# Tell me what movies I really, really need to see **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 1, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884 "2001-07-01T23:32:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jeannie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@Jeannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeannie)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/1 "2001-07-01T23:32:04Z")
I love movies. Mr. Jeannie and I are always going to the movies and renting stuff. As much as I love movies, it occurs to me that I haven’t seen many of the “classics.” For example, I have seen neither “Casablanca” nor “Citizen Kane.” (Yes, I know, I need to correct this ASAP). So, what else do I need to see? (BTW, when I say “classics,” it doesn’t necessarily mean b&w films. Just list whatever you guys think any movie lover should see). ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/2 "2001-07-02T00:04:18Z")
Here’s an odd one: “Mad Wednesday.” Harold Lloyd (old silent film star) teams with director Preston Sturges in this 1947 film originally called “The Sin of Harold Diddlebock.” It’s a lovely, little-known comedy that’s sort of a sequel to Lloyd’s role in “The Freshman.” Things to watch for: supporting actors you’ve seen elsewhere, like Edgar Kennedy (Marx Bro. movie), Margaret Hamilton (Oz’s wicked witch), Rudy Vallee and Franklin Pangborn. Notice how they get little moments to extend themselves as characters, not just act as foils for the star. Plus, the final line of the movie is sort of a dirty-joke punchline, at least for 1947. It ain’t art, but it’s a fun movie. ---
**Author:** ![JoeyHemlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ba0ec/32.png) [@JoeyHemlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyHemlock)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/3 "2001-07-02T00:13:24Z")
A good place to start is the [url"[http://www.afionline.org/100movies/](http://www.afionline.org/100movies/)"]AFI 100. While this isn’t necessarily the list most people will come up with on their own, it _is_ 100 great films. It’s hard to make suggestions without knowing what you like. I love Kurosawa, but I wouldn’t recommend his films to everyone. What are some of your favorite movies? If I had to choose five pre-1965 classics I’d recommend to everyone, it’d be **Citizen Kane** , **Dr. Strangelove** , **Sunset Blvd.** , **The Apartment** , and **Bridge on the River Kwai**. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/4 "2001-07-02T00:24:59Z")
Joey’s got the right idea, [AFI 100 Best Movies](http://www.afionline.org/100movies/) is a good place to start. A couple of my personal favourites: Raging Bull All About Eve The Lion In Winter ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/5 "2001-07-02T00:28:22Z")
All of 'em. And don’t come back till you’re done. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/6 "2001-07-02T00:35:18Z")
The General (1927) The Big Sleep (1946) Network (1976) ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/7 "2001-07-02T00:39:34Z")
The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen Time Bandits Daze and Confused ---
**Author:** ![Grok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Grok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grok)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/8 "2001-07-02T01:39:48Z")
There have been a number of “best movie” lists on our boards. Here’s mine: Double Indemnity The Great Escape The Natural Schindler’s List Twelve O’Clock High The Muppet Movie Full Metal Jacket Annie Hall Radio Days Pulp Fiction North By Northwest The Sting Toy Story I & II ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/9 "2001-07-02T02:23:23Z")
Braveheart Great Expectations(the newer one) October Sky 2001: A space Oddessy ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/10 "2001-07-02T02:29:43Z")
As Good As It Gets The Long, Long Trailer (starring pre-TV Lucy and Desi) What About Bob? Good Will Hunting The Sixth Sense Somewhere In Time ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/11 "2001-07-02T02:59:37Z")
First off, watch Casablanca and Citizen Kane immediately, as well as the Maltese Falcon, if you haven’t seen that one. Check out [the Internet Movie Database](http://www.imdb.com)’s list of the top 250 films, as well as top 50 by genre. They list top 50 votes by decade too. Joey’s right. Give us some of the movies that you’ve liked and we can suggest some others to try. My two all-time favorites are Dr. Strangelove and Harold and Maude. Eric ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/12 "2001-07-02T03:10:23Z")
Let’s see here about about these: The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover Crimes of Passion Desperate Living Henry and June Amazon Women on the Moon Harold and Maude Wild at Heart Koyaanisqatsi (Good luck finding a copy, though) Death Race 2000 The Exorcist The Exorcist III Jacob’s Ladder Until the End of the World Blue Velvet Brazil The Life of Brian Monty Python and the Holy Grail Leon: The Professional Dogma Blade Runner Ronin Dark City La Femme Nikita (bears **no** real relation to the TV series) 1984 (the John Hurt version, if you can find a copy) For All Mankind American Beauty The Trial (with Anthony Perkins) ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/13 "2001-07-02T03:24:57Z")
Rocky Horror Picture Show! ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/14 "2001-07-02T03:29:56Z")
The Usual Suspects Orlando ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/15 "2001-07-02T03:39:23Z")
Romancing the Stone The Secret of Nhym The Dark Crystal Labrynth ---
**Author:** ![Harbour\_Lights](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7feea3/32.png) [@Harbour\_Lights](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harbour_Lights)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/16 "2001-07-02T03:52:59Z")
Pink Flamingoes Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Eraserhead The Snake Pit I’m not saying they’re good movies, just movies you should see. (I’ve never seen Casablanca, either). ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/17 "2001-07-02T03:58:12Z")
Heat Wizards Battlefield Earth (if for no other reason than you can see how bad a movie can be! 🙂 ) Plan 9 From Outer Space The Day the Earth Stood Still Rollerball (the original) Planet of the Apes (again, the original) Kalifornia Natural Born Killers Platoon Lolita (the original, yet again) ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/18 "2001-07-02T03:59:25Z")
I second **Pulp Fiction**. It is without a doubt the best movie of the 90s. Well maybe a… **Shadow of a Doubt**. Hehe. Others: \*\* Reservoir Dogs The Exorcist Clue Beetlejuice La Femme Nikita Indochine The Shining ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/19 "2001-07-02T04:13:36Z")
A couple more… _Apocalypse Now_ _A Clockwork Orange_ ---
**Author:** ![straykat23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@straykat23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straykat23)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884/20 "2001-07-02T04:41:58Z")
A good little movie, newly released in the US, “Enlightenment Guaranteed.” Don’t let this throw you off; it’s in German with subtitles. Both funny and thought provoking. Terrific visuals. [http://www.hollywoodbitchslap.com](http://www.hollywoodbitchslap.com) gives it a ‘fuckin’ awesome’ rating. 'Nuff said. [http://hollywoodbitchslap.com/hbs.cgi](http://hollywoodbitchslap.com/hbs.cgi) As long as I’m in the foreign film mode: Children of Heaven (Iranian) The Tin Drum (German) any Wallace & Grommit films (British) Others: Schindler’s List Fargo Boogie Nights American Beauty To Kill a Mockingbird Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest All About Eve Sunset Boulevard Casablanca And to know what everyone talks about: Gone With the Wind [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-movies-i-really-really-need-to-see/70884.md?page=2)