Thirty years from now, who knows?įor now, taking a cue from Karger and some tips from AFI, we've assembled 30 of the best classic films of all time you should have under your belt, and capped our list at around the mid-1990s. Do some of these films included have problematic sections? Yes, indeed but at this stage, they're still part of the modern conversation. In recent years, modern films with greater diversity in all areas have begun adding to the pantheon, which means in another generation this list might look very different than it does today. Still, for the approximately 120-year history of feature moviemaking, the stories most of us know to be classics have told particular stories about particular individuals - while ignoring, distorting or downplaying many others. 'A true classic is just as great, if not better, upon repeat viewings.' Turner Classic Movies host Dave Karger has a specific list of criteria: 'For me, a classic film is one that is 30 or more years old and has stood the test of time thanks to its exceptional storytelling, themes or performances,' Karger tells TODAY via email. The American Film Institute is often the go-to for its list of 100 greatest. What makes a classic film? That depends on who you ask.
