# What to watch before I die **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425 "2015-12-14T17:02:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/21 "2015-12-14T22:18:39Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > How long ya got? _Beaches_? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/22 "2015-12-14T22:44:18Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > _Beaches_? I prefer the sequel Sons of Beaches. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/23 "2015-12-14T23:17:24Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I prefer the sequel Sons of Beaches. Ah! This reminds me: _Treasure of the Sierra Madre_ _Full Metal Jacket Unforgiven Rush (the car racing one) Beerfest_ ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/24 "2015-12-15T00:04:13Z")
_The Shawshank Redemption Little Caesar A Tree Grows In Brooklyn The Little Foxes The Green Mile Great Expectations Hobson’s Choice Night of the Hunter Spartacus_ ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/25 "2015-12-15T00:24:02Z")
Shane Aliens Jaws The Thing (Horror, but well worth it) Unforgiven The Wizard of Oz 2001: A Space Odyssey Apocalypse Now Then anything else doesn’t matter you’ll have seen the best mankind has to over. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/26 "2015-12-15T00:51:46Z")
Boogie Nights My Life as a Dog Kelly’s Heroes Casino The Aristocrats Crimes and Misdemeanors ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/27 "2015-12-15T02:07:42Z")
The Third Man Stagecoach Red River My Darling Clemintine Singin’ in the Rain Rebecca The Wild Bunch ---
**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:** [December 15, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/28 "2015-12-15T02:22:27Z")
In the field of Westerns, and not yet noted: The Big Country High Noon Pale Rider The Ballad of Cable Hogue The Magnificent Seven The Professionals Tombstone Hombre ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/29 "2015-12-15T02:32:19Z")
Silverado Bringing Up Baby The Lion in Winter ---
**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:** [December 15, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/30 "2015-12-15T02:32:27Z")
In the field of stoner movies: Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Half Baked Pineapple Express Up In Smoke Reefer Madness (for ironic purposes) The Big Lebowski Homegrown ---
**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:** [December 15, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/31 "2015-12-15T02:52:50Z")
The African Queen Close Encounters of the Third Kind Once Upon a Time in the West The Oxbow Incident The Bedford Incident Failsafe 12 Angry Men Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 7 Days in May ---
**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:** [December 15, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/32 "2015-12-15T02:58:30Z")
Judgement at Nuremberg Triumph of the Will All Quiet on the Western Front Paths of Glory ---
**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:** [December 15, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/33 "2015-12-15T03:06:00Z")
Passport to Pimlico Lets Kill Uncle ---
**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:** [December 15, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/34 "2015-12-15T03:08:35Z")
Hope and Glory Empire of the Sun ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/35 "2015-12-15T05:40:02Z")
Godzilla (actually, watch Godjira, the original edit for Japan, if you can) The Seven Samurai ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/36 "2015-12-15T15:58:03Z")
How about some classic comedies? A Night at the Opera Arsenic and Old Lace Some Like It Hot A Shot in the Dark I remember “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” as being really good, but I haven’t seen it in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![justmeetee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@justmeetee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justmeetee)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/37 "2015-12-15T16:11:07Z")
Lots of classic movies and “films” listed here. When you want something to just entertain in a wierd offhand way try; Very Bad Things A Simple Plan Feeling Minnesota One Night At McCool’s None of them will make any top (pick a number) list but they are entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/38 "2015-12-17T20:45:04Z")
I think we would be friends IRL, **RikWriter**. I see a lot of my other favourite movies across genres here, so I will avoid repeating them, but will add (in no particular order): [ul] [li]_ **Pacific Rim** _[/li][li]_ **Avatar** _[/li][li]Peter Jackson’s _ **The Lord of the Rings** _ trilogy[/li][li]_ **Big Trouble in Little China** _[/li][li]_ **The Matrix** _ (two sequels optional; may take blue pill if desired)[/li][li]_ **Oblivion** _ (2013 film with Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman)[/li][li]_ **Army of Darkness** _ (viewing of _The Evil Dead_ movies not required for enjoyment)[/li][li]_ **Starship Troopers** _[/li][li]_ **RoboCop** _ (original 1987 version with Peter Weller)[/li][li]_ **Batman** _ (1989 movie with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson)[/li][li]_ **Superman II** _ (1980 movie starring Christopher Reeve)[/li][li]_ **Back to the Future** _ (all three movies required viewing)[/li][li]_ **Flash Gordon** _ (1980 version with Sam J. Jones as Flash and soundtrack by Queen)[/li][li]_ **Highlander** _ (soundtrack also by Queen; avoid the sequels)[/li][li]_ **Minority Report** _[/li][li]_ **Jurassic Park** _[/li][li]_ **Pulp Fiction** _[/li][li]_ **Predator** _ and _ **Predator 2** _[/li][li]_ **The Road Warrior** _ (aka _Mad Max 2_)[/li][li]_ **Escape from New York** _[/li][li]_ **Snatch** _[/li][li]_ **Stripes** _[/li][li]_ **Caddyshack** _ (skip the sequel)[/li][li]_ **Fletch** _[/li][li]_ **Ferris Bueller’s Day Off** _[/li][li]_ **Better Off Dead** _[/li][li]_ **National Lampoon’s Vacation** _ (plus any Chevy Chase/Beverly D’Angelo sequels as time allows)[/li][li]_ **This is Spinal Tap** _[/li][li]_ **Silent Running** _[/li][li]_ **Heavy Metal** _ (1981 movie; avoid the sequel)[/li][li]_ **Wizards** _ (1977 Ralphi Bakshi film)[/li][li]_ **Conan the Barbarian** _ (1982 version with Arnold as title hero; sequel optional)[/li][li]_ **Men in Black** _ (there are also two sequels, but the first one is the best)[/li] [li]_ **Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind** _[/li][li]_ **Lupin III and the Castle of Cagliostro** _ (its greatness might be lost on you if you’re not familiar with [the characters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupin_III))[/li][li]_ **The Incredibles** _[/li][/ul] All these are at _least_ worth a rental. Many of them are the kind of movies I could watch over and over again, any time they came on, and so I own them. I feel like I’m making a list to show to my son as he grows up to make sure he doesn’t miss out. For my part, I will have to look into some of these other suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/39 "2015-12-17T22:39:19Z")
Incomplete without: Roadhouse Young Doctor Frankenstein Blazing Saddles The Spaghetti Western (Dollars) Trilogy Dirty Harry Death Wish - Bronson ---
**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:** [December 17, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425/40 "2015-12-17T22:44:47Z")
I see there are a fair number of shitty movies too, and it’s reasonable to say you should watch some shitty mover to – to learn how shitty they can get. May I suggest the shittiest of the shitty, certainly of this century – _The Wicker Man_ 2006 remake with Nick Cage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-watch-before-i-die/740425.md?page=3)