We can’t remember the last time we watched a movie without consulting Rotten Tomatoes first. The new Ben Affleck flick only scored a 26%? We’re out before the first scene rolls. A new movie hits Amazon we didn’t know what to expect from surprisingly scores over a 90% (see: Guardians of the Galaxy)? We’re already in line for tickets. Still, it’s that illustrious group we call ‘The 99% Club’—the select group of movies that scored either 99% or 100% approval ratings—that we turn to time and time again. To give you an idea of how hard it is to achieve that kind of approval rating, consider the following that didn’t make the cut: The Shawshank Redemption, E.T., Saving Private Ryan. Of the elite group, these are our favorites.
Selma
Every once in a while, a movie comes along at just the right time. Selma was one of those movies. Released in 2015, the film that focuses on the efforts led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to secure equal voting rights for African Americans in America hit theaters during a time when racial tensions were broadcast on traditional and evolving media. Don’t get us wrong, this isn’t the reason Selma is an incredible film, but there is something about the right time and place. The incredible performance from David Oyelowo seemed not only spot on, but necessary to remind people there were those who fought before who would urge you not to let the fight not to end. There are plenty of reasons it took home a handful of awards. Rotten Tomatoes iTunes Amazon
The Godfather
A movie that truly needs no introduction. With a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and a slew of lists naming it the greatest movie of all time, Francis Ford Coppola’s epic is as close to perfect as it gets. If you haven’t seen it, we have no idea what you’re waiting for. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes
Seven Samurai
Not only the greatest samurai film ever made, arguably one of the greatest war/battle movies ever made. It’s the main inspiration for The Magnificent Seven and probably for a lot of Tarantino’s upcoming The Hateful Eight. The perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes is just further proof of the film’s greatness. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes
Short Term 12
Romantic, emotional movies are often filled with awful dialogue, two-dimensional characters, and about as much depth as this river. Short Term 12 is one of the rare examples that’s not. It handles complex topics with ease and catches you with a haymaker when you’re least expecting it. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes Netflix
Man on Wire
Of the films that take home approval ratings of 99-100%, most end up being black and white classics or documentaries. While we love many docs, we only wanted to put the best of the best on this list. Man on Wire is one of those. It tells the tale of Philippe Petit and the day (August 7, 1974) he walked across a wire strung between the Twin Towers. It’s New York, it’s passion, and it’s the “artistic crime of the century.” Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes Netflix
Cool Hand Luke
Few characters in cinematic history have encapsulated cool as well as Luke Jackson. It’s easy to think back on Cool Hand Luke as some breezy, lightweight movie full of perfectly buttoned denim shirts and slick dialogue, but what makes the movie worthy of its 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is the depth that easily gets forgotten. Worth rewatching if it’s been a decade or more. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes
The Terminator
– If your immediate thought is, “No way The Terminator scored 100%!” you’re one of many who forget how great the movie was. Maybe it’s the cartoon character Arnold became, but many don’t remember how tremendous The Terminator is. Buried under all the machismo is a heady movie that remains one of James Cameron’s best. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes
Wake in Fright
It’s the film that left Scorsese speechless and Roger Ebert stunned. The entire movie exists in the haze of a booze-soaked bender and pulls you under the hot Australian sun for the ride. It’s grim, sweaty, and worth a larger audience. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes Netflix
The Man From Nowhere
It’s a shame we only get a small percentage of the incredible action films from the Far East. While an occasional martial arts epic makes its way to our shores, a lot are left behind. Just be thankful we have The Man From Nowhere. The Korean movie is packed with dark and tense action like only the shadows were being filmed. It didn’t receive the amount of ratings as other films, so it probably would drop a touch from its 100% approval if it did, but we can’t deny how much we love this work from Jeong-beom Lee. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes Netflix
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
If you love sushi to the point where you’d welcome mercury poisoning to eat more, you pretty much need to see Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Of course, any film that scores a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes can’t just be a couple hours of food porn, Jiro Dreams of Sushi will make you salivate while taking you inside Sukiyabashi Jiro’s little joint inside a Tokyo subway station to see how a true master works. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes Netflix
Toy Story
Toy Story was the movie that introduced the world to Pixar. And while the animation studio would go on to release some of the biggest films of recent time, it was Toy Story that still stands as their greatest feat. Labeling it a kid’s movie is a severe injustice. Yes, Toy Story is, was, and will be enjoyed by children. But Toy Story is also a heartfelt buddy comedy for adults, and it’s infused with a sense of nostalgia that makes it even more enjoyable. The cast’s performance, the music, the incredible animation—everything about the film is top notch, and it’s as enjoyable today as it was when you saw it over 20 years ago. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes
Sound City
Dave Grohl’s ode to rock is a surprisingly amazing film. It’s based around a small, iconic studio where the likes of Nirvana, Neil Young, and many others recorded tracks. Dave Grohl obviously knows rock, but with Sound City it’s also clear he knows how to craft a great film. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes
Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Stanley Kubrick directed a great many movies. Most of those movies are absolute classics—Full Metal Jacket, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining—but his highest rated film is one that seems to be forgotten by most. That’s a shame. Dr. Strangelove Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb would be damn near horrifying if it wasn’t so funny. The 1964 film was released shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis and dared shroud the seriousness of nuclear weapons in laughter. When it comes to dark comedies, this is like pitch black midnight. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon iTunes
Starred Up
Starred Up is easily one of the best movies we’ve seen in years and worthy of its 99% rating. Set inside a British prison, the film has an ultra-realistic feel that’s grimy, raw, and unapologetic. The story of Eric Love and his prison stint with his father is vicious. It’s what other prison films should have been if they didn’t chicken out. Rotten Tomatoes Amazon
