# Name a movie you think EVERYONE should see at least once in their life. Everyone! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [February 13, 2025, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287 "2025-02-13T22:19:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/21 "2025-02-14T00:13:36Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > It is short on gore, action and violence, but it is tho most brutally terrifying movie I have ever seen On a side note, I will never understand how describing something as ‘brutally terrifying’ could possibly be a recommendation. Anyway, as you were. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/22 "2025-02-14T00:19:43Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The Princess Bride. Yep, absolutely. > [@Pleonast](#): > > It’s a Wonderful Life Good choice. I will add- _Seven Samurai, Casablanca_ and _The Maltese Falcon._ The Directors cut of the LotR trilogy is wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/23 "2025-02-14T00:34:37Z")
I’ll nominate North By Northwest ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/24 "2025-02-14T00:39:32Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > My vote is Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The futility of life in a nutshell. That was my first inclination. Love that movie. I also thought of **On Golden Pond**. Growing old isn’t for sissies, but you can do it with good humor and forgiveness or die old and bitter. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/25 "2025-02-14T00:41:00Z")
_ **Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan** _ because the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. Tripler I mean, who _wouldn’t_ want a training joyride with a bunch of cadets? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/26 "2025-02-14T01:40:11Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > _ **Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan** _ because the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. Although I suspect that is the moral lesson that most people would take from the film, the deeper theme is the inevitability of loss and tragedy; Kirk’s loss of command (emphasized by his need for glasses for reading); the tragedy of Khan’s crew being deposited on a planet that became uninhabitable, killing his wife; and of course Kirk discovering that despite all of his guile with Khan and cleverness at cheating on the Kobayashi Maru simulation, he can’t actually avoid the “no win situation” regardless of his refusal to believe that it can happen to him. A great film for sure, although the lessons where somewhat undone by the sequel, and completely lost on the makers of _Star Trek: Into Darkness_ because J.J. Abrams is a hack. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/27 "2025-02-14T02:00:52Z")
Since _ **Casablanca** _ and _ **The Treasure of the Sierra Madre** _ have already been mentioned, I’ll go with _ **The Best Years of Our Lives** _. My dad told me “Once you see it, you’ll never forget it,” and he was right. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/28 "2025-02-14T02:07:16Z")
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK helpfully spells out a number of timeless lessons: the Jews were right, the Nazis were wrong, and there’s no reason to lose a fair fight if you can gun a guy down from a safe distance. ---
**Author:** ![cieskokid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cieskokid/32/5374_2.png) [@cieskokid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cieskokid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/29 "2025-02-14T02:15:39Z")
1 of mine HAS to be _Pulp Fiction_, 1st off because it’s so much f"ng fun. As a film though Tarantino shows how important good dialogue is for revealing character and moving the plot along and also how the soundtrack music is key to setting the mood and atmosphere of particular scenes. Most of all, _Pulp Fiction_ shows how to create a hella opening scene to draw the audience in, again all done with basic conversation and a totally unforeseen & wicked cool declaration by Honey Bunny at the end! ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/30 "2025-02-14T02:19:02Z")
The “Men in Boats” trilogy: **Jaws** , **Apocalypse Now** , and **Das Boot**. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/31 "2025-02-14T02:34:02Z")
You left out _ **The Caine Mutiny** _, _ **The African Queen** _, and _ **Mr Roberts** _. For those who prefer lighter fare, I’d recommend _ **Some Like It Hot** _. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/32 "2025-02-14T02:41:47Z")
The Lion King (original animated film, of course) No human characters and such an amazing story with some of the best film music of all time. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/33 "2025-02-14T03:06:27Z")
I know this will not be popular; **Crash** (2004). I know many find it ham fisted in its message and I can understand that view even if I don’t share it. It’s not subtle but I think it says things that anyone can derive some lesson from and, to me, it’s just a well written, interesting film. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/34 "2025-02-14T03:09:07Z")
- _ **The Graduate** _ - _ **Harold and Maude** _ (depicts suicide so maybe not for everyone) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/35 "2025-02-14T03:10:00Z")
_ **Rififi** _ ---
**Author:** ![cieskokid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cieskokid/32/5374_2.png) [@cieskokid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cieskokid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/36 "2025-02-14T03:25:45Z")
_One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest_ ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/37 "2025-02-14T03:26:33Z")
_Toy Story_ It’s funny, it’s touching, it’s family-friendly. If you ever had a favorite toy, this movie speaks to _you_. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/38 "2025-02-14T03:27:55Z")
_Mrs. Miniver._ ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/39 "2025-02-14T03:51:14Z")
One should definitely watch _Toy Story_… to understand the background when watching _Toy Story 2_. The first is good, but 2 is a masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/40 "2025-02-14T03:52:24Z")
You said it, **gnu**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287.md?page=3)