Image via United Artists
By
Robert Lee III
Published 18 minutes ago
Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years.
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Few distinct styles of filmmaking have been as largely celebrated and acclaimed over the years as film noir, often considered one of the greatest artistic movements (or genres, depending on who you ask) in film history. The distinct style of crime drama throughout the '40s and '50s was defined by cynical attitudes, a low-key, black-and-white visual style, and expressive cinematography that gave each moment a palpable feeling and tension.
Many of these noir classics are among the most influential and acclaimed crime films of all time. With so many film noir films being widely celebrated and acclaimed by film fans, it would only make sense that a dedicated film hub like Letterboxd would have its own select choices for the best noir films out there. In an ironic statement of just how highly acclaimed and beloved noir is on Letterboxd specifically, many of these films are so highly rated that they are among the highest rated films on the entire site.
10 'Vertigo' (1958)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.23/5
John Ferguson (James Stewart) standing on a ledge in Vertigo (1958)Image via Paramount Pictures
One of many thriller masterpieces from the master of tension and suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, Vertigo acts as the visionary director's premiere answer to the film noir movement as a whole. Even among Hitchcock's highly illustrious filmography, Vertigo is perhaps his most beloved and highly revered achievement, often in conversation as one of the greatest films of all time. Such a lofty legacy has similarly resulted in a high rating among Letterboxd users, although not as high as sites like IMDb, where it stands as the #110 highest rated film of all time.
The film is a definitive classic of the thriller genre in every sense of the word, with its overwhelming influence in terms of dramatic storytelling and rising tension largely felt through the vast majority of modern thrillers. Its lower placement on this list says a great deal about how much the Letterboxd community loves the film noir era, when one of the all-time greatest films of all time just barely makes it into the top ten.
9 'Sweet Smell of Success' (1957)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.24/5
Image via United Artists
A satirical drama that tackles the vicious and unrelenting forces behind powerful newspaper brands, Sweet Smell of Success presents a message of news transparency that is strikingly brilliant and has aged gracefully in the decades since its release. The film follows New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster), whose singular opinion in his Broadway column has attained considerable power over the masses. However, despite having control of every other aspect of his life, he simply can't stop his sister, Susan (Susan Harrison), from dating aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas (Martin Miller). He soon recruits publicist Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) to find a way to split them up, by any ruthless means necessary.
Much like many of the endearing classics of the era, the distinct mixture of striking visuals and powerful cynical satire has made the film a highly engrossing experience for many Letterboxd users. Its timeless messaging and takedown of unethical journalistic practices only amplify its strength and impact on modern viewers, especially considering the current state of journalism. Sweet Smell of Success is so beloved on Letterboxd that it has managed to earn a spot as the #231 highest-rated film on the site.
8 'The Third Man' (1949)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.25/5
The Third Man is a strikingly brilliant mystery thriller whose compelling central mystery, combined with a legendary final act, has made it not just a noir icon but a landmark of 1940s cinema. The film follows writer Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten), who has arrived in postwar Vienna as a guest of childhood friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles), only to learn that he has died. Martins soon finds himself delving into conspiracy after learning about a mysterious "third man" who was present at the time of Harry's death, finding out all he can to uncover this mystery while simultaneously falling in love with Harry's grief-stricken love, Anna (Alida Valli).
Many different aspects make The Third Man an icon of the era, from its seamless combination of genuine romance with underlying mystery to relatable and layered characters that elevate the material. However, many of the film's more famous strengths come from its final third, with its beautiful chase sequence and an all-time masterful performance from Welles. It has retained its legacy as a classic for a reason, with the Letterboxd community similarly loving it to the point of it being the #229 highest rated film on the site.
7 'Double Indemnity' (1944)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.26/5
Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson looking over a stairwell in Double IndemnityImage via Paramount Pictures
When it comes to the inherent conventions and traits symbolic and inherent of noir, few films more distinctly emblemize them than Double Indemnity, which has become synonymous with the movement. It tells about as classic a crime noir tale as can be, following an instantly engaging story of a housewife seducing an insurance salesman into a deadly scheme of murdering her husband so they can collect his life insurance.
While noir had certainly started with prominent movies before this point, it's easy to see Double Indemnity as the film that set the standard and style for the era as a whole, having a massive influence over many other noir films to follow. Barbara Stanwyck's duplicitous Phyllis Dietrichson is cinema's ultimate femme fatale, and the film's plot is the blueprint for numerous movies that followed. Its striking and sleek execution has kept the film an icon since its release, with Letterboxd specifically loving it enough to be rated #215 highest rated film on the site.
6 'The Night of the Hunter' (1955)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.26/5
Robert Mitchum as "Preacher" Harry Powell with "Love" written on his fingers in The Night of the HunterImage via United Artists
A disturbing yet highly entertaining mishmash of so many different tones and styles that frankly circumvents the very notions of the genre itself, The Night of the Hunter is a masterpiece of tension, almost coming across at times like an otherworldly nightmare. The Christmas noir film follows the vicious Preacher Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum), a serial killer who has his sights set on a duo of young children who know the whereabouts of a hidden stash of money.
