Movies encompass the length and breadth of the human experience, making any Best Of list hopelessly subjective. Comparing, say, The Silence of the Lambs to Fantasia to determine which is "better" actively insults both movies. Similarly, scholarly lists — like the British Film Institute's once-a-decade model which sets the pace on this front — tend to overlook "base" genres like horror and comedy, which often prove more influential. If a reader isn't already inclined to seek arthouse fare like The 400 Blows or The Passion of Joan of Arc, their inclusion in a given list means very little.

Influential films, however, can be measured a little more objectively, as well as encompassing popular movies that find the sweet spot between art and commerce. While it can be difficult to separate the true game-changers from the flashes in the pan, time has a way of revealing. Below is a list of the greatest films — subjective,...