Top 250 Most-Acclaimed Short Films of All Time

Top 250 Most-Acclaimed Short Films of All Time's icon

Created by mjf314.

Favorited 106 times, disliked 1 time, added to 114 watchlists.

I compiled this list from many different polls, lists, and awards, using a weighted point system to rank the shorts. I'm defining short as any film with a runtime of 45 minutes or less.

This list focuses more on animation than the Brief Encounters list. It includes many acclaimed animated shorts which are missing from Brief Encounters, most notably The Man Who Planted Trees and Ruka.

Missing from IMDb: The Magic Fox (1982) (it would've been ranked #132)

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  1. 166 -

    79 primaveras

    1969, in 5 top lists Check
  2. 51 -

    The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes

    1971, in 9 top lists Check
  3. 129 -

    Adebar

    1957, in 2 top lists Check
  4. 123 -

    Allegretto

    1936, in 0 top lists Check
  5. 188 -

    Alone. Life Wastes Andy Hardy

    1998, in 1 top list Check
  6. 108 -

    Anticipation of the Night

    1958, in 4 top lists Check
  7. 195 -

    Apel

    1971 — a.k.a. The Roll-Call, in 1 top list Check
  8. 206 -

    Arnulf Rainer

    1960, in 4 top lists Check
  9. 198 -

    Asparagus

    1979, in 2 top lists Check
  10. 140 -

    At Land

    1944, in 6 top lists Check
  11. 70 -

    Atama-yama

    2002 — a.k.a. Mount Head, in 1 top list Check
  12. 225 -

    Au bout du fil

    1974, in 1 top list Check
  13. 35 -

    Bad Luck Blackie

    1949, in 2 top lists Check
  14. 74 -

    Balance

    1989, in 1 top list Check
  15. 47 -

    Le ballon rouge

    1956 — a.k.a. The Red Balloon, in 11 top lists Check
  16. 41 -

    The Band Concert

    1935, in 2 top lists Check
  17. 247 -

    Barres

    1984, in 1 top list Check
  18. 53 -

    Begone Dull Care

    1950, in 7 top lists Check
  19. 121 -

    Big Business

    1929, in 5 top lists Check
  20. 59 -

    The Big Snit

    1985, in 3 top lists Check
  21. 205 -

    Black and Tan

    1929, in 3 top lists Check
  22. 40 -

    Blinkity Blank

    1955, in 3 top lists Check
  23. 109 -

    Blonde Cobra

    1963, in 2 top lists Check
  24. 243 -

    Brave Little Tailor

    1938, in 1 top list Check
  25. 119 -

    Broken Down Film

    1985, in 1 top list Check
  26. 236 -

    By Night with Torch and Spear

    1942, in 0 top lists Check
  27. 43 -

    The Cat Concerto

    1947, in 4 top lists Check
  28. 18 -

    Un chant d'amour

    1950 — a.k.a. A Song of Love, in 7 top lists Check
  29. 46 -

    Le château de sable

    1977 — a.k.a. The Sand Castle, in 1 top list Check
  30. 3 -

    Un chien andalou

    1929 — a.k.a. An Andalusian Dog, in 25 top lists Check
  31. 142 -

    Clock Cleaners

    1937, in 1 top list Check
  32. 164 -

    A Close Shave

    1995, in 2 top lists Check
  33. 135 -

    Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs

    1943, in 2 top lists Check
  34. 117 -

    Colloque de chiens

    1977 — a.k.a. Dog's Dialogue, in 1 top list Check
  35. 73 -

    A Colour Box

    1935, in 5 top lists Check
  36. 64 -

    Cops

    1922, in 10 top lists Check
  37. 149 -

    La coquille et le clergyman

    1928 — a.k.a. The Seashell and the Clergyman, in 4 top lists Check
  38. 104 -

    A Corner in Wheat

    1909, in 8 top lists Check
  39. 176 -

    La course à l'abîme

    1992, in 1 top list Check
  40. 22 -

    Crac

    1980, in 2 top lists Check
  41. 52 -

    Creature Comforts

    1989, in 1 top list Check
  42. 160 -

    Crin blanc: Le cheval sauvage

    1953 — a.k.a. White Mane, in 1 top list Check
  43. 159 -

    The Cure

    1917, in 5 top lists Check
  44. 238 -

    Damon the Mower

    1972, in 2 top lists Check
  45. 212 -

    The Dead

    1960, in 3 top lists Check
  46. 228 -

    Den offentlige røst

    1988 — a.k.a. The Public Voice, in 1 top list Check
  47. 145 -

    The Dentist

    1932, in 1 top list Check
  48. 69 -

    A Diary for Timothy

    1945, in 5 top lists Check
  49. 128 -

    Die große Ekstase des Bildschnitzers Steiner

    1974 — a.k.a. The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner, in 3 top lists Check
  50. 42 -

    Dôjôji

    1976 — a.k.a. Dojoji Temple, in 1 top list Check
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Last updated on Dec 31, 2011; source