The Best Movie That Came Out the Year You Graduated, According to Critics
Based on Rotten Tomatoes scores, these are the greatest movies from 1950 to 2019.
![the lord of the rings the two towers](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/0104-Two-Towers-1.jpg?quality=82&strip=1&resize=640%2C360)
We all have our personal favorites when it comes to the movies we grew up with, and we might not always agree with the critics. After all, sometimes a movie with great reviews just isn't for you, and other times you find that a critically reviled movie is close to your heart. Still, review aggregator sites like Rotten Tomatoes offer a general consensus, and with their annual breakdown of top-rated movies, we can discover the best movie every year, at least according to critics.
To compile our list, we narrowed it down to the years 1950 through 2019. It's important to note that the top-rated movie for any given year on Rotten Tomatoes may not be the movie with the highest score overall; these scores are weighted by the number of reviews a film received, and the critics who wrote them. We also limited our list to movies that got a wide release in U.S. theaters that year.
With that in mind, take a look at what critics decided was the best movie of the year when you graduated high school—and every year before and after. See if any of your favorites made the cut. And for a look at how more beloved films stack up, we're Ranking Every Disney Animated Movie, From Worst Reviewed to Best.
1950: All About Eve
![still from all about eve](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/All-About-Eve-trailer-still.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent
And for movies the critics weren't as kind to, These Are the Movies on Rotten Tomatoes With 0 Percent Ratings.
1951: A Streetcar Named Desire
![a streetcar named desire](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/unnamed-2.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1952: Singin' in the Rain
![singin in the rain](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/cbdb4f7c-ac4f-4c76-8123-01a9dc08b176.jpeg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
And to see how more modern movies got scored, we're Ranking Every Marvel Movie, From Worst Reviewed to Best.
1953: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
![gentlemen prefer blondes](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/GPB-3.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1954: Rear Window
![rear window](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/3f8f436ceed78c3f762c6a4ac910edd7.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent
And for more classic films that capture the season, these are The 20 Best Summer Movies of All Time.
1955: The Night of the Hunter
![the night of the hunter](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/maxresdefault-6.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent
1956: Seven Samurai
![seven samurai](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/samurai.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
1957: 12 Angry Men
![12 angry men](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/12-angry-men-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
And for another walk down memory lane, revisit these 40 Movies Turning 40 This Year.
1958: Touch of Evil
![touch of evil](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/5cdc3f7b295ef.image_.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
1959: North by Northwest
![north by northwest](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/NorthNorthwest07.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent
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1960: Psycho
![still from psycho](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/psycho-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
1961: Breathless
![still from breathless](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/image-a-bout-de-souffle-1960-3.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
1962: Lawrence of Arabia
![lawrence of arabia](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/lawrence-of-arabia-jose-ferrer-peter-otoole-omar-sharif.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1963: 8 1/2
![still from eight and a half](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/e357abb637d42becb3ec008eaea63e6e.jpeg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1964: A Hard Day's Night
![a hard day's night](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/beatles.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1965: Repulsion
![still from repulsion](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/banner-5.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
1966: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
![who's afraid of virginia woolf](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/ywULIcnoBJBJxTI9XvMFuDQWbZC.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
1967: The Battle of Algiers
![the battle of algiers](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/battle_of_algiers_-a777a037ee8a2b214eda6259e1a2aa12.jpeg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent
1968: 2001: A Space Odyssey
![2001 a space odyssey](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/wb-10036-Full-Image_GalleryBackground-en-US-1483993177215._SX1080_.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92 percent
1969: Midnight Cowboy
![midnight cowboy](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Midnight-Cowboy-Joe-y-Rico-caminan-por-un-puente.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89 percent
1970: Patton
![still from patton](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/79535-1532336916.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94 percent
1971: The Last Picture Show
![the last picture show](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/last-picture-show.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
1972: The Godfather
![still from the godfather](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/screen-shot-2014-12-20-at-10-15-43-am.png)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1973: Playtime
![still from playtime](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/ATLAS-OF-PLACES-JACQUES-TATI-PLAYTIME-IMG-7.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1974: Chinatown
![still from chinatown](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/cover-yaketSxx6rbzl2P1j5U6pAHC3h9GEzfQ.jpeg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent
1975: Jaws
![still from jaws](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/jaws_trailer_tn-1920x1080.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1976: Taxi Driver
![still from taxi driver](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/god.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
1977: Annie Hall
![still from annie hall](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/annie_0.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1978: Halloween
![still from halloween](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/rs_1024x759-141024151151-1024.Jamie-Lee-Curtis-Halloween.jl_.102414.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
1979: Alien
![still from alien](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/alien-1979-20-g.jpeg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1980: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
