Philadelphia poster

Philadelphia

Underdog Below average but still in the conversation
1993 · Drama · Jonathan Demme

43% across 61 head-to-head matchups puts Philadelphia on the wrong side of average. No round offers a foothold — below average at every stage. A landmark film for representation that voters treat with reverence — but reverence and preference aren't the same thing. In brackets, it carries moral weight that doesn't always translate to the instinctive, gut-level choice a forced pick demands. It ranks behind the other Jonathan Demme film tracked here. 1.5s per vote suggests strong instincts. Most voters arrive at this matchup already knowing which way they lean.

Synopsis

Two competing lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops, their courage overcomes the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.

Round 1
41%
Semifinals
46.7%
Finals
42.9%
3/7

41% opening, 47% semis, 43% finals. No round breaks above average, but the semis at 47% come closest — that's where Philadelphia shows the most fight.

The matchup with Forrest Gump is a genuine coin flip at 50% — neither film has found an edge. Against Apollo 13, Philadelphia wins only 33%. Some matchups simply don't go your way.

Closest Rival
Kryptonite
Apollo 13
66.7%

In Tom Hanks: America's Dad, Philadelphia regularly reaches the final — then runs into Apollo 13. At 33%, it hasn't found the answer.

Jonathan Demme has 2 films on BingeBracket — Philadelphia trails The Silence of the Lambs (50%) in their head-to-head filmography comparison.

BingeBracket Record
43%
Win Rate
#61 of 88 in Drama #34 of 45 from the 1990s #2 of 2 Jonathan Demme films
Scores based on real fan votes in head-to-head brackets. 50% = wins as often as it loses — perfectly average.
Featured Tournament

Dead last in Tom Hanks: America's Dad.

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Cast Away #1
Saving Private Ryan #2
Apollo 13 #3
The Green Mile #4
Forrest Gump #5
Big #6
Captain Phillips #7
Philadelphia #8
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About These Rankings

BingeBracket ranks films through head-to-head matchups in 8-film brackets — no star ratings, no reviews, just direct comparison. Browse tournaments, try Discovery mode, or explore the leaderboards. You can also .