007) #57

  34. 34
    A Separation2011 · Asghar Farhadi · Iran · drama
    3.62

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 2011 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2012 #2 · Ebert's annual top 10 2011 #1

  35. 35
    Dances with Wolves1990 · Kevin Costner · United States · drama, war, western
    3.59

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1990 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1991 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 1990 #3

  36. 36
    Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope1977 · George Lucas · United States · sci-fi, action, adventure
    3.58

    AFI 100 (2007) #13 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1977 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #225

  37. 37
    Chariots of Fire1981 · Hugh Hudson · United Kingdom / Australia · biography, drama
    3.55

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1981 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1982 · TIFF People's Choice winner 1981

  38. 38
    A Man for All Seasons1966 · Fred Zinnemann · United Kingdom · biography, drama
    3.51

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1966 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1968 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1967 #4

  39. 39
    Brokeback Mountain2005 · Ang Lee · United States · romance, drama
    3.49

    BAFTA Best Film winner 2006 · Venice Golden Lion winner 2005 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2005

  40. 40
    Raiders of the Lost Ark1981 · Steven Spielberg · United States · action
    3.47

    Empire 500 (2008) #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1981 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #211

  41. 41
    Forrest Gump1994 · Robert Zemeckis · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    3.45

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1994 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1995 #4 · AFI 100 (2007) #76

  42. 42
    The French Connection1971 · William Friedkin · United States · crime, action, thriller
    3.44

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1971 · AFI 100 (2007) #93 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1972 #10

  43. 43
    Nashville1975 · Robert Altman · United States · comedy, drama, musical
    3.41

    Ebert's annual top 10 1975 #1 · Siskel's annual top 10 1975 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1975

  44. 44
    The Departed2006 · Martin Scorsese · United States / Hong Kong, China · drama, thriller, crime
    3.41

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2006 · Film Comment year-end poll 2006 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 2006 #1

  45. 45
    Network1976 · Sidney Lumet · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    3.39

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1977 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1976 · AFI 100 (2007) #64

  46. 46
    Gandhi1982 · Richard Attenborough · United Kingdom / India · biography, drama
    3.37

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1982 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1983 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1983 #3

  47. 47
    The Last Picture Show1971 · Peter Bogdanovich · United States · drama
    3.35

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1972 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 1971 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1971

  48. 48
    Fanny and Alexander1982 · Ingmar Bergman · France / Germany / Sweden · drama
    3.30

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #52 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1985 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #129

  49. 49
    Day for Night1973 · François Truffaut · France / Italy · drama, comedy
    3.25

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1974 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #3 · Siskel's annual top 10 1974 #1

  50. 50
    Kagemusha1980 · Akira Kurosawa · Japan · drama, war
    3.23

    Palme d'Or winner 1980 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1980 #2 · Ebert's annual top 10 1980 #3

  51. 51
    If....1968 · Lindsay Anderson · United Kingdom · drama
    3.22

    Palme d'Or winner 1969 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1969 #3 · BFI Top 100 British films #12

  52. 52
    Kramer vs. Kramer1979 · Robert Benton · United States · drama
    3.17

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1979 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1980 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 1979 #1

  53. 53
    In the Heat of the Night1967 · Norman Jewison · United States · crime, drama, mystery
    3.12

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1967 · AFI 100 (2007) #75 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1967 #8

  54. 54
    Vagabond1985 · Agnès Varda · France · drama
    3.12

    Venice Golden Lion winner 1985 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #41 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #101

  55. 55
    Argo2012 · Ben Affleck · United States · thriller, drama, biography
    3.07

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2012 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2013 · Ebert's annual top 10 2012 #1

  56. 56
    Fargo1996 · Joel Coen, Ethan Coen · United States / United Kingdom · crime, drama, film-noir
    3.02

    Ebert's annual top 10 1996 #1 · Siskel's annual top 10 1996 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1996

  57. 57
    Ran1985 · Akira Kurosawa · Japan / France · war, drama
    3.00

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1985 #2 · Kehr's annual top 10 1985 #1 · Siskel's annual top 10 1985 #1

  58. 58
    Stranger Than Paradise1984 · Jim Jarmusch · United States / Germany · drama, comedy
    3.00

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1986 #1 · Locarno Golden Leopard winner 1984 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1984 #3

  59. 59
    Million Dollar Baby2004 · Clint Eastwood · United States · drama
    3.00

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2004 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2005 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 2004 #1

