Critical Consensus: 1998-2007

Each year for the past decade, somebody or other tallies up a pile of critics' year-end lists as a way of ranking the previous year's films. Now, there's no good way to combine those lists to come up with a critical ranking for the whole decade: for example, who knows, maybe the top six films this year are better than any other single film since Citizen Kane.

But still.

So I went back and determined for each year what percent of critical votes were received by each Top 35 film since 1998, then ranked them by that percentage. Here's what we get;

1 . No Country For Old Men, 2007 ( 11.92% ) # 1
2 . Sideways, 2004 ( 11.44% ) # 1
3 . Saving Private Ryan, 1998 ( 10.83% ) # 1
4 . Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, 2000 ( 10.66% ) # 1
5 . Lost In Translation, 2003 ( 10.65% ) # 1
6 . Brokeback Mountain, 2005 ( 10.55% ) # 1
7 . Lord Of The Rings: Return of the King, 2003 ( 9.67% ) # 2
8 . Far From Heaven, 2002 ( 9.44% ) # 1
9 . United 93, 2006 ( 9.06% ) # 1
10 . American Beauty, 1999 ( 9.03% ) # 1
11 . Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring, 2001 ( 8.78% ) # 1
12 . The Queen, 2006 ( 8.76% ) # 2
13 . Being John Malkovich, 1999 ( 8.75% ) # 2
14 . A History of Violence, 2005 ( 8.72% ) # 2
15 . The Departed, 2006 ( 8.56% ) # 3
16 . Mulholland Drive, 2001 ( 8.35% ) # 4
17 . Eternal Sunshine, 2004 ( 8.31% ) # 2
18 . Y Tu Mama Tambien, 2002 ( 8.20% ) # 2
19 . The Truman Show, 1998 ( 7.73% ) # 2
20 . Mystic River, 2003 ( 7.67% ) # 3
21 . Million Dollar Baby, 2004 ( 7.55% ) # 3
22 . Talk To Her, 2002 ( 7.51% ) # 3
23 . Adaptation, 2002 ( 7.31% ) # 4
24 . American Splendor, 2003 ( 7.30% ) # 4
25 . Capote, 2005 ( 7.18% ) # 3
26 . You Can Count On Me, 2000 ( 7.06% ) # 2
27 . Shakespeare In Love, 1998 ( 7.04% ) # 3
28 . There Will Be Blood, 2007 ( 7.02% ) # 2
29 . About Schmidt, 2002 ( 6.74% ) # 5
30 . Finding Nemo, 2003 ( 6.73% ) # 5
31 . The Aviator, 2004 ( 6.63% ) # 4
32 . Moulin Rouge, 2001 ( 6.62% ) # 5
33 . In The Bedroom, 2001 ( 6.33% ) # 6
34 . Traffic, 2000 ( 6.05% ) # 3
35 . Happiness, 1998 ( 5.99% ) # 4
36 . Almost Famous, 2000 ( 5.82% ) # 4
37 . Zodiac, 2007 ( 5.80% ) # 3
38 . Election, 1999 ( 5.76% ) # 3
39 . Black Hawk Down, 2001 ( 5.76% ) # 4
40 . Before Sunset, 2004 ( 5.71% ) # 5
41 . Letters From Iwo Jima, 2006 ( 5.64% ) # 4
42 . Pan's Labyrinth, 2006 ( 5.62% ) # 5
43 . The Royal Tenenbaum, 2001 ( 5.61% ) # 6
44 . Punch-Drunk Love, 2002 ( 5.54% ) # 6
45 . The Straight Story, 1999 ( 5.53% ) # 4
46 . The Diving Bell & The Butterfly, 2007 ( 5.50% ) # 4
47 . The Incredibles, 2004 ( 5.36% ) # 6
48 . The Butcher Boy, 1998 ( 5.18% ) # 5
49 . Spirited Away, 2002 ( 5.12% ) # 7
50 . Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, 2002 ( 5.10% ) # 8
51 . Once, 2007 ( 4.90% ) # 5
52 . Borat, 2006 ( 4.89% ) # 6
53 . Good Night and Good Luck, 2005 ( 4.84% ) # 4
54 . The Squid & The Whale, 2005 ( 4.80% ) # 5
55 . Crash, 2005 ( 4.78% ) # 6
56 . King Kong, 2005 ( 4.70% ) # 7
57 . Juno, 2007 ( 4.65% ) # 6
58 . The Insider, 1999 ( 4.61% ) # 5
