Mine is Lost Highway. It’s one of the most amazing pieces of media I’ve ever experienced. It’s dark, surreal, and I still don’t know what it’s about for sure. I have my own interpretation, as do many others. Who’s right? We’ll never know. The film is a fucking trip. I highly recommend.
Oh yeah mood is a huge part of it. It is also because the playing field is not level.
When Harry Met Sally is hilarious, silly and excellent and relies on the charisma of all the actors involved to make it great. There is no way I can level that with The Thing.
Then there is stuff like All The Presidents Men compared to The Man Who Would be King. Hoffman and Redford v Connery and Caine… good luck with that…
Then there is production values and funding.
46 years ago the answer was easy. Star Wars followed very closely by Jaws.