Some of the most commonly cited contenders for the title of "best film ever made" include:
- Citizen Kane (1941), directed by Orson Welles
- The Godfather (1972), directed by Francis Ford Coppola
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994), directed by Frank Darabont
- The Dark Knight (2008), directed by Christopher Nolan
- Schindler's List (1993), directed by Steven Spielberg
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980), directed by Irvin Kershner
- The Usual Suspects (1995), directed by Bryan Singer
- Pulp Fiction (1994), directed by Quentin Tarantino
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), directed by Peter Jackson
- Parasite (2019), directed by Bong Joon-ho
Ultimately, the question of what the best film ever made is a matter of personal opinion. There is no right or wrong answer, and everyone is entitled to their own favorite film.