This list is "an educational resource that offers guidance and encouragement as students seek to find points of orientation within the vast history of film and video." It is not a list of the best films of all time. Rather, it reflects a variety of criteria.
Source: https://ves.fas.harvard.edu/files/ves/files/fvs_suggested_viewing_2012.pdf
Top 10 Trakt Popular of all movies released before 1980 according to Trakt's Popular tab.
Tweet @DannyVFilms for any adjustments or corrections.
For movies released after 1980 see Top 10 Domestic Gross by Year:
https://trakt.tv/users/dannyvfilms/lists/top-10-domestic-gross-by-year-1980-present
Short films I have seen
Movies and shows released from 1909 and earlier.
Next Decade: https://trakt.tv/users/asterlea/lists/decade-1910s
My personal alternative list based on popular book
Harvard University's Suggested Film Viewing List: Narrative Films (2012)
by listr