Why the most respected film poll in history finally changed its top choice

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For decades, the Sight and Sound decennial poll was dominated by the same few classics. But a massive expansion of the voting body in 2012 and 2022 transformed the list, culminating in a historic shift that saw a film directed by a woman take the top spot for the first time.

Published by the British Film Institute since 1934, Sight and Sound has evolved from a quarterly review into a monthly authority on global cinema. While it covers all releases—including art house films often ignored by mainstream publications—it is best known for its decennial poll of the greatest films of all time. First conducted in 1952, the poll was initially a small affair; only 63 critics responded to the first invitation, and most found the task of ranking films unfair. For half a century, the results were remarkably stable, with Orson Welles's Citizen Kane holding the top position from 1962 through 2002.

The poll's reputation for exclusivity faced mounting criticism regarding its lack of diversity. In response, the 2012 iteration underwent a radical expansion, inviting 846 participants—including historians, curators, and archivists—to broaden the perspective beyond traditional critics. This shift immediately disrupted the established hierarchy, as Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo unseated Citizen Kane. The trend continued in 2022, when the voting body grew to 1,639 participants. This latest poll saw Chantal Akerman’s 1975 masterpiece, Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, become the first film directed by a woman to reach number one.

This evolution reflects a deliberate effort to account for gender, ethnicity, and geography, moving the poll away from the narrow consensus of the mid-20th century. While some critics, such as Raymond Durgnat, historically accused the magazine of elitism and snobbery, the modern poll now captures a far wider range of voices. With nearly 4,000 films receiving at least one mention in 2022, the list has transformed from a static canon into a dynamic, inclusive record of global film appreciation, cementing its status as the only list most serious cinephiles take seriously.

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