Thanks to a brilliantly unnerving lead performance from Mitchum and some of the best, most tantalizing visuals that the entire film noir era has to offer, The Night of the Hunter soars as one of the undeniable masterpieces of the era, growing more beloved and acclaimed year after year. Its distinct blend of styles and tones has especially made The Night of the Hunter a fan-favorite in the modern era, with the Letterboxd community's love of the film helping it achieve the spot of #210 highest-rated film on the site.
5 'Rififi' (1955)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.26/5
Image via Pathé
While not as immediately recognizable to Western audiences due to being a French-language film, Rififi proves that in all parts of the world, noir had an undeniable impact and legacy on crime thrillers. The gangster film follows a deadly foursome of prominent criminals banding together to commit the seemingly impossible heist of an exclusive jewelry shop in the Rue de la Paix. Their actions leading up to and during the crime threaten the lives of everyone involved, including those affiliated with them.
One of the defining and most prominent aspects of Rififi's filmmaking that has made it stand the test of time is its legendary heist sequence. For almost half an hour, the scene depicts the entire high-stakes jewel heist in shockingly intricate detail, utilizing near silence without any dialogue or music and simply allowing the realism of the crime to hook audiences. It has stood as one of the simplest yet most brilliant sequences in all crime film history, and its legacy has helped the film achieve the spot as Letterboxd's #206 highest rated film.
4 'Ace in the Hole' (1951)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.27/5
Kirk Douglas searching a cave in Ace in the HoleImage via Paramount Pictures
One of many prominent and beloved noir films from one of the premier architects of the movement, Billy Wilder, Ace in the Hole further explores the style he established in Double Indemnity with a classic satire of unethical reporting and journalism. The film sees Kirk Douglas as Charles Tatum, an arrogant, disgraced reporter who takes matters into his own hands to reclaim his position in the world of reporting. He begins to exploit the story of a man trapped in a cave, creating a media circus to revitalize his career working for a major newspaper.
While the film was shockingly critically panned when it was first released, time has been incredibly kind to it. Ace in the Hole is now considered a staple of Wilder's filmography and one of many masterpieces that he's brought to the big screen. Douglas provides an exceptional lead performance, while the core story of exploitation for the sake of personal gain still feels apt and powerful to this day. On Letterboxd, the film currently holds the spot as the #190 highest-rated film on the site.
3 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre' (1948)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.29/5
Humphrey Bogart sits down while Robert Blake stands next to him in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,1948.Image via Warner Bros.
While the high-flying energy of an adventure film seems like it wouldn't fit with the stylings and approach to noir filmmaking, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre brilliantly combines the concepts to create an Academy Award-winning masterpiece. The film follows a duo of jobless American drifters who decide to set off on a journey to the remote Sierra Madre mountains in hopes of prospecting and finding gold. After convincing a prospector to join them, they find that the array of hostile animals, local bandits, and the inherent greed of their trip is tearing them apart and constantly getting in the way.
At times, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre feels like a sort of anti-adventure film, with how brilliantly it deconstructs its plot and shows the harsh, painful reality of traveling to another country hoping to find gold. It's a cynical yet deeply engaging story of perseverance in the face of painful circumstances, further amplified by some career-best performances from the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Walter Huston. For all these reasons, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre currently holds a spot as the #166 highest-rated film on Letterboxd.
2 'M' (1931)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.30/5
Peter Lorre as Hans Beckert in M (1931)Image via Vereinigte Star-Film GmbH
While the German mystery thriller M technically predates the film noir movement by almost a full decade, it's the distinct expressionist cinematography elements that helped define the visual style and weight of noir filmmaking in general. It's easy to see M's influence, especially when its story feels ripped straight out of a classic noir film of the era. As such, it's often considered part of the noir movement and arguably stands as the most influential and important of them all.
The film follows ruthless serial killer Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre) as he becomes the center of a massive police manhunt in Berlin. With crimes so heinous that both cops and criminals alike are in hot pursuit, Beckert realizes his dastardly predicament as he finds himself in a tension-fueled escape attempt. Despite being almost 100 years old, the film still has a powerful visual style that feels brilliant and impactful with each frame. The all-time icon of noir stands as the #161 highest-rated film on Letterboxd.
1 'Sunset Boulevard' (1950)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 4.43/5
Image via Paramount Pictures
While many other noir films have distinct impacts and legacies as titans of expressive filmmaking, none come close to the inherent mastery and brilliance of Billy Wilder's magnum opus, Sunset Boulevard. Its undeniable masterpiece qualities have made it many people's go-to answer for the greatest noir film of all time, perennially in conversation as one of the overall greatest movies of all time. This classic story of Hollywood tensions and star power angst proves just as timeless today as it was when it was first released.
It's the type of film whose very name is enough to elicit reactions of awe and brilliance, standing as an untouched icon of perfection that was capable not just within the film noir genre, but with classic Hollywood American filmmaking as a whole. While several of the other proposed greatest films of all time don't retain such legacies and high placements on Letterboxd, Sunset Boulevard is a stark exception, holding a highly respectable spot as the #40 highest-rated film on the site.
Sunset Boulevard
Approved
Film Noir
Drama
Release Date
August 10, 1950
Cast
William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough, Jack Webb, Franklyn Farnum
Runtime
110 Minutes
Director
Billy Wilder
Writers
Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, D.M. Marshman Jr.
Genres
Film Noir, Drama
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