UKs 100 Most Popular Films?

Last weekend Channel 4 broadcasted the 100 most popular films based on cinema attendance. It was the latest entry in the popular but increasingly less interesting "100 Greatest" series which recently, if not actually scraping it, has certainly been approaching, the bottom of the barrel (100 Greatest Tearjerkers? Seriously?). But they're obviously an easy but effective way to sell advertising space which is why their producers persist with them despite the fact that they practically invite people to point out each list's weaknesses rather than dwell on its strengths.

The only real weakness of this list is its title - the "Ultimate Film" list. Actually, it's really the top 100 films on the basis of cinema attendance (not really such a snappy title though), which is quite different from the 100 most popular films. For one thing it fails to take into account how cinema attendance has varied over time. Videos have revolutionised the way we watch films. It's not really fair to compare attendance when cinema was the only way to see a film with cinema attendance today when people can always get out the DVD later. So a quick look at the top 10 shows that five of them were made in the 1940s, and only one (Titanic - #8) is from the video age. In the moden era, lists like this are at least as useful at measuring anticipation and hype, as a film's quality or popularity.

A classic case would be the Star Wars series. Admittedly the original (#4) makes the top 10, but would anyone really argue that Attack of the Clones (#65) was more popular than The Empire Strikes Back (#67) or Return of the Jedi (#87)? And the popularity of the Phantom Menance (#28) is surely due to anticipation from a 15 year wait.

The beauty of such a list is that once you give it its correct title, you can't really argue with its findings. The breakdown by decades is very interesting. As noted above, the 1940s win hands down over the other decades, and films making the top 10 which have long passed into obscurity like Spring in Park  Lane (#5), and The Best Years of our Lives (#6). (I can now understand why the soldiers in Dad's army were always shown in the cinema). The advent of televison seems to have torpedoed the 50s though with only one film (South Pacific - #19) making the top 20. The worst performing decade is the 80s, ten years of cinema unjustly ignored due to the video revolution when it should have been rejected on account of its terrible soundtracks. But which film shines through the mullets and shoulder pads? Moonraker?

It's also surprising what's not on the list. As expected, British film lists contain a higher proportion of film lists than those made elsewhere, and yet there's no room for Trainspotting, Billy Elliott or any of Hitchcock's films except Rebecca (#73). The Godfather Part 2 doesn't make it, nor do any of the Indiana Jones films or the Back to the Future Trilogy. Omissions like this actually stress how important word of mouth is when it comes to film promotion. The original Matrix doesn't make the list but its inferior sequel does(#96). Toy Story misses the mark, but Toy Story 2 gets to number 37. The Shawshank Redemption - the biggest selling film on video of all time - isn't their either. It's only gained its popularity because of word of mouth.

The list does bring some real positives as well. Firstly, it gives us a useful snapshot of cinema going that our memories can't erase. People did used to go to the cinema more, certain films have only become classic as the years (and television repeats) wore on. And films that were once considered brilliant and everyone went to see them have sunk like, um, (the) Titanic. It also makes an interesting comparison with more American Influenced lists. For example the highest bible film is The Ten Commandments at number 21. In the worldwide list it ranks at number 5

Best of all it reminds us that great films haven't just been made in the last decade, and gives a few oldies, but goodies to check out as well. I reckon I've seen 60 of these 100 (which I suppose gives me a two:one) so, for whatever it's worth, here are 5 from the list to make sure you see: (You can borrow these from me).

#33 - The Bridge Over the River Kwai (ased in a Japanese POW camp starring Obi Wan Kenobi)
#45 - The Sting (Paul Newman and Robert Redford team up to pull off the big con)
#46 - The Godfather (What do you mean you've not seen it?)
#59 - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Ever wondered why people think Jack Nicolson has talent? This is why)
#71 - Big Country (Epitomises why people like westerns - and Gregory Peck rules)

Or, if you fancy seeing a film that deals with spiritual themes why not watch something on the Arts and Faith 100 Spiritual Films list?

Posted by: Matt Page on Wednesday Dec 1st, 2004

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