Top Ranked Movies of All Time by Decade: Why the 1990s Still Rule

What makes a movie truly unforgettable? Is it the storytelling, the cinematography, the acting—or is it something more intangible, like how it makes us feel years after the credits roll? For film lovers around the globe, the answer may lie in the decades that defined their favorite titles. When considering the Top Ranked Movies of All Time by Decade, Everlist.me, a popular platform for user-generated movie rankings, may have the answer — the 1990s reign supreme when it comes to the greatest films of all time.

Everlist.me recently analyzed the top 100 highest-ranked movies of all time—based entirely on votes from its global community—and grouped them by decade. The results were striking: the 1990s led the list with 25 films featured, followed closely by the 2000s with 23. These two decades together account for nearly half of the all-time top 100, solidifying their place as cinematic powerhouses.

One could speculate as to how filmmakers were given more freedom in the 90s and how independent film was very much on the rise during that time period, or one could also extrapolate that the nostalgia of users based on demographics may hark back to their childhood favorites — but no matter what the reasons are, the lists are certainly interesting and worth taking note of.

The 1980s came in third with 19 titles, while the 2010s held a respectable 15 spots. The 1970s—often considered a landmark era for auteur filmmaking—had 11 films in the top tier. Meanwhile, older decades like the 1960s and 1940s saw only a handful of entries (3 and 1 respectively), and the still-developing 2020s era has just 3 so far.

“User-generated data tells a fascinating story about cultural impact,” said Damian Carte, CEO of Everlist.me. “When real people from around the world rank their favorite films, decade trends emerge that reflect not only artistic quality but also emotional connection, nostalgia, and influence.”

And there’s a lot to unpack in what users are voting for. The 1990s delivered modern classics like The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, and The Matrix—films that not only pushed creative boundaries but also built loyal fanbases that persist today. The 2000s gave us The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Dark Knight, Gladiator, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind—stories that blended scale with soul.

Everlist.me’s list isn’t compiled by critics or studio execs or streaming platform algorithms — it’s shaped by the voices of everyday movie lovers. That authenticity may be what makes it so compelling.

As Carte puts it, “Our rankings aren’t about what’s fashionable at the moment—they’re about what stays with you. What you rewatch. What you quote. What you love.”

So if you’re looking for a guide to some of the greatest movies ever made—or a reason to revisit the magic of ’90s and 2000s cinema—check out Everlist.me and start ranking your own personal favorites.

And who knows? The 2020s still have time to rise…