  60. 60
    Lost in Translation2003 · Sofia Coppola · United States / Japan · comedy, romance, drama
    2.95

    Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 2003 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2003

  61. 61
    Atlantic City1980 · Louis Malle · Canada / United States / France · romance, drama, crime
    2.92

    Venice Golden Lion winner 1980 · Sarris's annual top 10 1981 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1981

  62. 62
    Wings of Desire1987 · Wim Wenders · France / Germany · fantasy, drama
    2.83

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1987 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1988 #3 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #185

  63. 63
    L.A. Confidential1997 · Curtis Hanson · United States · crime, film-noir, mystery
    2.82

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1998 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 1997 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1997

  64. 64
    The King's Speech2010 · Tom Hooper · United Kingdom · biography, drama
    2.82

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2010 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2011 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2010

  65. 65
    Life Is Beautiful1997 · Roberto Benigni · Italy · comedy, drama
    2.80

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1998 · TIFF People's Choice winner 1998 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1998

  66. 66
    Ordinary People1980 · Robert Redford · United States · drama
    2.80

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1980 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1981 #3 · Siskel's annual top 10 1980 #2

  67. 67
    Love Streams1984 · John Cassavetes · United States · drama
    2.77

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1984 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #185 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1985 #5

  68. 68
    American Beauty1999 · Sam Mendes · United States · comedy, drama
    2.74

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1999 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2000 · TIFF People's Choice winner 1999

  69. 69
    Terms of Endearment1983 · James L. Brooks · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.73

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1983 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1984 #4 · Ebert's annual top 10 1983 #2

  70. 70
    Z1969 · Costa-Gavras · France · drama, thriller
    2.72

    Ebert's annual top 10 1969 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1970 #3 · Siskel's annual top 10 1969 #1

  71. 71
    The Killing Fields1984 · Roland Joffé · United Kingdom · biography, drama
    2.70

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1985 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1984 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1985 #7

  72. 72
    Breaking the Waves1996 · Lars von Trier · Denmark / Sweden / France · drama, romance
    2.69

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1996 · Kehr's annual top 10 1996 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 1996 #2

  73. 73
    The Social Network2010 · David Fincher · United States · biography, drama
    2.68

    Film Comment year-end poll 2010 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2011 #2 · Ebert's annual top 10 2010 #1

  74. 74
    Howards End1992 · James Ivory · United Kingdom · drama
    2.66

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1993 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1992 · Ebert's annual top 10 1992 #3

  75. 75
    Saving Private Ryan1998 · Steven Spielberg · United States · war, drama, action
    2.66

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1998 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1998 · AFI 100 (2007) #71

  76. 76
    Slumdog Millionaire2008 · Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan · United Kingdom · romance, drama, crime
    2.65

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2008 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2009 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2008

  77. 77
    A Woman Under the Influence1974 · John Cassavetes · United States · drama
    2.65

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #18 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #114 · Kehr's annual top 10 1975 #3

  78. 78
    Cries and Whispers1972 · Ingmar Bergman · Sweden · drama
    2.64

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #2 · Ebert's annual top 10 1973 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1973

  79. 79
    All the President's Men1976 · Alan J. Pakula · United States · crime, drama, thriller
    2.60

    Siskel's annual top 10 1976 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1976 · AFI 100 (2007) #77

  80. 80
    The White Ribbon2009 · Michael Haneke · France / Germany / Austria · drama, mystery
    2.58

    Palme d'Or winner 2009 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2010 #4 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #12

  81. 81
    The Mother and the Whore1973 · Jean Eustache · France · comedy, drama
    2.58

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1973 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #52 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #104

  82. 82
    Crash2004 · Paul Haggis · Germany / United States · drama, crime
    2.48

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2005 · Ebert's annual top 10 2005 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2006 #8

  83. 83
    The Right Stuff1983 · Philip Kaufman · United States · adventure, drama
    2.48

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1984 #2 · Ebert's annual top 10 1983 #1 · Siskel's annual top 10 1983 #1

  84. 84
    Patton1970 · Franklin J. Schaffner · United States · biography, war, drama
    2.47

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1970 · AFI 100 (1998) #89 · National Film Registry (inducted 2003)

  85. 85
    Days of Heaven1978 · Terrence Malick · United States · drama, romance
    2.45

    Kehr's annual top 10 1978 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #152 · Ebert's annual top 10 1978 #2

