What are your "must-watch" movies?
-
My thought process for this was asking myself what movie I'd recommend to people who have little to no experience or interest in specific genres. Tried to pick a wide range of movies
Comedies (my favorite genre)
- Kung Fu Hustle (probably favorite movie of all time): fun comedy action movie involving gangsters and a poor neighborhood. Think classic Hong Kong kung fu meets super hero movie. Haven't met anyone who didn't like the film
- Airplane: insanely funny movie with nonstop jokes. One of the best movies for comedy because you've got all types of jokes (puns, visual humor, recurring jokes etc)
- Blazing Saddles: revovles around a small western town through the perspective of a former slave turned sheriff. Gene Wilder and Cleavon Little have such great chemistry
- The Naked Gun trilogy: if you liked Airplane you'll love the Naked Gun. Has a lot of ridiculously silly lines told with a straight face.
Action
- LOTR trilogy: I feel like this needs no explanation.
- Star Wars original trilogy: no hate to the prequels (and a lot of hate to the sequels) but nothing quite hits like the OG Star Wars trilogy
- The Mummy: fun, interesting plot, charming characters just the quintissential 90s action movie. Also a great first movie for many people's bi-awakening
- Police Story (trilogy, but mainly 3): it's been a while since I've seen this trilogy but I distinctly remember really liking the third one because it features both Jackie Chan and Michel Yeoh as equal badasses. If you've never seen Jackie Chan's Hong Kong films, this franchise is a great start.
Animation
- Spiderman Into The Spiderverse: beautifully animated movie that does an amazing job of capturing the feel comics in both style and vibes. Definitely way better than the sequel, in my opinion.
- Tokyo Godfathers: touching anime movie about 3 homeless people who ind a baby on Christmas. Don't want to spoil any more than that but it has a good balance of comedy and drama and unlike other anime movies I've seen, completes the story so well that you're not wanting more
- Up: my personal favorite Pixar movie and the first 20 min are a master class of short story telling. Was debating between this an Wall E but I think Up has a better story
Horror
Admittedly my least favorite genre. These movies are closer to thrillers than they are horror
- Train to Busan: zombie outbreak on a train. Premise is simple enough but the storytelling and characters are so well written that you get too attached and actually get anxiety when things are happening. It's a movie with an ending that stays with you
- The Silence of the Lambs: there's a reason Hannibal Lector is the most memorable part of this movie despite having only 16 minutes of screen time
Movies to watch only once
These are movies that will make you feel such intense emotions (usually sadness but not necessarily) that I would only watch once. No descriptions to avoid spoilers
- Grave of the Fireflies
- Schindler's List
- Old Boy
I agree re: Up and Train to Busan. I'll have to check out your comedies.
-
I'm not a huge movie fan, but I want to broaden my horizons a bit. I'll offer my list (that I've rewatched so many times I'm a bit tired of them):
-
Young Poisoner's Handbook
-
Full Metal Jacket
-
Life of Brian
-
Holy Grail
-
Sunset Boulevard
-
Curse of the Golden Flower
-
The Nightingale
-
Downfall
-
Amadeus
-
Once Were Warriors
-
Dusk to Dawn
I'm going to restrict this list to older movies and imports since there's already most of Hollywood's best listed by other people.
- Ran (1985): Japanese take on King Lear. Kurosawa.
- 12 Angry Men (1957): Fonda has doubts about the man charged. Sidney Lumet.
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962): Based on actual WWI British officer T.E. Lawrence, but more story than history. David Lean.
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975): Jack Nicholson leads this Milos Forman movie about what it was like in mental hospitals (based on Ken Kesey's book of same name -- see also Keroac book On the Road for more of that generation).
- The Man Who Would Be King (1975) : Sean Connery and Michael Caine star in John Houston movie based on Ruyard Kipling story. There are more famous names to pack in there, but mostly the story is great (though told from a supremely Colonial POV).
- Grand Illusion (1937): French Jean Renoir film classic about WWI.
- Beauty and the Beast (1946): French Jean Cocteau masterpiece of the fairytalke before it got Disney-fied.
- The Tin Drum (1979): German Volker Schlöndorff film of Günter Grass story about a boy who won't grow up.
- Amarcord (1973): Italian Federico Fellini film about growing up. You could sub in Nights of Cabiria or Satyricon as a starter Fellini pic.
