The American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles, California conducted its ninth polling, 100 Years…100 Cheers. It was to be a definitive selection of the 100 most ‘inspiring’ American films of all time, as determined by more than 1,500 film artists (directors, screenwriters, actors, editors, cinematographers), critics and historians. (please note that this list is up to 2005)
1. “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
2. “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)
3. “Schindler’s List” (1993)
4. “Rocky” (1976)
5. “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939)
6. “E.T. — The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)
7. “The Grapes of Wrath” (1940)
8. “Breaking Away” (1979)
9. “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947)
10. “Saving Private Ryan” (1998)
11. “The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946)
12. “Apollo 13″ (1995)
13. “Hoosiers” (1986)
14. “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957)
15. “The Miracle Worker” (1962)
16. “Norma Rae” (1979)
17. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975)
18. “The Diary of Anne Frank” (1959)
19. “The Right Stuff” (1983)
20. “Philadelphia” (1993)
21. “In the Heat of the Night” (1967)
22. “The Pride of the Yankees” (1942)
23. “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
24. “National Velvet” (1944)
25. “Sullivan’s Travels” (1941)
26. “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
27. “High Noon” (1952)
28. “Field of Dreams” (1989)
29. “Gandhi” (1982)
30. “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962)
31. “Glory” (1989)
32. “Casablanca” (1942)
33. “City Lights” (1931)
34. “All the President’s Men” (1976)
35. “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (1967)
36. “On the Waterfront” (1954)
37. “Forrest Gump” (1994)
38. “Pinocchio” (1940)
39. “Star Wars” (1977)
40. “Mrs. “Miniver” (1942)
41. “The Sound of Music” (1965)
42. “12 Angry Men” (1957)
43. “Gone With the Wind” (1939)
44. “Spartacus” (1960)
45. “On Golden Pond” (1981)
46. “Lilies of the Field” (1963)
47. “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)
48. “The African Queen” (1951)
49. “Meet John Doe” (1941)
50. “Seabiscuit” (2003)
51. “The Color Purple” (1985)
52. “Dead Poets Society” (1989)
53. “Shane” (1953)
54. “Rudy” (1993)
55. “The Defiant Ones” (1958)
56. “Ben-Hur” (1959)
57. “Sergeant York” (1941)
58. “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977)
59. “Dances With Wolves” (1990)
60. “The Killing Fields” (1984)
61. “Sounder” (1972)
62. “Braveheart” (1995)
63. “Rain Man” (1988)
64. “The Black Stallion” (1979)
65. “A Raisin in the Sun” (1961)
66. “Silkwood” (1983)
67. “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (1951)
68. “An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982)
69. “The Spirit of St. “Louis” (1957)
70. “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (1980)
71. “Cool Hand Luke” (1967)
72. “Dark Victory” (1939)
73. “Erin Brockovich” (2000)
74. “Gunga Din” (1939)
75. “The Verdict” (1982)
76. “Birdman of Alcatraz” (1962)
77. “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989)
78. “Thelma & Louise” (1991)
79. “The Ten Commandments” (1956)
80. “Babe” (1995)
81. “Boys Town” (1938)
82. “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971)
83. “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” (1936)
84. “Serpico” (1973)
85. “What’s Love Got to Do with It” (1993)
86. “Stand and Deliver” (1988)
87. “Working Girl” (1988)
88. “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (1942)
89. “Harold and Maude” (1972)
90. “Hotel Rwanda” (2004)
91. “The Paper Chase” (1973)
92. “Fame” (1980)
93. “A Beautiful Mind” (2001)
94. “Captains Courageous” (1937)
95. “Places in the Heart” (1984)
96. “Searching for Bobby Fischer” (1993)
97. “Madame Curie” (1943)
98. “The Karate Kid” (1984)
99. “Ray” (2004)
100. “Chariots of Fire” (1981)