1975 Hit Art Film Ranked 'Greatest Film of All Time'
In what might've been a surprising move for film fans, the cult classic art film Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles has been ranked the "Greatest Film of All Time" by Sight and Sound, topping the latest edition of the publication's prestigious critics' list.
Released in 1975, the film was directed by Belgian filmmaker Chantal Akerman and stars Delphine Seyrig in the title role. The drama centers on Seyrig as a widowed mother living in Brussels who methodically carries out her daily routines, such as cooking meals, cleaning her apartment and caring for her son. Meanwhile, she secretly engages in sex work to make ends meet.
The movie follows her story at a slow pace over three days, and it's known for its long takes and experimental camera work. Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles also has quite a long runtime, coming in at 201 minutes.
The ranking comes from Sight and Sound's once-in-a-decade poll, widely considered one of the most authoritative surveys in the film world. Organized by the British Film Institute, the list gathers votes from hundreds of critics, programmers and academics across the globe.
The most recent edition, released in 2022, marked a significant shift, as there was a deliberately more diverse voting body included to help elevate films that had previously been under-recognized.
Past winners of the poll have included towering classics like Citizen Kane and Vertigo, making Jeanne Dielman's ascent all the more notable. It also represents a historic milestone, as it's the first film directed by a woman to claim the top spot in the poll's history. In the 2022 edition, Vertigo took second place, while Citizen Kane came in third.
In the 2022 directors' poll of greatest films, Jeanne Dielman took fourth place, with 2001: A Space Odyssey taking the top position. In comparison, in the main critics' list, the Stanley Kubrick-directed film took sixth place.
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 7:49 PM.