# Is there any movie we ALL would agree is good (if not great)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [January 2, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271 "2026-01-02T14:18:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**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:** [January 4, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/281 "2026-01-04T16:22:48Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Do documentaries count? Who didn’t like Hoop Dreams, 20 Feet From Stardom, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, or The Thin Blue Line? I love all of those and would add Brother’s Keeper. I also like My Cousin Vinny and Raiders mentioned above. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/282 "2026-01-04T17:37:10Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > **The Wrong Trousers** (Wallace and Gromet) if short films count This is exactly the film I was going to nominate. I’d be very surprised if _anyone_ didn’t at least like this. For me, it’s about 25 minutes of utter perfection. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/283 "2026-01-04T17:41:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I searched the thread. Harry Potter hasn’t been mentioned. A couple are worth watching, but other than that I found them a bit boring to be honest. I watched the whole lot with my partner on Netflix a couple of years back and most were 5/10 efforts and all sort of merged into one in my head. They’re mediocre at best and I am baffled by the success. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/284 "2026-01-04T18:10:04Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I was the one who mentioned _The Shawshank Redemption_ in the thread on _The Princess Bride_. My point was not that I hated it (I thought it was okay), but that I’m kind of mystified why some people think it’s amazing. O guess because it’s a powerful and compelling story and the acting is very good. It’s far from the top of my list, though, just because it’s so depressing. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/285 "2026-01-04T19:10:26Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > **The Wrong Trousers** (Wallace and Gromet) if short films count > [@iamatractorboy](#): > > This is exactly the film I was going to nominate. I’d be very surprised if _anyone_ didn’t at least like this. For me, it’s about 25 minutes of utter perfection. Yes - I rarely _enjoy_ lengthy animation (despite appreciating it), but this one is perfect. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/286 "2026-01-05T00:11:27Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I could imagine criticisms of Apocalypse Now. I’m betting young women would either fall asleep or die of boredom. My post on _2001_ never got any replies, pro or con, but might elicit that kind of reaction from some quarters. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/287 "2026-01-05T00:15:25Z")
2001 is my favorite movie from before 1980 or so, but a lot of people think it’s painfully slow. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/288 "2026-01-05T00:21:10Z")
The thing about _2001_ is that it is hard to argue that it is not a _Good Movie_. You might not like it, but it is somewhat of a Masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/289 "2026-01-05T01:40:32Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > My post on _2001_ never got any replies, pro or con, but might elicit that kind of reaction from some quarters. I’ve tried watching _2001_ probably 3 times over 30+ years, never managed to like it. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/290 "2026-01-05T02:24:03Z")
Drugs are the secret ingredient. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/291 "2026-01-05T02:28:12Z")
I’m not necessarily talking about people who have well-considered opinions like you. I’m talking about general internet assholes who are just sour bastards who just opine that anything that a lot of people like sucks, because they get their jollies from pissing people off and being contrary. I mean, who pissed in someone’s cornflakes bad enough such that they weren’t entertained and amused by “The Princess Bride”? How sour and demanding are you that you’re that way? (the generic “you”, not you in particular @GuanoLad; I remember reading that you adore it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/292 "2026-01-05T02:30:58Z")
If it will help, I’ll agree that Casablanca must be a good movie because most people like it. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/293 "2026-01-05T02:35:37Z")
I’ll concede that, for example, _The Godfather_ and _The Godfather Part II_ are undoubtedly good, possibly great, movies, from an objective POV. I’ve seen parts of both of them, and they just aren’t enjoyable _to me_; I have never had any interest in mobster/gang/crime/Mafia films. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/294 "2026-01-05T02:43:16Z")
_nm._ ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/295 "2026-01-05T03:31:14Z")
I promise I scrolled through all 293 posts, so apologies if I missed it, but **Big** seemed to delight everyone. How about **Some Like it Hot**? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/296 "2026-01-05T04:23:00Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > > [@needscoffee](#): > > > > To Kill a Mockingbird > > I loved it when I was a kid, but it does not age well. It’s one in a long line of white savior stories that exist for white people and by white people In what way is it a white savior story? Tom Robinson is convicted by a racist jury, then killed trying to escape. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/297 "2026-01-05T04:24:37Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I promise I scrolled through all 293 posts, so apologies if I missed it, but **Big** seemed to delight everyone. I only liked the one with the alternate ending. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/298 "2026-01-05T04:28:43Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > In what way is it a white savior story? Tom Robinson is convicted by a racist jury, then killed trying to escape. Not to mention, it’s a story told through the eyes of a little girl about her dad. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/299 "2026-01-05T04:30:23Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > In what way is it a white savior story? Critics see it as being a feel-good story for white readers who are uncomfortable about racism, but even if Atticus doesn’t ultimately succeed in achieving freedom for Tom, he’s still the one doing the defending, and he’s the hero of the piece. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/300 "2026-01-05T04:32:17Z")
How would you tell a story about a poor Black man wrongly accused in the Depression-era Deep South? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271.md?page=16)