The International Movie Database is one of the few websites that cinephiles visit to seek out great movies, but She-Hulk's review bombing has called the site's rating system into question. Internet trolls rated the new Disney+ show one star before the first episode had even aired, and people who don't keep up with movie and TV news would look at the score and believe the series is no good.
However, the IMDb scores are still a staple of the website, and users generally look to the top 250 list for new films. But the top 10 movies wouldn't necessarily be the same if it was based on how many users had voted. Between an influential sci-fi action movie and a satirical and bleak cult classic, these have more votes than the likes of The Godfather Part II, 12 Angry Men, and Schindler's List.
The Matrix (1999) - 8.7
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Surprisingly, The Matrix is one of the 10 movies with the most ratings that aren't actually in IMDb's top 10 list. The Matrix was lightning in a bottle, as it arrived right at the start of the internet boom, and it's the rare cyberpunk movie that's still considered cool all these years later. 1.8 million users have rated the movie, but not everyone was into all the leather and wearing shades indoors.
The Matrix is arguably the most innovative action movie today and not even the 1999 film's sequels can rival it. It's also surprising that The Matrix Reloaded doesn't have as many votes, as it made almost double the original movie at the box office. But, then again. Reloaded certainly doesn't get as many repeat viewings.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001) - 8.8
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Nobody would have believed over 20 years ago that one of the most exciting movies of the 21st century would be about four friends walking and having a runtime of almost three hours. But that's exactly what The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is.
The 2001 movie is easily one of the biggest accomplishments ever when it comes to fantasy cinema. Even those who aren't fans of the genre still gravitate back to the classic, as 1.8 million IMDb users rated it. While some book scenes were impossible to adapt, such as the original council of Elrond and Aragon's original personality, outside of that, it's a completely faithful adaptation.
Forrest Gump (1994) - 8.8
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Though Quentin Tarantino has become known for revising history, as Inglourious Basterds sees Adolf Hitler getting massacred and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sees Sharon Tate surviving, Forrest Gump was the first to do it in such creative ways. The titular character inadvertently influenced the course of history, whether it was teaching Elvis his signature dance movie or being part of the Infantry Regiment in the Vietnam War.
While the film isn't in IMDb's top 10 movies, it only narrowly misses out, as it was voted on by two million users, who mostly love the seamless blend of fiction and historical events and the perfect mix of comedy and drama. And as there's a sequel to the novel, fans want to see Forrest Gump 2.
Fight Club (1999) - 8.8
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Just like with Forrest Gump, Fight Club only just misses out on being in IMDb's top 10 movies, as it has an average rating of 8.8 based on over two million votes. Interestingly, the movie wasn't all that loved when it was first released 23 years ago, as critics didn't take kindly to its cynicism and it underperformed at the box office.
However, Fight Club was clearly way ahead of its time, and some obviously mistook its satire for sincerity. Everybody has their own theory about what the deep movie is about, but at the core of it, no other film has managed to examine the angst of Generation X better than the 1999 release. And, at the very least, it's the darkest and bleakest romantic comedy ever.
Inception (2010) - 8.8
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Not a bad thing can be said about Christopher Nolan on IMDb, as even his worst movies have incredibly high average scores on the database. And even though Inception isn't on IMDb's top 10 movies list, it comes extremely close. The 2010 movie has an 8.8 based on over 2.3 million users, which is an incredible feat, but it's just another day in the office for Nolan.
What's even more impressive is that the director seemingly threw this out between The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, making his unrivaled filmmaking look absolutely effortless. An envelope-pushing all-time great sci-fi action movie comes around once every decade or so, as Inception followed The Matrix by 11 years, but cinephiles have now been waiting 12 years for the next one.
Pulp Fiction (1994) - 8.9
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As more years pass and Pulp Fiction is looked upon more and more as an all-time classic, the film will likely eventually reach that coveted 9.0 score, but for now, it has an 8.9 based on over two million votes. The non-linear narrative was so influential at the time, and though foreign filmmakers had been experimenting with the style for years, Tarantino was the one to popularize it in Hollywood.
Pulp Fiction is one of the few American films to have ever won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival too. But accolades and influences aside, Pulp Fiction is simply such an entertaining and wild ride. However, there will always be a few users who rate it low, as Tarantino's extreme violence isn't for everyone, and some think that if the scenes were in chronological order, the magic would be lost entirely.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King (2003) - 9.0
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2003's The Return of the King was the epic conclusion to the greatest fantasy movie series ever. And though the Hobbit trilogy followed a decade later to mixed results, not even those can tarnish the threequel's legacy. Even though they're completely different movies, The Return of the King was a huge influence on Avengers: Endgame.
The movie was clearly something of a blueprint for the Marvel film and a guide on how to perfectly conclude multiple different storylines. As the Middle-Earth universe is returning with the Amazon Prime Video series, The Rings of Power, it'll be interesting to see how that ultimately affects the perception of the 2003 movie. However, early responses to the TV show are overwhelmingly positive.
The Dark Knight (2008) - 9.0
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There have been countless iterations and reboots of The Caped Crusader, and while fans can debate forever over which actor is the best Batman and which movie has the best depiction of Gotham, there's no denying that The Dark Knight is the ultimate Batman movie. The movie makes some strange choices that are absolutely not Batman-like, such as Bruce Wayne operating in a brightly lit garage instead of a cave, and half of the movie is set during the day. Some fans might even argue that it's more of a Christopher Nolan movie than a Batman movie.
Nevertheless, the film features the greatest face-off between Batman and the Joker. And even though it makes some surprising choices for a Batman movie, the bleakness and tragedy of it all are what makes it an incredible Batman film, and that's why it has an average of 9.0 based on over 2.6 million votes.
The Godfather (1974) - 9.2
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While one movie on the database is rated higher than the gangster movie, The Godfather is often named the greatest movie of all time. Before the 1972 release, mobster movies were hammy and over the top, but director Francis Ford Coppola flipped the genre on its head and delivered the most daring, dramatic, and bold film of its time.
However, there are still some cinephiles sitting on it, as, despite its incredible reputation, 1.8 million votes isn't all that much, especially when most of the other movies have way over two million ratings. And, interestingly, The Godfather Part II is only the 30th most rated movie on the database. So while the first movie is one of the highest rated, there must be quite a few armchair critics of the classic, as there was a significant drop off with the sequel.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - 9.3
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1994's The Shawshank Redemption is one of those movies that are rated so high because seemingly nobody vehemently dislikes it. The film is a compelling prison drama with a mystery and such an uplifting ending, and that kind of movie pleases everyone and there's no way anybody can hate it.
However, it'd be interesting to see what score the 1994 release would have if it stuck to the original ending. The final scene where Red and Andy meet on the beach was only added after bad test screenings. It originally ended with Red not knowing if he'd ever find Andy as the bus drives into the distance. It's almost like if Toy Story 3 ended before the toys are saved from the incinerator.