Bruce Torres
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The 100 Best American Movies in Film History
Casey Chan
To make this list—which I’m absolutely sure will be totally definitive, with no need for anyone to ever debate it, right?—critics from around the world were polled by the BBC to name the greatest American movies in film history. I’ll save you some surprises: Citizen Kane was first, The Godfather was second.
Hitchcock and Spielberg both have five movies in the top 100, while movies from women directors were vastly underrepresented. The 1970s had the most movies in the top 100 while only six movies of the top 100 are from the years 2000 and up.
Sinefesto made a rather fun video detailing facts about the top 100 list while including clips from the movies in the video below.
The full list of the top 100 American movies:
100. A Montanha dos Sete Abutres (Ace in the Hole) (Billy Wilder, 1951)
99. 12 Anos de Escravidão (12 Years a Slave) (Steve McQueen, 2013)
98. Portal do Paraíso (Heaven’s Gate) (Michael Cimino, 1980)
97. E o Vento Levou (Gone With the Wind) (Victor Fleming, 1939)
96. O Cavaleiro das Trevas (The Dark Knight) (Christopher Nolan, 2008)
95. Diabo a Quatro (Duck Soup) (Leo McCarey, 1933)
94. A Última Noite (25th Hour) (Spike Lee, 2002)
93. Caminhos Perigosos (Mean Streets) (Martin Scorsese, 1973)
92. O Mensageiro do Diabo (The Night of the Hunter) (Charles Laughton, 1955)
91. ET: O Extraterrestre (ET: The Extra-Terrestrial) (Steven Spielberg, 1982)
90. Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979)
89. No Silêncio da Noite (In a Lonely Place) (Nicholas Ray, 1950)
88. Amor, Sublime Amor (West Side Story) (Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, 1961)
87. Brilho Eterno de uma Mente sem Lembranças (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) (Michel Gondry, 2004)
86. O Rei Leão (The Lion King) (Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, 1994)
85. A Noite dos Mortos-Vivos (Night of the Living Dead) (George A Romero, 1968)
84. Amargo Pesadelo (Deliverance) (John Boorman, 1972)
83. Levada da Breca (Bringing Up Baby) (Howard Hawks, 1938)
82. Os Caçadores da Arca Perdida (Raiders of the Lost Ark) (Steven Spielberg, 1981)
81. Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991)
80. Ainda Seremos Felizes (Meet Me in St Louis) (Vincente Minnelli, 1944)
79. A Árvore da Vida (The Tree of Life) (Terrence Malick, 2011)
78. A Lista de Schindler (Schindler’s List) (Steven Spielberg, 1993)
77. No Tempo das Diligências (Stagecoach) (John Ford, 1939)
76. O Império Contra-Ataca (The Empire Strikes Back) (Irvin Kershner, 1980)
75. Contatos Imediatos de Terceiro Grau (Close Encounters of the Third Kind) (Steven Spielberg, 1977)
74. O Contador de Histórias (Forrest Gump) (Robert Zemeckis, 1994)
73. Rede de Intrigas (Network) (Sidney Lumet, 1976)
72. Tensão em Shanghai (The Shanghai Gesture) (Josef von Sternberg, 1941)
71. Feitiço do Tempo (Groundhog Day) (Harold Ramis, 1993)
70. A Roda da Fortuna (The Band Wagon) (Vincente Minnelli, 1953)
69. Koyaanisqatsi (Godfrey Reggio, 1982)
68. Interlúdio (Notorious) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1946)
67. Tempos Modernos (Modern Times) (Charlie Chaplin, 1936)
66. Rio Vermelho (Red River) (Howard Hawks, 1948)
65. Os Eleitos (The Right Stuff) (Philip Kaufman, 1983)
64. Johnny Guitar (Nicholas Ray, 1954)
63. Amantes (Love Streams) (John Cassavetes, 1984)
62. O Iluminado (The Shining) (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
61. De Olhos Bem Fechados (Eyes Wide Shut) (Stanley Kubrick, 1999)
60. Veludo Azul (Blue Velvet) (David Lynch, 1986)
59. Um Estranho no Ninho (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) (Miloš Forman, 1975)
58. A Loja da Esquina (The Shop Around the Corner) (Ernst Lubitsch, 1940)
57. Crimes e Pecados (Crimes and Misdemeanors) (Woody Allen, 1989)
56. De Volta para o Futuro (Back to the Future) (Robert Zemeckis, 1985)
