Ten cinema masterpieces that reshaped film over the last 100 years

Collider published a ranked list of ten films it calls masterpieces that have reshaped cinema over the last century.

The list places Citizen Kane at No. 1, noting its innovations in cinematography, editing, sound design and narrative (release date listed as April 17, 1941). Other entries include The Godfather (No. 2), Seven Samurai (No. 3), Taxi Driver (No. 4), 2001: A Space Odyssey (No. 5), Lawrence of Arabia (No. 6), Vertigo (No. 7), Tokyo Story (No. 8), Pulp Fiction (No. 9) and The Passion of Joan of Arc (No. 10), with brief summaries explaining each film’s influence and themes.

The piece argues these titles earned their spots through formal innovation, emotional precision, mythic storytelling or sheer energy, and that many of their techniques have become part of film grammar; beyond those claims, the list presents the films and the reasons given for their lasting impact without further follow-up in the article.

Key Topics

Culture, Citizen Kane, The Godfather, Seven Samurai, Pulp Fiction, Orson Welles