While there are all sorts of websites where you can find ratings and reviews of movies, it seems like Letterboxd is right there among the best. The users there are pretty legitimate film buffs and their opinions can help you pick out which movie should be next on your watch list.
Their ratings have helped users find the best of the best when it comes to specific genres, major franchises like Star Wars or the MCU, or even the best from certain directors and actors. However, considering there are over 200,000 films on the site, it's interesting to see which ones scored the highest overall.
Updated on December 4th, 2022, by Kevin Pantoja: 2022 has been an impressive year for cinema, with some releases already standing out among the best in history These movies are so impressive that it isn't an exaggeration to call them some of the greatest films ever made. In fact, a handful of them have scored high marks on Letterboxd and one has even found its way into the upper echelon of the highest rated in the history of the site. Of note, these are the best outside of miniseries, documentaries, and short films.
15 Central Station (1998) - 4.44
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It might not be as well known as some other classics to rate higher but Central Station is incredibly rewarding for those who give it a shot. The Brazilian film tells the story of a schoolteacher who helps a student find the father he never knew after his mother passes away.
The relationship that forms between the two main characters is as heartwarming as it gets. Fernanda Montenegro earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination while the movie itself was up for Best Foreign Language Film. 50% of the users on the site have it at a perfect five star rating.
14 The Dark Knight (2008) - 4.44
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Although 2008 is the year when the MCU started, it was a DC film that actually changed the course of superhero cinema going forward. The Dark Knight made box office history but took things further by also being considered among the best films of the 2000s.
The second entry into Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, this film had many saying it should've landed a Best Picture Oscar nod. Though that didn't happen, Heath Ledger won a posthumous award as Best Supporting Actor. 47% of users gave it a perfect score.
13 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018) - 4.44
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Although Marvel put out some great movies and shattered box office records, many fans felt they hadn't released something that could compete with The Dark Knight. That changed in 2018 when, according to Letterboxd users, they released their greatest film ever.
The Best Animated Feature Academy Award winner Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is already considered one of the best superhero movies ever made. With a unique and stunning animation style, great voice acting, and a gripping story, it's no wonder it got five stars from 47% of users.
12 Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) - 4.45
Stream On Showtime
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The newest movie to break into the top of the Letterboxd ratings is Everything Everywhere All At Once. The film is everything A24 could've hoped for, becoming the studio's highest grossing release and having its name mentioned in award season talk.
At a time when seemingly everyone is trying their hand at multiverse stories, this original film starring Michelle Yeoh did it better than anyone. There are epic performances, some of the best editing you'll ever see, and an emotional story that will hit you harder than expected. An astonishing 51% of users gave it a perfect score.
11 The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - 4.48
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There's no doubt that 1994 is one of the greatest years in movie history. It saw the release of all-time classics like The Lion King, Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, and so many others, yet The Shawshank Redemption outranks them all on Letterboxd.
Based on a Stephen King novel, the film has only gotten better with age. Upon its release, it struggled commercially and though it was nominated for seven Oscars, it didn't win any. Today, it is looked at as one of the best films of its time and 49% of Letterboxd users gave it five stars.
10 Spirited Away (2001) - 4.48
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The only animated film to find itself among the greatest of all time according to Letterboxd is Spirited Away. Arguably the best work in the storied career of filmmaking icon Hayao Miyazaki, this movie focuses on a young girl who moves to a new town with her parents, who are transformed into pigs as she enters a world of spirits.
Even those who haven't seen the movie can likely recognize pop culture staples like No Face and some of the imagery from it. Approximately an outstanding half of the reviews on Letterboxd gave this film the perfect 5-star rating, which just goes to show how special it is.
9 12 Angry Men (1957) - 4.52
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One of the most respected directors in Hollywood history is Sidney Lumet. The four-time Academy Award nominee for Best Director helmed 12 Angry Men, which is one of the films he was nominated for. It has gone on to be named in several prominent lists of some of the greatest movies ever made.
The premise sees a dozen men deliberate as the jury on a case where a teenage boy is on trial for killing his father. The seemingly open-and-shut case becomes a gripping discussion for the entire duration of the film. 50% of reviewers have it at 5 stars and one viewing will likely have you agreeing with that score.
