# I want to assemble a library of the Top 100 movies- I need your top 10 suggestions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200 "2003-07-13T18:18:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/21 "2003-07-14T02:07:32Z")
oops, forgot to add _One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest_, so those are my eleven… ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/22 "2003-07-14T02:23:56Z")
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your suggestions so far. They have been very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/23 "2003-07-14T02:39:24Z")
The Goodfellas is the best movie ever. So as long as you get that, you’re good. For the most part, the movies listed here are excellent, though I haven’t seen them all. ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/24 "2003-07-14T03:20:58Z")
Wendell Wagner, Your consensus list is pretty good but I would add the following films: 1)One film by Ozu( probably Tokyo Story) and Satyajit Ray(probably Pather Panchali). Though not popularly known the two are considered giants by most serious critics and it would add some geographical diversity. 2)One Ealing comedy: Maybe Kind Hearts and Coronets or Lavender HIll Mob. The former is on Ebert’s Great films list. 3)A couple more animated films: The recent revolution in CGI needs to be represented: maybe one of the Toy Story films. One Japanese animated film especially from Studio Ghibli. Though I personally don’t think it’s the best, Spirited Away won an Oscar, is ranked 44 on IMDB(and 1 in animation) and was almost universally praised by the critics. ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/25 "2003-07-14T03:30:13Z")
Taking out the usuals, Kane, Godfather, Casablanca etc… The Big Combo Night Of The Hunter Hail The Conquering Hero Hana-bi (Fireworks) Suspiria Deep Red Force Of Evil Les Miserables (The Claude LeLouche version) My Neighbour Totoro Lenny ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/26 "2003-07-14T03:39:27Z")
Without having read anybody else’s list, and not precisely in order: 2001: A Space Odyssey The Big Lebowski Spirited Away Pulp Fiction Citizen Kane Star Wars Ed Wood The Fellowship of the Ring (especially the extended edition) Slacker Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/27 "2003-07-14T04:01:29Z")
Mine! Dr Strangelove 2001: A Space Oddysey Citizen Kane Casablanca Apocalypse Now Dr Zhivago To Kill a Mockingbird Groundhog Day Airplane! The Usual Suspects That list will probably change… ---
**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:** [July 14, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/28 "2003-07-14T04:03:13Z")
NOSFERATU METROPOLIS the essentials in the Universal Monster series DRACULA with Lugosi (also the Spanish edition) DRACULA’S DAUGHTER FRANKENSTEIN (first of the Karloff Frank Trilogy) BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN !!! SON OF FRANKENSTEIN GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN THE WOLF MAN FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN THE MUMMY!!! ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN FREAKS the essential Hammers CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN!!! FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN HORROR OF DRACULA!!! BRIDES OF DRACULA!!! AIP Poe Series FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH!!! TALES OF TERROR (trilogy- Amontillado/Black Cat; Morella; M Valdemar) THE RAVEN THE DUNWICH HORROR CARNIVAL OF SOULS!!! BLACK SUNDAY aka MASK OF SATAN THE WICKER MAN!!! ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/29 "2003-07-14T06:06:27Z")
The British Film Institute’s _Sight and Sound_ magazine has conducted a Top Ten films of all time poll every ten years since 1952. In 2002, they polled 145 film critics, writers and academics, and 108 film directors. The latest poll results are [here](http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/topten/index.html). The full list of all films nominated is [here](http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/topten/poll/list.php?list=films). ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/30 "2003-07-14T06:58:57Z")
