100 Films You Must Watch
1. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (Wes Anderson, 2004) – One of Wes Anderson’s best mixtures of comedy and sadness. It makes for an incredibly inspiring ending.
2. There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2007) – complexity in every scene. Every moment has some meaning to offer. This is film at its highest level in every way possible.
3. Memento (Christopher Nolan, 2000) – A classic indie film, that messes with structure in a beautiful way.
4. Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999) – A great script, and tremendous acting. (yes it is homoerotic)
5. American History X (Tony Kaye, 1998) – Edward Norton is extremely good, powerful film somewhat graphic at parts
6. Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (Andrew Dominik, 2007) – Brad Pitt is amazing, Casey Affleck’s greatest performance, the tension between the characters keeps you really interested the whole movie
7. Vanilla Sky (Cameron Crowe, 2001) – Great soundtrack; ending scene could be one of the greatest endings ever. Is criticized for not being as good as the original but it shows you true love and shows you true heartbreak.
8. We Need To Talk About Kevin (Lynne Ramsay, 2011) – An incredibly important film. It may make you feel like a terrible person. But like the subject of this film (a school shooting) it needs to be talked about and seen. Intense, extremely cinematic, and dense. Amazing performances.
9. Almost Famous (Cameron Crowe, 2000) –Sad. Funny. Uplifting. A nice film to watch.
10. Thank You For Smoking (Jason Reitman, 2005) – Witty writing, incredibly smart and funny.
11. In Bruges (Martin McDonagh, 2008) – Hilarious with a unique sense of humor. The chemistry between the characters is great.
12. Funny Games (Michael Haneke, 2007)– great commentary about violence in movies. But the director will be critical of you as a watcher. You will like the murderers in this film.
13. Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004) – Mind Blowing. That’s an understatement.
14. Let The Right One In (Thomas Alfredson, 2008) – Amazing cinematography, Swedish foreign film about vampires.
15. The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson, 2001) – It’s just so good. It has it all; lots of dry humor. Great parody of human behavior
16. Being John Malkovich (Spike Jonze, 1999) – Weird, but really interesting. A film that messes with your head a little.
17. Gangs of New York (Martin Scorsese, 2002) – Daniel Day Lewis is too good, its violent, and classic
18. Moon (Duncan Jones, 2009) – Sam Rockwell should have won best supporting and best lead actor for this. A trippy sci-fi film by David Bowie’s son.
19. Reservoir Dogs (Quentin Tarantino, 1992) – An explosive film.
20. Rushmore (Wes Anderson, 1998) – Max is a great character. He writes a hit play, know latin, and falls in love with his high school teacher. Makes for a funny movie.
21. Snatch (Guy Ritchie, 2000) – Brad Pitt is extremely memorable in this. It’s a mob/gangster movie essentially.
22. Bottle Rocket (Wes Anderson, 1996) – Great in every way: acting, writing, music, style, everything. Wes Anderson’s funniest film.
23. Persona (Ingmar Bergman, 1966) – unique discontinuity editing, so innovative. European independent film from Sweden. One of the most complex and most challenging films ever made. About human identity, and film itself. Film is art. You better think to get this movie.
24. Waltz With Bashir (Ari Folman, 2008) – animated documentary; powerful. See it for its unique style, nothing else like it
25. Akira (アキラ, Katsuhiro Ohtomo, 1988) – Teen metamorphosis, dangers of adolescence, abject horror, and sci fi, all in one beautiful and complex Japanese anime film.
26. Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994) – The way the story is told is the best part. A movie with unlimited classic scenes and quotable lines.
27. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960) – a movie that changed the way we watched movies. First movie to have a scheduled time for when it would start and you couldn't be let in after it started. A unique narrative and incredibly complex film. So much going on with Norman and that mother of his.
28. The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky, 2008) – great performances, really sad, love the way it is shot with handy cam
29. Through A Glass Darkly (Ingmar Bergman, 1961) – a philosophical film. Bergman includes mental illness, religion, self centered characters, in this magnificent piece of art.
30. Battleship Potemkin (Sergei Eisenstein,1925) – a silent film from the 20s. This soviet montage film must be seen. A stair sequence that will shock you even today. Innovative editing.
31. American Psycho (Mary Harron, 2000) – a criticism of wall street, and the Reagen administration in the 80s. A horrifying, sometimes funny, but definitely complex film. We are only products of our reality that is a monster, and we cannot even see ourselves existing. What?
32. The Searchers (John Ford, 1956) – John Wayne classic, very sad and complex hero, condemned from rage
33. The Silence of The Lambs (Johnathan Demme, 1991)– Just watch Anthony Hopkins go.
34. A Beautiful Mind (Ron Howard, 2001) – based on a true story it is amazing, drama about professor with schizophrenia
35. Synecdoche, New York (Charlie Kaufman, 2008) – very confusing, messes with your head constantly. It is very depressing but also really really funny, if you watch it more than once you start to understand it more
36. 8 1/2 (Federico Fellini, 1963) – Examining the struggles of direction. A narcissistic character struggles with his past and new creation. One of the best opening sequences of all time.
