# The ONE movie that will always make you stop channel surfing **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235 "2010-07-27T21:42:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Star_to_the_Right)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/121 "2010-07-29T06:00:59Z")
Legally Blonde ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/122 "2010-07-29T08:44:29Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > > [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > > > Fandango. > > _Gasp!_ > > Really? **Hazle** … my sister!!! I love [love](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=413047&highlight=Fandango) love that movie, Kevin Reynolds is an old family friend, but I never see it on TV. Oh boy, we gotta talk! Good God, yes! I will push people to the point of tears, insisting that they see this movie. Effing brilliant, that’s all. The whole feel of the thing is just amazing. The putting together of the party…unparalleled. The “fandango” scene moves me to tears every single time. Def in my top five! I rarely find anyone who has even HEARD of it! Plus, the young cast is just phenomenal! This and “Diner” are right up there for me. They’re a smile! Oh, wait! Also, Kevin Reynolds is an old family friend! Jesus God! I would basically just annoy him TO DEATH. Uh, tell him I said, “hey!” Wow! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/123 "2010-07-29T10:19:48Z")
And yet, Dopers snivel constantly about “there are no good movies coming out of Hollywood”. Bah. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/124 "2010-08-04T05:12:48Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > > [@CanvasShoes](#): > > > > Damn!!! > > > > Too. Many. Good. Choices. > > > > But if there’s only ONE choice, I think this would be it. Don’t we get a second, maybe a third choice? doesn’t matter I’m TAKIn’ one. 😃 > > > > Usually one of the Molly Ringwald three will do it. > > > > Night of the Comet. > > Great 80’s movie! > “We’re gonna play a game I call, ‘Scary Noises.’” “Oooh, an E-ticket attraction!” > “Daddy would’ve gotten us Uzis.” GAWD," Daddy would’ve gotten us Uzis"! One of my alltime fave movie lines. “Sam? They said you were dead!” “They were exaggerating, TOTALLY!”. “Great outfit!” ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/125 "2010-08-04T09:49:01Z")
1776 We both love it. We have it on video tape, need to get it on DVD. It was a hard choice between 1776, Jesus Christ Superstar or A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/126 "2010-08-04T12:20:24Z")
**Blade Runner**. “Men? …POLICE men?” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/127 "2010-08-04T12:54:42Z")
Stanley Kubrick’s **The Shining**. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/128 "2010-08-04T12:55:57Z")
Well yes, most Lonesome Dove series, and whenever Spike wants to rerun any Star Wars film or the Band of Brothers series, I stop right there and watch. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/129 "2010-08-04T21:38:25Z")
I think I’d have to pick Resident Evil. There are so many movies that I stop to watch when they’re on, just because, but Zombies will generally win out over anything else. Unfortunately for me, I do have the premium channels and Resident Evil has been available for at least 2 years now. I watch it A LOT. But, if Bill Cosby would ever allow Leonard Part 6 to air on TV, I’d watch that instead. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/130 "2010-08-05T01:42:16Z")
Ferris. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/131 "2010-08-05T05:10:30Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > > [@zoid](#): > > > > Shawshank Redemption > > Damn!!! Ditto’d. I dunno what it is about Shawshank. I’ve seen it at least a dozen times. But if it’s on, fuck me, I’m gonna watch it again. This has burned me like five times on work nights. It’s glacially slow, it’s a bit rose-tinted towards criminals and there’s not a single live woman in it (except for the brief intro.) It’s extremely predictable. I still love it. It’s like the perfect meditation on surviving through suffering and tedium. Brokenness then acceptance. Defiance then redemption. /the guy who has it permanently on Netflix streaming ---
**Author:** ![MindWanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@MindWanderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindWanderer)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/132 "2010-08-05T12:15:44Z")
Mr. Hollands Opus, although I don’t think I’ve seen it while flipping through in years. Already Mentioned: Pulp Fiction and Shawshank Redemption are two others I love to watch if I see them on TV as well. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/133 "2010-08-05T16:18:50Z")
Not yet mentioned, and on my list: _Caddyshack_. I think all my others have been mentioned previously. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/134 "2010-08-05T16:32:30Z")
Desperado. I sit there just drooling over Antonio Banderas. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/135 "2010-08-06T02:38:01Z")
_Exorcist II: The Heretic_ The movie itself describes my feelings with this line from Father Lamont: “It was horrible, utterly horrible… and fascinating!” Best/worst dialog: > [@](#): > > The Cardinal: Perhaps you should take a retreat. > Father Lamont [Richard Burton]: A retreat? Why not an advance? > > Sandra Phalor [very young Dana Plato]: What’s the matter with you? > Regan MacNeil: I was possessed by a demon. > Sandra Phalor: [wide-eyed expression] > Regan MacNeil: [Brightly] Oh, it’s okay. He’s gone! ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/136 "2010-08-06T02:56:59Z")
For me, it would be **GLORY** with Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. A few weeks ago, I had an important presentation to give at 10am one day. The night before, I had been preparing for it and noticed that it was already 1:30am or so. So, I quickly turned on the TV to check the weather report (there were hard rains those days) before going to bed. I stumbled upon the film right when they were recruiting the black troops. I hadn’t seen the film in years and I ended up watching it for the rest of the two hours. I paid for it the next day at the office. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/137 "2010-08-06T03:11:41Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > 1776 > > We both love it. We have it on video tape, need to get it on DVD. > > It was a hard choice between 1776, Jesus Christ Superstar or A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Ohmygod, my favorite musical. I watch it on a monthly basis at least… For me, it is probably \*The Hunt For Red October. \* “The Ruskies, son, don’t take a dump without a plan…” ---
**Author:** ![nachtmusick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@nachtmusick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nachtmusick)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/138 "2010-08-06T06:58:11Z")
I’ve trained myself to skip past Band of Brothers when I stumble on it. If I pause for more than an instant, I’m stuck to it like fly paper. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/139 "2010-08-06T07:24:54Z")
Another vote for _Casablanca_. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235/140 "2010-08-06T07:31:26Z")
I can’t believe no one has said the greatest cop movie of all time – _LA Confidential_. And because I’m a rule breaker – _Fom Dusk Till Dawn_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-movie-that-will-always-make-you-stop-channel-surfing/548235.md?page=8)