I don’t know about “top,” but 10 of my favorites are: The Philadelphia Story Annie Hall The Sweet Hereafter Metropolitan Round Midnight Smoke Signals Rear Window Vertigo Chinatown Badlands It strikes me that all of the above are American except The Sweet Hereafter, which is Canadian. To right the balance while continuing to indulge myself, here are some non-English-language favorites: Tampopo Autumn Moon Jules and Jim The Nasty Girl Finally, though he’s not to all tastes, I will unhesitatingly watch anything by Abbas Kiarostami, especially his trilogy: 1. Where is the friend’s house? 2. And life goes on 3. Through the olive trees ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/31 "2003-07-14T13:16:30Z")
check it on out: Aliens Empire strikes back Fight club trainspotting life of brian lord of the rings (fellowship) ju dou ninja scroll star wars LA confidential apart from aliens being my favourite of all time, this list tends to change and is written off top of my head ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/32 "2003-07-14T13:29:47Z")
If I had to pick a Desert Island Top 10, I guess it might look like this: Buster Keaton’s _The General_ Preston Sturges’ _The Lady Eve_ Powell & Pressburger’s _Black Narcissus_ Akira Kurosawa’s _The Seven Samurai_ Carl Dreyer’s _Ordet_ Alfred Hitchcock’s _Vertigo_ Federico Fellini’s _La Dolce Vita_ Stanley Kubrick’s _2001: A Space Odyssey_ Sam Peckinpah’s _The Wild Bunch_ Eric Rohmer’s _Chloe in the Afternoon_ Unfortunately, the Fellini isn’t on Region 1 DVD yet, and the Dreyer is only available in a Criterion boxed set. Still, they’re all well-worth checking out… ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/33 "2003-07-14T13:32:21Z")
My favourites (today): I’m not sure if these are all on DVD, but most are. Bringing Up Baby Monty Python’s Life of Brian Santa Sangre Pierrot Le Fou Come and See (1985) Ghost World Badlands All About Eve Breaking the Waves Hedwig and the Angry Inch ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/34 "2003-07-14T14:06:20Z")
\*A Fish Called Wanda The Big Sleep Blazing Saddles Casablanca Citizen Kane Dr. Strangelove Monty Python and the Holy Grail O Brother, Where Art Thou? Seven Samurai Time Bandits ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/35 "2003-07-14T15:39:50Z")
- The Godfather Collection The Wicker Man This Is Spinal Tap Touch Of Evil Lord Of The Rings SE Trouble In Paradise The Killers My Man Godfrey Solaris\* (the Russian one)\* Beauty and the Beast\* (the French one) ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/36 "2003-07-14T16:17:54Z")
In no order A Night at the Opera Godfather I Godfather II Brazil Maltese Falcon Doctor Zhivago Philadelphia Story North by Northwest Breaker Morant Casablanca ---
**Author:** ![CurlyD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@CurlyD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurlyD)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/37 "2003-07-14T16:19:43Z")
In no particular order: _The Lion King M_A_S_H Ferris Bueller’s Day Off The Mask Monty Python and the Holy Grail Apocalypse Now Platoon The Deer Hunter Pulp Fiction Fight Club\* Not sure if all are available on DVD, though. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/38 "2003-07-14T17:10:39Z")
Sunset Boulevard Rear Window The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition) Godfather I and II Midnight Cowboy Lawrence of Arabia Double Indemnity The Ladykillers Raising Arizona All About Eve ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/39 "2003-07-14T17:58:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Soup\_du\_jour \* > Mine! > > Dr Strangelove > 2001: A Space Oddysey > Citizen Kane > Casablanca > Apocalypse Now > Dr Zhivago > To Kill a Mockingbird > Groundhog Day > Airplane! > The Usual Suspects > > That list will probably change… Well, except for “ **Groundhog Day** ,” we’re in pretty much full agreement, unless you change your list. ---
**Author:** ![Catsmeow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Catsmeow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catsmeow)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200/40 "2003-07-14T18:15:18Z")
Mmm, I’m prolly going to get whacked for this but: Breakfast Club Pretty In Pink St Elmo’s Fire Rocky Horror Picture Show The Mummy The Mummy Returns All of the Indiana Jones Series Star Wars Episodes 4-6 Road to El Dorado and Shrek would be my current faves. Also, anything Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks (love them) and Doris Day movies are my FAVE rainy day activity. _g_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-assemble-a-library-of-the-top-100-movies-i-need-your-top-10-suggestions/188200.md?page=3)