Now that all the critics have weighed in, most recently with the Golden Globes on January 15, Tarantino's personal ranking is unveiled prior to the professional guilds' votes and Academy Awards announcements.

The unconventional director selected some unexpected films, from mainstream comedies like Our Idiot Brother to obscure choices, such as a Red State, box office flop Green Hornet, and his familiar genre, the exploitation film.

In 2010, Tarantino's top pick was Toy Story 3 and this year he chooses Midnight in Paris.

One curious category, titled ‘Nice Try’, went to Drive, one of 2011's popular indie films.

Last year's list caused a stir online with comments questioning his favourites.

The writer-director also listed best directors of the year and six best screenplays of the year, and the Tarantino website also offers a long interesting list of other films he liked.

Tarantino's next film, Django Unchained, stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, and an ensemble cast including Christoph Waltz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Samuel L. Jackson. The story about a slave-turned-bounty hunter is due in theatres December 25 to 27.

Tarantino's top films of 2011:

1. Midnight In Paris
2. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
3. Moneyball
4. The Skin I Live In
5. X-Men: First Class
6. Young Adult
7. Attack The Block
8. Red State
9. Warrior
10. The Artist tied with Our Idiot Brother
11. The Three Musketeers