Only eight movies in Metacritic's database boast a perfect Metascore of 100. Can you
guess which ones they are? And how many have you seen? Behold cinematic perfection in this
short list of flicks at the top of the heap.
It's likely no surprise that Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, originally released
in 1972, made this list, as it's one of the most acclaimed films of all time. It received
ten nominations at the 45th Academy Awards and won three of those, including Best Picture.
Taking place in 1940s New York, the film stars Marlon Brando as the head of the Corleone
mafia family, and Al Pacino as Michael, the son who reluctantly gets drawn in to protect
the family interests.
The Washington Post praised the film's cinematography, calling it, quote, "a great American picture,
full of incredible images and lasting moments." Based on a novel by Mario Puzo, The Godfather
is also praised for the nuances and complexity of its characters and plot.
Casablanca, another Best Picture winner, has become iconic in a multitude of ways since
premiering in 1942. For example, it has some of the most referenced and recognizable lines
of any film ever
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."
"Here's looking at you, kid."
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Humphrey Bogart plays an American named Rick living in Casablanca, Morocco, during World
War Two. He unexpectedly crosses paths with his old flame, played by Ingrid Bergman — as
well as her husband, played by Paul Henreid, who is a resistance leader wanted by the Nazis.
Rick must decide whether to help them escape from Casablanca.
TIME Magazine went as far to call it the best movie of all time, citing, well, every detail:
"No other moving picture has surpassed its inspired mix of writing, acting, atmosphere,
romance, intrigue and, finally, its absolutely sublime pacing."
"But what about us?"
"We'll always have Paris."
Rear Window didn't actually win any of its four Oscar nominations, but is often included
on lists of the best films of all time, including AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies.
One of acclaimed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock's dozens of directorial credits, Rear Window
follows Jimmy Stewart's newspaper photographer who, while spying on his neightbors to pass
the time, believes he witnesses a murder and decides to try and solve the crime himself.
At the time of Rear Window's premiere in 1954, the Boston Globe wrote
"The story is told with tricks and intricate technique, but the mystery magician, Mr. Hitchcock,
never forgets that what people want most is a spine-chilling climax."
Other critics lauded the film's writing and acting as well, so no matter why you watch
films, the verdict is clear: Rear Window is a must-see.
Richard Linklater's Boyhood, released in 2014, is the only film from the 21st century with
a perfect Metacritic score, garnering global acclaim including the Silver Bear for Best
Director at the Berlin International Film Festival.
The film was shot over a 12-year span, beginning in 2001, in order to depict a hyper-realistic
portrayal of growing up. Ellar Coltrane plays the film's protagonist, Mason, through the
ages of six to 18. The plot points consist largely of seemingly mundane moments between
Mason and his family, including his divorced parents, played by Ethah Hawke and Patricia
Arquette, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for the role.
Critics across the board agree with the merit of this film's foundational ambition, of following
the same actors for over a decade to bring out the most authenticity for the story. Entertainment
Weekly compared the result of this process to, quote, "watching a photograph as it develops
in the darkroom."
When Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo premiered in 1958, it wasn't a box office hit, and it
only received mixed reviews. So how does it rate a perfect score? Well, the film has become
so revered in the decades since its release that many media outlets have been forced to
re-evaluate it with new reviews to correct their old mistakes!
The Guardian, for example, argues that initial criticisms of the film, which complained about
slow pace and conservative camera work, were missing the point, as the movie uses those
virtues to be, quote, "quietly, calmly efficient in establishing character, atmosphere, and
uncertainty."
Another early criticism claimed the film is overly complex without payoff, but a more
recent evaluation from the New Yorker interprets it as a, quote, "audaciously intricate melodrama."
Fittingly for a film that deals with a fear of heights, Vertigo took time reaching its
lofty critical perch — but there's no denying it's deserved.
Three Colors: Red is the final installment of Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieślowski's
trilogy, following Blue and White. It's also the only international film on Metacritic's
list of perfect Metascores, as each of the trilogy's chapters explores the French Revolutionary
ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Red depicts fraternity, as Irène Jacob and Jean-Louis Trintignant play mismatched characters
who form an unlikely friendship after some initial animosity.
Many critics point to the lingering emotion the film exudes, with Variety calling it,
quote, "deeply affecting."
Meanwhile, Time Out gave a glowing review, defining the film as a masterpiece and stating,
"Stunningly beautiful, powerfully scored and immaculately performed, the film is virtually
flawless, and one of the very greatest cinematic achievements of the last few decades."
Notorious - yet another Hitchcock classic - came out in 1946 to rave reviews. It landed
Claude Rains an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Ben Hecht a
nod for Best Original Screenplay.
Cary Grant plays T. R. Devlin, a government agent who asks Ingrid Bergman's Alicia to
spy on a group of Nazis in Brazil by winning the affections of Alexander, played by Rains.
When an unexpected love triangle develops between the three, though, things get very
complicated very quickly.
Once again, Hitchcock was universally praised, with The Chicago Reader stating,
"The virtuoso sequences — the long kiss, the crane shot into the door key — are justly
famous, yet the film's real brilliance is in its subtle and detailed portrayal of infinitely
perverse relationships."
Of the eight films with perfect Metacritic scores, Citizen Kane may be the least surprising,
as it's widely considered the greatest film ever made, and the crowning artistic achievement
for Orson Welles, who co-wrote, produced, directed, and starred.
The bulk of the praise for Citizen Kane has understandably focused on Welles, with many
critics bringing attention to his young age — he was merely 25 during the making of
the film. The Hollywood Reporter wrote of Welles as an actor, stating that
"Welles' performance is nothing less than astonishing. He begins as a youth of 21, goes
through middle age to his death, and makes every moment believable in voice, walk, and
gesture."
It's a much better review than the critics in the film were giving themselves!
"Of her acting, it is absolutely impossible to say anything except that in the opinion
of this reviewer, it represents a new low."
Additionally, the film has been praised for its groundbreaking cinematography and film
techniques, which revolutionized how films were made and experienced. And critics have
also added that, as a character study, it is, quote, "rarely, if ever, equaled."
Needless to say, if you're a film fan and you haven't seen Citizen Kane yet, it needs
to be in your queue.
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