1963 Academy Award-Winning Drama Film Ranked Among ‘Best Movies of All Time'
With the rise of action-spy films, psychological thrillers and horror movies in the 1960s, 8 ½ stood out as one of the most unconventional cinematic triumphs, offering audiences a surreal and deeply imaginative mix of comedy and drama.
A masterpiece by iconic Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini, who also co-wrote the screenplay, the 1963 movie remains a defining achievement in film history.
In a list unveiled by Rotten Tomatoes, the ranking features the top 300 best movies of all time.
The standings are based on a few key factors set by the popular entertainment review website, which include their signature Tomatometer score, which is the percentage of positive reviews that professional critics give. This means that the higher the percentage, the stronger the critical approval.
Another factor is the audience score, also known as the Popcornmeter, which shows how much the general audience liked a movie or TV show.
Lastly, the number of critic reviews considered for rankings is also a factor.
Rotten Tomatoes ranked 8 ½ at No. 293 on its list, earning a 97 percent Tomatometer score and a strong 91 percent Popcornmeter rating.
Based on the reviews, critics called it Fellini's "masterpiece" that truly feels like a work of art.
Another review also praised the movie for its "ambitious, ambiguous and experimental form of navel-gazing."
Set in the early 1960s, 8 ½ focuses on the life story of famous Italian director Guido Anselmi, played by the legendary Marcello Mastroianni.
The movie highlights his struggle with creative block, which leaves him unable to move forward as he attempts to start his next big project.
Joining Mastroianni in the star-studded lineup was Anouk Aimée as Guido's estranged wife, Luisa Anselmi, Sandra Milo as the flamboyant mistress named Carla and Claudia Cardinale, who played the role of Claudia, the movie star who also happens to be Guido's ideal woman.
Apart from the positive reception from audiences at the time, 8 ½ also received widespread acclaim and recognition from various award-giving bodies.
It included winning two Academy Awards out of five nominations after the film took home Best Foreign Language Film and Best Costume Design.
Adding to the list were wins for Best Film at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1963 and Denmark's premier and oldest film awards, the Bodil Awards in 1964 for Best European Film.
Related: 1999 Box Office Flop Ranked Among ‘Best Movies of All Time'
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 9:40 PM.