---

Must Watch Movies

The Shining by Stanley Kubrick, Lawrence of Arabia by David Lean, Fight Club by David Fincher, and The Graduate by Mike Nichols are just a few examples of films that even casual moviegoers would remember. Critics, directors, and moviegoers all had nothing but praise for each. They were all disregarded for whatever reason.

The criteria we used to compile our list of the 100 movies everyone should see at least once in their lifetime were stringent and heavily weighed the films' historical significance. Rather than compiling a list of the "greatest movies ever made," we've chosen to highlight those that profoundly impacted the film industry when they were first released.

Those that influenced or changed the film industry as a whole. Some of these films are almost a century old, while others have just been out for a few years. Whatever their merits, they are all essential to the history of film as we know it.

Before they go to the excellent popcorn machine in the sky, every movie buff should give them a shot. Our choices span from genre classics like The Thing and Goodfellas by Martin Scorsese to landmarks of specific periods like The Social Network. So, if you're wondering, "What should I watch?" this is the correct list for you. You have some free time, so you had better start using it.

 

1. Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Filmed and released by Columbia Pictures with thanks to the Everett Collection.

The Shawshank Redemption is likely to be included on most people's lists of "the finest film ever produced." One of the finest movie lines of all time, "Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'," is included, as is a performance by Morgan Freeman that is widely considered to be among his best. Beyond that, it's a reflective look at how incarceration changes people that rings as true now as it did over 30 years ago.

2. Drive (2011)

Location: Film District/Everett Collection Courtesy:
The protagonist of Drive scarcely speaks (he isn't even given a name), yet there is a lot of bloodshed in this highly polished and stylized action movie. Gray-Man was Ryan Gosling's latest portrayal of the jaded action hero cliché, but it wasn't his first. A term I never thought I'd use to describe a film is "artistic violence," but that's precisely what this is.

3. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Photos courtesy of the MGM Archives and the Everett Collection
You won't believe how legendary Judy Garland is until you hear her perform "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" when she's 16 years old in the film Dorothy Gale, even though The Wizard of Oz isn't the most accurate translation of L. Frank Baum's tale, you won't care after Dorothy leaves her monochrome home and enters the vibrant, full-color land of Oz (literally). Though it's been around for a while (almost 80 years), this film still holds up today as a masterpiece.

4. Citizen Kane (1941)

Films from the RKO/Everett Collection
Do you think Citizen Kane is the finest movie ever?

I need to find a definitive answer for the simple reason that everyone has different tastes. Still, there's a good reason why this picture is required viewing in all introductory cinema courses; it's that good.

Charles Foster Kane is the prototypical antihero, and Orson Welles' magnum work (which he co-wrote, directed, and acted in) tells the tale of a man who wanted it all, had it all, and then lost it all. When another film is created on the production drama, you know the first film was a significant success.

5. Get Out (2017)

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures and the Everett Collection
Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) is naturally anxious about being welcomed as a Black guy when he and his white fiancée (Allison Williams) spend the weekend with her family.

And to tell you much more would be to ruin a great twist, so I won't. Get Out is Jordan Peele's award-winning horror film that more than lives up to the anticipation, earning him a screenplay Oscar and establishing him as an artist in the genre.

You could rewatch that five times and still miss some of the little things he did in each shot. The picture has a strong ensemble led by Daniel Kaluuya, including Allison Williams and LaKeith Stanfield. Still, its true strength lies in Lil Rel Howery, whose sequences as Rod provide welcome comic relief.

6. E.T. the Extraterrestrial (1982)

Universal/courtesy The Everetts; the Everett Series
A little child befriends an extraterrestrial he discovers in his backyard shed. This film has a basic idea, but it has become a classic in Steven Spielberg's capable hands. In equal parts, a sci-fi thrill ride and a coming-of-age tale, E.T. is one of those films you could see again and again if it didn't make you weep every time.

Moreover, it stars a young and endearing Drew Barrymore (then seven years old) and uses realistic effects that still stand up rather well.

7. Casablanca (1942)

Credit: Warner Bros./The Courtesy Everett Collection
It's safe to say that even if you haven't watched it, you've heard of the film Casablanca.

