http://www.listsofbests.com/list/57881 I generated a list of all the movies on IMDb with a rating of 7.0 or better and more than 750 votes. (There are about 4,500.) I cut out the ones I would never really want to watch (mostly romances and melodramas) - that left 2,778. (And I'd already seen something like 500 of them.) Went through them, prioritized them based on my own preferences (generally mysteries and comedies, though I gave bonuses to some essential films I'd never watched, like The Bicycle Thief and Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) and then started renting them when they were available, and borrowing them from friends here and there. I'm hoping to have about 500 done by the end of the year, including all of the "essentials" on my list, and then I may start getting pickier. Top 10 from this list (as of 12.1): 10. Seven Samurai 9. Strangers on a Train 8. Treasure of the Sierra Madre 7. Hangmen Also Die! 6. Duck You Sucker 5. Rebecca 4. Cool Hand Luke 3. 2001: A Space Odyssey 2. High Plains Drifter 1. Picnic at Hanging Rock Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:02:00 GMT en-us 0 50 373 50 0 http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/38682 <div id="position">1</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/38682"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000053UIE.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Norman Jewison</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/466928 <div id="position">2</div><div class="place-image-placeholder"><span class="qm">*</span></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Richard Fleischer</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2834737 <div id="position">3</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2834737"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/11Y3DGkRmJL.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Zack Snyder</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/3904492 <div id="position">4</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/3904492"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41cMDtxi3kL._SL75_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Joseph L. Mankiewicz</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/55055 <div id="position">5</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/55055"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00007J5VT.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by François Ozon</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/36085 <div id="position">7</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/36085"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00005ASUM.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Stanley Kubrick</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2506647 <div id="position">8</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2506647"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000LPR6GA.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Fred Zinnemann</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2352557 <div id="position">9</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2352557"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000JLCMRY.01-A379XKY3M9K9HW._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Michael Powell</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/100614 <div id="position">10</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/100614"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0001HAIOA.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Archie Mayo</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/3170991 <div id="position">11</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/3170991"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fUpHQfYiL._SL75_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Julie Taymor</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/40413 <div id="position">12</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/40413"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00005MAM2.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Katsuhiro Ôtomo</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/52087 <div id="position">13</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/52087"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000055ZF8.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Lewis Gilbert (II)</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/3518447 <div id="position">14</div><div class="place-image-placeholder"><span class="qm">*</span></div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/198485 <div id="position">15</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/198485"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DW0NHHQFL._SL75_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Alan J. Pakula</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2722897 <div id="position">16</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2722897"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00006L9WX.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/43263 <div id="position">17</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/43263"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/0780021541.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Jean-Luc Godard</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/48367 <div id="position">18</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/48367"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/078322737X.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by George Lucas</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/35934 <div id="position">19</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/35934"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00004RF9F.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Vincente Minnelli</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/66939 <div id="position">20</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/66939"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00005LC4E.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/272097 <div id="position">21</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/272097"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/6305078130.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Victor Heerman</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/280896 <div id="position">22</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/280896"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00008MTY4.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/126633 <div id="position">23</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/126633"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00005Y1UT.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Jonathan Kaplan</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/61408 <div id="position">24</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/61408"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000085EFE.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Leo McCarey</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/77342 <div id="position">25</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/77342"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0001WTWRY.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Irving Reis</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/66399 <div id="position">26</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/66399"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00007LP8K.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by John D. Hancock</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/47172 <div id="position">27</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/47172"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00004TX1R.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Edward F. Cline</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/135556 <div id="position">28</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/135556"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0783227930.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Don Siegel</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/40194 <div id="position">29</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/40194"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/6305081034.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Vittorio De Sica</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/1160299 <div id="position">30</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/1160299"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000FFJYA2.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Howard Hawks</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/80595 <div id="position">31</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/80595"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000067J1G.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2848694 <div id="position">32</div><div class="place-image-placeholder"><span class="qm">*</span></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Ridley Scott</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/224932 <div id="position">33</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/224932"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00005K3NV.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Brian De Palma</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2151463 <div id="position">34</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2151463"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000HC2LHG.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Lawrence Kasdan</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/109474 <div id="position">35</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/109474"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0792843568.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Hal Ashby</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/109006 <div id="position">36</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/109006"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0784012717.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Franklin J. Schaffner</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/65140 <div id="position">37</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/65140"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0783233582.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Charles Barton</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/35070 <div id="position">38</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/35070"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/6305327068.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Woody Allen</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/54444 <div id="position">39</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/54444"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00006JMQG.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Robert Wiene</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2618243 <div id="position">40</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2618243"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000MGTQ7K.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Edward Dmytryk</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2879211 <div id="position">41</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2879211"><img src="http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/11L7Eaz5j2L.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Stanley Kubrick</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/71542 <div id="position">42</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/71542"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/6305770328.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Rudolph Maté</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/3880450 <div id="position">43</div><div class="place-image-placeholder"><span class="qm">*</span></div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/35797 <div id="position">44</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/35797"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00000JPH6.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Jim Henson</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/1233836 <div id="position">45</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/1233836"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000FFJYAC.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Delmer Daves</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/65285 <div id="position">46</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/65285"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PT8FHSSVL._SL75_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Robert Wise</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/2199422 <div id="position">47</div><div class="place-image-placeholder"><span class="qm">*</span></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden, Robert Hamer</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/38183 <div id="position">48</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/38183"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0000WN118.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Luchino Visconti</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/734098 <div id="position">49</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/734098"><img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000CQOGYS.01-AW7QUHDS6QXSK._SCTHUMBZZZ_V46051883_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Gerard Oury</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/1727400 <div id="position">50</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/1727400"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000GNOSGS.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Jeff Feuerzeig</div> http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/198319 <div id="position">51</div><div class="item-image" style="padding:3px;float:left;"><a href="http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/198319"><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/6305808163.01._SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 12px;"> by Terence Fisher</div>