# Give me 5 movies I should see before I die! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144 "2007-02-06T23:16:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/21 "2007-02-07T02:39:10Z")
My top 5 would have to be: [Memento](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209144/) [Dial M For Murder](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046912/) (sorry, but no top 5 list would be complete or accurate without at least 1 Hitchcock flick. I _might_ be willing to swap this for [The Birds](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056869/). Might.) [Citizen Kane](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033467/) [The Scarlet Pimpernel](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025748/), and, believe it or not, I think I’d have to go with. . . The original [Rocky](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075148/) ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/22 "2007-02-07T02:53:06Z")
Airplane! Shakespeare in Love Citizen Kane The Red Violin Hero I particularly like the transition from farcical to deep to beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/23 "2007-02-07T02:54:05Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] I’m surprised (though perhaps I shouldn’t be) to see the _Lord of the Rings_ films recommended with such frequency. I considered them enjoyable popcorn munchers but sort of lacking in thematic depth; not films I’m going to watch over and over again and discuss for detail and interpretation. [/QUOTE] Well, if our boy is gonna die after viewing these 5 movies, don’t you think he’s gonna appreciate if we give him as much time as we can? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/24 "2007-02-07T03:16:51Z")
I figure you might as well die laughing: This is Spinal Tap Airplane! The Last Dinosaur (strictly a so-bad-it’s-campy turkey) Withnail & I Flirting With Disaster (and keep it on through the closing credits) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/25 "2007-02-07T03:23:20Z")
**Ikiru** ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/26 "2007-02-07T03:36:29Z")
Okay, my five must see before you die: The Shawshank Redemption Bull Durham Office Space Dances With Wolves Brokeback Mountain - as a bonus, if you’re dying, you won’t spend the next four months of your life wondering when you’re going to get over this film. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/27 "2007-02-07T04:59:33Z")
I read this as a list of movies I’D want to watch if I knew I was dying… [Caveman](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082146/) [Time Rider](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086443/) [Sister Act…2](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108147/) [Mortuary](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087746/) [Parents](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098068/) I kid, I kid… The infamous Ardred’s list: [Highlander](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091203/) [Dune](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087182/) [Excalibur](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082348/) [Ladyhawke](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089457/) [Flash Gordon](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080745/) My list: [The Usual Suspects](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114814/) [Memento](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209144/) [Being John Malkovich](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120601/) [Moulin Rouge](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203009/) [Star Wars](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/28 "2007-02-07T05:50:11Z")
I’d go with: _Breaker Morant_ - A simply awesome court-martial and military adventure/drama set during the Boer War. It will stick with you for a long, long time. _2001: A Space Odyssey_ - Wondrous and moving, far ahead of its time. _The Lord of the Rings_ trilogy - A brilliant accomplishment, thrilling and fun, even better in some ways than the books (D&R, but I believe it…) _Groundhog Day_ - Everyone should see it at least once. The smartest, most worldly, philosophical yet funny comedy ever made. _The Incredibles_ - Pixar practically could have closed up shop after they made this, it’s so damn good (but I’m glad they didn’t). Funny, amazing, sly and great eye candy. Lives up to its title. Oh, and just one more… _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ - The quintessential action/adventure movie, it just gets better with every passing year. (Indy #4 won’t even come close, I’m afraid). ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/29 "2007-02-07T08:55:33Z")
Showgirls! ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/30 "2007-02-07T15:10:26Z")
Natural Born Killers Cool Hand Luke To Kill a Mockingbird Raiders of The Lost Ark Star Trek II _The wrath of Kahn_ ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/31 "2007-02-07T15:39:40Z")
> **[Doctor (1963)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0254283/)** > > 2h 14m | Not Rated > **[Doctor (1958)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0236162/)** > > 2h 1m > **[Doctor (1940) ⭐ 6.9 | Drama](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0236161/)** > > 2h 24m > **[The Physician (1928) | Drama](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019273/)** > > 1h 40m > **[The Great Physician (Short 1913) | Drama, Short](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0002913/)** > > The Great Physician: Directed by Richard Ridgely. With Charles Ogle, Mabel Trunnelle, Robert Brower, Helen Coughlin. A little smiled played about the physician's mouth as he walked down the street. The smile passed away and his face grew tenderly... ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/32 "2007-02-07T15:52:23Z")
Amores Perros (Mex.) 2000 Bottle Rocket 1996 Goodfellas 1990 Life is Beautiful (It.) 1998 Shawshank Redemption, The 1994 If you have enough life for 5 more: American Beauty 1999 Clockwork Orange, A 1971 Godfather, The 1972 In the Name of the Father 1993 Memento 2000 Finally, if you can’t get your hands on any of the above: Game, The 1997 Pulp Fiction 1994 Shallow Grave 1994 Swimming With Sharks 1994 Trainspotting 1996 True Romance 1993 ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/33 "2007-02-07T16:09:14Z")
Here’s my weird list: Trainspotting The Iron Giant (thanks previous poster who listed it) Clueless Father Goose The Tuskegee Airmen ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/34 "2007-02-07T16:24:49Z")
Edit: I _have_ to list these too: Chocolat Finding Forrester Much Ado About Nothing (directed by Kenneth Brannaugh) Enchanted April Dune ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/35 "2007-02-07T16:38:21Z")
Analmaniacs 2 Suck It Dry 7 Weapons Of Ass Destruction 5 Splendor In The Ass Where The Boys Aren’t ---
**Author:** ![Flip\_Pancake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f1d935/32.png) [@Flip\_Pancake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flip_Pancake)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/36 "2007-02-07T16:40:59Z")
Indulge in some Cate Blanchett-y goodness… Paradise Road Oscar and Lucinda Elizabeth Bandits Babel ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/37 "2007-02-07T16:47:00Z")
If you’ve only got time enough to see five movies before you die, I suggest some real-life fun. Then again, I remember how the ep ended when Homer Simpson found out he wasn’t going to die of fugu poisoning … ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/38 "2007-02-07T16:49:04Z")
Fletch Bonfire of the Vanities Battlefield Earth The Gods Must Be Crazy It’s Pat: The Movie Nobody wants to die. Watching these might encourage you to welcome it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/39 "2007-02-07T17:03:55Z")
_A Man For All Seasons 2001: A Space Odyssey Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner American Graffiti To Kill A Mockingbird_ ---
**Author:** ![Smith8762](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Smith8762](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smith8762)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144/40 "2007-02-07T19:12:12Z")
1. [Wings of Desire](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093191/) 2. [Wild at Heart](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100935/) 3. [The Seventh Seal](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050976/) 4. [A Clockwork Orange](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066921/) 5. [2001: A Space Odyssey](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/) That’s my $.02 worth… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-5-movies-i-should-see-before-i-die/391144.md?page=3)