59 . Little Miss Sunshine, 2006 ( 4.54% ) # 7
60 . Wonder Boys, 2000 ( 4.46% ) # 5
61 . Dancer In The Dark, 2000 ( 4.43% ) # 6
62 . In America, 2003 ( 4.42% ) # 6
63 . Out Of Sight, 1998 ( 4.40% ) # 6
64 . Munich, 2005 ( 4.37% ) # 8
65 . Life Is Beautiful, 1998 ( 4.35% ) # 7
66 . Gods And Monsters, 1998 ( 4.22% ) # 8
67 . Waking Life, 2001 ( 4.17% ) # 9
68 . Atonement, 2007 ( 4.16% ) # 7
69 . Capturing the Friedmans, 2003 ( 4.10% ) # 7
70 . Boys Don't Cry, 1999 ( 4.09% ) # 6
71 . The Gangs Of New York, 2002 ( 4.08% ) # 9
72 . Master and Commander, 2003 ( 4.02% ) # 8
73 . Into The Wild, 2007 ( 4.00% ) # 8
74 . Yi Yi (A One And A Two...), 2000 ( 3.93% ) # 7
75 . Toy Story 2, 1999 ( 3.92% ) # 7
76 . Shrek, 2001 ( 3.88% ) # 8
77 . Grizzly Man, 2005 ( 3.88% ) # 9
78 . Erin Brockovich, 2000 ( 3.82% ) # 8
79 . All About My Mother, 1999 ( 3.82% ) # 8
80 . Magnolia, 1999 ( 3.78% ) # 9
81 . Kinsey, 2004 ( 3.77% ) # 7
82 . Babel, 2006 ( 3.77% ) # 8
83 . Three Kings, 1999 ( 3.71% ) # 10
84 . Ratatouille, 2007 ( 3.69% ) # 9
85 . Topsy-Turvy, 1999 ( 3.68% ) # 11
86 . Requiem For A Dream , 2000 ( 3.64% ) # 9
87 . The Pianist, 2002 ( 3.63% ) # 10
88 . Little Children, 2006 ( 3.60% ) # 9
89 . A Simple Plan, 1998 ( 3.54% ) # 9
90 . Rushmore, 1998 ( 3.50% ) # 10
91 . The Thin Red Line, 1998 ( 3.43% ) # 11
92 . Children Of Men, 2006 ( 3.39% ) # 10
93 . Away From Her, 2007 ( 3.37% ) # 10
94 . A.I., 2001 ( 3.31% ) # 11
95 . The Assassination of Jesse James, 2007 ( 3.27% ) # 11
96 . Chicken Run, 2000 ( 3.27% ) # 10
97 . Dreamgirls, 2006 ( 3.23% ) # 11
98 . Half Nelson, 2006 ( 3.23% ) # 12
99 . 21 Grams, 2003 ( 3.23% ) # 9
100 . 4 Months 3 Weeks & 2 Days, 2007 ( 3.22% ) # 12
101 . Sweeney Todd, 2007 ( 3.20% ) # 13
102 . Gladiator, 2000 ( 3.20% ) # 11
103 . 2046, 2005 ( 3.19% ) # 10
104 . Kill Bill 1 , 2003 ( 3.18% ) # 10
105 . I'm Not There, 2007 ( 3.17% ) # 14
106 . Hotel Rwanda, 2004 ( 3.17% ) # 8
107 . House of The Flying Daggers, 2004 ( 3.15% ) # 9
108 . City of God, 2003 ( 3.14% ) # 11
109 . Fahrenheit 9/11, 2004 ( 3.06% ) # 10
110 . Beau Travail, 2000 ( 3.04% ) # 12
111 . Bowling For Columbine, 2002 ( 3.04% ) # 11
112 . Ghost World, 2001 ( 3.02% ) # 12
113 . Eyes Wide Shut, 1999 ( 3.02% ) # 12
114 . Hero, 2004 ( 3.01% ) # 11
115 . Fireworks (Hana-Bi), 1998 ( 3.00% ) # 12
116 . Michael Clayton, 2007 ( 3.00% ) # 15
117 . Cold Mountain, 2003 ( 2.98% ) # 12
118 . Maria Full Of Grace, 2004 ( 2.93% ) # 12
119 . Fast Runner (Atanarjuat), 2002 ( 2.93% ) # 12
120 . The Limey, 1999 ( 2.91% ) # 13
121 . The Celebration, 1998 ( 2.89% ) # 13
122 . Lantana, 2001 ( 2.88% ) # 12
123 . Croupier, 2000 ( 2.87% ) # 13
124 . Volver, 2006 ( 2.87% ) # 13
125 . Before The Devil Knows You're Dead, 2007 ( 2.81% ) # 16
126 . Flags of our Fathers, 2006 ( 2.81% ) # 14
127 . High Fidelity, 2000 ( 2.81% ) # 14
128 . Finding Neverland, 2004 ( 2.79% ) # 13
129 . The Constant Gardener, 2005 ( 2.78% ) # 11
130 . The Talented Mr. Ripley, 1999 ( 2.76% ) # 14
131 . The Matrix, 1999 ( 2.75% ) # 15
132 . Army Of Shadows , 2006 ( 2.75% ) # 15
133 . In The Mood For Love, 2001 ( 2.73% ) # 12