![empire strikes back](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/eq9MnZTEMoQ7LWjACSH3sS.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94 percent
1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark
![raiders of the lost ark](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/musicartsculture_movies2-1-e0c227a2d5a78176.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
1982: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
![et the extra terrestrial](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/17b70530a15ad532c62a60ac247c312b.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1983: The Right Stuff
![the right stuff](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/MV5BNmRjYzg0YzktZjQ4ZC00ZjM4LWEzN2UtMTA4MGE3NjRmNDFkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjE5MzM3MjA@._V1_SX1777_CR001777995_AL_.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
1984: The Terminator
![the terminator](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/the-terminator-arnold-schwarzenegger-1.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
1985: Ran
![still from ran](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/MV5BM2YyMjI0OWEtNzQwYi00NTg3LThjOGYtYjVkNjM2NWVkZWMxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTI3MDk3MzQ@._V1_SX1777_CR001777970_AL_.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
1986: Aliens
![still from aliens](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/aliens1.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
1987: The Princess Bride
![the princess bride](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/princesbride_movie_main.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
1988: Big
![still from big](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/B9317277310Z.1_20150522182555_000_GMFASC18G.1-0.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
1989: Henry V
![still from henry v](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/3-7.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
1990: Goodfellas
![goodfellas](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/classic_netflix_2.jpg.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
1991: The Silence of the Lambs
![the silence of the lambs](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/The-Silence-of-the-Lambs-Anthony-Hopkins-3.jpg.jpeg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
1992: Unforgiven
![still from unforgiven](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/unforgiven04.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
1993: Schindler's List
![schindler's list](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/schindler.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
1994: Three Colors: Red
![three colors red](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/4Three-Colors-Red-5.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
1995: Toy Story
![toy story](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-10.56.47-AM-617x420.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
1996: Fargo
![still from fargo](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/frances_mcdormand_fargo.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94 percent
1997: L.A. Confidential
![l.a. confidential](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/l-a-confidential.jpeg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent
1998: The Truman Show
![the truman show](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/mv5bmtvimjrhndytmzrmzi00mdm3ltg0njutnwrlnzazowyzyzfhl2ltywdll2ltywdlxkeyxkfqcgdeqxvyndaxotexntm-_v1_.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
1999: Toy Story 2
![toy story 2](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/maxresdefault-7.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
2000: Chicken Run
![still from chicken run](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Chicken_Run.0.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
2001: Monsters, Inc.
![monsters inc.](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/rs_1024x759-140714130037-1024.boo_.cm_.71414.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
![the lord of the rings the two towers](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/164e70455d8717bf362cd47edd9eec50.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
2003: Finding Nemo
![finding nemo](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/170717-finding-nemo-lie-feature.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent
2004: The Incredibles
![the incredibles](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/maxresdefault-8.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
2005: Murderball
![still from murderball](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/film__2888-murderball-hi_res-bd2d9c60.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
2006: Casino Royale
![casino royale](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Casino-Royale-Eva-Green-Daniel-Craig-1024x697.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
2007: Ratatouille
![still from ratatouille](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/ratatouille_2007_4.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
2008: The Dark Knight
![still from the dark knight](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/90ye10y9y0s41.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94 percent
2009: Up
![still from up](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/maxresdefault-9.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
2010: Toy Story 3
![toy story 3](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/woody-prickly-buttercup-trixie_wide-4b5581086499d0bc199b92eb04b0471baf4de462-s800-c85.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
![harry potter and the deathly hallows part 2](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/223046_1255877.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
2012: Argo
![still from argo](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/5272_4_argo_2012_blu_ray_movie_review_full.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
2013: Gravity
![still from gravity](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/gravity-2-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
2014: Boyhood
![still from boyhood](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Boyhood.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
2015: Mad Max: Fury Road
![mad max fury road](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/madmax.furyroad-750x400.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
2016: Moonlight
![still from moonlight](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/moonlight-2016-movie-review-barry-jenkins-drama-trevante-rhodes.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
2017: Lady Bird
![still from lady bird](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/1_HXky3I3KagqRU30auqIGvg.jpeg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent
2018: Black Panther
![Michael B. Jordan, Chadwick Boseman, and Sydelle Noel in Black Panther (2018)](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/01/black-panther-movie.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
2019: Parasite
![still from parasite](https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/nbcu-89L57-Full-Image_GalleryBackground-en-US-1582838410350._SX1080_.jpg)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent