Every 10 years the British Film Institute’s magazine, Sight & Sound, polls critics and filmmakers to create a list of the best films of all time. The poll has been going since 1952, and it considered by many to be most respected of the plethora of “best” lists. Voters are asked to compile their selections of ten films and the magazine ranks the list by mentions. The top film is the one mentioned on the most lists. 100 films make the cut, and the top ten is obviously the most anticipated and discussed. Part of the reason why this list is so respected is because of the focus on craft and influence. This does tend to have the list skew a little more arthouse than multiplex, for better or for worse. The ballots have gone out now and the results are expected in November.

In 2012, there was some discourse made about Citizen Kane being unseated from the number one position by Vertigo. Kane had topped the list since 1962. Film scholarship has shifted a lot in the last decade so there are dozens of articles discussing how the list will change this year. There’s talk of 2001: A Space Odyssey potentially unseating both Kane and Vertigo, which could happen. I think there is a good chance that Mulholland Drive may make the top ten. There’s even talk of Parasite getting close to the top. I am unsure it will make it that far up, but I am sure it will be the youngest film on the greater list. I wouldn’t be surprised if it makes the top ten in 2032 though.

If I were given a ballot, here’s how I would vote. As much as I love Kane and Vertigo, I decided to not include films that made it to the 2012 top ten. By doing that, I only lament that this list lacks Murnau’s Sunrise.

All That Jazz (Fosse, 1979)

Bicycle Thieves (De Sica, 1948)

Do the Right Thing (Lee, 1989)

Laura (Preminger, 1944)

Mulholland Drive (Lynch, 2001)

Persona (Bergman, 1966)

Rashomon (Kurosawa, 1950)

Singin’ in the Rain (Donen & Kelly, 1952)

Talk to Her (Almodovar, 2002)

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Zemeckis, 1988)

Though if you ask me next week, I will say something different.

~Andrew

UPDATE: Andrew recorded a quick bonus episode about the 2022 list. Click HERE to listen.