Classic films top the charts

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn - and neither should he, given Clark Gable is in the most watched film ever.

11:11 29 November 2004

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn - and neither should he, given Clark Gable is in the most watched film ever.

The American civil war epic Gone with the Wind, where Gable utters his famous line to Vivien Leigh, came out top in the British Film Institute's review of ticket sales.

Around 35 million people have seen the classic love story in British cinemas since it was first released more than 60 years ago.

Second in the all-time list was The Sound of Music, the Julie Andrews musical that was watched by 30 million cinemagoers since its release in 1965.

Close behind was Disney's 1938 animation, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with 28 million admissions, while Star Wars and romantic comedy Spring in Park Lane also featured in the top five.

Official ticket sales figures exist for all films in the last 30 years but before that, researchers had to rely on trade magazines and anecdotal evidence.

Only one film in the top ten, James Cameron's epic Titanic, was made recently, suggesting that the attraction of the big-screen could be waning.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is in 11th place with 17.56 million admissions, while Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, is 16th with just under 16 million ticket sales.

The top 20 most popular films

Gone with the Wind (1939) - 35 million
The Sound of Music (1965) - 30 million
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938) - 28 million
Star Wars (1978) - 20.76 million
Spring in Park Lane (1948) - 20.5 million
The Best Years of Our Lives (1947) - 20.4 million
The Jungle Book (1968) - 19.8 million
Titanic (1998) - 18.9 million
The Wicked Lady (1946) - 18.4 million
The Seventh Veil (1945) - 17.9 million
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) - 17.56 million
Grease (1978) - 17.2 million
South Pacific (1958) - 16.5 million
Jaws (1976) - 16.2 million
Jurassic Park (1993) - 16.1 million
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - 15.98 million
The Courtneys of Curzon Street (1947) - 15.9 million
Thunderball (1966) - 15.6 million
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003) - 15.22 million
The Bells of St Mary's (1946) - 15.2 million