Via MSN.com:

If there’s one thing film fans love to do, it’s argue about which movies are the best. When someone disagrees, then a great debate sparks up about the virtues of their favored film as compared to the failings of their opponent’s choice. That’s why any ranked list of the greatest movies is destined to spark spirited discussions.

Empire magazine polled more than 250,000 film fans and came up with their definitive list of the 301 greatest movies of all time. Rising to the top of the heap was the second “Star Wars” film produced, and the fifth in the series, “The Empire Strikes Back.”

Most “Star Wars” fans agree that “Empire” is the best of the six films produced thus far, but now it stands atop the heap of every film ever made & at least, according to this list. In continuing good news for “Star Wars” fans, the original film came in at #6. Episodes III and VI also ranked on the list, but neither were in the Top 100. There was no love at all for the first two installments of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy.

“Empire” leapfrogged both “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Godfather,” which sat atop Empire’s last such poll in 2008. “Raiders” slipped to #9 in the latest poll. Newer films represented well, also, with “The Dark Knight” landing at #3, and “Inception” landing at #10.

The Top 10

1. “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”

2. “The Godfather”

3. “The Dark Knight”

4. “The Shawshank Redemption”

5. “Pulp Fiction”

6. “Star Wars: A New Hope”

7. “The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring”

8. “Jaws”

9. “Raiders Of The Lost Ark”

10. “Inception”