10 Best Movies and TV Shows of the 20th Century: Our Picks
A century impossible to reduce to ten titles
Talking about the best of the 20th century in film and television is far from objective. There is no definitive list, no single criterion capable of organizing decades of history, styles, genres, and narrative revolutions. What does exist, however, is a way of looking at that century — through the impact its works left behind, what they still communicate today, and how they shaped the way we understand storytelling.
This ranking doesn’t aim to be academic. It doesn’t try to cover everything or satisfy everyone. Instead, it focuses on something more complex: selecting the works that are still alive, that still resonate, and that, in one way or another, continue to define what we understand as cinema and television.
📊 Quick View
🎬 Concept: Editorial ranking of the best of the 20th century
🧠 Focus: Emotional impact, legacy, and lasting relevance
⚡ Approach: Analytical but accessible, without academic rigidity
⭐ Level: Masterpieces and cultural landmarks
🧩 Context: A selection blending film and television to define an era
From 10 to 7: pop culture, impact, and collective memory
The final stretch of the ranking highlights something essential: the 20th century wasn’t built only on pure excellence, but also on cultural impact. Forrest Gump and Friends share the tenth position because they represent exactly that. One from cinema, connecting with virtually any viewer regardless of context. The other from television, becoming a global and generational phenomenon.
Just above them sits The Silence of the Lambs, a film that redefined psychological thrillers and remains a benchmark in tension-building and character construction. Right before that, Life Is Beautiful proves that even within one of history’s darkest periods, cinema can still find a way to move audiences without losing its humanity.
In seventh place, American History X stands out as one of the most direct and uncompromising films of the late century — raw, uncomfortable, and impossible to ignore.
The middle ground: when cinema defines itself
At the center of the ranking lies one of its most interesting dynamics: the intersection between film and television as forces of change. The Sopranos is not just a great series — it marks the beginning of a new era, the moment television stopped being a secondary medium and started competing directly with cinema in ambition and quality.
Sharing that position is Se7en, a thriller that redefined the darker tone of the 90s and proved that genre filmmaking could be as impactful as any traditional drama. Its atmosphere, pacing, and unforgettable ending make it a lasting reference point.
Just before this block sits Psycho, a film that forever changed the rules of suspense — not just in what it tells, but in how it tells it. And right above it, The Godfather trilogy stands as one of the most ambitious narrative achievements in cinema. The first is a masterpiece, but the second carries a unique merit: expanding something already perfect and taking it even further.
The podium: emotion, revolution, and historical memory
The top three positions hardly need introduction, but they do require context. Schindler’s List represents cinema as memory — as a tool to ensure that certain stories are never forgotten. It is uncomfortable, necessary, and deeply human.
In second place, Pulp Fiction breaks every rule. It isn’t just a film — it’s a turning point. It reshapes narrative structure, dialogue, rhythm, and the way modern cinema is understood.
At the very top sits The Shawshank Redemption. Not because it is the most innovative or the most daring, but because it achieves something far more difficult: universality. It connects with any viewer, at any time, and continues to resonate decades later. In a ranking like this, that matters more than anything else.
How the 20th century has aged
If this ranking proves anything, it’s that great works are not defined by the context in which they were created. The year, the format, or the genre becomes secondary. What truly matters is their ability to endure — to remain relevant and powerful over time. And every piece in this list does exactly that.
The 20th century didn’t just build modern cinema. It laid the foundation for everything that followed. And it did so with stories that, even today, continue to inspire, influence, and, in many cases, remain unmatched.
🎬 Top 10 of the 20th Century (from bottom to top)
10. Forrest Gump / Friends (TV Series)
9. The Silence of the Lambs
8. Life Is Beautiful
7. American History X
6. The Sopranos / Se7en
5. Psycho
4. The Godfather (trilogy)
3. Schindler’s List
2. Pulp Fiction
1. The Shawshank Redemption
A ranking that stays open, but with a clear identity
This list is not definitive — no list ever is. But it does offer a specific way of looking at the 20th century: through impact, emotion, and legacy. And ultimately, that’s what elevates these works beyond simple titles. It’s what turns them into history.
To explore the transition toward modern prestige television, read our analysis of the enduring influence of The Sopranos.
To continue the historical comparison, explore our personal selection of films and television shows from the 21st century.
Go deeper into individual classics with our reviews of The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, and The Godfather Part II.
