Can humans and machines agree on the best movies of all time?
Let's find out.
While there is debate as to which film from Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy
is the best, "The Return of the King" certainly ended the series with a bang.
It nabbed numerous awards and was a huge success at the 76th Academy Awards, winning in all
11 categories that it was nominated for.
This puts it on par with both "Titanic" and "Ben-Hur" as the most celebrated films at
the Oscars.
At the box office, the movie grossed $1.1 billion and was the highest-earning film in
the franchise.
This adaptation of J.R.R.
Tolkien's fantasy series focuses on the continued efforts of the surviving members of the Fellowship
of the Ring in their battle against Sauron and his armies.
Frodo and Sam work with Gollum to try and find a way into Mordor while Gandalf and Aragorn
lead the defense of Gondor's capital, Minas Tirith.
While omitting the final chapters of the original book, the film memorably depicts the destruction
of the One Ring, the final defeat of Sauron, and the departure of several important figures
from Middle-earth.
Perhaps the most visually impressive and audacious film of the trilogy, "The Return of the King"
received near-universal critical acclaim, and it concludes what many consider to be
the best movie trilogy in history.
This makes it an easy choice for ChatGPT's last spot on its AI-generated top 10.
Having AI rank all of the "Star Wars" movies undoubtedly would see the films in the original
trilogy score very high.
While there has been plenty of discourse as to which of the initial three films in the
franchise would come out on top, the first entry makes a strong case.
After all, "A New Hope" was not only a groundbreaking experience in terms of special effects and
science fiction storytelling — it also set up an entire expanded universe of novels,
comics, games, and TV shows.
"Well, that's the real trick, isn't it."
Despite the futuristic setting, "A New Hope" is very much a classic good versus evil story,
as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Obi-Wan Kenobi battle against the Galactic
Empire led by Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin.
Luke begins his journey to become a Jedi Master using a mystical power known as the Force
and later joins the Rebel Alliance to destroy the Empire's Death Star.
"A New Hope" has been recognized many times for its importance in cinema.
It has been added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, and the soundtrack
is considered one of the most important in movie history.
"Forrest Gump" is a 1994 movie based on Winston Groom's novel of the same name.
It follows the life of an Alabama man who tells his life story to a variety of strangers
from a park bench.
The film has an inauspicious start, but the audience soon learns that Forrest Gump is
a war hero, a world-class table tennis player, and a renowned runner who inadvertently influences
events across modern American history.
He has a lifelong crush on his childhood friend Jenny, and he makes friends with memorable
characters like Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue and Lieutenant Dan, all before opening a shrimp
business that makes him a millionaire.
While the story is memorable, the film's inclusion on ChatGPT's top 10 is interesting because
"Forrest Gump" has its fair share of detractors, with many criticizing the film's portrayal
of American history.
Still, it was an instant success, earning $678 million against a budget of just $55
million.
It was also a hit on the awards circuit, winning six Academy Awards, including best picture,
best director, and best actor.
The reach of "Forrest Gump" has even extended into everyday vocabulary, with phrases such
as "Life is like a box of chocolates" becoming known worldwide — a cultural legacy that
ChatGPT seems to have identified.
"12 Angry Men" is one of the oldest films picked by ChatGPT, as the vast majority of
the entries came in the last few decades.
This courtroom drama, directed by Sidney Lumet in his feature film debut, hit movie theaters
in 1957 and was based on Reginald Rose's teleplay.
Starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, and Ed Begley, the action focuses on a jury deliberating
whether to find a teenager guilty of murder.
As the group finds little to agree upon and fails to reach a unanimous decision, each
begins to question the evidence more carefully while being forced to examine their personal
morals and preconceived ideas.
Immediately upon release, "12 Angry Men" was acclaimed by critics, and today it holds a
perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Yet, the film did surprisingly poorly at the box office — something that has been attributed
to the fact that it was a black-and-white movie released at a time when widescreen color
pictures were becoming more common.
It also found little award success despite several nominations.
"I don't understand you people.
I mean, all these picky little points you keep bringing up, they don't mean nothing!"
None of that has stopped "12 Angry Men" from being widely considered among the very best
movies ever released.
Preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, it has been lauded
for its perfect drama, the striking use of camera angles, and a tight script that never
feels like it outlasts its welcome.
It's not very surprising that ChatGPT chose "Schindler's List" among the 10 best films
of all time.
It is widely seen as a masterpiece of modern cinema and one of director Steven Spielberg's
most important movies — high praise indeed, considering his filmography includes "Jaws,"
"Saving Private Ryan," and "E.T.
the Extra-Terrestrial."
The 1993 historical drama tells the story of a German industrialist who manages to save
countless Jewish refugees from the clutches of the Nazis during the Holocaust perpetrated
at the height of World War 2.
Liam Neeson stars as the titular Oskar Schindler, who works to save the lives of those being
persecuted by employing them at his factory.
He is just one of a star-studded cast that includes Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, and
Caroline Goodall, all of whom received critical acclaim for their performances.
Bringing in a worldwide gross of $322 million and winning seven Academy Awards, "Schindler's
List" quickly established itself as a classic, with the American Film Institute putting it
at number eight on its all-time list.
Much of the film's critical acclaim was focused on how it portrayed the horrors of the Holocaust
in a way that displayed the humanity of the victims and those who fought against it.
Others noted the authentic realism of the film, along with the visually stunning cinematography
that remains unmatched among other historical dramas.
A sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins," 2008's "The Dark Knight" once again sees Christopher
Nolan direct Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader.
The ensemble cast includes Gary Oldman as James Gordon, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth,
and Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face.
However, the most notable casting choice was Heath Ledger, who provided one of the most
definitive portrayals of the Joker ever seen on screen.
The story follows Batman as he fights back against the chaos the Joker inflicts on Gotham
City.
Noted for its gritty and ultra-realistic take on Batman compared to the more vibrant and
colorful superhero movies of the time, "The Dark Knight" set a new standard for all other
comic book adaptations.
Meanwhile, Ledger's performance was praised for transforming the character into a truly
terrifying figure that still incorporated the villain's signature grotesque violence
and sardonic humor.
It's a brilliant film that earned more than $1 billion worldwide and received almost universal
acclaim from critics and audiences alike, making it an easy pick for ChatGPT's list.
Few would argue "Pulp Fiction's" place among the greatest films of all time, so it makes
sense that ChatGPT has it high on its top 10.
Quentin Tarantino's second major release follows an ensemble cast of characters in various
interconnected stories.
Featuring many of the elements fans became familiar with in Tarantino movies, including
non-linear storytelling and graphic violence, "Pulp Fiction" was praised for its storytelling,
strong performances, iconic characters, dense dialogue, and unforgettable monologues.
The winner of the Palme d'Or at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and the recipient of numerous
Oscar nominations at the 67th Academy Awards, "Pulp Fiction" was a commercial and critical
success.
Entertainment Weekly named it the best film of the last 30 years in 2008, and it has influenced
countless other movies and television series since its initial release.
An undoubted international phenomenon, "Pulp Fiction" popularized mainstream actors returning
to low-budget independent films and has had a long lasting impact on pop culture.
"And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger."
This movie was also incredibly important for many of its stars.
It helped launch the careers of the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, while giving Bruce Willis
a push away from the action-hero stereotype he had developed in "Die Hard."
Most notably, though, it revitalized the career of John Travolta, who was floundering before
he was cast as Vincent Vega.
Anyone who has read a list of greatest movies ever is familiar with Orson Welles' "Citizen
Kane," and ChatGPT seems aware enough of the conversation to place it high on its list.
It stars Welles as media baron Charles Foster Kane, and it follows a newspaper reporter
who attempts to discover the meaning of the word "Rosebud" — which was uttered on Kane's
deathbed — by looking back at his life and interviewing his friends, family, and colleagues.
What helps "Citizen Kane" stand out among the many other great films of its era is how
it innovated in so many ways.
The movie utilizes a storytelling technique that was unusual for the time, with the action
taking place out of sequence.
It also employs an unreliable narrator, making it impossible to completely understand the
flawed anti-hero at the story's center.
On top of that, Welles used montages to great effect and popularized camera techniques such
as deep focus and crane shots.
These inventive approaches to filming set new precedents for what directors could do
in their own projects and were endlessly copied in Hollywood and the rest of the world, leaving
a lasting impression on cinema.
"The Shawshank Redemption" is among the best screen adaptations of Stephen King's vast
catalog of stories.
The 1994 film was directed by Frank Darabont and starred Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman
as the main characters, Andy and Red.
Both are inmates at Shawshank State Penitentiary, though Andy maintains his innocence and secretly
plots to escape and seek refuge in Mexico.
The story focuses on Andy's struggles in prison as he befriends Red and attempts to survive
among the violent criminals and corrupt prison staff.
Despite a positive reception and success on the awards circuit, "The Shawshank Redemption"
was something of a box office failure upon release.
Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that it came out the same year
as blockbusters like "Pulp Fiction," "Forrest Gump," and "Speed."
However, reruns on television and strong video rental numbers soon made it a popular film
throughout the US.
It has also consistently ranked as IMDb's highest-rated film of all time — a list
that holds some interesting similarities with the one created by ChatGPT.
Regardless, "The Shawshank Redemption" excels on almost every front.
Robbins and Freeman's performances are brilliant, while the cinematography creates an authentic
portrayal of the prison, making the viewer feel as trapped and frustrated as the prisoners.
The film also boasts a subtle soundtrack that perfectly accompanies the on-screen action,
and it tells an uplifting story that doesn't shy away from depicting the horrors of life
in jail.
"Andy spent a month in the infirmary.
Boggs spent a week in the hole."
Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 crime film "The Godfather" is often cited among the best examples
of cinema.
Adapted from Mario Puzo's 1969 novel, the film features an accomplished cast composed
of Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton.
It follows Michael Corleone's rise to become the ruthless mafia boss of the Corleone family
after being convinced to join the family business.
Why "The Godfather" is so beloved isn't difficult to understand.
Brando and Pacino put in exceptional performances, while Coppola's production pioneered new camera
techniques to create beautiful and striking shots.
Characters throughout the film also each have their own memorable monologues as part of
an almost perfectly written script.
Add the somber musical score alongside intense action sequences, and it becomes easy to see
how "The Godfather" has become so highly thought of by audiences and critics.
The film was a landmark entry in the gangster genre, launched Al Pacino to stardom, and
resuscitated Brando's diminishing career.
The importance of the movie, which has been preserved in the National Film Registry and
is ranked second to only "Citizen Kane" by the American Film Institute, is hard to overstate.
ChatGPT seems to appreciate the gravitas that "The Godfather" has earned over the decades,
handing the film the top spot on its list of the best movies of all time.