# Five movies every guy should see **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225 "2008-02-26T15:53:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/61 "2008-02-26T23:14:44Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] Dangit, I wanted to be first with Man Who Would be King [/QUOTE] Me too, but I’m glad that it was said and seconded. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/62 "2008-02-26T23:17:15Z")
Fight Club Office Space Die Hard Goodfellas The Great Escape ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/63 "2008-02-26T23:25:33Z")
All good choices. I would add early John Woo. Specifically, _A Better Tomorrow_. That’s the first movie in any guy’s movie night I’d host. _Fight Club_ _Predator_ _Swingers_ _Reservoir Dogs_ ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/64 "2008-02-27T00:21:57Z")
Young Frankenstein Cool Hand Luke Flight of the Phoenix Animal House Airplane ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/65 "2008-02-27T00:26:41Z")
Dont think i can make a different enough 5 to make it worth your while, but am I right in thinking no-one has yet mentioned Top Gun? I’ve never seen it, but my peers tell me that that is proof of my (otherwise latent) gayness. They say it’s THE guy movie. Ok I’ll play then; hope these are all new to the list, Top Gun Con Air The Rock Say Anything The Wanderers MiM ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/66 "2008-02-27T01:22:44Z")
My five (And the categories they represent, to me): **The Dirty Dozen** - action, war (not necessarily the same thing as action), and buddy movie **Young Frankenstein** - comedy **The Princess Bride** - satire, snark, and obligatory _family_ movie **The Godfather** - mafia, crime, and paternal bonding **To Catch a Thief** or **No Way Out** - intrigue (again not necessarily the same thing as crime, though often closely related) [QUOTE=Cisco] A quick scan of everyone’s list revealed no movies under 10 years old (newest seems to be SPR, 1998) and most 20+ years old. What does that say about the state of moviemaking today? (It might say something good, I don’t know, I’m just asking.) [/QUOTE] Well, part of it, for me, is simply because I’ve not made the opportunity to see as many movies of more recent vintages as I look for older films. Some of which is taste, but some of it is also directly related to finances. ---
**Author:** ![ShermanAter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ShermanAter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShermanAter)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/67 "2008-02-27T01:55:49Z")
Heres a couple not yet mentioned. Tombstone Of Mice and Men Barfly The Worlds Fastest Indian Band of Brothers ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/68 "2008-02-27T02:12:20Z")
[Quote=D\_Odds] Despite all that, the last slot must go to: _The Big Sleep (1946)_ [/QUOTE] Bravo. Well played, sir. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/69 "2008-02-27T02:30:58Z")
_Rocky_, _Casablanca_ and _Dr. Strangelove_ have already been mentioned. I would add _North By Northwest_ and _Bang the Drum Slowly_. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/70 "2008-02-27T02:58:36Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] In guy movies a ear hacked off and a lot of swearing are not negatives. [/QUOTE] Which is why I picked Reservoir Dogs and Goodfellas. [QUOTE=Msmith537] Office Space [/QUOTE] I love this movie, but it doesn’t exactly fit the OP (guys who “shower after work” do not work in an office) [QUOTE=Made In Macau] Dont think i can make a different enough 5 to make it worth your while, but am I right in thinking no-one has yet mentioned Top Gun? I’ve never seen it, but my peers tell me that that is proof of my (otherwise latent) gayness. They say it’s THE guy movie. [/QUOTE] In my opinion, Top Gun may be the ultimate date movie, but it’s not a classic guy movie. There’s too much pretty boy preening to be a classic guy movie. Meanwhile, I see somebody mentioned Major League. How could I forget that one?! It’s such a great sports movie, and kicks the ass of my sports pick (White Men Can’t Jump). ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/71 "2008-02-27T03:08:04Z")
Since guys love to quote movies, here are some movies not mentioned, and the quotes we must know: **Planes Trains and Automobiles** - _“See that Bears’ game last week? Hell of a game. They’re going all the way.”_ and _“Six bucks and my right nut says we’re not…”_ **Point Break** - just to hear Pappas say: _“I’m so hungry I could eat the ass end out of a dead rhino”_ **Coming to America** - _“This is BEAUTIFUL, what’s is this? Velvet?”_ ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/72 "2008-02-27T03:22:45Z")
