M (1931)
0.3176Canon Score · ranked #39 all time
Aggregated from 11 of 31 authoritative lists, weighted by authority and adjusted for each list's scope and age. How scoring works →
About the film
In this classic German thriller, Hans Beckert, a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of a massive Berlin police manhunt. Beckert's heinous crimes are so repellant and disruptive to city life that he is even targeted by others in the seedy underworld network. With both cops and criminals in pursuit, the murderer soon realizes that people are on his trail, sending him into a tense, panicked attempt to escape justice.
Why it ranks #39
Every list on which M appears, with its position as published.
| List | Authority | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Cahiers du Cinéma 100 (2008) | Major international poll | #6 / 100 |
| Village Voice 100 Best of 20th C (2000) | Critics' canon | #22 / 100 |
| Sight & Sound Critics' 250 (2022) | Major international poll | #37 / 264 |
| Time Out 100 Best (2026 ed.) | Critics' canon | #52 / 99 |
| TIFF Essential 100 (2010) | Editorial list | #66 / 100 |
| Letterboxd Top 500 (2026-07 snapshot) | Editorial list | #176 / 500 |
| Empire 500 Greatest (2008) | Editorial list | #212 / 500 |
| Halliwell's Top 1000 (2005) | Critics' canon | #228 / 1041 |
| Ebert Great Movies (I–IV) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| 1001 Movies (2003-2024 union) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| NYT Best 1000 Movies (2004) | Critics' canon | Selected |