1000 Essential Films

1000 items • Updated 5/5/2026
List of movies from "Book of Movies: The Essential 1,000 Films to See" by Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott from The New York Times. I will be attempting to watch every movie on this list, starting 5/6/2024.

Counting movies I've seen almost to their entirety, I started off having seen only 101 films on this list.

*Edit*: It is 1/1/2025 and I have seen 134 movies on this list

*Edit #2*: It is 7/9/2025 and I have watch 158 movies on this list. Most recent was "The Battle of Algiers". Watching a movie nearly everyday of summer is helping me move through this list.

Edit #3: it is 5/5/2026 (at 1AM to be precise) and I just finished watching (and sort of rewatching) my 200th film from this list, "Vertigo". It lived up to its extremely high expectations. I just realized while typing this that I unintentionally reached the 1/5 milestone almost exactly 2 years after I started this list. I've watched an additional 99 films from this list over the past 2 years. I have been exposed to many foundational, staple films via this list that I constantly think about. I may have never seen some of the movies I watched these past 2 years without this list. I'm grateful for the privilege of experiencing these films.
1À nous la libertéÀ nous la liberté(1931)⭐ 7.4
2Adam's RibAdam's Rib(1949)⭐ 7.4
3Adaptation.Adaptation.(2002)⭐ 7.6
4The Adventures of Robin HoodThe Adventures of Robin Hood(1938)⭐ 7.9
5AfflictionAffliction(1997)⭐ 6.9
6The African QueenThe African Queen(1951)⭐ 7.7
7L'Age d'OrL'Age d'Or(1930)⭐ 7.2
8Aguirre, the Wrath of GodAguirre, the Wrath of God(1972)⭐ 7.8
9A.I. Artificial IntelligenceA.I. Artificial Intelligence(2001)⭐ 7.2
10Airplane!Airplane!(1980)⭐ 7.7
11Alexander NevskyAlexander Nevsky(1938)⭐ 7.4
12Alice Doesn't Live Here AnymoreAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore(1974)⭐ 7.3
13AlienAlien(1979)⭐ 8.5
14AliensAliens(1986)⭐ 8.4
15All About EveAll About Eve(1950)⭐ 8.2
16All About My MotherAll About My Mother(1999)⭐ 7.8
17All That Heaven AllowsAll That Heaven Allows(1955)⭐ 7.6
18All the King's MenAll the King's Men(1949)⭐ 7.4
19All the President's MenAll the President's Men(1976)⭐ 7.9
20All Quiet on the Western FrontAll Quiet on the Western Front(1930)⭐ 8.1
21AmarcordAmarcord(1973)⭐ 7.8
22America AmericaAmerica America(1963)⭐ 7.7
23The American FriendThe American Friend(1977)⭐ 7.4
24American GraffitiAmerican Graffiti(1973)⭐ 7.4
25American MovieAmerican Movie(1999)⭐ 7.8
26An American in ParisAn American in Paris(1951)⭐ 7.1
27The Americanization of EmilyThe Americanization of Emily(1964)⭐ 7.3
28Amores PerrosAmores Perros(2000)⭐ 8.0
29AmourAmour(2012)⭐ 7.9
30Anatomy of a MurderAnatomy of a Murder(1959)⭐ 8.0
31And Life Goes OnAnd Life Goes On(1992)⭐ 7.9
32Andrei RublevAndrei Rublev(1966)⭐ 8.0
33The Angry SilenceThe Angry Silence(1960)⭐ 7.2
34Anna ChristieAnna Christie(1930)⭐ 6.5
35Annie HallAnnie Hall(1977)⭐ 7.9
36The ApartmentThe Apartment(1960)⭐ 8.3
37Apocalypse NowApocalypse Now(1979)⭐ 8.4
38The ApostleThe Apostle(1997)⭐ 7.2
39L'ArgentL'Argent(1983)⭐ 7.4
40Army of ShadowsArmy of Shadows(1969)⭐ 8.1
41Ashes and DiamondsAshes and Diamonds(1958)⭐ 7.7
42The Asphalt JungleThe Asphalt Jungle(1950)⭐ 7.8
43L'AtalanteL'Atalante(1934)⭐ 7.7
44Atlantic CityAtlantic City(1980)⭐ 7.3
45Au hasard BalthazarAu hasard Balthazar(1966)⭐ 7.7
46Au Revoir Les EnfantsAu Revoir Les Enfants(1987)⭐ 8.0
47L'AvventuraL'Avventura(1960)⭐ 7.7
48The Awful TruthThe Awful Truth(1937)⭐ 7.6
49Babette's FeastBabette's Feast(1987)⭐ 7.7
50Baby DollBaby Doll(1956)⭐ 7.3
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