134 . Monster's Ball, 2001 ( 2.73% ) # 12
135 . Amores Perros, 2001 ( 2.73% ) # 13
136 . Run Lola Run , 1999 ( 2.71% ) # 16
137 . Bad Education, 2004 ( 2.71% ) # 14
138 . The Hours, 2002 ( 2.70% ) # 13
139 . The Station Agent, 2003 ( 2.68% ) # 13
140 . Elephant, 2003 ( 2.68% ) # 13
141 . Fight Club, 1999 ( 2.68% ) # 17
142 . Cache, 2005 ( 2.67% ) # 12
143 . The Death of Mr Lazarescu, 2006 ( 2.63% ) # 16
144 . O Brother Where Art Thou?, 2000 ( 2.62% ) # 15
145 . Eastern Promises, 2007 ( 2.60% ) # 17
146 . The House Of Mirth , 2000 ( 2.59% ) # 16
147 . South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, 1999 ( 2.52% ) # 18
148 . Match Point, 2005 ( 2.47% ) # 13
149 . Amelie , 2001 ( 2.45% ) # 15
150 . Sexy Beast, 2001 ( 2.45% ) # 15
151 . Spider-Man 2, 2004 ( 2.42% ) # 15
152 . Ray, 2004 ( 2.40% ) # 16
153 . There's Something About Mary , 1998 ( 2.39% ) # 14
154 . Bulworth, 1998 ( 2.38% ) # 15
155 . House of Sand & Fog, 2003 ( 2.38% ) # 15
156 . Buffalo 66, 1998 ( 2.36% ) # 16
157 . Syriana, 2005 ( 2.33% ) # 14
158 . The Blair Witch Project, 1999 ( 2.33% ) # 19
159 . The Tailor of Panama, 2001 ( 2.30% ) # 17
160 . Together, 2001 ( 2.30% ) # 17
161 . The Sixth Sense, 1999 ( 2.27% ) # 20
162 . Minority Report, 2002 ( 2.26% ) # 14
163 . Whale Rider, 2003 ( 2.25% ) # 16
164 . Chicago, 2002 ( 2.22% ) # 15
165 . Fog of War, 2003 ( 2.20% ) # 17
166 . Billy Elliot, 2000 ( 2.18% ) # 17
167 . Vera Drake, 2004 ( 2.18% ) # 17
168 . A Very Long Engagement, 2004 ( 2.18% ) # 18
169 . The Man Who Wasn't There, 2001 ( 2.16% ) # 19
170 . Spellbound, 2003 ( 2.16% ) # 18
171 . Kings & Queens, 2005 ( 2.15% ) # 15
172 . About A Boy, 2002 ( 2.15% ) # 16
173 . The Motorcycle Diaries, 2004 ( 2.14% ) # 19
174 . Nurse Betty, 2000 ( 2.14% ) # 18
175 . L'Enfant, 2006 ( 2.09% ) # 17
176 . The Dreamlife Of Angels, 1999 ( 2.09% ) # 21
177 . The New World, 2005 ( 2.08% ) # 16
178 . Pleasantville, 1998 ( 2.07% ) # 17
179 . Collateral, 2004 ( 2.06% ) # 20
180 . Before Night Falls, 2000 ( 2.05% ) # 19
181 . Kill Bill 2, 2004 ( 2.05% ) # 21
182 . The Wind Will Carry Us, 2000 ( 2.05% ) # 20
183 . Elizabeth, 1998 ( 2.04% ) # 18
184 . Seabiscuit, 2003 ( 2.00% ) # 19
185 . A Prairie Home Companion, 2006 ( 1.99% ) # 18
186 . Lives Of Others, 2007 ( 1.94% ) # 18
187 . The Bourne Ultimatum, 2007 ( 1.91% ) # 19
188 . The Iron Giant, 1999 ( 1.88% ) # 22
189 . Donnie Darko, 2001 ( 1.87% ) # 20
190 . The Gleaners and I, 2001 ( 1.87% ) # 20
191 . Ali, 2001 ( 1.87% ) # 21
192 . The Virgin Suicides, 2000 ( 1.86% ) # 21
193 . The Opposite Of Sex, 1998 ( 1.85% ) # 19
194 . Time Out, 2002 ( 1.84% ) # 17
195 . Quills , 2000 ( 1.82% ) # 22
196 . Casino Royale, 2006 ( 1.80% ) # 19
197 . The Savages, 2007 ( 1.79% ) # 20
198 . The School of Rock, 2003 ( 1.79% ) # 20
199 . Cast Away, 2000 ( 1.78% ) # 23
200 . The Taste Of Cherry, 1998 ( 1.77% ) # 20

If you want a look at the various year-end lists, here are the links;
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998

And here are the lists for the preceding three years;
1997
1996
1995