AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills
AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills is a list ranking the 100 most heart-pounding American films of all time, spanning various genres such as horror, suspense, and action, as selected by leaders in the film industry to celebrate adrenaline-inducing storytelling in U.S. cinema.[1] The list was unveiled by the American Film Institute (AFI) on June 12, 2001, during a three-hour CBS television special hosted by actor Harrison Ford.[2] To compile it, AFI first drew up a shortlist of 400 nominated feature-length American films based on criteria including narrative format over 60 minutes, U.S. production, and significant thrilling impact on film heritage.[3] Over 1,800 voters, including actors, directors, screenwriters, producers, critics, historians, and studio executives, then cast ballots to determine the final top 100 rankings.[3] The number one spot went to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960), followed by Steven Spielberg's Jaws (1975) and William Friedkin's The Exorcist (1973), highlighting classics that have defined the thriller genre through innovative tension and cultural resonance.[1] This installment is part of AFI's broader "100 Years...100" series, which honors various facets of American filmmaking, and it continues to influence discussions on cinematic excitement and legacy.[1]Overview
Description
AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills is a ranked list of the 100 most thrilling American films of all time, selected to celebrate movies that deliver excitement through suspense, tension, action, and heart-pounding moments, regardless of genre.[1] The list highlights the artistry of visual storytelling in creating edge-of-your-seat experiences that have defined American cinema.[1] Unveiled on June 12, 2001, as part of the American Film Institute's centennial celebration of American cinema, featuring films from 1923 to 1999, the list forms the fourth installment in the American Film Institute's ongoing 100 Years... series.[4][5] The selection drew from a shortlist of 400 nominated films, voted on by 1,800 leaders in the film community, including artists, critics, and historians.[6][4] Alfred Hitchcock holds the record with the most entries at nine films, underscoring his mastery of suspense.[5] The top-ranked film is Psycho (1960, directed by Alfred Hitchcock), followed by Jaws (1975, directed by Steven Spielberg) at number two and The Exorcist (1973, directed by William Friedkin) at number three.[1]Context in AFI Series
The AFI 100 Years... series, initiated by the American Film Institute (AFI) in 1998, marked the centennial of American cinema through a decade of curated lists that highlighted diverse aspects of film excellence, spanning from 1998 to 2008 with a total of ten installments.[7] Beginning with AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies, which ranked the greatest American films overall, the series progressed to honor specific elements such as legendary performers in 100 Stars (1999) and comedic achievements in 100 Laughs (2000).[8] Each list was compiled through ballots cast by leaders in the film community, including artists, scholars, critics, and historians, and presented via annual CBS television specials to engage public appreciation of cinematic heritage.[2] AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills, unveiled in 2001, occupied the fourth position in this sequence, marking a thematic shift toward genre-specific celebrations by focusing on the most suspenseful and heart-pounding American films.[1] This installment emphasized the thrill genre's role in evoking excitement and tension across cinema, distinguishing it from the broader or more lighthearted prior lists.[9] The series evolved from general accolades of cinematic greatness to increasingly specialized themes, incorporating elements like romance in 100 Passions (2002), heroism and villainy in 100 Heroes & Villains (2003), musical numbers in 100 Songs (2004), memorable lines in 100 Movie Quotes (2005), and inspirational stories in 100 Cheers (2006), before concluding with the genre-spanning 10 Top 10 in 2008.[7] Unlike the 100 Movies list, which received a 10th anniversary update in 2007, the 100 Thrills ranking has remained unchanged since its original release.[10]Development
Selection Criteria