37. Apollo 13 (Ron Howard, 1995) – Ron Howard’s best film. Tension. History. Catharsis.
38. Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Copola, 1979) – based off of the amazing novel Heart of Darkness; editing is amazing, subversive
39. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941) –a technical and stylistic achievement; it is AFI’s number 1 film. The mise en scene is revolutionary, way ahead of its time
40. Adaptation (Spike Jonze, 2002) – such a great examination of screen writing. Anyone with a love for writing, movies, or pathetic and stressed out characters should this.
41. Pan’s Labyrinth (Guillermo Del Toro, 2006) – amazing foreign film; fantasy meets war, great original score, and just classic
42. Punch-Drunk Love (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2002) – Adam Sandler like you’ve never seen him before. Like Magnolia you’ll be on edge the whole film, but you won’t really know why. Great PTA film.
43. The Social Network (David Fincher, 2010) – about morality, and skewed motives, friendship and revenge, along with the superficiality and hypocrisy of society
44. The Beginners (Mike Mills, 2010-2011?) – An incredibly beautiful, sad, funny, and witty film. Parallels to a father and his son as they deal with relationships. A dad who turns gay at 70, and his son, the main character, who falls in love but always seems to break it. One of the best movies I have ever seen.
45. A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick, 1971)– Creepy, but great writing, it is subversive, complex, and controversial
46. Melancholia (Lars Von Trier, 2011) – Lars Von Trier condenses time and space in such a great way. We see human life unfold before our eyes in one night, as the characters face the apocalypse.
47. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977) – Amazing look at relationships and love; very unique movie especially for its time
48. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee, 2000) – One of my favorite foreign films, beautiful film in every way, hong kong cinema
49. The Godfather Part 1 & 2 (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972, 1974)– don’t watch the third one. The first two are just too classic to not see
50. Throne of Blood (Akira Kurosawa, 1957) – Kurosawa’s “Macbeth” adaptation. Considered to be one of the great Shakespeare to screen adaptations. Shakespeare with samurai!
51. The Graduate (Mike Nichols, 1967) – So innovative with sound, extremely thought out and detailed mise en scene
52. Exit Though The Gift Shop (Banksy, 2010) – documentary about street art raising questions about originality and art
53. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Milos Forman, 1975) – Simply incredible, good parallels and comments on religion and has many incredible and memorable performances.
54. Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa, 1954) – considered as the best foreign film ever made, one of the greatest pieces in character development. Its length works to its advantage around three hours, it will not lose your interest.
55. This is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984) – Extremely hilarious mocumentary, it was all improved, incredibly classic, “none more black”
56. Breathless (Jean-Luc Godard, 1960) – French new wave film, great obtrusive film techniques
57. Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 (Quentin Tarantino, 2003, 2004) – Incredibly entertaining, tells the story in so many unique ways, great long camera shots, one of the bloodiest movies of all time
58. Rashomon (1950) – Kurosawa’s beautifully told film from multiple perspectives through flashbacks.
59. The Last Samurai (Edward Zwick, 2003) – who says Tom Cruise can’t be a samurai?
60. Inglorious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, 2009) – an amazing look on an alternate past and WWII, with incredible dialogue, and action movie without very much action at all, the tension and dialogue is the action
61. Dial “M” For Murder (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) – amazing “who done it” mystery, its old, but you are really interested to see it develop
62. Fargo (Coen Brothers, 1996) – Cohen brothers classic, it is really funny, but its dark comedy
63. Lost In Translation (Sofia Coppola, 2003) – incredibly sad but sweet film about love and friendship when you’re feeling a little lost.
64. Rain Man (Barry Levinson, 1988) – One of the greateset performances, a movie with a lot to offer
65. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976) – Scorsese’s somewhat masterpiece, it is pretty violent, but cannot be ignored
66. The Truman Show (Peter Weir, 1998) – It is amazing, and it’s beautiful, Jim Carrey is perfect he is funny but can make you cry as well
67. Drive (Nicolas Winding Refn, 2011) – Almost an impressionist film that does not fail at creating its mood. A unique style is brought to life and comments on the hero, fairy tale, gangster drama, genres through the lens of Driver, a stoic, silent, sweet, but insane, vengeful, murdering character. Real Heroes are violent too.
68. On The Water Front –(Elia Kazan, 1954) great Marlon Brando, classic
69. Waiting For Guffman (Christopher Guest, 1996) – My favorite Christopher Guest movie, it was improved and extremely hilarious.
