# 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:** 18
**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 5, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/341 "2026-01-05T20:37:37Z")
Well, I know that almost everyone will have their own picks of the best of the Coen brothers and will disagree with mine, but here they are anyway: - For drama, their first film, _Blood Simple_. - For drama with comedy, _Fargo_. - For sheer fun and laughs, _Intolerable Cruelty_ (not as highly rated by critics as most of their other films, but I don’t care – I absolutely loved it!) - For a melancholy and nostalgic retrospective on the folk music scene, some comedy, and a terrific soundtrack, _Inside Llewyn Davis_ ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/342 "2026-01-05T20:39:17Z")
I’d say for comedy, _Raising Arizona._ ---
**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 5, 2026, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/343 "2026-01-05T20:40:08Z")
During the Pandemic, my wife and I did a Coen Bros film fest and ranked them all (we did this for a few directors). Basically, it broke down in thirds. The top thirdish were great, middle thirdish were very good and bottom third were actually not very good. Here’s our list ETA this list is fluid and things can move up or down. 1. Big Lebowski 2. Fargo 3. No Country for Old Men 4. Raising Arizona 5. True Grit 6. Barton Fink 7. Oh Brother Where Art Thou? 8. Man Who Wasn’t There 9. Blood Simple 10. Llewelyn Davis 11. Millers Crossing 12. Burn Before Reading 13. A Serious Man 14. Hail, Cesar! 15. Intolerable Cruelty 16. Hudsucker Proxy 17. Lady Killers ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/344 "2026-01-05T20:41:44Z")
I’d put _Hudsucker_ MUCH higher than that. ---
**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 5, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/345 "2026-01-05T20:48:09Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > I’d say for comedy, _Raising Arizona._ _Raising Arizona_ was great, but there’s something about _Intolerable Cruelty_ that really tickles my funnybone! I love the courtroom scene with Heinz, the Baron Krauss von Espy! 😁 And George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones are just great in it! ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/346 "2026-01-05T20:50:01Z")
Did you edit the post above mine (#341)? I’d swear it originally said “For comedy, _Fargo_.” ---
**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 5, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/347 "2026-01-05T20:52:02Z")
If you mean my list, no, it always said “For drama with comedy, _Fargo_” Though in retrospect, maybe I should have said “drama with touches of humour”. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/348 "2026-01-05T20:52:16Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Is **It’s A Wonderful Life** in the running at all? Do you mean the **[1946](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life)** version with James Stewart and Donna Reed or the **[1951](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Wonderful_Life_(film))** version with James Dunn, Allene Roberts, and Arthur Shields? If the former, I have already stated what I think of James Stewart (**[gives me the creeps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/232)**), if the latter, I have never seen it, so I abstain. > [@Alessan](#): > > I dare you to claim that Stewart wasn’t a great actor. Maybe he was, but I can’t stand him. > [@Alessan](#): > > Ultimately, the goal of acting is to evoke an emotional response from your audience. But not repulsion! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/349 "2026-01-05T20:53:41Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Do you mean the **[1946](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life)** version with James Stewart and Donna Reed or the **[1951](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Wonderful_Life_(film))** version with James Dunn, Allene Roberts, and Arthur Shields? If the former, I have already stated what I think of James Stewart (**[gives me the creeps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/232)**), if the latter, I have never seen it, so I abstain. Come on, now. Which do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/350 "2026-01-05T20:56:42Z")
Then I am against. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/351 "2026-01-05T21:02:10Z")
Don’t mind me. I used to have a brain. Or maybe being on _Jeopardy!_ was just a dream I had. ---
**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 5, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/352 "2026-01-05T21:05:24Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > How about **Some Like it Hot**? I think it’s hilarious but I guarantee some will dismiss it purely because it’s ‘old and in black and white’. ---
**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 5, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/353 "2026-01-05T21:06:00Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > I’d say for comedy, _Raising Arizona._ I tried to watch that once and I’m not sure I even made it to halfway. ---
**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 5, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/354 "2026-01-05T21:07:54Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Have we had any naysayers to **Galaxy Quest** yet? It’s not a _bad_ film but I don’t get the adulation it receives. It’s…fine. ---
**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 5, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/355 "2026-01-05T21:08:32Z")
Me too ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/356 "2026-01-05T21:15:35Z")
Someone mentioned Pixar and I think that is a very good pick. Their best films are just so solidly crafted it’s hard to see anyone disliking them. If I had to pick just one, as a candidate for least likely to be disliked I think I would go with Toy Story 2. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/357 "2026-01-05T21:15:45Z")
Did we have **The Life of Brian** yet? ---
**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 5, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/358 "2026-01-05T21:17:41Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > > [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > > > How about **Some Like it Hot**? > > I think it’s hilarious but I guarantee some will dismiss it purely because it’s ‘old and in black and white’. I’ll nix this one, but not because “it’s old and in black and white”. I love many old movies, and some old TV shows as well. After watching all of _Alfred Hitchcock Presents_, I just spent a delightful few weeks watching _The Alfred Hitchcock Hour_. No, the thing that’s dated about _Some Like It Hot_ isn’t the dated film format, it’s the dated humour. I just don’t find it funny. ---
**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 5, 2026, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/359 "2026-01-05T21:18:08Z")
Never saw it, how about Up? ---
**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 5, 2026, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271/360 "2026-01-05T21:22:54Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > Someone mentioned Pixar and I think that is a very good pick. Their best films are just so solidly crafted it’s hard to see anyone disliking them. If I had to pick just one, as a candidate for least likely to be disliked I think I would go with Toy Story 2. Pixar has made some great stuff, but why on earth would you pick the sequel to the original _Toy Story_? I thought that was a beautiful movie. I saw it in the theater with my son when he was little, and I was a sucker for the inevitable merchandising. What better movie to market toys than a movie **about** toys! I’m pretty sure we had them all, and some were really fun to play with! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-movie-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026271.md?page=19)