Mr. Potter ranks at #6 on the American Film Institute's list of the 50 Greatest Villains in American film history. Some commentators attempt to argue for Mr. Potter, promoting him as a symbol of entrepreneurial capitalism and sidestepping the fact that Potter stole eight thousand dollars from the investors of the Bailey Building and Loan. In truth, at the time of the film's release the FBI made a file on the film that cited an unnamed expert in the film industry who thought the portrayal of Potter as a banker was unfair.
Mr. Potter is ranked #6 among the 50 Greatest Villains in American cinema according to the AFI, but some critics argue for his inclusion by highlighting his entrepreneurial spirit and ignoring his theft of $8,000 from investors in the Bailey Building and Loan. The FBI even had a file on the film that included an unnamed industry expert who believed the portrayal of Potter as a banker was unfair.