The Third Man (1949)
0.3037Canon Score · ranked #44 all time
Aggregated from 13 of 31 authoritative lists, weighted by authority and adjusted for each list's scope and age. How scoring works →
About the film
In postwar Vienna, Austria, Holly Martins, a writer of pulp Westerns, arrives penniless as a guest of his childhood chum Harry Lime, only to learn he has died. Martins develops a conspiracy theory after learning of a "third man" present at the time of Harry's death, running into interference from British officer Major Calloway, and falling head-over-heels for Harry's grief-stricken lover, Anna.
Why it ranks #44
Every list on which The Third Man appears, with its position as published.
| List | Authority | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Halliwell's Top 1000 (2005) | Critics' canon | #20 / 1041 |
| Empire 500 Greatest (2008) | Editorial list | #21 / 500 |
| Total Film 100 Greatest (2005) | Editorial list | #26 / 100 |
| Village Voice 100 Best of 20th C (2000) | Critics' canon | #30 / 100 |
| WGA 101 Greatest Screenplays (2006) | Critics' canon | #33 / 101 |
| DGA 80 Greatest Directorial (2016) | Critics' canon | #37 / 78 |
| Sight & Sound Critics' 250 (2022) | Major international poll | #65 / 264 |
| TIFF Essential 100 (2010) | Editorial list | #91 / 100 |
| Letterboxd Top 500 (2026-07 snapshot) | Editorial list | #260 / 500 |
| Ebert Great Movies (I–IV) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| 1001 Movies (2003-2024 union) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| NYT Best 1000 Movies (2004) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| Cannes Palme d'Or winners | Award | Winner |