One favorite for each year I’ve been alive (last updated January 2026), not rank ordered.

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
2. The Apartment
3. The Battle of Algiers
4. Bicycle Thieves
5. Blue Velvet
6. Casablanca
7. Cloud Atlas
8. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
9. Fellowship of the Ring
10. Free Solo
11. Ghost in the Shell
12. In the Mood for Love
13. I Saw the TV Glow
14. It Follows
15. It’s a Wonderful Life
16. The Last Jedi
17. Late Spring
18. Let the Right One In
19. Little Women (2019)
20. Midsommar
21. Mad Max: Fury Road
22. Man with a Movie Camera
23. My Neighbor Totoro
24. Night is Short, Walk on Girl
25. Night of the Hunter
26. Ordet
27. Pather Panchali
28. The Piano
29. Playtime
30. Rachel Getting Married
31. Some Like it Hot
32. Spirited Away
33. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
34. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
35. There Will be Blood
36. Tokyo Story
37. Uncut Gems
38. Under the Skin
39. Unforgiven
40. Withnail and I
41. Yojimbo