The Critics' Holy Grail: 8 Rare Movies That Earned Perfect 100/100 on Metacritic
Flawless films that have won over even the most discerning experts.
Cinema has the power to enchant and inspire viewers, leaving an indelible mark. However, only a select few films achieve absolute perfection.
The movies that have earned a perfect score of 100 on Metacritic have become not just cult projects, but benchmarks, earning recognition from critics and viewers alike.
1. 'Fanny and Alexander', 1982
This Ingmar Bergman's family saga transports viewers back to 1907. The story centers on ten-year-old Alexander, his sister Fanny, and their family. Their idyllic life and Christmas celebrations come to an end with the death of their father.
The cruelty of their stepfather, a pastor, forces the main character to seek solace in dreams and reveries. Originally conceived as a miniseries, the nearly six-hour film was cut down to three hours.
2. 'The Godfather', 1972
It is the middle of the 20th century and World War II has just ended. The Corleone family had long since moved to New York from Cicily. Vito's youngest son, Michael, returns from the battlefield.
A Marine and war hero, he wants nothing to do with his father's dirty business. However, times change. An attempt is made on Vito's life, and Michael must get involved in Mafia showdowns.
The greatest gangster saga hardly needs an introduction. The film adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel won three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
3. 'Casablanca', 1942
American Rick Blaine left his homeland and now owns a gambling club in Casablanca. There, he unexpectedly encounters Ilsa, his former lover who abandoned him years ago.
She has come with her husband, anti-fascist resistance fighter Victor Laszlo, seeking shelter and salvation. Rick then faces the most difficult choice of his life.
Casablanca, which was originally conceived as a B-movie, has become a classic Hollywood drama, offering universal appeal and masterful execution in every detail, from costumes and scenery to acting.
4. 'Lawrence of Arabia', 1962
David Lean's epic follows British diplomat, archaeologist, and intelligence officer Thomas Edward Lawrence as he serves in the Middle East during World War I and participates in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
The film's scope is still astounding: it has a four-hour runtime, was filmed over 14 months, and features brilliant performances by Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif. Lawrence of Arabia won seven Oscars, including Best Picture.
5. 'Boyhood', 2014
To accurately convey the life's path of a single person, Richard Linklater spent twelve years filming the movie.
The director began working on the film when the lead actor, Ellar Coltrane, was only six years old. Thanks to this approach, viewers were able to witness the changes in the boy's appearance over time.
Mason's story consists of several stages and includes every significant step in a person's life: first loves, passionate interests, and the bitterness of disappointment. Mason grows from a child into a teenager and then into a young man ready to step onto the threshold of adulthood.
6. 'Rear Window', 1954
Professional photographer Jeff is stuck at home in New York City with a broken leg. Out of boredom, he watches his neighbors from a window.
He gradually begins to suspect that a murder has occurred in one of the apartments across the street. It seems strange to him that, after loud family squabbles, his neighbor takes a suitcase out of the house several times and his wife mysteriously disappears.
Rear Window is a charming movie about the thirst for adventure, which can be found even in the most ordinary place if you really want it.
7. 'Vertigo', 1958
Private detective Scottie Ferguson is approached by an old friend who believes his wife Madeleine, a mysterious blonde, is going crazy.
Scottie follows her all over San Francisco and becomes increasingly convinced of two things with each step he takes. First, Madeleine is indeed hiding a dark secret. Second, he is head over heels in love with her.
Vertigo may seem too slow to modern viewers. However, that's a small price to pay for the opportunity to witness one of the most famous, influential, and meaningful movies in the history of world cinema.
8. 'Notorious', 1946
In 1946, an American court sentenced a Nazi spy to twenty years in prison for treason. At a party, his daughter Alicia meets FBI agent Devlin, who has been assigned by his superiors to uncover a Nazi plot in Rio de Janeiro.
Devlin decides to enlist Alicia's help to complete his task, and she accepts. Thus begins their stormy spy romance.
Notorious is a movie containing all the classic Alfred Hitchcock elements: leading stars of the era, a MacGuffin, espionage, romance, and family problems.
