Empire magazine strikes back to reveal... the top 10 films of all time!

The Star Wars classic sequel The Empire Strikes Back came up trumps among 301 titles in Empire Magazine's mammoth film poll.

17:15 30 May 2014

A recent survey on the top 10 films of all time was topped by The Empire Strikes Back, the 1980 sequel to the box office smash Star Wars. Its creator, George Lucas, said that it was a “privilege” to be voted as number one. 

 

"The fans like The Empire Strikes Back the best, partly because it is so dark.

 

"It's an overall story and as it happens in the second act, things get dark.

 

"I never really planned it to be three separate films but when it became three separate films, it had an interesting effect of each film having its own personality, caused by the plot," Lucas said.

 

The Star Wars favourite was followed by Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. 

 

Another sequel, The Dark Knight, which starred the late Heath Ledger, was voted third followed by The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction. 

 

Empire's editor-In-chief Mark Dinning said he was "delighted, if not surprised" The Empire Strikes Back came out on top.

 

"This is a movie that when it was released managed to make Star Wars both bigger and more intimate all at the same time," he said.

 

"Today it retains all of its power, wit, heart and spectacle."

 

Empire Magazine's Top 10 Movies of All Time

 

1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

2. The Godfather

3. The Dark Knight

4. The Shawshank Redemption

5. Pulp Fiction

6. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

7. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring

8. Jaws

9. Raiders Of The Lost Ark

10. Inception