Ballots were sent to 1,500 film-makers, actors, critics and other movie professionals in Hollywood, who had to choose from 300 nominated US films.

Prolific

Stephen Spielberg had five films in the top 100 with The Color Purple (51) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (58) joining Schindler's List, ET and Saving Private Ryan.

Sidney Poitier and Gary Cooper each appeared in five films on the list.

The oldest entry was Charlie Chaplin's 1931 silent film City Lights at number 33. The newest were both from 2004 - Hotel Rwanda (90) and Ray (99).

The AFI releases a film list every year - past compilations have includes best comedies, movie quotes, songs and love stories.

AFI director Jean Picker Firstenberg said recent events had prompted the group to choose the inspiration theme.

"This was kind of an interesting moment in history, coming off September 11, being at war, having natural disasters of such tremendous impact," she said.

"What role do the movies play at times of real emotional turmoil?"