Though there is a large selection of films to enjoy today, none of the modern blockbuster hits or indie flicks could have been made possible without the movies that came before them. We're talking about the classics. Though cinema looks wildly different now than it did decades ago, contemporary films borrow stories, characters, themes, and ideas from the movies that laid the groundwork. We're here to stack these up using the Adjusted Tomatometer Scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
The review aggregation website has assigned every classic film (most of which were released during the Hollywood's Golden Age, between the 1910s and 1960s) a percentage rating based on the positive and negative reviews of critics. This rating in combination with other factors (including the number of reviews a film received and its release year) is how the Adjusted Tomatometer Scores are calculated. We'll be using these to count down to the best. With the logistics reviewed, it's time to rewind the time and revisit some of cinema's greatest; Here are the best classics of all time, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Singin' In The Rain (100%)
Kicking things off is this 1952 musical romantic comedy about Hollywood's transition from silent films to talkies in the late '20s. The story centers on three performers who work through this change.
The vibrant visuals and well-crafted musical numbers had Singin' in the Rain earning a legacy that continues to hold strong today. Jean Hagen ended up with the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress thanks to her performance.
All About Eve (99%)
A couple of years before Singin' in the Rain filled theaters with life, All About Eve swept moviegoers into an engrossing drama about the eager fan of a Broadway star who begins to threaten her idol's success.
The layered narrative was full of the immersive dialogue and fresh humor that viewers craved. This had it walking away with Best Sound Recording, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, Best Costume Design — Black and White, Best Supporting Actor (George Sanders) and Best Picture awards at the Oscars.
La Grande Illusion (97%)
Though this French war film entered theaters in 1937, its haunting themes have stood the test of time. La Grande Illusion follows the relationships between several officers who are prisoners amid World War I. Together, they hope to escape captivity.
The film's cast can be lauded for carrying the narrative weight, while the writers can be thanked for adding multiple layers of interest.
The Third Man (99%)
This 1949 film noir has Holly showing up in a post-World War II Vienna to begin a job offered to him by a friend. After discovering that this friend has died after arriving, however, he must uncover the secrets that led to such an event.
Critics were quick to applaud the film for being carefully detailed. The surprising twists and lively characters added to its attraction. Of the three Academy Awards The Third Man was nominated for, it went home with one for Best Cinematography — Black and White.
It Happened One Night (98%)
It Happened One Night charmed theater goers in 1934 with a story about a woman who teams up with a newspaper reporter. Though he vows to help her find her husband in exchange for a story, he soon starts to fall for the young heiress.
Critics praised the acting skills of its leads as well as the interesting situations and well-crafted dialogue. Against all expectations, It Happened One Night became the first movie to win the "Big Five" Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor [Clark Gable], Best Actress [Claudette Colbert], and Best Writing, Adaption).
Casablanca (98%)
Casablanca landed on the big screen in 1942. This iconic romantic drama tells of an American expatriate who is left with a difficult choice: help a Chez resistance leader escape his city or end up with the man's wife whom he is in love with. Though the screenplay, humor, emotion, casting, and more were praised at first, its impact has lasted far into the 21st century. Many more recent films have taken inspiration from Casablanca including the romantic musical La La Land, which premiered in 2016.
Casablanca won Best Writing, Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, and Outstanding Motion Picture at the Academy Awards.
Modern Times (100%)
Theatergoers were treated to this vibrant Charlie Chaplin comedy in 1936. It tells of a man called Little Tramp, who attempts to find his place in an industrialized society.
Behind Modern Times' slapstick exterior is a thoughtful commentary on the struggles of life during the Great Depression. The film's mix of message and humor helped make it a stand out.
The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari (100%)
The oldest movie to show up on this list is this German silent horror film that follows an insane hypnotist, who utilizes sleepwalking to murder people.
The scary and artistic visuals entranced audiences upon the film's initial release. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari has since been regarded as one of the best examples of German Expressionist cinema.
Citizen Kane (100%)
This 1941 epic drama relays the story of a reporter who is asked to figure out the dying words of Charles Foster Kane. This has him uncovering many secrets behind the man's complicated life.
The movie has aged well with contemporary critics, who praise the film's technical aspects as well as the layered story. Citizen Kane was original upon its release and paved a way for the unconventional storytelling techniques that succeeded it. Though it was nominated for nine Academy Awards, it only won the Oscar for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
The Wizard OF Oz (98%)
Finishing off this list as the highest-rated (and perhaps most iconic) classic movie of all time is The Wizard of Oz. The 1939 musical fantasy tells of a young girl from Kansas who is whisked into the magical world of Oz. In order to get home, however, she must journey down the yellow brick road toward the Emerald City where she hopes to get help from the mysterious Wizard.
The dazzling visuals, charming story, and memorable songs have cemented this film as one of Hollywood's greatest. While Judy Garland was given an Academy Juvenile Award for her performance, the film also brought home two other Oscars: Best Music, Original Score, and Best Musical, Original Song.