Sorry Hitchcock, 'Vertigo' Is No Longer the Greatest Film of All Time

For the first time ever, a female director has been given the honor of making the greatest film of all time. 

Since 1952, Sight and Sound had the novel idea of asking what the greatest film of all time was. After asking critics to name what they thought the best film was, it became a tradition to revisit the question every decade. 

“The Greatest Film Ever Made” is a heavy title to hold. Not everyone will agree with what the top choice is, yet we can acknowledge that that film, whatever it may be at the time, has great value and an even greater impact on the world of cinema. 

With this year’s Sight and Sound poll being larger than ever, with 1,639 participating critics, programmers, curators, archivists, and academics each submitting their top 10 ballots, the greatest film of all time has been revealed. 

What Is the Greatest Film of All Time? 

In 2012, Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo was named the greatest film of all. But a decade later, the title has been taken from the iconic thriller. 

Sight and Sound revealed that the greatest film of all time is Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles. The Belgian auteur wrote and released the film in 1975.

For the first time in 70 years, an esteemed international poll of film experts has ranked a film directed by a woman as the greatest of all time. Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, which had held the top spot for 50 years before 2012, now sits comfortably at number three. 

Check out the rankings below for the top ten greatest films of all time: 

10. Singin’ in the Rain directed by Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen

9. Man with a Movie Camera directed by Dziga Vertov

8. Mulholland Dr. directed David Lynch

7. Beau travail directed by Claire Denis

6. 2001: A Space Odyssey directed by Stanley Kubrick

5. In the Mood for Love directed by Wong Kar Wai

4. Tokyo Story directed by Yasujirō Ozu

3. Citizen Kane directed by Orson Welles

2. Vertigo directed by Alfred Hitchcock

1. Jeanne Dielman 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles directed by Chantal Akerman

Let us know your thoughts on the rankings in the comments!