The selection criteria for AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills emphasized films that deliver intense excitement while adhering to strict eligibility standards to ensure representation of American cinematic heritage. Core requirements stipulated that qualifying films must be feature-length fiction productions, defined as narrative formats typically exceeding 60 minutes in length, thereby excluding shorts, documentaries, and non-narrative works. Additionally, films had to be American in origin, meaning they were produced or significantly financed and distributed by U.S.-based entities, and primarily in the English language, with ongoing recognition within the United States as domestic achievements.[1][9] The thematic focus centered on "thrills," interpreted as moments of heart-pounding excitement achieved through innovative artistic and technical craftsmanship, encompassing genres such as suspense, horror, action, and psychological tension. Jurors evaluated how these elements created visceral emotional impact, distinguishing the list from broader surveys by prioritizing adrenaline-inducing narratives that transcend mere entertainment. This approach aligned with the AFI series' adaptation of general standards but tailored them to highlight pulse-racing storytelling innovations.[1][9] A cultural mandate required films to demonstrate enduring legacy and profound influence on American film heritage, meaning they must have enriched the national cinematic tradition through critical acclaim, major award recognition, or widespread exhibition during their initial release, while advancing filmmaking techniques. Experimental or avant-garde works were explicitly excluded to maintain emphasis on accessible, influential fiction that has shaped popular and artistic perceptions of thrill.[1][9] AFI compiled a ballot of 400 nominated American feature films based on the above criteria. This curated ballot was then distributed to a larger panel of 1,800 film community leaders for final ranking, ensuring a balance between institutional curation and broad professional input.[1][9]Voting Process
The voting process for AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills involved distributing ballots to a jury of 1,800 leaders from the American film community, including directors, screenwriters, actors, editors, cinematographers, visual effects artists, critics, historians, and film executives.[11][12] These participants were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) to represent diverse perspectives in cinema, ensuring a broad consensus on what constitutes thrilling American films.[13] Each juror received a ballot featuring a shortlist of 400 nominated American feature films, compiled by AFI based on eligibility criteria such as narrative works with significant release and impact in the United States. Voters were instructed to rank up to 100 of their favorite thrillers from this list, with the option to include up to five write-in selections for films not included.[11] The ballots emphasized evaluating films on their "total adrenaline-inducing impact of the artistry and craft," regardless of specific genre boundaries. AFI then tabulated the rankings to determine the final top 100, prioritizing collective judgment over individual preferences.[12] Ballots were distributed in 2000, with voting occurring in the early months of 2001 to allow time for compilation ahead of the public unveiling. The results were revealed on June 12, 2001, during a CBS television special, marking the culmination of AFI's oversight in refining the shortlist and ensuring the process reflected scholarly and artistic consensus without public disclosure of tie-breaking mechanisms.[11] This methodology underscored AFI's commitment to democratic yet expert-driven selection, avoiding exhaustive numerical details in favor of highlighting influential cinematic achievements.[13]Broadcast
Television Special