55. A Primeira Noite de um Homem (The Graduate) (Mike Nichols, 1967)
54. Crepúsculo dos Deuses (Sunset Boulevard) (Billy Wilder, 1950)
53. Grey Gardens (Albert and David Maysles, Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer, 1975)
52. Meu Ódio Será sua Herança (The Wild Bunch) (Sam Peckinpah, 1969)
51. A Marca da Maldade (Touch of Evil) (Orson Welles, 1958)
50. Jejum de Amor (His Girl Friday) (Howard Hawks, 1940)
49. Dias de Paraíso (Days of Heaven) (Terrence Malick, 1978)
48. Um Lugar ao Sol (A Place in the Sun) (George Stevens, 1951)
47. Segredos de uma Ladra (Marnie) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1964)
46. A Felicidade Não se Compra (It’s a Wonderful Life) (Frank Capra, 1946)
45. O Homem que Matou o Facínora (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) (John Ford, 1962)
44. Sherlock Jr (Buster Keaton, 1924)
43. Carta de uma Desconhecida (Letter from an Unknown Woman) (Max Ophüls, 1948)
42. Doutor Fantástico (Dr Strangelove) (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
41. Onde Começa o Inferno (Rio Bravo) (Howard Hawks, 1959)
40. Tramas do Entardecer (Meshes of the Afternoon) (Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid, 1943)
39. O Nascimento de uma Nação (The Birth of a Nation) (DW Griffith, 1915)
38. Tubarão (Jaws) (Steven Spielberg, 1975)
37. Imitação da Vida (Imitation of Life) (Douglas Sirk, 1959)
36. Guerra nas Estrelas (Star Wars) (George Lucas, 1977)
35. Pacto de Sangue (Double Indemnity) (Billy Wilder, 1944)
34. O Mágico de Oz (The Wizard of Oz) (Victor Fleming, 1939)
33. A Conversação (The Conversation) (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)
32. As Três Noites de Eva (The Lady Eve) (Preston Sturges, 1941)
31. Uma Mulher sob Influência (A Woman Under the Influence) (John Cassavetes, 1974)
30. Quanto Mais Quente Melhor (Some Like It Hot) (Billy Wilder, 1959)
29. Touro Indomável (Raging Bull) (Martin Scorsese, 1980)
28. Tempo de Violência (Pulp Fiction) (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
27. Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick, 1975)
26. Killer of Sheep (Charles Burnett, 1978)
25. Faça a Coisa Certa (Do the Right Thing) (Spike Lee, 1989)
24. Se Meu Apartamento Falasse (The Apartment) (Billy Wilder, 1960)
23. Noivo Neurótico, Noiva Nervosa (Annie Hall) (Woody Allen, 1977)
22. Ouro e Maldição (Greed) (Erich von Stroheim, 1924)
21. Cidade dos Sonhos (Mulholland Drive) (David Lynch, 2001)
20. Os Bons Companheiros (Goodfellas) (Martin Scorsese, 1990)
19. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976)
18. Luzes da Cidade (City Lights) (Charlie Chaplin, 1931)
17. Em Busca do Ouro (The Gold Rush) (Charlie Chaplin, 1925)
16. Onde os Homens são Homens (McCabe & Mrs Miller) (Robert Altman, 1971)
15. Os Melhores Anos de Nossas Vidas (The Best Years of Our Lives) (William Wyler, 1946)
14. Nashville (Robert Altman, 1975)
13. Intriga Internacional (North by Northwest) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959)
12. Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974)
11. Soberba (The Magnificent Ambersons) (Orson Welles, 1942)
10. O Poderoso Chefão - Parte II (The Godfather Part II) (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)
9. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942)
8. Psicose (Psycho) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
7. Cantando na Chuva (Singin’ in the Rain) (Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, 1952)
6. Aurora (Sunrise) (FW Murnau, 1927)
5. Rastros de Ódio (The Searchers) (John Ford, 1956)
4. 2001: Uma Odisseia no Espaço (2001: A Space Odyssey) (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
3. Um Corpo que Vai (Vertigo) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958)
2. O Poderoso Chefão (The Godfather) (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)
1. Cidadão Kane (Citizen Kane) (Orson Welles, 1941)
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Do meu lado tá faltando muita coisa ainda.
