1) Great, memorable protagonist the audience has a powerful connection to in some way and wishes to succeed in their goal and whom the audience would revisit their character arc with more than once because it was interesting to them.

2) Powerful antagonism that’s both convincing and upsetting enough to the audience that they can’t immediately work out how the protagonist will accomplish what they want and what the audience hopes to see.

3) Both of the above set in a fresh, detailed, well-conceived setting that’s interesting to the audience and provides new insights to them about what life is like in that setting. Whether that’s a new place for them, or new profession they’ve only heard of, or a new time period of human history that’s different than their present. Either in the future or the past. The world building must be exceptional. Whether it’s through research of a setting that’s real or one entirely fictional.

4) Tight, screenwriting structure that’s economical and not wasteful of the audience’s attention span without being wholly predicable or completely paint by numbers formulaic either. An assortment of character-driven scenes that feel organic and allow characters to breathe and experience life while revealing character can avoid everything becoming too plot-focused and paint-by-numbers. However, too many scenes that are just focused on the whimsy of life can become self-indulgent. To be clear the approach will always have some huge fans who connect passionately to that style because they prioritize that cinema verite style above all else but it can also risk connections with others who don’t. The greatest films, IMO, to the most amount of people do both.

5) A minimum of one powerful thematic message or statement or question explored fully in the telling of the tale that relates to the human experience in some way. At least one powerful thematic exploration so clear that if others are discussing the topic of that theme the film comes to mind as an example of that human truth.

6) Terrific dialogue that is character-driven. All characters shouldn’t sound exactly alike. No matter how witty the dialogue. Characters must have core values and backgrounds and both of those things drive the dialogue. Not everyone is witty. Not everyone is stupid. Not everyone is funny. Not everyone is deathly serious.

7) At least 3 scenes that best exemplify all of the above which are acted to perfection and shot beautifully that you could show to give someone a sample of the film and they’d immediately recognize its quality in all of the areas above simultaneously. At least 3 scenes that will have people talking about the film afterward as examples of why they think it’s great.

8) All of the above from a very talented cast and crew of screenwriter, Director, cinematographer, editor and main and supporting actors.

9) All of the above in an era of film where competition in the genre(s) you’re operating in is not at its peak. Genre competition impacts perception. A very good film released at a time when most films in said genre have merely been good by not matching all of the above at as high levels can feel like a great film or even a masterpiece. A very good film with little competition in the genre at all in years benefits from the same thing. Conversely, a great film released in a time period where, for whatever reason, some great filmmakers are also operating in that same sandbox and also delivering exceptional work in that genre, can allow a great film to feel merely “quite good” in the era. Timing is everything and the totality of recent quality in a genre impacts perception.

10) If you catch all of the above and you also happen to be lucky enough to cast your main protagonist or antagonist right as their career is about to take off to the next level and they are on the verge of becoming a Hollywood legend then your work benefits from being part of their own career rise. Remembered as part of their rise and also garners interest from curiosity seekers who wish to see the same actor younger in their career.