'I've watched 600 films in one year – there's only one I would give five stars'

A film fanatic who watched more than 600 movies in 2024 has revealed his top seven – with only one earning a rare five-star rating.

TikTok user Eccleston, known as @eccyreviews, has dedicated the year to cinema, averaging nearly two films per day. Despite his prolific viewing, he’s anything but generous with his ratings, awarding top marks to just a handful of movies, which he detailed on his Letterboxd account.

Among the highlights were both modern blockbusters and cinematic classics, but his favourite may come as a surprise to readers after it received mixed reviews in the cinema.

Read on to find out Eccleston's top picks out of a whopping 600 films...

Dune: Part Two (2024)

The highly anticipated sequel to Dune made the cut, with Eccleston hailing it as a "masterpiece".

"Probably one of the best sci-fi films ever," he said. "Directing, cinematography, the score and the performances are all around just amazing."

The film stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, continuing his journey of revenge and redemption.

Sorcerer (1977)

This tense thriller starring Roy Scheider follows a group of men transporting unstable dynamite through South America. Eccleston called it an "incredible piece of cinema" and encouraged his followers to watch the underappreciated gem.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

The classic Western featuring Paul Newman and Robert Redford also earned a spot on the list. Eccleston praised the mix of romance, comedy, and action, admitting: "It’s a great cowboy, romance, comedy that I didn’t expect to love as much as I did."

The New World (2005)

Colin Farrell’s portrayal of John Smith in this historical epic was another favourite. Though a box office failure upon release, the film has since gained critical acclaim.

"The cinematography alone is stunning," Eccleston said. "The overall film is an absolute spectacle."

Dial M for Murder (1954)

Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller about a man plotting his wife’s murder for her inheritance earned high praise, with Eccleston revealing he watched it three times in 2024.

"I think this is 100% Alfred Hitchcock’s best film ever," he declared.

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

This gripping tale of a preacher-turned-serial-killer hunting for hidden money also impressed. Eccleston directed his followers to Amazon Prime to watch it, calling it a film with some of the "best shots of all time."

Ran (1985)

Ending his list with a flourish, Eccleston named Akira Kurosawa’s Ran – a Japanese epic inspired by King Lear – as one of his top picks.

"Ran is one of the most stunning films I have ever seen," he said of the drama, which follows the destructive power struggle of a retired warlord’s three sons.

One five-star film!

Of the 600 films Eccleston reviewed, Dune: Part Two was the only one he awarded a full five stars, cementing it as his standout of the year.

For anyone searching for inspiration to expand their watchlist, Eccleston’s curated selections offer a blend of classic and contemporary cinema.