The "AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills" television special was a three-hour primetime broadcast on CBS, airing on June 12, 2001, under the full title "AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies."[2] The program was jointly produced by the American Film Institute (AFI) and CBS Entertainment, featuring edited clips from the ranked films, segments with expert commentary from film professionals, and structured countdown reveals that built anticipation throughout the event.[2][14] The special followed a reverse countdown format, progressing from the 100th-ranked film to the top entry at #1, with each reveal accompanied by visual highlights and narrative interludes. These interludes included behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the movies' production and cultural impact, as well as brief tributes to their contributions to American cinema's thrilling genre.[3] This structure mirrored the AFI's ongoing series of list-based specials, emphasizing educational and celebratory elements to engage a broad audience.[15] Broadcast as part of CBS's primetime schedule, the special drew significant viewership, aligning with the network's previous AFI collaborations that averaged over 11 million viewers.[15] It earned a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program in 2002, recognizing its production quality and contribution to television programming.[16]Hosts and Participants
Harrison Ford served as the primary host of the AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills television special, introducing various segments and providing narration to guide viewers through the countdown of America's most thrilling films.[11][17][2] The program featured celebrity presenters drawn from the film industry, including actors and directors who offered personal reflections tied to specific entries on the list, such as Sigourney Weaver for Alien, Jamie Lee Curtis for Halloween, Steven Spielberg reflecting on Jaws, and Russell Crowe for Gladiator.[18][2] Expert contributors, including film scholars like Richard Schickel and members of the American Film Institute, provided analytical insights into the genre's evolution and cultural significance, delivered through pre-recorded testimonials rather than a live audience format.[19][1] Notable moments highlighted Ford's opening monologue exploring the essence of "thrills" in cinema, setting the tone for the celebration, alongside targeted guest spots where participants connected their experiences directly to the honored films.[20]The List
Top 10 Films
The top 10 films on AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills list encapsulate the essence of cinematic excitement, drawing from genres like horror, suspense, and adventure to deliver pulse-pounding narratives that have endured in popular culture. Selected by a blue-ribbon panel of over 1,800 voters, including film artists, critics, and historians, these entries highlight innovative storytelling techniques and unforgettable tension-building sequences that redefined audience engagement with thrillers.[1] 1. Psycho (1960), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, centers on Marion Crane, who steals money and checks into the remote Bates Motel, run by the enigmatic Norman Bates, leading to a web of psychological deception and murder. The film's thrilling status is anchored in its groundbreaking shower scene, a 45-second montage of rapid cuts and Bernard Herrmann's screeching score that revolutionized horror by subverting viewer expectations and introducing visceral shock value.[1][13] 2. Jaws (1975), directed by Steven Spielberg, depicts a great white shark terrorizing the beaches of Amity Island, forcing Police Chief Martin Brody, oceanographer Matt Hooper, and shark hunter Quint to hunt the beast in a high-stakes ocean showdown. Its adrenaline stems from the unseen predator's relentless attacks and the innovative use of a malfunctioning mechanical shark, which forced reliance on suggestion and John Williams' iconic two-note motif to heighten suspense, turning it into a landmark blockbuster.[1][21] 3. The Exorcist (1973), directed by William Friedkin, follows the demonic possession of 12-year-old Regan MacNeil and the desperate efforts of two priests to perform an exorcism amid supernatural horrors. The movie's dread builds through realistic special effects like the girl's head-spinning levitation and guttural voice distortions, creating an unrelenting atmosphere of spiritual terror that tapped into cultural fears of the unknown.[1] 4. North by Northwest (1959), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, tracks advertising executive Roger Thornhill, mistaken for a spy, as he evades assassins across America in a globe-trotting chase involving crop-duster planes and Mount Rushmore. Thrills arise from its masterful set pieces, such as the iconic plane attack sequence, which exemplify Hitchcock's "wrong man" trope and seamless blending of humor with peril.