🎦 for cinephiles: MUBI's top 1000 films
highest rated films of all time on MUBI. the list is compiled of 1000 films worldwide, and the total live action films from all MDL countries is just under 100. they are ordered here by their ranking on MUBI when added then readjusted occasionally. (anime at the end!)
► some titles link to kanopy and/or hoopla, which are free streaming services with no ads accessible through participating public libraries and universities. they have titles that can't be found elsewhere but there's a limit to "borrowing" (i've seen 4 titles per month for each service but ymmv). this is meant to be a last resort because it's only free for the end user - the library is still being charged. (film quarterly article about this) ◄
source: The MUBI Top 1000 {that list is updated weekly, this list is updated periodically (last checked on 12-25-2023). notes reflect ranking at some point in the past.}
also see ~ MUBI's top 50 films 1990-2023 | IFF LGBT films | more of my custom lists
cw: for warnings on anything you may find disturbing or offensive (depictions of queerphobias, discrimination, shaming, violence, or other triggering content), please check tags* on the title's page, user reviews, and/or Does the Dog Die (although not all titles are there). [*click "Vote or add tags" to see all - but this will include spoilers.]
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1. In the Mood for Love
Hong Kong Movie - 2000
7=
♦ written and directed by Wong Kar Wai
♦ part 2 of an informal trilogy (each can be viewed as stand-alone) – part 1: Days of Being Wild (not on this list) | part 3: 2046 (below)
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2. Seven Samurai
Japanese Movie - 1954
9/
♦ written by Kurosawa Akira, Hashimoto Shinobu, & Oguni Hideo | directed by: Kurosawa Akira
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3. So Long, My Son
Chinese Movie - 2019
12=
♦ directed by Wang Xiaoshuai
-
4. Drive My Car
Japanese Movie - 2021
17/
♦ written by Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Oe Takamasa | directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke
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5. Chungking Express
Hong Kong Movie - 1994
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6. Ran
Japanese Movie - 1985
36/
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7. Tokyo Story
Japanese Movie - 1953
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8. Harakiri
Japanese Movie - 1962
42/
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9. Parasite
Korean Movie - 2019
51=
♦ written by Bong Joon Ho & Han Jin Won | directed by Bong Joon Ho
-
10. Sweet Bean
Japanese Movie - 2015
73/
► hoopla (w/library card) ◄
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11. Happy Together
Hong Kong Movie - 1997
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12. The Handmaiden
Korean Movie - 2016
-
14. The Recorder Exam
Korean Movie - 2011
103=
28m short film
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16. Woman in the Dunes
Japanese Movie - 1964
-
17. Sansho the Bailiff
Japanese Movie - 1954
113/
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18. Fallen Angels
Hong Kong Movie - 1995
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19. Memories of Murder
Korean Movie - 2003
138=
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20. Shoplifters
Japanese Movie - 2018
149/
♦ written and directed by Koreeda Hirokazu
► hoopla (w/library card) | dramacool | amazon (rent, buy, or magnolia selects sub) ◄
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21. Funeral Parade of Roses
Japanese Movie - 1969
156/
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22. Ugetsu Monogatari
Japanese Movie - 1953
-
23. High and Low
Japanese Movie - 1963
171/
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24. Late Spring
Japanese Movie - 1949
172/
♦ written by Ozu Yasujiro & Noda Kogo | directed by Ozu Yasujiro
► max | youtube | kanopy (w/library card) | amazon (fandor sub, rent, or buy) | youtube (fandor sub) ◄
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25. Yi Yi
Taiwanese Movie - 2000
173/
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26. Old Boy
Korean Movie - 2003
190=
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27. Decision to Leave
Korean Movie - 2022
200=
► mubi ◄
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28. Microhabitat
Korean Movie - 2018
216/
► tubi (free w/ads) ◄
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29. Yojimbo
Japanese Movie - 1961
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30. Like Father, Like Son
Japanese Movie - 2013
222/
► tubi (free w/ads) ◄
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31. The Bacchus Lady
Korean Movie - 2016
250/
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32. A Brighter Summer Day
Taiwanese Movie - 1991
263/
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33. 2046
Hong Kong Movie - 2004
284=
♦ written and directed by Wong Kar Wai
♦ part 3 of informal trilogy (each can be viewed as stand-alone) – part 1: Days of Being Wild (not on this list) | part 2: In the Mood for Love (above)
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34. Tokyo Sonata
Japanese Movie - 2008
307/
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35. Throne of Blood
Japanese Movie - 1957
321/
► max ◄
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36. Nobody Knows
Japanese Movie - 2004
330/
♦ written and directed by Koreeda Hirokazu
► tubi (free w/ads) | dramacool | amazon (ifc or amc+ sub) ◄
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37. Eat Drink Man Woman
Taiwanese Movie - 1994
342/
► tubi (free w/ads) ◄
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39. 3-Iron
Korean Movie - 2004
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40. The Terrorizers
Taiwanese Movie - 1986
417/
► mubi ◄
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41. Mother
Korean Movie - 2009
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43. Eros: The Hand
Hong Kong Movie - 2004
[The Hand]
443=
♦ Eros is an anthology with 3 parts, The Hand is part one; 56m
► kanopy (w/library card) ◄
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44. Our Little Sister
Japanese Movie - 2015
447/
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45. Still Walking
Japanese Movie - 2008
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46. Good Morning
Japanese Movie - 1959
450/
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48. Happy Hour
Japanese Movie - 2015
508/
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49. Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
Japanese Movie - 2021
582/
♦ written and directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke
♦ triptych of stand-alone stories ~
♣ pt01: Magic (or Something Less Assuring) [36m]
♣ pt02: Door Wide Open [44m @35:45]
♣ pt03: Once Again [40m @1:19:52]
