Each movie has been considered based on the following criteria:

Feature-Length Fiction Film: Narrative format typically over 60 minutes in length.

American Film: English language film with significant creative and/or financial production elements from the United States.

Critical Recognition: Formal commendation in print.

Major Award Winner: Recognition from competitive events including awards from organizations in the film community and major film festivals.

Popularity Over Time: Including figures for box office adjusted for inflation, television broadcasts and syndication, and home video sales and rentals.

Historical Significance: A film's mark on the history of the moving image through technical innovation, visionary narrative devices or other groundbreaking achievements.

AFI's 100 Years, 100 Movies: DVD Edition: "To commemorate the first century of American moviemaking, the American Film Institute has embarked on a celebration of America's greatest movies--"AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies." This ten part retrospective explores many aspects of the human condition from the depths of depravity, horror and the dregs of underworld crime to the heights of heroism and passionate romance, covering the many genres, styles and types of films that make up the first 100 years of the glorious American film, as chosen by Hollywood's top directors, writers, stars and executives. Hosted by Jodie Foster, Richard Gere and Sally Field, narrated by James Woods."

AFI's 100 Years, 100 Stars: DVD Edition: "America's greatest screen legends! The American Film Institute continues its celebration of the first century of American moviemaking with "AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars." In this prime-time special, originally broadcast June 15, 1999 on CBS, 50 of today's biggest stars celebrate and count down the 50 greatest American screen legends, as determined by leaders from across the American film community. Hosted by Shirley Temple Black, featuring James Caan, Clint Eastwood, Goldie Hawn, Martin Landau, Shirley MacLaine, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, James Woods any many, many more, with a special performance by Liza Minnelli."

How Movies Work: "How Movies Work offers the filmgoer an engaging and informative guide to the appreciation and evaluation of films. It provides a comprehensive consideration of movies from idea to script, casting, financing, shooting and distribution. Bruce Kawin addresses the book not just to students of film but to any filmgoer curious to know more about the process of the conception and creation of our favorite entertainment and art form."