THE TOP TEN

CASABLANCA (1942)

Helen: “A strong contender for the best film ever made, never mind the best Best Picture winner, Casablanca — with Bogie, Bergman and Sam playing it again — is the whole package.”

SCHINDLER’S LIST (1993)

Olly: “Cinematic genius. The fact Spielberg made this and Jurassic Park in the same year is, frankly, absurd.”

THE GODFATHER (1972)

Dan: “This was the no-brainer for number one for me. It made gangster movies prestige rather than pulpy.”

THE APARTMENT (1960)

Olly: “A dark story is lifted to comedy classic by the light touch of Billy Wilder and brilliance of Jack Lemmon.”

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)

Chris: “A film so good that it’s not been remotely sullied by all the terrible Lecter films and books since.”

MOONLIGHT (2017)

Dan: “A gorgeous experience, with raw emotionality balanced by Barry Jenkins’ sense of visual texture.”

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (1975)

Olly: “Jack Nicholson at his best (don’t argue) in a perfect black comedy.”

PARASITE (2019)

Helen: “It’s early days but this perfectly calibrated, genre-hopping original feels like it will stand the test of time.”

THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)

Chris: “I’m amazed that this complex opus placed so low. I know it was you, Helen, and it broke my heart.”

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)

Chris: “David Lean’s masterful epic treads where other biopics fear. The trick is not minding that it’s tenth.” AGREE? DISAGREE? WRITE IN AND TELL US AT: LETTERS@EMPIREMAGAZINE.COM / @EMPIREMAGAZINE