[1][13] 5. The Silence of the Lambs (1991), directed by Jonathan Demme, portrays FBI trainee Clarice Starling's pursuit of serial killer Buffalo Bill, seeking insights from incarcerated cannibal Hannibal Lecter in a tense psychological cat-and-mouse game. Its gripping pursuit is fueled by Anthony Hopkins' chilling portrayal of Lecter and the film's exploration of vulnerability, culminating in claustrophobic night-vision sequences that amplify isolation and fear.[1] 6. Alien (1979), directed by Ridley Scott, unfolds aboard the commercial spaceship Nostromo, where the crew awakens a deadly extraterrestrial that stalks them in the confined corridors of deep space. The sci-fi isolation thrives on H.R. Giger's biomechanical creature design and the film's slow-burn tension, pioneering the "haunted house in space" formula with jump scares and body horror.[1] 7. The Birds (1963), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, depicts a serene coastal town overrun by aggressive seabirds attacking residents without provocation, forcing Melanie Daniels and Mitch Brenner to barricade themselves against the avian onslaught. Its eerie assault sequences, achieved through innovative matte effects and sound design replacing traditional scores, evoke primal terror from nature's rebellion.[1][13] 8. The French Connection (1971), directed by William Friedkin, follows gritty New York detective "Popeye" Doyle in a relentless pursuit of a heroin smuggling ring, highlighted by a high-speed car chase through urban streets. The raw grit of its documentary-style chase—filmed with hidden cameras and real traffic—delivers visceral realism and adrenaline, influencing action cinema's procedural edge.[1] 9. Rosemary's Baby (1968), directed by Roman Polanski, tracks young mother-to-be Rosemary Woodhouse as she uncovers a satanic conspiracy surrounding her pregnancy in a New York apartment building. Paranoia builds through subtle psychological cues and Mia Farrow's haunted performance, masterfully escalating everyday unease into occult dread without overt violence.[1] 10. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), directed by Steven Spielberg, follows archaeologist Indiana Jones racing Nazis to recover the Ark of the Covenant, packed with booby-trapped temples and fistfights. Its adventurous intrigue shines in practical stunts like the boulder chase and whip-cracking action, blending serial-like excitement with historical mythology for timeless rewatchability.[1] These elite films share common themes of pursuit, isolation, and the uncanny, with Alfred Hitchcock's influence prominent—his three entries underscore his mastery of suspense through visual misdirection and audience manipulation. Voter rationale emphasized enduring cultural impact, such as box-office phenomena and genre innovations, alongside rewatchability driven by layered tension that rewards repeated viewings.[1][13]Full Ranking
The AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills list ranks the 100 most heart-pounding American movies, selected by a jury of over 1,800 film artists, critics, and historians in 2001, encompassing a broad spectrum of suspense, horror, action, and adventure genres from the silent era to the late 20th century.[1] This comprehensive catalog highlights the evolution of cinematic tension, with Alfred Hitchcock dominating the rankings through nine entries, followed by Steven Spielberg with six films that blend spectacle and suspense.[1]| Rank | Film Title | Director(s) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psycho | Alfred Hitchcock | 1960 |
| 2 | Jaws | Steven Spielberg | 1975 |
| 3 | The Exorcist | William Friedkin | 1973 |
| 4 | North by Northwest | Alfred Hitchcock | 1959 |
| 5 | The Silence of the Lambs | Jonathan Demme | 1991 |
| 6 | Alien | Ridley Scott | 1979 |
| 7 | The Birds | Alfred Hitchcock | 1963 |
| 8 | The French Connection | William Friedkin | 1971 |
| 9 | Rosemary's Baby | Roman Polanski | 1968 |
| 10 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | Steven Spielberg | 1981 |
| 11 | The Godfather | Francis Ford Coppola | 1972 |
| 12 | King Kong | Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack | 1933 |
| 13 | Bonnie and Clyde | Arthur Penn | 1967 |
| 14 | Rear Window | Alfred Hitchcock | 1954 |
| 15 | Deliverance | John Boorman | 1972 |