96. The Dark Knight (O Cavaleiro das Trevas) (Christopher Nolan, 2008)
79. The Tree of Life (A Árvore da Vida) (Terrence Malick, 2011)
78. Schindler’s List (A Lista de Schindler) (Steven Spielberg, 1993)
77. Stagecoach (No Tempo das Diligências) (John Ford, 1939)
76. The Empire Strikes Back (O Império Contra-Ataca) (Irvin Kershner, 1980)
75. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Contatos Imediatos de Terceiro Grau) (Steven Spielberg, 1977)
65. The Right Stuff (Os Eleitos) (Philip Kaufman, 1983)
62. The Shining (O Iluminado) (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
56. Back to the Future (De Volta para o Futuro) (Robert Zemeckis, 1985)
49. Days of Heaven (Dias de Paraíso) (Terrence Malick, 1978) - eu prefiro Badlands (Terra de Ninguém)
43. Letter from an Unknown Woman (Carta de uma Desconhecida) (Max Ophüls, 1948)
42. Dr Strangelove (Doutor Fantástico) (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
41. Rio Bravo (Onde Começa o Inferno) (Howard Hawks, 1959)
38. Jaws (Tubarão) (Steven Spielberg, 1975)
36. Star Wars (Guerra nas Estrelas) (George Lucas, 1977)
28. Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
25. Do the Right Thing (Faça a Coisa Certa) (Spike Lee, 1989)
19. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976)
10. The Godfather Part II (O Poderoso Chefão - Parte II) (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)
8. Psycho (Psicose) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
5. The Searchers (Rastros de Ódio) (John Ford, 1956)
2. The Godfather (O Poderoso Chefão) (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)
Casey Chan
To make this list—which I’m absolutely sure will be totally definitive, with no need for anyone to ever debate it, right?—critics from around the world were polled by the BBC to name the greatest American movies in film history. I’ll save you some surprises: Citizen Kane was first, The Godfather was second.
Hitchcock and Spielberg both have five movies in the top 100, while movies from women directors were vastly underrepresented. The 1970s had the most movies in the top 100 while only six movies of the top 100 are from the years 2000 and up.
Sinefesto made a rather fun video detailing facts about the top 100 list while including clips from the movies in the video below.
The full list of the top 100 American movies:
100. A Montanha dos Sete Abutres (Ace in the Hole) (Billy Wilder, 1951)
99. 12 Anos de Escravidão (12 Years a Slave) (Steve McQueen, 2013)
98. Portal do Paraíso (Heaven’s Gate) (Michael Cimino, 1980)
97. E o Vento Levou (Gone With the Wind) (Victor Fleming, 1939)
96. O Cavaleiro das Trevas (The Dark Knight) (Christopher Nolan, 2008)
95. Diabo a Quatro (Duck Soup) (Leo McCarey, 1933)
94. A Última Noite (25th Hour) (Spike Lee, 2002)
93. Caminhos Perigosos (Mean Streets) (Martin Scorsese, 1973)
92. O Mensageiro do Diabo (The Night of the Hunter) (Charles Laughton, 1955)
91. ET: O Extraterrestre (ET: The Extra-Terrestrial) (Steven Spielberg, 1982)
90. Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979)
89. No Silêncio da Noite (In a Lonely Place) (Nicholas Ray, 1950)
88. Amor, Sublime Amor (West Side Story) (Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, 1961)
87. Brilho Eterno de uma Mente sem Lembranças (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) (Michel Gondry, 2004)
86. O Rei Leão (The Lion King) (Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, 1994)
85. A Noite dos Mortos-Vivos (Night of the Living Dead) (George A Romero, 1968)
84. Amargo Pesadelo (Deliverance) (John Boorman, 1972)
83. Levada da Breca (Bringing Up Baby) (Howard Hawks, 1938)
82. Os Caçadores da Arca Perdida (Raiders of the Lost Ark) (Steven Spielberg, 1981)
