I've seen many top ten lists from various critics, people, and organizations(like the AFI), but none match M. Night Shyamalan's list from Newsweek, August 5, 2002.
The Godfather
The Exorcist
Jaws
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
The Silence Of The Lambs
Rocky
Dead Poet's Society
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Star Wars
Psycho
The Godfather: Best film ever made, Shyamalan said. End of discussion. Well, I'd put Schindler's List right up there with The Godfather. And then there are the coincidences involving Schindler's List and the end of Poltergeist. Also, The Godfather was #1 at the box office in 1972 and also won Best Picture.
The Exorcist: It might be the scariest movie ever made, but movies don't really scare me anymore. Movies are just movies. Anyway, it was #1 at the box office in 1973 and was nominated for Best Picture, along with the 2nd and 3rd biggest money-makers of 1973. #2 won Best Picture. William Friedkin unfortunately butchered the film in 1999 and has not allowed the original version to be seen since. One bright spot, the butchered version does contain a scene of great meaning when a priest mentions that the enemy wants us to "reject the possibility that God could love us." I'm not 100% sure on that quote, but it's close enough.
Jaws: This movie helped Spielberg become Hollywood's brand new king in 1981, just in time for the 1982 film Poltergeist. Also, it was #1 at the box office in 1975 and was nominated for Best Picture.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark: This was the one movie that put Spielberg on top, after his successes with Jaws and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. Just in time for the 1982 film Poltergeist. ...was #1 at the box office in 1981 and nominated for Best Picture.
The Silence Of The Lambs: This movie won Best Picture when I was a teenager. Also, it was #4 at the box office in 1991. This movie makes a statement about first principles, as does Donald Whitney in his book "Simplify Your Spiritual Life" on page 108.
Rocky: ...was #1 at the box office in 1976 and won Best Picture.
Dead Poet's Society: I saw it only once and don't really remember it all that well. No list is perfect.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest: ...was #2 at the box office in 1975, behind Jaws, and won Best Picture. The 1970's...wow!
Star Wars: Again, the 1970's...wow! It was #1 at the box office in 1977 and was nominated for Best Picture. Unfortunately, George Lucas butchered the film in 1997 and has not allowed the superior version to be seen. Oh well, it's just a movie.
Psycho: Hollywood's brand new king, Spielberg, paid homage to this film at the end of the 1982 film Poltergeist. Both Psycho and Poltergeist had dreadful sequels in 1986.