In any case, everyone ought should! Everything from action and suspense to humor and romance is present. Two of Humphrey Bogart's lines are among the most famous in cinema, and his chemistry with Ingrid Bergman is the stuff of legend—the type of alchemy that has been the subject of 80 years of imitation.

8. Vertigo (1958)

Films from the Paramount/Everett Collection
Vertigo is Alfred Hitchcock's most "Hitchcockian" film in many ways. Every signature element of a Hitchcock picture is present: escalating tension, a damaged police officer, a surprising climax, and the stereotypically attractive blonde.

If you've always wondered what Hitchcock was going for with his films, here's an excellent place to start.

9. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Sony/Everett Collection Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi), advised by her bitter instructor Jade Fox, takes a 400-year-old sword from Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) to avoid an arranged marriage (Cheng Pei-Pei).

When Mu Bai and his companion Yu Shu Lien (THE Michelle Yeoh) go after Jen to retrieve the sword, things only get messier from there on out. The film has three strong female protagonists who explore issues of vengeance, atonement, and traditional gender norms. Among the most significant things you'll ever see is Jen and Shu Lien's sword duel.

10. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Photos courtesy of the MGM Archives and the Everett Collection
Let's be honest: only some enjoy musicals. Of course, Singin' in the Rain stands above the others and should be seen first and foremost if you can only choose one.

Gene Kelly stars in this romantic musical comedy about a silent cinema star who, when talking pictures become the norm in the 1920s, must figure out his next move.

It has humor and romance and is so difficult to replicate that I hope Hollywood never tries. It also contains Debbie Reynolds in her first significant film role, sure to wow.

11. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Collection Courtesy of New Line Cinema and Everett Court
Fellowship of the Ring is included here instead of the other two films in Peter Jackson's original Lord of the Rings trilogy because of the rule that one cannot begin a trilogy in the midst.

12. 12 Angry Men (1957)

Collection United Artists/Courtesy Everett
It's understandable if the title alone makes 12 Angry Men seem like hell on EarthEarth. It's a short but intriguing courtroom drama in which the verdict on a man's murder trial rests in the hands of the jury. Almost all movie is set in the jury chamber, showcasing the script and acting to their full potential.

The film 12 Angry Men's success proves that the most straightforward solutions are often the best.

13. Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

Netflix; image credit: Everett Collection
The fact that Eddie Murphy wasn't honored with every possible prize for his portrayal of Rudy Ray Moore/Dolemite is a travesty. One of the greats of American comedy paid tribute to another in this biopic.

14. Some Like It Hot (1959)

Collection United Artists/Courtesy Everett
Some Like It Hot is a beautiful reminder of Marilyn Monroe's magnetism and brilliance, which is why her fame has endured despite her troubled personal life.

She won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the award-winning singer Sugar Kane, who befriends two musicians hiding from the mafia by dressing as women.

In addition to its iconic leading woman, the film is a near-perfect romantic comedy and is widely recognized as one of the world's funniest films.

15. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

Photograph by Stephen H. Landon, Courtesy Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection
The existence of films like When Harry Met Sally...

makes it all the more perplexing that romantic comedies are so underappreciated. Possibly the finest romantic comedy ever filmed, it demonstrates the genre's capacity for wit, laughs, and even deep philosophical insights. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, whose chemistry is *a chef's kiss*, make the most of Nora Ephron's brilliant writing.

They portray two lovable misfits who spend years resisting romance despite how much they care for each other. It's the one that started it all and can win over even the most jaded of rom-com skeptics.

16. Clueless (1995)

Films from the Paramount/Everett Collection
Among the numerous adolescent movies based on classic literature is Clueless, adapted from Jane Austen's Emma. Cher (a fantastic Alicia Silverstone) is our Emma Woodhouse of the 1990s, who must reconsider her egocentric habits as her connections get more complex.

It is endearing and bitingly sarcastic, with many memorable lines and ensembles. When you consider that Cher and her ex-step-brother Josh (the ever-reliable Paul Rudd) are modeled on Emma and Bingley, you'll see that their connection isn't weird.

17. Dirty Dancing (1987)

The Everett Collection/Artisan Entertainment
Honestly, it's not surprising that this is one of your mother's go-to films. During a family vacation to a posh mountain resort, Baby (Jennifer Grey) meets Johnny (Patrick Swayze), one of the resort's dancing teachers.

