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Martin Scorsese named which he thinks are the five greatest films of all time

Martin Scorsese has named the five greatest films of all time

Saskia Calliste

Published 20:54 24 Nov 2023 GMT

Martin Scorsese has revealed his list of the top five greatest films of all time, and considering who Scorsese is, to be on that list is surely an honor.

Whether you're an avid film viewer or a bit of a film novice, the chances are you've seen a film by Scorsese.

From The Departed (a personal favorite of mine), Gangs of New York, Cape Fear, and most recently Killers of the Flower Moon, the 81-year-old film director has some absolute classics under his belt.

Scorsese's name is mentioned in any conversation about 'best directors' as he is certainly up there with the likes of Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron and David Fincher, to name a few.

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Not loving the pattern here, but let's save that conversation for another day shall we.

We could debate amongst ourselves about what we think is the best Scorsese film all day, but what about what the man behind The Wolf of Wall Street considers to be the greatest films of all time - surely leaving his own off the list?

Every decade, Sight and Sound Magazine asks famed directors to reveal all on their favorite films, and this year happens to be Scorsese's turn.

Giving a list of 15 films, let's look at the The Irishman director's top five.

Martin Scorsese has revealed his top 5 films.

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Would it even be a greatest film list if there wasn't a French classic on there? Probably not, which brings us to number five: Diary of a Country Priest (1951).

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The film's synopsis reads: "A young priest is sent to a parish in an obscure village in Northern France. Here, he tries to deal with the lack of faith among the villagers while also worrying about a terrible pain in his stomach." With a 95% score of Rotten Tomatoes, reckon it's definitely worth a watch.

Number four is Citizen Kane.

The synopsis reads: "When a famous tycoon utters a mysterious word before dying, a journalist embarks on a journey to uncover the secret behind it." This one comes as no surprise, as it's certainly one movie-goers have gushed over for years.

At number three we have Ashes and Diamonds (1958).

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Directed by Andrzej Wajda, Ashes and Diamonds takes place shortly after WW2, and the synopsis reads: "In 1945, former soldiers Maciek and Andrzej are chosen to assassinate Commissioner Szczuka. However, as the time of executing their plan nears, Maciek falls in love with Krystyna, a barmaid."

Scorsese certainly loves the classics.

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At number two, a film I can't say I've ever heard of but let's trust Scorsese's judgement, is 8 ½ (1963) directed by Federico Fellini.

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The film reads: "Guido, a film director, is in a slump and unable to push the production of his new film forward. To recover, he spends time in a spa where his conversations with people help him reflect upon his life."

It might be time to brush up on your Italian cinema.

Now, the moment you've all been waiting for. What is the famed director's number one film on his list?

Well, all you sci-fi fans will certainly be happy as topping Scorsese's chart is... 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) directed by another highly respected director, Stanley Kubrick.

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You know Kubrick? The mastermind who gave us The Shining.

Stanley Kubrick behind the scenes of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

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2001: A Space Odyssey is likely on the top of many of a lot of people's lists. The synopsis for the critically-acclaimed, award-winning film reads: "Humanity discovers a mystifying, artificial object buried underneath the lunar surface. With the assistance of HAL 9000, an intelligent computer, mankind embarks on an interesting quest."

If you're bored of what the streaming services are churning out or Christmas movies simply aren't your bag, then here's Scorsese's full list of films for your viewing pleasure.