Is it possible to choose the single best movie out of all the films made over the years? Many rankings of the best films of all time have been created online, but I was curious to know which title AI would recommend. I directed the question to the chatbot developed by OpenAI, known as ChatGPT.
The Best Films of All Time According to AI. "Citizen Kane" Tops the List
"Choosing the best film of all time is always a topic of debate because it depends on taste and personal preferences" - AI replied, stating the obvious. The evaluation of any film always depends on the viewer's preferences, context, emotions, and knowledge, but that's not the only issue with objectively assessing a movie.
Films vary in genres, storytelling, innovation, and craftsmanship. It's hard to compare big-budget productions that create new worlds, showcase special effects, and address important social issues with equally successful and valuable light comedies or clever mysteries. Nevertheless, ChatGPT analyzed the available rankings online and created its own, suggesting five titles as the best films of all time.
Topping the list is "Citizen Kane", a true classic from 1941. According to AI, this film is groundbreaking for cinema. Orson Welles' work was notable at the time of its release for its approach to visual storytelling. The film demonstrated innovation in nonlinear narrative, cinematography, and editing. It's also worth noting that this was Welles' directorial debut, which he managed to complete at just 25 years old.
AI Selected the Five Best Films of All Time. It's Not "Forrest Gump" or "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
The second film considered by ChatGPT as one of the best of all time is "The Godfather" from 1972. This choice matches the Polish ranking available on Filmweb, although in that ranking, Francis Ford Coppola's iconic film is in fourth place, while on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s ranked second. The third film recommended by AI is another title from the 1940s, Casablanca, which placed third in the Rotten Tomatoes ranking with a 99% fresh rating from critics.
The last two films considered by ChatGPT to be undeniable masterpieces of cinema are much more recent. "This production revolutionized 1990s cinema" - AI writes. It's referring to "Pulp Fiction" by Quentin Tarantino, which only ranked 11th in the Filmweb ranking. Closing the list is "The Shawshank Redemption" by Frank Darabont, based on a story by Stephen King. Interestingly, this title didn’t make the list of the top 300 films on Rotten Tomatoes, but it holds the highest position in the Filmweb ranking.