It’s getting closer, but I still think people are getting off track. My list: “Goldfinger” - You have to include 007, and none of this Roger Moore/Pierce Brosnan crap. You have to go with Sean, and the best Bond car ever. “No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die !!!” “The Magnificent Seven” - The best collection of bad-asses ever assembled…and they’re working together … in a western. “The Godfather” - 'nuff said. “The Longest Yard” (the original Burt Reynolds, not the Adam Sandler POS). Burt at his peak, a perfect mix of humor and violence…and football. “Thief” (James Caan). Every man’s man has the fantasy of chucking it all, and for the noble cause of revenge, what more could you ask for. I really wanted to include something of Clint’s, but didn’t make the cut. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/73 "2008-02-27T03:29:10Z")
_Goldfinger Raiders of the Lost Ark The Wild Bunch Fight Club The Godfather Part II_ It’s tough to keep it to 5, though- there are some excellent movies like _Zulu_ and _Die Hard_ and _Saving Private Ryan_ that should also be on a Guy’s “Must-See” list, IMHO… ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/74 "2008-02-27T03:59:17Z")
Five movies every guy should see, eh? This requires both those movies which instruct on the expression and definition of manliness, and are also required watching to enter into the clique of manhood. 1. 12 Angry Men - Henry Fonda acts as an early example of the social necessity of masculinity (so often ignored today), standing up for what’s right in the face of a very angry Lee Cobb. 1. Glengarry Glen Ross - Men being men, the preminance of onesupman ship, Al Pacino screaming and Alec Baldwin explaining who’s allowed to drink coffee. 1. Brian’s Song - Every man needs to watch this movie once, cry, and then steadfastly refuse to admit it for the rest of their life. 1. Scarface - Better mob movie than Godfather. Quoting vast parts of this movie is just par for the course in American Male life. 1. Resevoir Dogs - Ear cutting. Tipping discussion. Bathroom joke. I’ll throw Fight Club, Godfather Pt. II, Zulu, Die Hard and Cool Hand Luke as my next five. Notably, in my top five, only two of the movies have females with speaking parts, and of all ten of my movies, none of them have a woman whose place in the movie is anything other than wife/girlfriend/mother. Men’s movies are about the interactions of men. And explosions. And boobies. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/75 "2008-02-27T04:19:43Z")
Five guy movies, hmmmmm… Let’s have five core guy fave things and add bonus points for no particular reason Cop movie - **Robo Cop** (bonus points for being SF) War movie - **Apocalypse Now** (bonus points for 60’s soundtrack) Crime movie - **Lock Stock and two Smoking Barrels** (bonus points for comedy) Comedy - **Blues Brothers** (bonus points for big car crashes and booze, and musicl) Drug/Booze movie - **Trainspotting** (bonus points for nekkid boobies) ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/76 "2008-02-27T04:28:14Z")
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee] You guys hear Greeny’s list? Funniest goddamn list ever:[ul][li]Gone With the Wind[/li][li]When Harry Met Sally[/li][li]Pretty Woman[/li][li]Sleepless In Seattle[/li][li]Bridgette Jones’ Diary[/ul][/li][/QUOTE] for Ogs sake, somebody shoot me! _anyhoo_ Brians Song Hud Casablanca An American Werewolf in London Frankenhooker ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/77 "2008-02-27T04:33:29Z")
Godfather Godfather II The Big Lebowski Apocalypse Now Terminator ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/78 "2008-02-27T04:37:50Z")
I have to say, 39 posts before the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly hit the list…for a minute I thought the dope was letting me down. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/79 "2008-02-27T04:47:43Z")
The Boondock Saints They Live (why isn’t this on anyone’s list yet?) Idiocracy Leon (aka The Professional) Serenity ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225/80 "2008-02-27T05:38:17Z")
1. Casablanca–If you don’t know why this is #1 you ain’t seen the movie 2. Usual Suspects–comedians doing drama. Damn good film. 3. Smokey and the Bandit–What, you know you love Sheriff Beaufort T Justice 4. Heavy Metal (the movie) --John Candy in two great roles. 5. Magnum Force- Lots of shooting, no senseless dialoge SSG Schwartz [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-movies-every-guy-should-see/439225.md?page=5)