New BFI Player collection of London Critics’ Circle Top 20 launches today
Friday 30 January, London.
BFI Player today announces the results of a poll celebrating the greatest films currently available on the subscription streaming service, voted for by members of the London Film Critics’ Circle. Topping the poll is Orson Welles’ landmark Oscar™-winning debut CITIZEN KANE (1941), reaffirming its enduring influence on cinema. Tying in 2nd place are Lynne Ramsay’s seminal feature MORVERN CALLAR (2002) alongside Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar™-winning PARASITE (2019), Yasujirō Ozu’s TOKYO STORY (1953) and Wim Wenders’ PARIS, TEXAS (1984).
The poll offers a snapshot of the films the UK’s leading critics are championing for audiences today and reflects their enthusiasm for both canonical masterpieces and contemporary classics – works spanning eras, countries and cinematic movements. It also reflects the breadth of BFI Player’s catalogue and expert-led curation by BFI’s programmers. All titles featured in the poll will be available to stream as a dedicated London Critics’ Circle Collection on BFI Player from Friday 30 January. The full collection can be accessed HERE
The London Critics’ Circle top 20 films on BFI Player are:
- 1. Citizen Kane ( Orson Welles, 1941)
- 2. Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-ho, 2019)
- 2. Morvern Callar (dir. Lynne Ramsay, 2002)
- 2. Tokyo Story (dir. Yasujirō Ozu, 1953)
- Paris, Texas (dir. Wim Wenders, 1984)
- The 400 Blows (dir. François Truffaut, 1959)
- Metropolis (dir. Fritz Lang, 1927)
- Persona (dir. Ingmar Bergman, 1966)
- Distant Voices, Still Lives (dir. Terence Davies, 1988)
- 10. Manhunter (dir. Michael Mann, 1986)
- 10. High and Low ( Akira Kurosawa, 1963)
- 12. Amélie (dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001)
- 12. Crash (dir. David Cronenberg, 1996)
- 14. Cléo from 5 to 7 ( Agnès Varda, 1962)
- 14. After Life (dir. Hirokazu Koreeda, 1998)
- 14. Nosferatu ( F.W. Murnau, 1922)
- Aguirre, Wrath of God (dir. Werner Herzog, 1972)
- Fanny and Alexander (dir. Ingmar Bergman, 1982)
- The Passion of Joan of Arc (dir. Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1928)
- Eyes Without a Face (dir. Georges Franju, 1959)
Alongside MORVERN CALLAR (2002), British cinema is represented by Terence Davies’ DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES (1988), celebrated recently with a season of Davies’ work at BFI Southbank.
The results also underline critics’ appetite for bold formal experimentation and distinctive visual storytelling, from Fritz Lang’s silent-era epic METROPOLIS (1927) and François Truffaut’s THE 400 BLOWS (1959) to Ingmar Bergman’s psychologically intense PERSONA (1966).
Guy Lodge, Critics’ Circle Vice Chair, Chief Critic, Variety and Observer Film columnist said: “With over 200 members across the UK, the London Film Critics’ Circle is a group diverse in backgrounds, tastes and special areas of interest, so our hope when we collaborated with the BFI on this project was that the poll would yield a similarly wide-ranging list. I’m delighted with the results.
It’s a thrill to see canonical classics like Citizen Kane and Tokyo Story sharing space with 21st-century standard-bearers like Parasite and Morvern Callar — the highest-ranked British film on the list. It’s a selection reflective, too, of the far-reaching library of cinema available on the BFI Player, a streaming platform very much aligned with our passions as critics and film lovers.”
James Rocarols, Head of Online Programme, BFI Player, said: “The London Critics’ Circle Top 20 reflects the breadth, ambition and curiosity that underpin our programming at BFI Player and it’s great to give audiences their favourites in one collection. Curation is at the heart of what makes BFI Player distinctive, where classic cinema and vital modern filmmaking can sit side by side. So while the mighty Citizen Kane tops the poll, it’s great to see more contemporary masterpieces like Parasite and Morvern Callar rank so highly and be recognised.”
Jane Crowther, London Critics’ Circle Chair and Editor in Chief, Hollywood Authentic, said of Citizen Kane: “Hugely influential, hugely pastiched, a rebel aesthetic to making it, resonates with relatable regret. There’s a reason it regularly makes the number one spot on lists and continues to speak to our relationship with media despite the decades between inception and now. Could AI make this? Of course not.”
Rhianna Dhillon, London Film Critics’ Circle member and BFI Player contributor, said: “BFI Player is brilliantly curated and is such a great way for film fans to be introduced to new strands of cinema from all over the world. Joining the BFI Player as one of their expert voices has allowed me to delve deep into its impressive catalogue to find films that fit monthly themes with a bit of a twist. It’s so exciting to be able to championhidden gems alongside classic films and I hope that audiences will have as much fun exploring BFI Player and all it has to offer as much I have!”
The release of the poll coincides with the Critics’ Circle Film Awards taking place this Sunday 1 February, where BFI Player is the sponsor of the British/Irish Film of the Year Award and BFI CEO Ben Roberts will present the winner with the award on stage.
ABOUT BFI PLAYER
BFI Player is the ultimate destination for independent film lovers. Curated by the BFI (British Film Institute), it offers a unique streaming experience, featuring a diverse hand-picked collection of films including exclusive new releases, rare cult classics, and acclaimed masterpieces.
New customers can start streaming instantly with a 14-day free trial, followed by a flexible, contract-free subscription plan—just £6.99 per month or £65 per year. Additional titles are available to rent from just £2.50, and over 10,000 digitised films from the BFI National Archive and UK-wide partners are available to view for free.
Since launching in the UK in 2013, BFI Player has become the go-to platform for discovering a wide range of hard-to-find films that many people may be unable to see at their local cinema or on other streaming services. Accessible via the BFI website (https://player.bfi.org.uk/), BFI Player apps are available on all leading TV and mobile devices. In addition, BFI Player is available as an add-on subscription via Amazon Prime Video Channels (UK, Finland and Sweden) and Apple TV Channels (UK). A US-only streaming service, BFI Player Classics, is also available to American audiences.
ABOUT THE CRITICS’ CIRCLE
Established in 1913, the Critics’ Circle is the oldest organisation of its kind in the world, with more than 450 members who work in the UK media as critics of art and architecture, books, dance, drama, film and music.
ABOUT THE BFI
We are a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image. Our mission is:
- To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
- To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive
- To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our programmes and festivals – delivered online and in venue
- To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding of film and the moving image
- To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK’s screen industries
Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter. The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Jay Hunt OBE.