Top 10 Movies That Could De-Throne Citizen Kane
Anyone who has ever taken a film class before would tell you that watching Orson Wells’ Citizen Kane is just about mandatory. Personally, I have taken 9 film classes in my academic career and that movie was shown literally every single time. It is professionally ranked as the best movie of all time; and in some cases, one could say that its worthy of that title. Directed and starring Orson Wells with Cinematography by Gregg Toland, Citizen Kane was released in September of 1941, and pioneered many modern film techniques used today. With a combination of drama, mystery, noir, and suspense, Citizen Kane tells the story of a Newspaper publishing tycoon and public figure, whom after his death, his eccentric life story is told through the perspectives of his closest friends and partners as a lone reporter attempts to find the meaning behind his famed final words “Rose Bud.” Is it the best movie ever made? Is it truly worthy of such a title?
Personally, I don’t think it’s even possible to have a “Greatest Movie of All Time” for the simple fact that cinema is one of the most diverse forms of media out there with dozens and dozens of styles, genres, themes, and stories. So how can a person determine how one is better than the other if they are nothing alike? How can you compare a famous film like Citizen Kane, to another famous film like Night of the Living Dead? Short answer is, you can’t compare something when there is nothing to compare, it all comes down to personal preference.
That is what the following list is, a somewhat subjective list of 10 films that could debatably be tossed into the ring against Citizen Kane for its title. This is not an official list, nobody is paying me unfortunately. I know there are hundreds of movies out there that are equally qualified to be on this list. if not more. I invite anyone to make their own. I think Citizen Kane is a wonderful movie that everyone should see and appreciate, but it is far from the only film that deserves such respect. So, let’s get started.
Honorable Mentions:
Night of the Living Dead, The Godfather Parts 1 and 2, Phantom of the Opera, The Terminator 1&2, M*A*S*H, American Beauty, A Nightmare Before Christmas, The Great Escape, The Good The Bad and The Ugly, Full Metal Jacket, Birdman, Selma, Hidden Figures, Rashomon, The Jazz Singer, Nosferatu, Avatar, The Help, Cool Hand Luke, Rocky 1-4, Star Wars, Casablanca, Tombstone, Phase one of the MCU, Raging Bull, Psycho, Anny Hall, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Young Frankenstein, Forest Gump, Back to the Future, Clerks 2, 12 Years a Slave, Indiana Jones, Fantasia, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Shining, The Gold Rush, The Great Dictator, Metropolis, The James Bond Movies, Slumdog Millionaire, and so many more. (Sorry if I missed any)
10. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Another popular choice in most film classes, Singin’ in the Rain stars Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. A comedic musical, telling the riveting and real story of Hollywood’s adjustment to talking pictures in late 1920’s and early 1930’s in a fictionalized world but something that feels and looks all too real.
Why is it important? Aside from having some of the most lavish and extravagant sets I’ve ever seen, the dance choreography here is unprecedented (Make them Laugh and Singing in the Rain segments) and its mostly done in one long and continuous take, which just proves that talent and entertaining power behind the cast.
9. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
With a cast like: Ralph Fiennes, Edward Norton, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Murray, you really can’t go wrong, especially under the direction of Wes Anderson. In one of the most cleverly written and beautifully shot films, The Grand Budapest Hotel tells the story of the world-famous hotel concierge Monsieur Gustave (Fiennes) and his trusty new lobby boy Zero (Tony Revolori) and their unique and darkly comedic adventures, focused around the extravagant hotel.
Why is it important? This movie has the look and style of a big budget artistic phenomenon, every frame is something you would put on your wall at home. But this film also has the spirit and feel of an independent film, with some of the cleverest dialogue and uniquely humorous characters in decades; netting itself 4 academy awards in the process.
8. Fight Club (1999)
“I want you to hit me, as hard as you can.” Ahhh Fight Club, how do I even talk about this one? (I’m technically not even allowed to because of rules 1 and 2 if you’ve seen the movie). I admit that is has a specific target audience and is definitely not for the faint of heart. Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, the film stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. The story focuses on the Norton’s character as he personally narrates his mundane and bleak life and his struggles with insomnia and self-identity. His life completely changes (for better or worse) when he meets a mysterious friend named Tyler Durden (Pitt), who opens his eyes to the dark and mischievous world of the human mind through an underground fight club but evolves into something beyond his wildest dreams, literally.