8 Seven Samurai (1954) - 4.52
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It can be especially difficult to pull off an expensive movie with a grueling shoot but sometimes the end result justifies everything that it took to get there. That's how it is for Seven Samurai, which was the most expensive film in Japanese history at the time and took a year to complete but now holds up as a true classic.
The epic samurai film takes place in 1568 as a bunch of desperate farmers hire seven rōnin to take on the bandits who have been stealing their crops. Though the setup is mostly basic, the action is fantastic and holds up remarkably well all these years later. The 5-star score was given out 51% of the time.
7 The Human Condition III: A Soldier’s Prayer (1961) - 4.53
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A recurring trend surrounding some of the highest-rated films on Letterboxd is that they're classics released several decades ago. That's the case for 1961's The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer. This 190-minute epic is the final leg of Masaki Kobayashi's trilogy about a pacifist trying to survive in brutal World War II-era Japan.
This isn't your average trilogy though as the three films kind of work as one 9-hour story, which can be daunting at first glance. However, giving it a chance is quite rewarding as it won several major international awards. Users at Letterboxd agreed, with 49% of them handing out the coveted perfect rating.
6 The Godfather Part II (1974) - 4.54
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A lot of people believe that sequels are inferior to whatever came before them. That is indeed the case in a lot of film series but some manage to outdo the original like The Dark Knight or The Empire Strikes Back. Still, despite how great those movies are, many believe the best sequel in history is The Godfather Part 2.
Although whether it surpassed the original is up for debate, there's no denying this film's success, which includes a Best Picture win at the Oscars. It also worked as a prequel, following both Vito and Michael Corleone throughout the 1910s and 1950s. 53% of reviewers got it right when they gave this 5 stars.
5 The Godfather (1972) - 4.54
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It's telling of how close The Godfather and its sequel are in quality that they're barely separated in their average rating on Letterboxd. Although the follow-up certainly nailed a lot of aspects, the original set the tone for everything and introduced audiences everywhere to one of the most iconic worlds ever put on film.
The story of the Corleone family was gripping enough to take home major Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor (Marlon Brando). It's still considered an epic tale that holds up today, with 56% of users giving it that ideal score of 5 stars.
4 A Dog's Will (2000) - 4.55
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Possibly more known by its title in Portuguese, O Auto da Compadecida, A Dog's Will is the rare comedy to be considered among the greatest movies ever made. The premise is an interesting one, following Chicó and João as they get judged by Jesus, the Devil, and the Virgin Mary if they want to enter paradise.
Although not one of the more famous films ranked this high, it has sterling reviews on almost every major website. It received high praise for its comedic elements and wild setup. An astounding 59% of the reviews gave it the highest score possible.
3 Harakiri (1962) - 4.55
Stream On The Criterion Channel
The incredible Masaki Kobayashi returns with another acclaimed classic. This time, it's 1962's Harakiri, which puts the focus on another rōnin character. The title stems from a Japanese ritual also known as seppuku, which is a form of suicide by disembowelment.
In this story, samurai Hanshiro Tsugumo requests to go through with Harakiri with a feudal lord but things take plenty of twists and turns as nothing goes to plan. The film received the Special Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival and 49% of Letterboxd users who watched it gave it 5 stars.
2 Come And See (1985) - 4.58
Stream On The Criterion Channel
War films are often depicted in the most dramatic of ways on the big screen, which is just how things are in Come and See. The Russian movie is widely viewed as a masterpiece. It centers on the Nazis occupation of Belarus during which time a teenager joins the resistance movement, giving them a front row seat to the heinous acts of the Nazis.
There are psychological, political, and apocalyptic themes all over this film and they are part of why it's held in such high esteem. It was praised for the graphic but important depiction of the harrowing events and how powerful the anti-war story was. It looks like 57% of users gave it the perfect score.
1 Parasite (2019) - 4.58
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The most recent film among the top ten is also the highest scoring overall. Parasite was truly a groundbreaking movie, making history at the Oscars by becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture. It also took home Best Director, Best International Feature Film, and Best Original Screenplay.
Bong Joon-ho's tale of a poor Korean family who schemes their way into the lives of a wealthy family captivated audiences everywhere and the shocking twists that the film takes will stun everyone. Not only did 57% of users give it 5 stars but less than 10% have it at less than 4 stars, which is telling of its quality.