100 Best Classic Movies of All Time

100 Best Classic Movies of All Time

Welcome to Rotten Tomatoes’ 100 best-reviewed classic movies of all time ranked by Tomatometer, featuring only the highest-rated Certified Fresh films!
We define ‘classic’ as everything released from the birth of cinema (at the turn of the 20th century) up until 1969. The late ’60s represented a tumultuous era, signaling a passing of the guard with national cultural revolutions, along with the destruction of the Motion Picture Production Code (aka the Hays Code), which was created in 1934 and defined what was allowed in American productions in terms of violence, sexuality, and social mores.
So post-Hays, 1969’s challenging 2001: A...

Welcome to Rotten Tomatoes’ 100 best-reviewed classic movies of all time ranked by Tomatometer, featuring only the highest-rated Certified Fresh films!
We define ‘classic’ as everything released from the birth of cinema (at the turn of the 20th century) up until 1969. The late ’60s represented a tumultuous era, signaling a passing of the guard with national cultural revolutions, along with the destruction of the Motion Picture Production Code (aka the Hays Code), which was created in 1934 and defined what was allowed in American productions in terms of violence, sexuality, and social mores.
So post-Hays, 1969’s challenging 2001: A Space Odyssey could be witnessed as the start of modern cinema, leading into the 1970s explosion of urban and gritty filmmaking, mainstream pornography, and the arrival of New Hollywood filmmakers. —Alex Vo #1 Adjusted Score: 111010% Critics Consensus: Offering a wonderfully witty script, spotless direction from George Cukor, and typically excellent lead performances, The Philadelphia Story is an unqualified classic. Synopsis: This classic romantic comedy focuses on Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), a Philadelphia socialite who has split from her husband, C.K.... [More] #2 Adjusted Score: 109980% Critics Consensus: Arguably Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, The Seven Samurai is an epic adventure classic with an engrossing story, memorable characters, and stunning action sequences that make it one of the most influential films ever made. Synopsis: A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits,... [More] #3 Adjusted Score: 109959% Critics Consensus: A disarmingly sweet musical led by outstanding performances from Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien, Meet Me in St. Louis offers a holiday treat for all ages. Synopsis: "Meet Me in St. Louis" is a classic MGM romantic musical comedy that focuses on four sisters (one of whom... [More] #4 Adjusted Score: 110854% Critics Consensus: Clever, incisive, and funny, Singin' in the Rain is a masterpiece of the classical Hollywood musical. Synopsis: A spoof of the turmoil that afflicted the movie industry in the late 1920s when movies went from silent to... [More] #5 Adjusted Score: 108041% Critics Consensus: A psychologically complex portrait of obsession, Laura is also a deliciously well-crafted murder mystery. Synopsis: In one of the most celebrated 1940s film noirs, Manhattan detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) investigates the murder of Madison... [More] #6 Adjusted Score: 106876% Critics Consensus: A landmark psychological thriller with arresting images, deep thoughts on modern society, and Peter Lorre in his finest performance. Synopsis: In this classic German thriller, Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre), a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of... [More] #7 Adjusted Score: 106491% Critics Consensus: Sidney Lumet's feature debut is a superbly written, dramatically effective courtroom thriller that rightfully stands as a modern classic. Synopsis: Following the closing arguments in a murder trial, the 12 members of the jury must deliberate, with a guilty verdict... [More] #8 Adjusted Score: 105929% Critics Consensus: Ambitious, adventurous, and sometimes frightening, Pinocchio arguably represents the pinnacle of Disney's collected works -- it's beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant. Synopsis: When the woodworker Geppetto (Christian Rub) sees a falling star, he wishes that the puppet he just finished, Pinocchio (Dickie... [More] #9 Adjusted Score: 106585% Critics Consensus: Remade but never duplicated, this darkly humorous morality tale represents John Huston at his finest. Synopsis: In this classic adventure film, two rough-and-tumble wanderers, Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) and Curtin (Tim Holt), m...