When I was 20, I shared my top ten favourite films of all time. But as ‘all time’ is a subjective concept, my list has since evolved. At 24, I revisit my top ten favourite films of all time, which have largely remained the same, with a few exceptions. This time, the list is in ranked order and includes a selection of my favourite scenes, too.
No. 10 – Aftersun (2022)
Well, well, well, if it isn’t a film from the last four years. Aftersun is the story of a relatively mundane father-daughter holiday, viewed from the nostalgic lens (ha ha) of a home movie. It’s special to me because I see, reflected, the relationship between me and my own father, though my dad is less troubled than Paul Mescal’s Calum, I’d say.
Charlotte Wells’ directorial debut is a quietly devastating picture of father-daughter dynamics, loss and the haunting effects of memory.
No. 9 – Inception (2010)
A repeat from my original list, Inception is my top film from Chris Nolan. The screenplay explores dreams, the subconscious and how to manipulate the mind – concepts I often find myself pondering in regular life.
Though the dream-within-a-dream-within-a-dream sequence drags slightly, Inception isn’t overwhelmingly complex (I’m looking at you, Tenet). It’s seemingly well-researched and the ideas unfold over time, explained through expositional dialogue. And it ends on a cliffhanger, which I’m always in favour of.
No. 8 – Little Women (2019)
As I’ve matured into my mid-twenties, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women has replaced Lady Bird on this list. Jo’s internal turmoil – particularly, choosing independence over romance, and then regretting that choice – is increasingly relevant to me, while Lady Bird’s coming-of-age issues are less so. A feminist work at its core, Little Women is full of punchy, on-the-nose one-liners which illustrate that the female experience is universal, barely having changed at all since the 1800s (unfortunate).
“And I’ll watch” might be the most gut-wrenching line in film history, ever.
No. 7 – The Great Gatsby (2013)
Critics – as well as the general public – seem to either love or hate this film adaptation of the ‘great American novel’. I’m in the former camp.
The Great Gatsby is an incredible story, sure, mainly because it’s got a little of everything: scandalous marriages, class dynamics, implied homoeroticism. I love Baz Luhrmann’s version for two reasons: the spectacle feels as big as the story itself, and the soundtrack compliments the film in a way I’ve never seen.
Lana Del Ray’s “Young and Beautiful” launched a 13-year-old me into a spell of romantic idealism, and I’ve never quite recovered.
No. 6 – Spirited Away (2001)
Arguably Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘best’ film (you’re wrong, Mononoke apologists), Spirited Away stacks at number six. A grand tale of forced maturation, the film follows a whiny, spoiled Chihiro as she becomes the self-reliant Sen – a shell of her former self, but in a good way.
Like the film’s supporting characters, the audience gradually warms to Sen, watching her go from childhood to young adulthood in real time (riding the train by yourself is perhaps the most ‘adult’ act of all). A sweeping score and gorgeous cinematography make this Ghibli release a stone-cold classic.
No. 5 – Coraline (2009)
Coraline is not in the mood to move. Her apartment is ugly, her neighbours strange and her school uniform drab. Feeling ignored by her workaholic parents, Coraline seeks adventure wherever she can find it, even if it’s through a small door in her living room. On the other side, she finds a life almost parallel to her own – but with a frightening twist.
Directed by Henry Selick – of The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach – this adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s childhood horror is a best-in-class example of stop-motion animation. Coraline reminds me of myself at that age – an only child who gets carried away by her own imagination (and who uses the term ‘wuss puss’).
No. 4 – The Iron Giant (1999)
I’ll admit to nostalgic bias, but The Iron Giant also holds its own. A rebuttal to America’s gun violence, Brad Bird’s 1999 animated feature is the story of a conscientious weapon (and was strangely ahead of its time re: the military’s vested interest in machine learning). Filled with non-stop quips from know-it-all protagonist Hogarth Hughes, plus some incredible feats of voice acting from Vin Diesel and Harry Connick Jr, The Iron Giant is a hilarious, heart-warming tale for all ages.
No. 3 – Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Seventeen-year-old Elio Perlman and his family spend their summers in Northern Italy, each year opening their home to a new graduate intern. In 1983, Oliver, 24, enters Elio’s life and alters it forever.
Based on the novel by Andre Aciman, Call Me By Your Name is a true treat for the senses. Launching Timothée Chalamet into mainstream star-dom, this slow-burn romance is an idyllic time capsule, as picture-perfect as an Italian sunset, an empty piazza or an apricot tree.
No. 2 – Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
In a world full of witches, wizards and demons, war isn’t the only concern. Young hat-maker Sophie has heard the rumours: Howl steals the hearts of beautiful young girls. After the Witch of the Waste casts a spell that turns Sophie into an elderly woman, she runs away and finds herself at Howl’s moving castle.
(Very, very loosely) based on Diana Wynne Jones’ novel of the same name, Howl’s Moving Castle‘s largest lessons are in forgiveness, acceptance and courage – making the best of a bad situation is often what life’s all about. Plus, Howl is the paragon of non-toxic masculinity – this man knows how to wear an earring.
No. 1 – Back to the Future (1985)
“Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth’s gravitational pull?”
Marty McFly (the name to end all names, BTW) has a decent life in 1985; he’s got a relatively normal family, a loving girlfriend and a strange friendship with the socially-rejected Doctor Emmett Brown. After Doc unveils a DeLorean that doubles as a time machine, Marty accidentally travels to 1955, where he unintentionally interferes with his parents’ first encounter. To get back to the future, he must make his parents fall in love – but his mom wants him instead.
This film had me absolutely enthralled from the first time I saw it (circa 2008) and has since earned its unwavering spot at Number 1. It’s perfect from front to back – and is one of the most culturally influential pieces of cinema (a grand claim, but I’m making it). Thank you, Robert Zemeckis. Thank you.
