Skip to site content

The Sight and Sound Top 10

In 1952, the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound team had the novel idea of asking critics to name the greatest films of all time. The tradition became decennial, increasing in size and prestige as the decades passed. Now a major bellwether of critical opinion on cinema and this year’s edition (its eighth) is the largest ever, with 1,639 participating critics, programmers, curators, archivists and academics each submitting their top ten ballot — with results published in Dec 1, 2022.

For two weeks, starting Thu, Dec 29 through Thu, Jan 12, we’ll begin a daily count upwards from the surprise #1 — pausing for a hand-selected New Year’s Day marathon — and continue each day to #10. At which point, we reverse course with a full-blast 4-day countdown back to #1.

JEANNE DIELMAN 23, QUAI DU COMMERCE, 1080 BRUXELLES
Thu, Jan 12 at 1:30pm, 8:00pm

JEANNE DIELMAN 23, QUAI DU COMMERCE, 1080 BRUXELLES

In meticulously observing three days in the life of a middle-aged widow, Chantal Akerman’s landmark of experimental film depicts the fissuring of a psyche under the weight of routine. Part of "The Sight and Sound Top 10" (#1)
VERTIGO
Thu, Jan 12 at 5:20pm

VERTIGO

Alfred Hitchcock’s intricate web of obsession and deceit tells the tale of a police detective (James Stewart) who’s crippled by his fear of heights and an unhealthy fixation on the married woman (Kim Novak) he’s been hired to track. Part of “The Sight and Sound Top 10” (#2)
CITIZEN KANE
Wed, Jan 11 at 8:00pm

CITIZEN KANE

When a reporter is assigned to decipher newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane's (Orson Welles) dying words, his investigation gradually reveals the fascinating portrait of a complex man who rose from obscurity to staggering heights. Part of “The Sight and Sound Top 10” (#3)
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
Wed, Jan 11 at 3:05pm

IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE

Hong Kong, 1962. Two neighbors’ encounters are formal and polite — until a discovery about their respective spouses creates an intimate bond between them. Delicately mannered and visually extravagant, Wong Kar-wai’s best-known film is a masterful evocation of romantic longing and fleeting moments. Part of “The Sight and Sound Top 10” (#5)
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
Tue, Jan 10 at 8:50pm

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

A black monolith, present since the dawn of man, is discovered beneath the surface of the moon. When the source of the object is determined to be Jupiter, an expedition is launched to explain its mysterious origins. Part of “The Sight and Sound Top 10” (#6)
BEAU TRAVAIL
Tue, Jan 10 at 6:50pm

BEAU TRAVAIL

Claire Denis’s masterful Billy Budd adaptation is a braggadocio battle of male bodies and egos played out against the stark terrain of Djibouti. Part of “The Sight and Sound Top 10” (#7)
MULHOLLAND DRIVE
Tue, Jan 10 at 3:50pm

MULHOLLAND DRIVE

The movie is a sensual mystery: Betty and Rita at the center of secrets. The movie within the movie is a biography; Diane and Camilla telling each other’s story. The dream is of betrayal, of facing the undeniable moral truth of oneself. The rest is silence. Part of “The Sight and Sound Top 10” (#8)
MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA + short film Meshes of the Afternoon
Tue, Jan 10 at 2:00pm

MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA + short film Meshes of the Afternoon

Bottomless invention and frenetic, dizzying montage make this city symphony one of cinema’s sharpest, most exciting experiences nearly a century after its release. Part of “The Sight and Sound Top 10” (#9). Preceded by Meshes of the Afternoon (#16)
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
Mon, Jan 9 at 3:30pm, 5:45pm, 8:00pm

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN

This beloved musical details Hollywood’s precarious transition from silent films to “talkies” — depicting the tumultuous downfall of stars with unsuitable voices while celebrating the rise, and romance, of the victorious triple threats. Part of “The Sight and Sound Top 10” (#10)