AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 24


Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films.

Norman Bates: She might have fooled me, but she didn't fool my mother.

Psycho (1960)
Original List Position: 18
Starring: Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
About: This list is no stranger to Hitchcock. We've seen some of his films already, and we're not done. But this might be his most iconic. Arguably it serves as a template for slashers, which would really take off nearly two decades later. But it's also a deeply terrifying tale about someone who has lost his grip on the world and reality. It was No. 18 on the original list and moved to No. 14 10 years later. It's a film that has a great impact on the culture, still. It's not my favorite of Hitchcock's films, but I am impressed by this film. It was easily in the top quarter of the list for me.

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