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8 Films You Won't Believe Are In IMDb's Top 250

8 Films You Won't Believe Are In IMDb's Top 250

8 Films You Won't Believe Are In IMDb's Top 250
22 January 2015

His Girl Friday, A Streetcar Named Desire, Frankenstein, Battleship Potemkin, The Searchers: all movies that are not included in IMDb's Top 250. 

The list, based on user votes, is often seen as an indicator of what people see as the greatest films ever made. But while the top 10 might be made of undeniably great stuff, from eternal leader The Shawshank Redemption to 12 Angry Men to Fight Club, there are some head-scratching inclusions further on down.

We've trawled the entire list and found the 8 most surprising inclusions. Mild spoilers ahead

You can see the full, ever-changing, list here

Interstellar

Position: 17

Higher than:Star Wars

Christopher Nolan's most divisive film to date did boast some undeniably great visuals and a notable Hans Zimmer score but left many cold with its magical bookshelf ending. Not IMDb users who in just two months have deemed it among the 20 greatest films ever released. Ever.


The Intouchables

Position: 38

Higher than:Apocalypse Now

Despite only receiving a small release here and in the US, this simplistic, overly sentimental and arguably a bit racist French comedy was a huge hit internationally and is now the biggest foreign film of all time at the worldwide box office. Which might explain the popularity with IMDb users.


Prisoners

Position: 246

Higher than:Rope

Initially seen as an Oscar contender but ultimately viewed as a bit too schlocky for any real awards recognition, thanks to some rather fantastical plotting, this kidnap thriller is a decent, well-acted watch but far from a classic. 


Snatch

Position: 92

Higher than: Some Like It Hot

Before the Guy Ritchie brand of gangster movie grew tiresome, this was one of the deliberately rough diamonds. While we don't begrudge it any love, we're a little bit shocked at just how much love it's received. For some perspective, Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is four places underneath...


The Imitation Game

Position: 202

Higher than: Jaws

It's just nabbed an impressive eight Oscar nominations but given its modestly scaled release, it's quite a surprise that it's making such an impression with IMDb users. It's perhaps less surprising when you consider the power of Cumberbitches.


The Help

Position: 238

Higher than:Jurassic Park

This well-intentioned but hideously patronising take on racism in the 60s scored Oscar nominations for Viola Davis and Jessica Chastain and one win for Octavia Spencer. Intelligent civil rights drama Selma received zero Oscar nominations for its actors. Anyway, the blandness worked its charm with the public who placed it near the end of the list.


Hachi: A Dog's Tale

Position: 195

Higher than: Gandhi

A little-seen (or so we thought) remake of a Japanese film about a dog who forms a bond with a college professor, this seemed to appeal to the same crowd who made insufferably cute noises throughout Marley & Me. Well, up until the ending...


Gran Torino

Position: 144

Higher than:Gone with the Wind

After a bit of a roll that started with Mystic River and continued on with Million Dollar Baby, Letters From Iwo Jima and Changeling, Clint Eastwood's return to the front of the camera was the most formulaic of them all, which might explain why its the most liked of the bunch on IMDb .