Why is it important? The brilliance of this film is in its atmosphere, characters, and dialogue. Similar to Citizen Kane, Fight Club has a perfect blend of drama, mystery, and noir, but much grittier for modern audiences, complementing the deepest darkest philosophies exhumed by the main character; with a twist ending that is truly mind blowing. It definitely makes you think (for better or for worse) so give it a watch. You’ll be scarred for life in the best possible way.
7. Dracula (1931)
Now I know what you’re thinking, “A horror movie on the list for best movies of all time, God forbid???!!!” Aside from being the very first horror film that was a talkie, Dracula paved the way for all the classic monsters we are all familiar with today, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolfman, just to name a few (Phantom of the Opera was released prior, but we are talking about the birth of sound pictures). Bela Lugosi’s performance as the vampire launched the character into the pop culture and would forever cement the persona of Dracula himself. When people today imitate him, or talk like him, or dress like him for Halloween, they are imitating Lugosi. Even if you haven’t seen the movie itself, odds are you’re familiar with the him. Can Citizen Kane say that about its title character? Nope.
Why is it important? Whether or not you’re a fan of the horror genre or Bram Stoker’s original novel, Dracula as well as the other Universal Studios monster films of the 30’s and 40’s changed the horror genre forever and was the foundation of many traits and atmospheric qualities that we know today and even seem cliché in some cases. Ruined castles, wolves howling, fog and mist, bats fluttering in the sky, shots of the full moon, all came from these movies, and you don’t get much better than that. By the way, a lot of people complain that the original only loosely fallows Stoker’s novel, so if that’s your cup of tea then I recommend Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992).
6. Goodfellas (1990)
I may be against popular vote with this one simply because many people would say it’s impossible to top the first two parts of the legendary Godfather movies. But I truly think that Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas surpasses it, at least by a slim margin, for any other reason that it’s more or less a true story and still be just as exciting and engaging and deep as a work of gangster fiction. Goodfellas tells the true story of Henry Hill (played by Ray Liotta), Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), and Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro) as they rise up through the New York suburban mafia from the mid 50’s through 1980.
Why is it important? The real-life Henry hill claimed that he absolutely loved the movie and rumor has is that De Niro had several phone conversations with the real Jimmy Conway (real name Jimmy Burke) whom was in prison for the events portrayed in the movie, in order to get his character perfect; even going so far as to asking how Jimmy should hold a cigarette. What makes this movie special is the unique relatability in its characters and “the life.” It shows that even gangsters can be humble humans and that humble humans can be gangsters. When you watch this movie, it’s easy to imagine yourself in their shoes whereas films The Godfather and Citizen Kane, the characters have these unattainable larger than life personas. Henry Hill defined a “Goodfella” as “one of us, a friend, someone you’ll like” so in a way, maybe we all are Good-fellas.
5. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
With one of the most vivid and intense opening scenes in a motion picture, I don’t see how another war movie could capture that same intensity and emotion than Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. Tom Hanks stars as Captain Miller, whom after the Normandy invasion, (the Omaha beach scene in the beginning) he and his team are tasked with finding the last surviving son Private James Ryan whose brothers have been killed in combat, and send him home to his mother as the United States pushes into France and Germany toward the end of WW2.
Why is it important? With five Oscars under its belt, and debatably one of the most realistic interpretations of combat in a war film, Saving Private Ryan and Steven Spielberg were personally commended by real life veterans for its authenticity and attention to detail, graphic or otherwise. This film is arguably a crucial part of not only film history but also American history to the effect that even though it is primarily a work of fiction (loosely based on Niland brothers) the realism of the film and the all too real life conflicts of our world make it important for everyone to see.
4. Jaws (1975)
Another one by Spielberg, and similar to Dracula, a movie that requires little introduction. Jaws is perhaps one of the most well-known films of the 20th century. It takes a simple concept of a killer shark (B-movie formula) and turns it into a motion picture masterpiece. Jaws stars Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss as they set out into the open ocean off the coast of New England to hunt and kill the massive great white shark that has been terrorizing and killing the local beach goers of Amity Island. Sounds like a cheesy B-Movie right? Well, it is so much more than that.
Why is it important? The history behind the making of this film is very unique. Let me ask you a question, when do all of the biggest movies of the year come out? The answer is Christmas and Summer, but back in the mid 70’s summer movies were the exact opposite for the summer with all of the worst films of the year coming out in those few months. Due to Jaws missing their schedule deadline the film had to be released in June of 1975 instead of December of 74. However, the film's popularity skyrocketed as people flocked to see it, making Jaws the very first “summer blockbuster” and therefore starting the trend of the biggest movies of the year coming out in the hot weather months. In terms of the movie itself, the tension build up combined with the ever-famous score is truly nerve-racking, even during the scenes with no Shark, you know its swimming around down there and when it does come to the surface the payoff is that much better. Pure cinematic Gold.
3. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
This movie is nothing short of a timeless classic and no amount of me talking about it could possibly do it a proper justice. Released in 1939, The Wizard of Oz stars Judy Garland as Dorothy, who is swept away from her Kansans home by a tornado and carried off to the magical (and colorized) land of Oz where she meets and array of unique and fantastical characters as she journeys to the Emerald city to seek help from the great and powerful wizard while trying to avoid an evil witch played by Margaret Hamilton. That’s only a brief summary, I could write pages and pages just on this film.
Why is it important? This is arguably the most famous movie on this list in terms of recognition and appreciation. One of the earliest examples of vivid fantasy, combined with bright a vibrant music and colors, and possibly the most loveable and recognizable ensemble of characters in cinematic history. Although technically not the first film to use color (With our King and Queen Through India UK 1912), The Wizard of Oz captures the effectiveness of it to a much greater degree as it complements the artistic style of Oz. When Dorothy first opens the door to her Kansas home and the film shifts from black and white to color, then know you that you’re in for something truly spectacular
2. Vertigo (1958)
This may come as a surprise to some because most people would say that Alfred Hitchcock’s most popular film is Psycho. But no film truly captures the suspenseful eerie atmosphere that is Vertigo. The film stars Hitchcock regular Jimmy Stewart playing a detective name Scottie who suffers from acrophobia (an extreme fear of heights), who is pulled out of retirement for one last job as a favor for an old friend. The job is to fallow his friend’s wife Madeleine, played by Kim Novak who is believed to be suicidal. As fate would have it (or if Alfred Hitchcock is your boss) Madeline is a strikingly beautiful woman whom Scottie becomes in love with and that love turns into a maddening obsession.
Why is this film important? If anyone has ever told you that they predicted the end of this movie before they saw it, is lying to you. This movie sucks you into the plot with its hypnotic and eerie atmosphere and with some of the most nerve-racking suspense ever seen in a movie, you’ll find yourself sweating in your seat as you feel yourself become immersed into this man’s world. I admit it doesn’t really do anything new in terms of technique and there is nothing specifically innovative, that I could see anyway, this movie makes the list for its sheer power as a story and only further expresses the genius behind on of Cinema’s most brilliant directors.
1. King Kong (1933)
What is King Kong? Is it a monster movie, it is an adventure movie, is it a love story, is it straight up horror, what is it? The answer is yes, all of those. Kong, of course, is another example of a character whose fame reaches beyond the film itself. Everyone knows the character and a lot have seen the original film (or at the very least that god awful 2005 remake), but the character himself has become a legend in of its own. The gist of the plot is a film maker Carl Denham travels to the mysterious skull island with his film crew along with Captain Englehorn and his leading lady Ann Darrow. The natives capture her and try to sacrifice her to their King, a giant ape named Kong, now Denham and the others, along with Jack Driscoll fight through the jungle to save her, coming across dinosaurs and other terrors as they attempt to save Ann from Kong’s clutches. Ending with one of the most iconic scenes in film history. While Kong is a giant ape who eats and stomps on people. his is certainly one of the most sympathetic movie monsters of the genre. It’s one of those rare cases when you root for the monster to win.
Why is it important? Truly a marvel of special effects for the time, the original King Kong was a pioneer in stop-motion effects inspiring the artist and special effects guru like Ray Harryhausen and even Peter Jackson. Kong himself, as well as the other dinosaurs and monsters, were animated via stop motion from hand crafted characters. The amount of tireless effort that goes into filming like that is truly mind boggling. For example, one minute of the film could easily equate to well over 100 hours of work. And to have the human characters interact on screen with these giant monsters, the filming techniques for 1933 were truly groundbreaking, and we have special effects pioneer Willis O’ Brian to thank for that. Not to mention in 1933 sound films were still a new thing, so to have a film with a fully orchestrated score, booming sound effects from Kong and the other monsters, and combined with the genius of O’ Brian and director Merian Cooper, everything about this movie is truly unprecedented.
Well there it is, can any of those movies knock Citizen Kane off its high horse? Or can there even be a “Greatest Film Ever Made”? I think the answer lies with the individual, I mean who cares what some poll says or what some random top 10 list or Rotten Tomatoes says, we all have movies we love and movies we hate. King Kong is not my favorite movie, not by a long shot, but I can appreciate what it did for the world of cinema, same thing goes for Citizen Kane.
So to answer the question, what is the best movie of all time??? You tell me!
