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How TIME’s Film Critic Chose the 100 Best Movies of the Past 10 Decades

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As a movie lover, I’ve always felt films are like time capsules, reflecting the era they were made in and giving us a glimpse into the lives and experiences of those who came before us. But let’s be honest, for a long time, the film industry was dominated by white men behind the camera. While women delivered incredible performances, breaking through as directors was tough, even in the early days. And filmmakers of color faced even bigger hurdles, especially in the US, finding more opportunities in music, literature, and painting. There were exceptions – the early ‘race films’ and pioneers like Oscar Micheaux – but it took decades for filmmakers like Charles Burnett, Melvin Van Peebles, and Julie Dash to gain a foothold. That means a lot of potential stories were never told, leaving gaps in film history.

This list of favorite films reflects that reality, and you might notice some ‘classic’ titles are missing – no Citizen Kane, Casablanca, or Goodfellas. It’s not that I dislike those films, but sometimes the work of directors like Orson Welles (The Magnificent Ambersons) or Michael Curtiz (Mildred Pierce) resonates with me more.

Breaking down the past century decade by decade also revealed some interesting patterns. Of course, directors like Howard Hawks and Alfred Hitchcock show up repeatedly, but it also made me consider how a director’s style evolves over time – Scarface in the 30s is very different from Rio Bravo in the 50s. Some decades were just packed with great films, making cuts incredibly difficult – I had to leave out gems like All About Eve, Tokyo Story, and Sunset Boulevard. Letting go of films like Alien, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and even my preferred version of King Kong wasn’t easy!

I’ve made a conscious effort to include more comedies than you usually see on these lists. Comedies are often overlooked, but they can be just as insightful and moving as ‘serious’ films. Ultimately, I hope this list sparks a sense of discovery and adventure. Just like with people, it’s the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make us fall in love with movies. It’s about embracing the ‘wrong’ taste that feels perfectly right.