- Kes (1970): British Ken Loach film about a boy and a bird.
- Winter Light (1963): Swedish Ingmar Bergman about a priest struggling with faith. The 7th Seal probably a better place to ease in to Bergman, though.
- A Man for All Seasons (1966): British Fred Zinnemann telling of how Sir Thomas More was stuck between his Church and his King. For an alternate take on same chunk of history, see Wolf Hall.
There's so many more. Rosselini's Open City, Jodorosky's El Topo/Santa Sangre, Errol Morris documentaries (Fog of War, etc.), Les Blank docs (from music to Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe), oh! and Herzog flicks! I should stop.
-
-
Just taking this opportunity to recommend you tengers
wrote last edited by [email protected]Thanks. Haven't come across this one before. It's on prime for anyone interested.
Will add this to the watchlist.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1352802/
Edit: Watched it just now as it's short and the house is quiet. I wouldn't have it on my must see list but it was enjoyable
-
Brazil
Wings of Desire
Blade Runner: Original Theatrical CutOthers too obvious to mention... see the rest of the thread.
Wings of Desire (and Wim Wenders in general) is AMAZING, but it requires a... sort of quiet solitude such as a theater where the length and pacing won't lead to distractions. I love that movie and the rest of the set.
-
I'm going to restrict this list to older movies and imports since there's already most of Hollywood's best listed by other people.
- Ran (1985): Japanese take on King Lear. Kurosawa.
- 12 Angry Men (1957): Fonda has doubts about the man charged. Sidney Lumet.
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962): Based on actual WWI British officer T.E. Lawrence, but more story than history. David Lean.
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975): Jack Nicholson leads this Milos Forman movie about what it was like in mental hospitals (based on Ken Kesey's book of same name -- see also Keroac book On the Road for more of that generation).
- The Man Who Would Be King (1975) : Sean Connery and Michael Caine star in John Houston movie based on Ruyard Kipling story. There are more famous names to pack in there, but mostly the story is great (though told from a supremely Colonial POV).
- Grand Illusion (1937): French Jean Renoir film classic about WWI.
- Beauty and the Beast (1946): French Jean Cocteau masterpiece of the fairytalke before it got Disney-fied.
- The Tin Drum (1979): German Volker Schlöndorff film of Günter Grass story about a boy who won't grow up.
- Amarcord (1973): Italian Federico Fellini film about growing up. You could sub in Nights of Cabiria or Satyricon as a starter Fellini pic.
- Kes (1970): British Ken Loach film about a boy and a bird.
- Winter Light (1963): Swedish Ingmar Bergman about a priest struggling with faith. The 7th Seal probably a better place to ease in to Bergman, though.
- A Man for All Seasons (1966): British Fred Zinnemann telling of how Sir Thomas More was stuck between his Church and his King. For an alternate take on same chunk of history, see Wolf Hall.
There's so many more. Rosselini's Open City, Jodorosky's El Topo/Santa Sangre, Errol Morris documentaries (Fog of War, etc.), Les Blank docs (from music to Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe), oh! and Herzog flicks! I should stop.
Some intriguing ones on this list. Cheers.
-
I haven't seen any LOTR so I might have to watch at least one of them.
wrote last edited by [email protected]You should watch all three, it's one cohesive story
(But you'll probably want to do so anyway) -
I'm not a huge movie fan, but I want to broaden my horizons a bit. I'll offer my list (that I've rewatched so many times I'm a bit tired of them):
-
Young Poisoner's Handbook
-
Full Metal Jacket
-
Life of Brian
-
Holy Grail
-
Sunset Boulevard
-
Curse of the Golden Flower
-
The Nightingale
-
Downfall
-
Amadeus
-
Once Were Warriors
-
Dusk to Dawn
City of God - movie about the struggles of growing up in a tough spot in Rio de Janeiro, it's just great
Gattaca - my favourite sci fi film, it's just a simple concept ... what if we could tell who you were going to grow up to be, just from your blood
-
-
I'm not a huge movie fan, but I want to broaden my horizons a bit. I'll offer my list (that I've rewatched so many times I'm a bit tired of them):
-
Young Poisoner's Handbook
-
Full Metal Jacket
-
Life of Brian
-
Holy Grail
-
Sunset Boulevard
-
Curse of the Golden Flower
-
The Nightingale
-
Downfall
-
Amadeus
-
Once Were Warriors
-
Dusk to Dawn
- Grand Budapest hotel.