| 16 | Chinatown | Roman Polanski | 1974 |
| 17 | The Manchurian Candidate | John Frankenheimer | 1962 |
| 18 | Vertigo | Alfred Hitchcock | 1958 |
| 19 | The Great Escape | John Sturges | 1963 |
| 20 | High Noon | Fred Zinnemann | 1952 |
| 21 | A Clockwork Orange | Stanley Kubrick | 1971 |
| 22 | Taxi Driver | Martin Scorsese | 1976 |
| 23 | Lawrence of Arabia | David Lean | 1962 |
| 24 | Double Indemnity | Billy Wilder | 1944 |
| 25 | Titanic | James Cameron | 1997 |
| 26 | The Maltese Falcon | John Huston | 1941 |
| 27 | Star Wars | George Lucas | 1977 |
| 28 | Fatal Attraction | Adrian Lyne | 1987 |
| 29 | The Shining | Stanley Kubrick | 1980 |
| 30 | The Deer Hunter | Michael Cimino | 1978 |
| 31 | Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Steven Spielberg | 1977 |
| 32 | Strangers on a Train | Alfred Hitchcock | 1951 |
| 33 | The Fugitive | Andrew Davis | 1993 |
| 34 | The Night of the Hunter | Charles Laughton | 1955 |
| 35 | Jurassic Park | Steven Spielberg | 1993 |
| 36 | Bullitt | Peter Yates | 1968 |
| 37 | Casablanca | Michael Curtiz | 1942 |
| 38 | Notorious | Alfred Hitchcock | 1946 |
| 39 | Die Hard | John McTiernan | 1988 |
| 40 | 2001: A Space Odyssey | Stanley Kubrick | 1968 |
| 41 | Dirty Harry | Don Siegel | 1971 |
| 42 | The Terminator | James Cameron | 1984 |
| 43 | The Wizard of Oz | Victor Fleming, King Vidor | 1939 |
| 44 | E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial | Steven Spielberg | 1982 |
| 45 | Saving Private Ryan | Steven Spielberg | 1998 |
| 46 | Carrie | Brian De Palma | 1976 |
| 47 | Invasion of the Body Snatchers | Don Siegel | 1956 |
| 48 | Dial M for Murder | Alfred Hitchcock | 1954 |
| 49 | Ben-Hur | William Wyler | 1959 |
| 50 | Marathon Man | John Schlesinger | 1976 |
| 51 | Raging Bull | Martin Scorsese | 1980 |
| 52 | Rocky | John G. Avildsen | 1976 |
| 53 | Pulp Fiction | Quentin Tarantino | 1994 |
| 54 | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | George Roy Hill | 1969 |
| 55 | Wait Until Dark | Terence Young | 1967 |
| 56 | Frankenstein | James Whale | 1931 |
| 57 | All the President's Men | Alan J. Pakula | 1976 |
| 58 | The Bridge on the River Kwai | David Lean | 1957 |
| 59 | Planet of the Apes | Franklin J. Schaffner | 1968 |
| 60 | The Sixth Sense | M. Night Shyamalan | 1999 |
| 61 | Cape Fear | J. Lee Thompson | 1962 |
| 62 | Spartacus | Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Mann | 1960 |
| 63 | What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? | Robert Aldrich | 1962 |
| 64 | Touch of Evil | Orson Welles | 1958 |
| 65 | The Dirty Dozen | Robert Aldrich | 1967 |
| 66 | The Matrix | The Wachowski brothers (Lana and Lilly Wachowski) | 1999 |
| 67 | The Treasure of the Sierra Madre | John Huston | 1948 |
| 68 | Halloween | John Carpenter | 1978 |
| 69 | The Wild Bunch | Sam Peckinpah | 1969 |
| 70 | Dog Day Afternoon | Sidney Lumet | 1975 |
| 71 | Goldfinger | Guy Hamilton | 1964 |
| 72 | Platoon | Oliver Stone | 1986 |
| 73 | Laura | Otto Preminger | 1944 |
| 74 | Blade Runner | Ridley Scott | 1982 |
| 75 | The Third Man | Carol Reed | 1949 |
| 76 | Thelma & Louise | Ridley Scott | 1991 |
| 77 | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | James Cameron | 1991 |
| 78 | Gaslight | George Cukor | 1944 |
| 79 | The Magnificent Seven | John Sturges | 1960 |
| 80 | Rebecca | Alfred Hitchcock | 1940 |
| 81 | The Omen | Richard Donner | 1976 |
| 82 | The Day the Earth Stood Still | Robert Wise | 1951 |
| 83 | The Phantom of the Opera | Rupert Julian | 1925 |
| 84 | Poltergeist | Tobe Hooper | 1982 |
| 85 | Dracula | Tod Browning | 1931 |
| 86 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Albert Lewin | 1945 |
| 87 | The Thing from Another World | Christian Nyby, Howard Hawks | 1951 |
| 88 | 12 Angry Men | Sidney Lumet | 1957 |
| 89 | The Guns of Navarone | J. Lee Thompson | 1961 |
| 90 | The Poseidon Adventure | Ronald Neame | 1972 |
| 91 | Braveheart | Mel Gibson | 1995 |
| 92 | Body Heat | Lawrence Kasdan | 1981 |
| 93 | Night of the Living Dead | George A. Romero | 1968 |
| 94 | The China Syndrome | James Bridges | 1979 |
| 95 | Full Metal Jacket | Stanley Kubrick | 1987 |
| 96 | Blue Velvet | David Lynch | 1986 |
| 97 | Safety Last! | Fred Newmeyer, Sam Taylor | 1923 |
| 98 | Blood Simple | Joel Coen, Ethan Coen | 1984 |
| 99 | Speed | Jan de Bont | 1994 |
| 100 | The Adventures of Robin Hood | Michael Curtiz, William Keighley | 1938 |