The plot thickens when Johnny's dancing partner cancels on him, and Baby offers to take her place. The film is not a musical in the traditional sense (no one sings), but it does include several dancing sequences, and it is not named Dirty Dancing for nothing.

That lift! in the last scene is the single most recognizable dance in cinema history.

18. Aliens (1986)

Credit: 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection
A rare occurrence of a sequel surpassing its predecessor, Aliens is primarily a vehicle for Sigourney Weaver's portrayal of Ellen Ripley.

After seeing this film, you will undoubtedly learn that Ripley is a total jackass. As the film's lone human survivor, she's understandably shaken by the extraterrestrial invasion that ended the last one. The aliens won't leave her alone, so she'll have to battle them again.

 

19. Pulp Fiction (1994)

Image courtesy of Miramax/The Courtesy of Everett Collection
Suppose you're wondering about Quentin Tarantino's overall "feel" as a director. In that case, Pulp Fiction is definitely where you want to start, although it's almost hard to explain anything about the film's various story strands without giving anything away.

20. Before Sunrise (1995)

Photograph by Stephen H. Landon, Courtesy Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection
When Ethan Hawke's character, Jesse, and Julie Delpy's Céline meet on a European train, they plan to get off at the same station in Vienna so that they may spend the night together.

It has a standard premise but becomes one of the most romantic films ever because of the script and the acting. Regarding stranger danger, we can all agree that Jesse and Céline's night in Vienna is the most exciting experience we've only dreamed of.

 

21. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Credit: Orion Pictures Corporation/The Everett Collection
It's easy to understand why The Silence of the Lambs is the only horror picture to win Best Picture at the Oscars.

As an FBI agent and a cannibalistic serial murderer may have a positive working relationship, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) and Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) do just that in this film.

Their tight, eerie dynamic helps to keep the movie in the style of psychological horror, but fear not: there are also a few good jump scares and a few graphic displays of blood and flesh tossed in for good measure.

 

22. The Lion King (1994)

Collection Disney/Courtesy of Everett
The Lion King, for crying out loud! Stop what you're doing and look if you haven't already.

 

23. Galaxy Quest (1999)

 

Photos by DreamWorks Animation/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
The plot of Galaxy Quest revolves around the cast of the original television series of the same name (including Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, and Alan Rickman) and their resentment at having their careers reduced to conventional appearances.

When a race of aliens calling themselves Thermians approach them for assistance in defeating an enemy warlord, everything changes. The Germans have seen their presentation and are convinced it is a documentary about actual space visitors.

Even though the film mocks the Star Trek franchise, it does it with such affection that no true Trek fan could ever find fault with it. Numerous Star Trek actors have publicly expressed their enthusiasm for the series.

The casting of Sigourney Weaver as a lady who is similarly threatened by aliens but is quite different from Ripley is also incredibly brilliant.

24. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

 

Photograph by Everett Collection/Picturehouse
Pan's Labyrinth is a perfect example of Guillermo del Toro's ability to mix fantastical elements with a touch of macabre. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and her mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil), go to Spain during the early Francoist era, where they are forced to live with Carmen's terrible new husband, Captain Vidal (Sergi López). He not only stinks but also backs a tyrant.

The guy is the worst. Ofelia's stepfather is waging a real-life rebellion, and the fairy that visits her and leads her through a labyrinth takes her on a journey in the style of Alice in Wonderland that mirrors this struggle.

It's beautiful to look at, has a strong emotional impact, and is really violent.

 

25. WALL-E (2008)

The Everett Collection/Pixar
Choosing just one Pixar film was difficult, but WALL-E triumphs on the basis of its groundbreaking creativity. There's no talking for the first twenty minutes, and the hero doesn't say a thing.

After the destruction of EarthEarth, lovely, darling WALL-E is the only robot of his type left until he encounters EVE, a robot ordered to scour the planet for indications of sustainable life.

After WALL-E bonds and falls in love with EVE, the real action begins when he pursues her back to her ship. The movie addresses materialism, ecology, and nostalgia during their courting in a manner accessible to children while also holding the interest of adults.

Flawless as a film.

Get More