The 100 Greatest American Films

By Published on July 27, 2015

America’s films are among its greatest exports. Since Thomas Edison’s innovations in the medium in the 1890s, the United States has consistently been a powerhouse in the development of cinema – from the massively popular entertainments of Hollywood to independent and avant-garde film. In recognition of the astounding influence of the US on what remains the most popular art-form worldwide, BBC Culture has polled 62 international film critics to determine the 100 greatest American films of all time.

This is a national film tradition that has influenced film-making worldwide, so we felt it was important, also, to get a global perspective on American film: the critics we polled live and work all over the world, from the United Kingdom and continental Europe to South America, Australia, India and the Middle East – and of course the United States as well. Previous film polls conducted by other publications or organisations either haven’t looked solely at American film or have drawn their poll contributors from within the US film industry, not necessarily relying just on the opinion of critics. Some of the critics we invited to participate are film reviewers at newspapers or magazines, others are broadcasters and some write books.

Read the full list here

Read the article “The 100 Greatest American Films” on bbc.com.

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