Does popular = good?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

No, most of them aren't on my top list either, but would you agree that they are generally good?

If we're talking short-term box office numbers, no. Long term revenue seems to be a better indicator of quality (the only one on that top 10 list that I don't consider 'good' to some degree is Titanic).

As for the IMDB "geek herd", I think that's what surprises me most about Shawshank being up there. While I certainly agree that it's got all the elements of a good commercially successful movie, it doesn't strike me as the kind of movie the "geek herd" (of which I'll admit to being a pat of) generally goes for. While I'd shuffle the order and add some that aren't there, I'm more or less on board with the top 20 imdb list. Discounting the ones I haven't seen, Shawshank's the only one that really sticks out. To me it's like seeing a Chilli's at the top of a restaurant ranking list. Sure, it's pretty good, better than most standard chain fair, but THAT good?

If the question is changed to "does popular = best" then the answer is emphatically no.

Agreed. What struck me about CP's brother was that his argument was, "How can you possibly not like that movie, it's #2?!"