The Top Films of All Time According to ABC and "People Magazine" Fans

People Magazine and ABC Television teamed up to poll the American public for their choice for best films of all time. Some of the results were expected while others might have left movie buffs scratching their heads. See for yourself.

The results were announced on ABC last night. Here is the list divided into 10 categories and presented in reverse order:

Best Comedies

"Tootsie" - the gender bending film about an actor who dresses like a girl to get a soap opera role.
"Young Frankenstein" - a comedy about the mad scientist and his monster.
"Some Like it Hot" - another gender-bender with two guys joining an all girl band in the 20's.
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" - a nod to King Arthur's quest for the holy cup of Christ.

At the top of the heap:"Airplane" - The spoof of all spoofs that somehow got dramatic actors to act like fools for fun.

Best Science Fiction Movies

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" - Steven Spielberg's version of a meeting between two worlds.
"The Matrix" - movie about a world where man doesn't really exist except inside a computer.
"Avatar" - James Cameron's otherworldly 3D fascination about war and the abuse of our planet.
"ET" - a delightful encounter with an alien seen from a child's point of view.

At the top of the heap: "Star Wars" - George Lucas's brainchild. The movie was kind of a western feel but was set in outer space. It immediately enthralled a generation and has continued to be popular over 30 years later.

Best Hollywood Musicals

"West Side Story" - a Romeo and Juliet type tale set between two rival gangs in the big city.
"Singing in the Rain" - a tale of musical friends and the film for which Gene Kelly is best known.
"The Wizard of Oz" - the story of little girl seeking answers in an imaginary land.
"Grease" - a nod to the 60's; the time and the kind of relationships that existed there.

At the top of the heap: "The Sound of Music" - the true story of an nun who became a nanny to a large family of children in Austria. She fell in love with the father and eventually married him despite the challenges of war and the rise of the Nazis.

Most Memorable Movie Kisses

Between Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) and Rick (Humphrey Bogart) in "Casablanca".
Between Paula (Debra Winger) and Zack (Richard Gere) in "An Officer and a Gentleman".
Between Lady and the Tramp by the film of the same name.
Between Karen (Deborah Kerr) and Milton (Burt Lancaster) in "Here to Eternity."

At the top of the heap: Between Scarlett (Vivian Leigh) and Rhett (Clark Gable)in "Gone with the Wind."

Best Movie Lines

"Here's looking at you, kid"; an unscripted ad lib provided by Bogart to Bergman in "Casablanca."
"I'll have what she's having"; a last minute line suggested by Bill Crystal while the scene was being shot.
"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse"; from Marlon Brando in "The Godfather."
"Go ahead; make my day" from dirty Harry to a thief in the film "Sudden Impact".

At the top of the heap: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"; from Rhett to Scarlett as the film closes.

Best Action Films

"Gladiator" - a film set in ancient Rome when violence was a way of life.
"Die Hard" - the story of an every man hero who ends up in the wrong place at the right time.
"Return of the King" - the last of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
"The Dark Knight" - when Batman clashes with the Joker.

At the top of the heap: "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" - The quest for the Ark of the Covenant.

Best Suspense Films

"Pulp Fiction" - tale of violence and redemption.
"The Shining" - a creepy tale of ghosts set in a closed down hotel during the winter.
"Psycho" - Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece of murder and mayhem.
"Jaws" - the story of a shark terrorizing a beach town.

At the top of the heap: "The Silence of the Lambs"- a clash of wills between a cannibalistic killer and an FBI agent.

Best Animated Films

"Fantasia" - Disney's masterpiece set to music with almost no dialogue.
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" - the first animated fairytale from Disney Studios.
"Beauty and the Beast" - the first animated film nominated for the best picture Oscar.
"Toy Story" - the tale of lost toys determined to return to their child.

At the top of the heap: "The Lion King" - the most visually stunning animated film of our time set in Africa. A tale of love, family and courage.

Most Memorable Movie Characters

Indiana Jones - the All-American hero with a loathing of snakes.
Hannibal Lecter - a manipulative cannibal serial killer.
Scarlett O'Hara - a fictional Southern belle heroine during the Civil War.
James Bond - the British spy with a license to kill.

At the top of the heap: Forrest Gump - the story of a developmentally challenged man with a heart of gold.

Top Five Films of all Time

"ET" - a tale of innocence that spanned the galaxy.
"Casablanca" - the story of how war tears about countries, families and lovers.
"The Godfather" - a tale of how innocence can be corrupted by hatred.
"The Wizard of Oz" - the most beloved children's tale of all time.

At the top of the heap: "Gone with the Wind" - an unlikely love story set against the background of the Civil War.

While I would have loved to see "Star Wars" among the final five, I have to agree that the films chosen are truly great. All in all the list is intriguing and will certainly stir up a bit of debate.

If you disagree with any of the choices, post your comment in the section below and tell us which movie(s) you might replace and which films you think should replace them.