Shyamalan Claims 'The Godfather' Is the Best Movie Ever Made, but His Favorite One Is Much More Fun

In an interview with the American Film Institute, M. Night Shyamalan revealed that he makes a clear distinction between the "best movie" and the "favorite movie," a distinction that says a lot about his personality.

He unequivocally acknowledges the genius of Francis Ford Coppola and considers The Godfather to be a perfect cinematic work, impeccable in tone and execution.

However, his heart belongs to a different genre: dazzling adventures full of humor, danger, and unforgettable characters. This explains why, despite his affinity for arthouse cinema, Shyamalan ultimately wrote the script that changed his life.

M. Night Shyamalan Admits 'The Godfather' Is a Masterpiece, but His Own Favorite Movie Is an Adventure Classic

For Shyamalan, the answer to the question of which movie he considers his best is clear:

“Well, the wording of ‘what's your favourite movie’ is tricky, you know, because, if you said to me, ‘what's the best movie ever made?’, I'd say, The Godfather. You know, definitely, hands down, for me, it's a perfect movie.”

Shyamalan emphasizes that tone is the most important aspect of his directorial skill, and Coppola's control is unmatched.

However, when asked about his personal preferences and what makes him smile, causing him to watch it again and again, he cites a completely different movie:

“My favourite movie, when you say the word ‘favourite’, there's a little bit of guilty pleasure in that and a little bit of who you are and what makes you smile, that kind of thing. That would be Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

'Raiders of the Lost Ark' Partially Inspired Shyamalan to Make 'The Sixth Sense'

The connection between Steven Spielberg's blockbuster and M. Night Shyamalan's supernatural thriller may seem subtle, but the director himself explains this evolution.

He recalls looking at the posters of his favorite childhood movies, including The Exorcist and Raiders of the Lost Ark, covering the walls of his room. Suddenly, he realized:

“I looked at them and I said to myself, let me stop pretending I'm an art filmmaker, stop pretending to be something I am not, and let me make one of these movies.”

This moment of self-awareness was a turning point in his career. The result was The Sixth Sense – a film that became a cult classic.

'Raiders of the Lost Ark' Has Become the Gold Standard for Adventure Movies

Released in 1981, Raiders of the Lost Ark became a cultural phenomenon that set the standard for adventure movies for decades to come.

Drawing inspiration from the pulp novels and TV series of their youth, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas crafted the ultimate adventure tale, complete with a charismatic hero, deadly traps, exotic locales, and irresistible charm.

Already famous for his role as Han Solo, Harrison Ford found his second iconic role as the archaeologist Indiana Jones.

Even today, when special effects and stunts seem outdated, Raiders of the Lost Ark remains the standard by which all subsequent adventure films are measured.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'?

• Raiders of the Lost Ark has 94% from critics and 96% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 8.4/10.

• On Letterboxd, Raiders of the Lost Ark scored 4.2/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'?

Raiders of the Lost Ark is available to stream on Disney+.