- All the movies made by Quintin Tarentino.
- Lord of the Rings trilogy
- 2001 a Space Oddesy
- Dracula dead and loving it.
- Conspiracy (2001)
- Star Trek: First Contact
- the Incredibes
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- We were soldiers
- Sweeny Todd
- Tron Legacy
- Office Space
- Jurassic Park
- Fury (2014)
- Eurotrip
- Redline (2009)
- The 12 Tasks of Asterix
- Gormenghast (mini series)
- Conan the Barbarian
- True Lies
-
-
I'm going to restrict this list to older movies and imports since there's already most of Hollywood's best listed by other people.
- Ran (1985): Japanese take on King Lear. Kurosawa.
- 12 Angry Men (1957): Fonda has doubts about the man charged. Sidney Lumet.
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962): Based on actual WWI British officer T.E. Lawrence, but more story than history. David Lean.
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975): Jack Nicholson leads this Milos Forman movie about what it was like in mental hospitals (based on Ken Kesey's book of same name -- see also Keroac book On the Road for more of that generation).
- The Man Who Would Be King (1975) : Sean Connery and Michael Caine star in John Houston movie based on Ruyard Kipling story. There are more famous names to pack in there, but mostly the story is great (though told from a supremely Colonial POV).
- Grand Illusion (1937): French Jean Renoir film classic about WWI.
- Beauty and the Beast (1946): French Jean Cocteau masterpiece of the fairytalke before it got Disney-fied.
- The Tin Drum (1979): German Volker Schlöndorff film of Günter Grass story about a boy who won't grow up.
- Amarcord (1973): Italian Federico Fellini film about growing up. You could sub in Nights of Cabiria or Satyricon as a starter Fellini pic.
- Kes (1970): British Ken Loach film about a boy and a bird.
- Winter Light (1963): Swedish Ingmar Bergman about a priest struggling with faith. The 7th Seal probably a better place to ease in to Bergman, though.
- A Man for All Seasons (1966): British Fred Zinnemann telling of how Sir Thomas More was stuck between his Church and his King. For an alternate take on same chunk of history, see Wolf Hall.
There's so many more. Rosselini's Open City, Jodorosky's El Topo/Santa Sangre, Errol Morris documentaries (Fog of War, etc.), Les Blank docs (from music to Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe), oh! and Herzog flicks! I should stop.
That's a fantastic list.
-
Ones I have not seen in other comments, although you probably have enough at this point:
- The Fifth Element - Yes I know the director is a sexual predator, it's still really really good. One of the most creative movies ever made
- Run Lola Run - Surreal modern-style impossible narrative movie from way before movies really did that, also very well done
- O Brother Where Art Thou - Damn, we're in a tight spot
- Schindler's List - Warning, very very very heavy obviously, but there is a reason it won all the awards
- Conan the Barbarian - You may or may not like B movies, but if you like "Sword and Sandal" B movies, this one is the king
- The Sting - Absolutely top-notch gangster movie from before your parents were born
- Office Space - If you have ever worked a crappy tech job this movie will become your spirit animal in time of need
I've also heard great things about "Highlander." Don't watch the sequels.
There are also miniseries. "Stranger Things" season 1, "Chernobyl," and "Game of Thrones" up until about season 5. Yeah, it's a shame they never made any more after that, but you can just let it be. You'll know roughly when. If the three female assassins from Dorne come on the screen, you went too far, just turn it off immediately and be sure to take a shower right away.
Edit: Additions
Great list and I love that you wrote something about every one of them.
-
Damn, I haven't watched 99% of these in the comments, I think I might be too picky about what to watch.
Or you're younger than the posters, lots of these are quite old.
-
Yah, OP seems to like war movies, so I'd add:
- A Bridge Too Far - a classic, tho kinda old-fashioned moviemaking
- Apocalypse Now - another classic, still seems fresh
- Waterloo - the only good movie about Napoleon
- 1917 - some really amazing camerawork
I like a certain type of war movie, but I like lots of different things. It's impossible to specify everything exactly, so it's good that I'm getting a wide range of things. I might check out Waterloo.
-
Jesus Christ Superstar
I actually like the orginal album of the songs (which came out before the movie) more than any of the movie versions, but I grant that seeing a movie version makes the album even better!