70. Saving Private Ryan (Steven Spielberg, 1998) – greatest war movie ever made, shot so interestingly, the film was dyed in a certain ink to give it it’s look, innovative film
71. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968) – kubrick’s classic, pretty confusing but amazing
72. Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980) – great sports boxing film, De Niro got his Oscar
73. Hour of The Wolf (Ingmar Bergman, 1968) – delves into the predatory relationship between an artist and his fans—a gothic-like film that expands from Bergman’s usual psychological style but adds in a horror-like quality. Stems some metaphors from Persona.
74. City of God (Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, 2002) – Brazilian film, crazy cinematography and great story telling
75. 500 Days of Summer (Marc Webb, 2009) – Real, yet unreal. Truthful writing. Defines the modern relationship with emotion and style.
76. Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky, 2010) – Natalie Portman’s amazing performance snagged the Oscar. While the film is overt in it’s meaning and shoves it down the audiences throat, its excessiveness can be forgiven by the amazing performances and creepy, inspiring story.
77. Gone With The Wind (Victor Flemming, 1939– how can I not put it on here….
78. Blue Valentine (Derek Cianfrance, 2010) – Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams create unforgettable performances in this sad, depressing, but loving film. You & Me.
79. The Breakfast Club (John Hughes, 1985) – If you’ve ever been a teen in your life, you have to see this film. Which means you have to see it. Has everything you’d want teen angst, deconstruction of school cliques, romance, crying, anger, corny dancing, pop music, and a freeze frame ending.
80. The Hurricane (Norman Jewison, 1999) – Denzel Washington is amazing in it, true story about a boxer wrongfully accused of murder
81. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (John Ford, 1962) – James Stewart + John Wayne = John Ford’s dark depiction of the west. Not the most standard Ford film, which is why it is so great.
82. Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999) – holy shit. A long film. But it is incredibly intense at all moments and will keep you on edge unti lit absolutely breaks. And the break will shock you. You won’t see it coming. I promise.
83. Children of Men (Alfonso Cuaron, 2006) – An explosive opening (literally) starts off this intriguing premise of a world where women cannot give birth. The shots will leave you in awe.
84. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Edgar Wright, 2010) – cinematography and editing are so fast paced and has a really good style and mise en scene. It is so aware of its style and makes for a unique experience.
85. It’s a Wonderful Life – extremely great Christmas film
86. Y Tu Mama Tambien (Alfonso Cuaron, 2001) – foreign film, growing up, teens finding identity and exploring sexuality.
87. Bonsai (Cristián Jiménez, 2011) – the Chilean 500 Days of Summer. It has an incredible soundtrack and displays a relationship that parallels a story the characters hear and cannot help but end up the same way the story ends. This film is about the power of words. Blah. Blah. Blah.
88. Seven (or Se7en, David Fincher, 1995)– modern day film noir, and has disturbing parts
89. Amelie (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001) – dense in its style, and heart warming.
90. Meshes of The Afternoon (Maya Deren, 1943)– short film about self reflexivity and time
91. The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980) – Jack Nicholson is incredible in it, even though it is scary, it’s a must see
92. Birth of A Nation (D.W. Griffith, 1915) – One of the most racist films of all time, if not the most racist. Still, its premise will shock you and warrants a view. Even though it is offensive, It did innovate film making. I dislike D.W. Griffith.
93. Burn After Reading (Coen Brothers, 2008) – extremely hilarious, shocking, witty, fun, and all about nothing.
94. Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick, 1999) – Kubrick’s last film. It may not be considered as one of his bests, but it is captivating. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman are unbelievable. You’ll hate Nicole Kidman’s character and might hate every character of the film. But the world that is discovered, and the way it is all executed is worth seeing. It has an ending line that competes with “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
95. The Passion of Joan of Arc (Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1928) - This movie will amaze even the most modern audiences. If you have ever felt passionate about something you will relate to the hero/martyr of this film. While her reaction shots get a bit redundant, her performance is powerful even in todays standards, and is more subtle and profound than any of the performances on screen in the 20s. The musical score, the cameras sense of space, and the power of European Cinema allows the audience to truly feel what is unfolding on screen in this Lyrical Documentary, which includes forms of Expressionism, Impressionism, and Montage.
96. Requiem For A Dream (Darren Aronofsky, 2000) – disturbing, but cinematography is incredible and very dense with hip hop montages and a camera with two lenses that slows and speeds up time simultaneously
97. The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow, 2008) – profound commentary on men’s place and society, about how fragile the body is, ambiguous enemies and missions, a cinematic achievement
98. Once (John Carney, 2006)– awesome movie with incredible music, there is nothing else like it
99. Run Lola Run (Tom Tykwer, 1998) – portrays all sense of time, and is really fun to watch, very active movie
100. The Seventh Seal (Ingmar Bergman, 1957) – simple things, comic scenes, meets intricate, heavy themes in one of Ingmar Bergman’s most classic films. A knight plays chess with death on a beach!
This is awesome! Can't wait to get started watching these. Netflix queue, here I come...
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