► kanopy (w/library card) | hoopla (w/library card) | dramacool | amazon (rent or buy) ◄
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50. Poetry
Korean Movie - 2010
600/
► coming to tubi on june 1st (free w/ads) ◄ -postponed previously so ??-
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51. One Cut of the Dead
Japanese Movie - 2018
604/
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52. An Autumn Afternoon
Japanese Movie - 1962
623/
► max ◄
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53. Raise the Red Lantern
Chinese Movie - 1991
632=
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54. Red Beard
Japanese Movie - 1965
642/
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55. Eureka
Japanese Movie - 2000
658/
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56. Early Summer
Japanese Movie - 1951
661/
► max ◄
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57. The Crucified Lovers
Japanese Movie - 1954
665/
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58. An Elephant Sitting Still
Chinese Movie - 2018
674=
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59. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring
Korean Movie - 2003
726/
♦ written and directed by Kim Ki Duk
► dramacool | amazon (rent or buy) | -also youtube and google play (both rent or buy)- ◄ ▼ might link later! ▼
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60. Lust, Caution
Chinese Movie - 2007
752=
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61. Cure
Japanese Movie - 1997
753/
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62. Kwaidan
Japanese Movie - 1964
789/
► max ◄
══════════
◘ Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
United States / Japanese Movie - 1985
{MDL does not add titles if country of origin is split with any non-MDL countries}
793/══════════
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63. The Face of Another
Japanese Movie - 1966
798/
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64. Love Exposure
Japanese Movie - 2009
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65. Syndromes and a Century
Thai Movie - 2006
809/
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66. Perfumed Nightmare
Filipino Movie - 1979
818=
► mubi ◄
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67. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
Hong Kong Movie - 1978
838=
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69. The Life of Oharu
Japanese Movie - 1952
849/
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70. Aloners
Korean Movie - 2021
887/
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71. A Short Story
Chinese Movie - 2022
893=
► mubi ◄
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72. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Korean Movie - 2002
901/
► mubi ◄
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74. Taipei Suicide Story
Taiwanese Movie - 2020
919/
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75. Dreams
Japanese Movie - 1990
945/
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76. Tropical Malady
Thai Movie - 2004
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77. Joint Security Area
Korean Movie - 2000
962/
► tubi (free w/ads) ◄
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78. Kikujiro
Japanese Movie - 1999
963/
/ no longer on Top 1000 / -
79. The Hidden Fortress
Japanese Movie - 1958
966/
► max ◄
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80. Kagemusha
Japanese Movie - 1980
971/
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81. Sanjuro
Japanese Movie - 1962
973/
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82. Still Life
Chinese Movie - 2006
974=
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83. After Life
Japanese Movie - 1998
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85. Vive L'Amour
Taiwanese Movie - 1994
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
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86. A Page of Madness
Japanese Movie - 1926
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
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87. Floating Weeds
Japanese Movie - 1959
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
♦ written and directed by Ozu Yasujiro
► max | kanopy (w/library card) | dramacool ◄
-this is a remake of Ozu's 1934 version, A Story of Floating Weeds, which is also on max and kanopy-
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88. Street of Shame
Japanese Movie - 1956
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
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89. A Touch of Zen
Taiwanese Movie - 1971
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
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90. Oasis
Korean Movie - 2002
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
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91. Late Autumn
Japanese Movie - 1960
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
► max ◄
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92. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Japanese Movie - 1960
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
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93. Inland Sea
Japanese Movie - 2018
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
► hoopla (w/library card) ◄
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94. Pickpocket
Chinese Movie - 1997
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
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95. Moving On
Korean Movie - 2020
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
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96. 24 City
Chinese Movie - 2009
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
# documentary
♦ directed by Jia Zhang Ke
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97. What Time Is It There?
Taiwanese Movie - 2001
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
════ anime in Top 1000 ════
Spirited Away (2001) 25/
My Neighbor Totoro (1988) 129/
Grave of the Fireflies (1988) 141/
Princess Mononoke (1997) 204/
Akira (1988) 295/
Ghost in the Shell (1995) 412/ ► mubi ◄
(anime continued below...)
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98. Susaki Paradise - Red Light District
Japanese Movie - 1956
/ no longer on Top 1000 /
══════ anime (cont.) ══════
Perfect Blue (1997) 434/
Howl's Moving Castle (2004) 533/
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) 568/
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2012) 618/
The End of Evangelion (1997) 648/
Your Name (2016) 754/
Mind Game (2004) 845/ ► mubi ◄
Castle in the Sky (1986) 908/
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) / no longer on Top 1000 /
Whisper of the Heart (1995) / no longer on Top 1000 /
Millennium Actress (2001) / no longer on Top 1000 /
Only Yesterday (1991) / no longer on Top 1000 /