81. Thelma & Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991)
80. Ainda Seremos Felizes (Meet Me in St Louis) (Vincente Minnelli, 1944)
79. A Árvore da Vida (The Tree of Life) (Terrence Malick, 2011)
78. A Lista de Schindler (Schindler’s List) (Steven Spielberg, 1993)
77. No Tempo das Diligências (Stagecoach) (John Ford, 1939)
76. O Império Contra-Ataca (The Empire Strikes Back) (Irvin Kershner, 1980)
75. Contatos Imediatos de Terceiro Grau (Close Encounters of the Third Kind) (Steven Spielberg, 1977)
74. O Contador de Histórias (Forrest Gump) (Robert Zemeckis, 1994)
73. Rede de Intrigas (Network) (Sidney Lumet, 1976)
72. Tensão em Shanghai (The Shanghai Gesture) (Josef von Sternberg, 1941)
71. Feitiço do Tempo (Groundhog Day) (Harold Ramis, 1993)
70. A Roda da Fortuna (The Band Wagon) (Vincente Minnelli, 1953)
69. Koyaanisqatsi (Godfrey Reggio, 1982)
68. Interlúdio (Notorious) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1946)
67. Tempos Modernos (Modern Times) (Charlie Chaplin, 1936)
66. Rio Vermelho (Red River) (Howard Hawks, 1948)
65. Os Eleitos (The Right Stuff) (Philip Kaufman, 1983)
64. Johnny Guitar (Nicholas Ray, 1954)
63. Amantes (Love Streams) (John Cassavetes, 1984)
62. O Iluminado (The Shining) (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
61. De Olhos Bem Fechados (Eyes Wide Shut) (Stanley Kubrick, 1999)
60. Veludo Azul (Blue Velvet) (David Lynch, 1986)
59. Um Estranho no Ninho (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) (Miloš Forman, 1975)
58. A Loja da Esquina (The Shop Around the Corner) (Ernst Lubitsch, 1940)
57. Crimes e Pecados (Crimes and Misdemeanors) (Woody Allen, 1989)
56. De Volta para o Futuro (Back to the Future) (Robert Zemeckis, 1985)
55. A Primeira Noite de um Homem (The Graduate) (Mike Nichols, 1967)
54. Crepúsculo dos Deuses (Sunset Boulevard) (Billy Wilder, 1950)
53. Grey Gardens (Albert and David Maysles, Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer, 1975)
52. Meu Ódio Será sua Herança (The Wild Bunch) (Sam Peckinpah, 1969)
51. A Marca da Maldade (Touch of Evil) (Orson Welles, 1958)
50. Jejum de Amor (His Girl Friday) (Howard Hawks, 1940)
49. Dias de Paraíso (Days of Heaven) (Terrence Malick, 1978)
48. Um Lugar ao Sol (A Place in the Sun) (George Stevens, 1951)
47. Segredos de uma Ladra (Marnie) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1964)
46. A Felicidade Não se Compra (It’s a Wonderful Life) (Frank Capra, 1946)
45. O Homem que Matou o Facínora (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) (John Ford, 1962)
44. Sherlock Jr (Buster Keaton, 1924)
43. Carta de uma Desconhecida (Letter from an Unknown Woman) (Max Ophüls, 1948)
42. Doutor Fantástico (Dr Strangelove) (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
41. Onde Começa o Inferno (Rio Bravo) (Howard Hawks, 1959)
40. Tramas do Entardecer (Meshes of the Afternoon) (Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid, 1943)
39. O Nascimento de uma Nação (The Birth of a Nation) (DW Griffith, 1915)
38. Tubarão (Jaws) (Steven Spielberg, 1975)
37. Imitação da Vida (Imitation of Life) (Douglas Sirk, 1959)
36. Guerra nas Estrelas (Star Wars) (George Lucas, 1977)
35. Pacto de Sangue (Double Indemnity) (Billy Wilder, 1944)
34. O Mágico de Oz (The Wizard of Oz) (Victor Fleming, 1939)
33. A Conversação (The Conversation) (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)
32. As Três Noites de Eva (The Lady Eve) (Preston Sturges, 1941)
31. Uma Mulher sob Influência (A Woman Under the Influence) (John Cassavetes, 1974)
30. Quanto Mais Quente Melhor (Some Like It Hot) (Billy Wilder, 1959)
29. Touro Indomável (Raging Bull) (Martin Scorsese, 1980)