  86. 86
    Amarcord1973 · Federico Fellini · France / Italy · comedy, drama
    2.45

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1974 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #157 · Siskel's annual top 10 1974 #3

  87. 87
    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon2000 · Ang Lee · United States / Taiwan, China / Hong Kong, China · romance, fantasy, action
    2.44

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2000 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2000 · Film Comment year-end poll 2000 #6

  88. 88
    Magnolia1999 · Paul Thomas Anderson · United States · drama
    2.37

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 2000 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #185 · Ebert's annual top 10 1999 #2

  89. 89
    Inglourious Basterds2009 · Quentin Tarantino · Germany / United States · war, drama, adventure
    2.36

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2009 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #7

  90. 90
    The Artist2011 · Michel Hazanavicius · France / Belgium · comedy, romance, drama
    2.35

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2011 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2012 · César Best Film winner 2012

  91. 91
    Easy Rider1969 · Dennis Hopper · United States · drama, action
    2.34

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1970 #1 · AFI 100 (2007) #84 · AFI 100 (1998) #88

  92. 92
    The Wild Bunch1969 · Sam Peckinpah · United States · crime, western
    2.30

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #136 · AFI 100 (2007) #79 · AFI 100 (1998) #80

  93. 93
    Precious2009 · Lee Daniels · United States · drama
    2.29

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 2009 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2009 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009

  94. 94
    Five Easy Pieces1970 · Bob Rafelson · United States · drama
    2.28

    Ebert's annual top 10 1970 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1970 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1971 #8

  95. 95
    Traffic2000 · Steven Soderbergh · United States / Germany / Mexico · crime, drama, thriller
    2.28

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2001 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2000 · Film Comment year-end poll 2000 #16

  96. 96
    Sideways2004 · Alexander Payne · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.23

    Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2004 · Sarris's annual top 10 2004 #2

  97. 97
    Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore1974 · Martin Scorsese · United States · romance, drama, comedy
    2.19

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1976 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1975 #3 · Ebert's annual top 10 1975 #3

  98. 98
    The Dark Knight2008 · Christopher Nolan · United States / United Kingdom · action, film-noir, thriller
    2.18

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2008 #3 · Empire 500 (2008) #15 · Letterboxd Top 250 #25

  99. 99
    Claire's Knee1970 · Éric Rohmer · France · drama, romance, comedy
    2.14

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 1971 · Siskel's annual top 10 1971 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 1971 #2

  100. 100
    Sunday, Bloody Sunday1971 · John Schlesinger · United Kingdom · drama
    2.14

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1972 · BFI Top 100 British films #65 · Ebert's annual top 10 1971 #5

Roger Ebert reviewed movies for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013, and for most of those years he closed December with a list of the ten films he judged the year's best. This page gathers every title from those 46 year-end lists that sits in our library — 473 films in all — and throws out his ordering entirely. What you see above is re-ranked by our composite score, so the sequence measures each film against the wider canon rather than against Ebert's own December verdict.

The critic who counted

Ebert was the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, in 1975, and he turned down the New York Times and the Washington Post to keep the Chicago desk that suited him. His method was famously unashamed of feeling — he liked to say that the intellect can be fooled but the emotions never lie — and it shows in what he championed. From 1975 he shared a television balcony with Gene Siskel of the rival Tribune, the pair trading the "two thumbs up" that entered the language before Siskel's death in 1999. Ebert kept writing, and listing, through the cancer that took his life in April 2013, at the age of 70. Forty-six consecutive Decembers of ten-best lists add up to less a ranking than an autobiography told in other people's films.

One taste against the consensus

The interesting thing about a single critic's accumulated picks is where they pull away from the crowd, and our composite score makes that visible. The films Ebert named cluster at the accessible, emotionally direct end of great cinema: our score puts The Godfather (1972) at the very top of this set — #1 in the entire library at 9.75 — with Apocalypse Now (1979, #5) and Schindler's List (1993, #8) close behind, exactly the kind of large, humane, feeling-forward filmmaking his reviews prized. But the list is not only monuments. Spirited Away (2001) lands at #22, evidence that a mainstream American newspaper critic took Japanese animation seriously years before it was fashionable, and quieter, stranger work like Coppola's The Conversation (1974, #71) sits well down the order because our composite weighs the wider consensus, not one man's affection. Read top to bottom, the page is our measurement of the canon; read as a whole, it is the shape of one working critic's enthusiasm across half a century.