# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/121 "2025-02-19T07:12:13Z")
For Anime or Animation, I would strongly agree that Mononoke is pretty awesome! For a piece of world history, I’d say Kingdom of Heaven, for the following two lines and all that is built around them\*: _What man is a man who does not make the world better?_ _You’ve taught me a lot about religion, your Eminence._ But I’ll leave it to the audience to go and find those quotes. 😉 –G! \*For what it’s worth, I’ve only ever seen the director’s cut. I’ve heard the theatrical cut was harshly criticised. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/122 "2025-02-19T08:13:39Z")
_The Godfather_ This film is a cultural icon, and is very highly regarded. That is, people should see it not only because it represents filmmaking at its best, but because there are things in it that are referenced often enough that they’re essential knowledge. Just for example: “Make him an offer he can’t refuse,” the horse’s head, “It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes,” “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli,” “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer,” I thought of including _The Godfather Part II_ as well, but while it’s at least as good a film as the first one, it’s not as important culturally, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/123 "2025-02-19T10:05:38Z")
_Raging Bull_: a raw, character-driven drama that explores the destructive effects of rage and jealousy. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/124 "2025-02-19T10:29:16Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I _ **love** _ _Mononoke-hime_. But _Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi_ is the better movie, even if by a hair. There’s something _warmer_ about it, is the best way I can put it. _Mononoke_ lacks whimsy - The _kodama_ are the only concession to whimsy. And while it has a “happy” ending, the old gods are dead, including the Forest Spirit. That’s not hopeful, the way _Spirited Away_ is. I like hope. I’m a huge fan of Spirited Away as well. But the way Mononoke shows multiple different view points of its world without judgement elevates it IMO. Not to mention the fact that Prince Ashitaka is one of my three favorite anime characters ever. ---
**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 19, 2025, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/125 "2025-02-19T14:19:38Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > _Raging Bull_: a raw, character-driven drama that explores the destructive effects of rage and jealousy. … and bulls. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/126 "2025-02-19T16:41:52Z")
> **threadshit hid** > > You guys are hilarious. > > There are 8 billion people on this planet, some have never seen one movie, and not only do most do not speak English only 86% can read and write. > > But yeah, everyone on Earth must see a Vietnam War film. ---
**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 19, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/127 "2025-02-19T18:29:49Z")
Wow, so insightful. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/128 "2025-02-19T19:32:31Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/129 "2025-02-19T19:35:37Z")
**Moderating** This is a pretty clearly a threadshit. Looks like a pair of these today from you. Maybe take a short pause before clicking and looking to see if you’re being insulting or if your post is just a threadshit. No warning, but I recommend you just ignore this thread going forward. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/130 "2025-02-19T19:36:16Z")
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**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/131 "2025-02-19T20:40:44Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I think everyone should see _Der Himmel über Berlin_( AKA _Wings of Desire_). It is layered and beautiful and resonant. I just happened to watch this on HBO Max the other day. It seemed awfully random at first but I stuck with it and I’m glad I did. I have one question, which I’ll spoiler even tho I’m not sure it’s necessary: Was the trapeze artist another former angel? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/132 "2025-02-19T22:12:49Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > A good film for understanding '50s history would be _People Will Talk_, which does not address the particular subject directly but does hit it hard sideways while also being entertaining. I saw that not long ago and hated it. Yes, it represents 50s values very well, but it was not entertaining to me and was actively irritating. Very weird movie. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/133 "2025-02-19T23:16:57Z")
You’re the first person I’ve ever seen raise it. There’s nothing in the movie to suggest it, and I’d say no. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/134 "2025-02-19T23:18:09Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > 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. Very true. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/135 "2025-02-19T23:19:22Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > because there are things in it that are referenced often enough that they’re essential knowledge I’ve never watched the movie (never will, either) , and yet I know all these things you spoilered just through cultural osmosis. ---
**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 20, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/136 "2025-02-20T00:20:49Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > I thought of including _The Godfather Part II_ as well, but while it’s at least as good a film as the first one, it’s not as important culturally, IMO. Though it’s the source of the last quote on your list. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/137 "2025-02-20T03:52:59Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Though it’s the source of the last quote on your list. 😉 Oops. I intended to delete that one . Oh, well… ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/138 "2025-02-20T13:34:03Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > > [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > > > because there are things in it that are referenced often enough that they’re essential knowledge > > I’ve never watched the movie (never will, either) , and yet I know all these things you spoilered just through cultural osmosis. Well, I’ll go the other way. I had no idea that any of those things came from the Godfather, and spent half an hour trying (and failing) to disprove that “_Keep…_” originated (or at least, was first published) in the movie. That one is my Astonishing SDMB Educational Moment Of The Week. j ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/139 "2025-02-28T16:27:42Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > If you asked me to name a film that I just loved watching, that gave me great joy, it might be _Amelie_. It’s just charming and delightful and I can’t think of many films that were more fun to watch. As a side note: this was turned into a (short-lived) Broadway play - starring Philippa Soo, who originated the role of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton in Hamilton. We had seen The Book Of Mormon the evening before. For whatever reason, my husband really did not like it - he’s still baffled at that. But the next day, we saw the matinee of Amelie, and that salvaged his mood. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-movie-you-think-everyone-should-see-at-least-once-in-their-life-everyone/1014287/140 "2025-03-01T01:00:22Z")
I will take the word EVERYONE in the OP seriously. My vote would be **The Blues Brothers** It’s just such a fun ride as those poor guys just have all of the worst luck and still seem to land on their feet in every situation. And the thing that makes it such a deserving movie: Every one of the musicians you see was the absolute real deal. They sought out great performers whose glory days had waned and gave them a second wind, and that made the film a showcase for raw R&B musical talent. Entertainers like Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, James Brown, Ray Charles, and great guys like Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn in the band. The story by itself is great fun, but the movie was a musical masterpiece. Though I really like **Pulp Fiction** and think almost everyone should see Quentin Tarantino’s greatest work IMHO (before he lost control of the gore/profanity balance), it is over the top for some. I can’t forget a movie night decades ago with my mom when I suggested we rent **Robocop** and she couldn’t watch it past the initial shooting scene. Some people can’t watch a violent movie. So PF is in a “If you like (genre) then…” group just like the poster who recommended one for people who like horror movies. [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=6)