28. Tempo de Violência (Pulp Fiction) (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
27. Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick, 1975)
26. Killer of Sheep (Charles Burnett, 1978)
25. Faça a Coisa Certa (Do the Right Thing) (Spike Lee, 1989)
24. Se Meu Apartamento Falasse (The Apartment) (Billy Wilder, 1960)
23. Noivo Neurótico, Noiva Nervosa (Annie Hall) (Woody Allen, 1977)
22. Ouro e Maldição (Greed) (Erich von Stroheim, 1924)
21. Cidade dos Sonhos (Mulholland Drive) (David Lynch, 2001)
20. Os Bons Companheiros (Goodfellas) (Martin Scorsese, 1990)
19. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976)
18. Luzes da Cidade (City Lights) (Charlie Chaplin, 1931)
17. Em Busca do Ouro (The Gold Rush) (Charlie Chaplin, 1925)
16. Onde os Homens são Homens (McCabe & Mrs Miller) (Robert Altman, 1971)
15. Os Melhores Anos de Nossas Vidas (The Best Years of Our Lives) (William Wyler, 1946)
14. Nashville (Robert Altman, 1975)
13. Intriga Internacional (North by Northwest) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959)
12. Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974)
11. Soberba (The Magnificent Ambersons) (Orson Welles, 1942)
10. O Poderoso Chefão - Parte II (The Godfather Part II) (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)
9. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942)
8. Psicose (Psycho) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
7. Cantando na Chuva (Singin’ in the Rain) (Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, 1952)
6. Aurora (Sunrise) (FW Murnau, 1927)
5. Rastros de Ódio (The Searchers) (John Ford, 1956)
4. 2001: Uma Odisseia no Espaço (2001: A Space Odyssey) (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
3. Um Corpo que Vai (Vertigo) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958)
2. O Poderoso Chefão (The Godfather) (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)
1. Cidadão Kane (Citizen Kane) (Orson Welles, 1941)
Do meu lado tá faltando muita coisa ainda.

96. The Dark Knight (O Cavaleiro das Trevas) (Christopher Nolan, 2008)
79. The Tree of Life (A Árvore da Vida) (Terrence Malick, 2011)
78. Schindler’s List (A Lista de Schindler) (Steven Spielberg, 1993)
77. Stagecoach (No Tempo das Diligências) (John Ford, 1939)
76. The Empire Strikes Back (O Império Contra-Ataca) (Irvin Kershner, 1980)
75. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Contatos Imediatos de Terceiro Grau) (Steven Spielberg, 1977)
65. The Right Stuff (Os Eleitos) (Philip Kaufman, 1983)
62. The Shining (O Iluminado) (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
56. Back to the Future (De Volta para o Futuro) (Robert Zemeckis, 1985)
49. Days of Heaven (Dias de Paraíso) (Terrence Malick, 1978) - eu prefiro Badlands (Terra de Ninguém)
43. Letter from an Unknown Woman (Carta de uma Desconhecida) (Max Ophüls, 1948)
42. Dr Strangelove (Doutor Fantástico) (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
41. Rio Bravo (Onde Começa o Inferno) (Howard Hawks, 1959)
38. Jaws (Tubarão) (Steven Spielberg, 1975)
36. Star Wars (Guerra nas Estrelas) (George Lucas, 1977)
28. Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
25. Do the Right Thing (Faça a Coisa Certa) (Spike Lee, 1989)
19. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976)
10. The Godfather Part II (O Poderoso Chefão - Parte II) (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)
8. Psycho (Psicose) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
5. The Searchers (Rastros de Ódio) (John Ford, 1956)
2. The Godfather (O Poderoso Chefão) (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)
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