I just think the actor playing Judas Iscariot is fantastic. What a performance.
-
That's a fantastic list.
Thank you. I spend too much time watching movies, and there are so many more to recommend for various reasons. The above are all pretty 'serious' movies, but I figure the other lists have fun and comedic movies well covered with outstanding pics by many other people.
-
I'm not a huge movie fan, but I want to broaden my horizons a bit. I'll offer my list (that I've rewatched so many times I'm a bit tired of them):
-
Young Poisoner's Handbook
-
Full Metal Jacket
-
Life of Brian
-
Holy Grail
-
Sunset Boulevard
-
Curse of the Golden Flower
-
The Nightingale
-
Downfall
-
Amadeus
-
Once Were Warriors
-
Dusk to Dawn
wrote last edited by [email protected]Looking at these lists really makes me glad that I don't share tastes with the average person at this point.
-
Citizen Kane
-
Paprika
-
Forrest Gump
-
Synecdoche, New York
All that monty python shit tells me that I'm in curated reddit-land where white mediocrity rules.
Edit: All the people with low standards get upset when called out.
-
-
Looking at these lists really makes me glad that I don't share tastes with the average person at this point.
-
Citizen Kane
-
Paprika
-
Forrest Gump
-
Synecdoche, New York
All that monty python shit tells me that I'm in curated reddit-land where white mediocrity rules.
Edit: All the people with low standards get upset when called out.
Pleasantly surprised to see Paprika in someone's list, no one i know has ever even heard of it. Such a good weird movie.
-
-
I'm not a huge movie fan, but I want to broaden my horizons a bit. I'll offer my list (that I've rewatched so many times I'm a bit tired of them):
-
Young Poisoner's Handbook
-
Full Metal Jacket
-
Life of Brian
-
Holy Grail
-
Sunset Boulevard
-
Curse of the Golden Flower
-
The Nightingale
-
Downfall
-
Amadeus
-
Once Were Warriors
-
Dusk to Dawn
Pacific Rim. They never made any sequels though, so don't bother looking.
-
-
Looking at these lists really makes me glad that I don't share tastes with the average person at this point.
-
Citizen Kane
-
Paprika
-
Forrest Gump
-
Synecdoche, New York
All that monty python shit tells me that I'm in curated reddit-land where white mediocrity rules.
Edit: All the people with low standards get upset when called out.
"I'm so original! I'm not like other girls!"
-
-
I'm not a huge movie fan, but I want to broaden my horizons a bit. I'll offer my list (that I've rewatched so many times I'm a bit tired of them):
-
Young Poisoner's Handbook
-
Full Metal Jacket
-
Life of Brian
-
Holy Grail
-
Sunset Boulevard
-
Curse of the Golden Flower
-
The Nightingale
-
Downfall
-
Amadeus
-
Once Were Warriors
-
Dusk to Dawn
Adding in some documentaries, I'd highly recommending watching these climbing docs as a trilogy to understand the scope of what's being achieved as well as understanding the different approaches to the sport:
The Dawn Wall:
Introduces you to climbing legends such as Tommy Caldwell and the difficulty of the sport, with the main focus being one climb in Yosemite.Free Solo:
Takes the dawn wall and makes it look entry level, focuses on Alex Honnold who climbs 'free solo' meaning without ropes or a partner.The Alpinist:
Difficult to put into words, focuses on an almost completely unknown climber called Marc-André Leclerc who is to climbing as Michael Phelps is to swimming. This guy completes climbs even the greatest in the sport consider far from humanly achievable, with part of the doc being a battle to even find the guy to film as he doesn't care for media attention or fame for his climbs.The docs all contribute to the understanding of what drives the people pushing the bar of what's considered possible, and in the subsequent docs the previous climbers appear frequently in interviews that adds a kind of continuum which is why I love these 3 together rather than as individual pieces.
-
-
I like a certain type of war movie, but I like lots of different things. It's impossible to specify everything exactly, so it's good that I'm getting a wide range of things. I might check out Waterloo.
Well you've got a lot of great recommendtions in general on this post, but while we're on the topic of war movies:
- Gettysburg (1993) has some great character studies, the book it's based on is "The Killer Angels" and also worth reading
- Zulu (1964) is another product of its times but they did an outstanding job, and it's a solid depiction of English defensive tactics of the late 1800s
