# Your 5 Greatest Films **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 28, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469 "2013-10-28T18:25:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/41 "2013-10-29T03:23:26Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > 1. Manchurian Candidate The 1962 original or the 2004 remake? (I’m guessing the original.) ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/42 "2013-10-29T03:46:36Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The 1962 original or the 2004 remake? (I’m guessing the original.) The former. I haven’t seen the new one but it seems to be considered inferior to the original. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/43 "2013-10-29T04:28:50Z")
**L.A. Confidential Singin’ in the Rain The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp Dead Again Sullivan’s Travels** ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/44 "2013-10-29T04:45:59Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > In order and based on my desire to watch them over and over 🙂 : > > Fight Club > Aliens > Blackhawk Down > Pulp Fiction > Gladiator I like the cut of your jib, sailor! ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/45 "2013-10-29T04:53:26Z")
Fargo Traffic The Bridge on the River Kwai Dr Strangelove Ghost Busters …had trouble with the fifth. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/46 "2013-10-29T06:05:11Z")
In alphabetical order: All About Eve Inherit the Wind Some Like It Hot What’s Opera, Doc? The Wizard of Oz ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/47 "2013-10-29T06:57:01Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > These kinds of lists are hard because they are so subjective. I usually go by which films you have watched the most often: > > 1. The Matrix, 100+ times, the dojo scene probably over 500 times. > 2. Bladerunner, 20+ times for a school paper. > 3. Batman (Keaton), 10+ times. > 4. Bloodsport, 10+ times. > 5. Spiderman (Tobey MacGuire), 10+ times. Seriously. I can name FAVORITE movies, but BEST movies are tough. There are movies I probably should watch before I make such important decisions. . .I don’t feel qualified! Anyway, in no particular order. Local Hero Blade Runner Jaws (mostly for Robert Shaw) The Dark Knight (nearly ENTIRELY for Heath Ledger) Fight Club ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/48 "2013-10-29T10:18:02Z")
The Last Emperor The Perfect Life K-2 The Long Hot Summer/Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Planes, Trains & Automobiles ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/49 "2013-10-29T10:31:41Z")
Godfather Godfather II Big Lebowski The Third Man Annie Hall ETA: I can’t believe I forgot Raging Bull ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/50 "2013-10-29T11:01:00Z")
I didn’t think that sounded right…The Perfect Life should be The Good Life. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/51 "2013-10-29T11:31:24Z")
sophie’s choice. shawshank redemption. the godfather. the english patient. pulp fiction. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/52 "2013-10-29T12:31:08Z")
I thought I could do this until I started reading other lists and was reminded of so many great movies, each so different than all the others. I give up – my head is in danger of assploding. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/53 "2013-10-29T13:11:12Z")
This is difficult, because I love so many movies for so many different reasons. In _some_ particular order: \*\*In Bruges Princess Mononoke 2001: A Space Odyssey Lord of the Rings (all of them) The Men Who Stare at Goats \*\* I’m not so sure about that last one - I saw it quite recently, and fell in love with it. I’ve watched it three times in two weeks, I’m reading the book, and I’ve been looking up all I can on the psychic soldier initiative, but I don’t know if the film will still have any impact on my memory a year from now. So here’s two alternates: \*\*The Iron Giant Inception \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/54 "2013-10-29T13:15:14Z")
Like **Boyo Jim** said, it’s hard to narrow it down. _Rashomon_ first. Then in no particular order: _Das Boot_ (over _Platoon_/_Full Metal Jacket_/the first 45 minutes of _Saving Private Ryan_ for the ‘realistic’ war movie genre. It’s the fastest 4.5 hours you’ll ever watch.) _Goodfellas_ (over _The Godfather_(s). I love them all, but I like _Goodfellas_ de-mythologization of the Mafia genre. I’d be happy with _Unforgiven_ as well, taking apart another genre of course.) _Dr. Strangelove…_ (sub in _Blazing Saddles_ or _Raising Arizona_ if you want. Or _His Girl Friday_, _Caddyshack_, _Animal House_. Heck, I probably think of _Fletch_ quotes before I think of most of them from Strangelove.) Gah, so many choices. Screw it, go with _Star Wars_, even though I agree that _The Empire Strikes Back_ is a better movie. Or _Raiders_, for that matter. _Star Wars_ was the first movie I ever saw that made me think, “Wow! That’s what movies are. That’s why people keep going back.” It helped that I was 6 at the time. Where do you put: _The Searchers_, _Metropolis_, _In The Loop_, _Jaws_, _The Usual Suspects_, the whole _Lord of The Rings_ trilogy, _City Lights_, _Alien_, _Gone With The Wind_, _Modern Times_, _Duck Soup_, _Downfall_, _Brazil_, _Grave of the Fireflies_, _Rushmore_, _The Princess Bride_, _Spinal Tap_, …_Holy Grail_, _Airplane_, _Dr. Zhivago_, _Bridge on the River Kwai_, etc…? And I know I’m leaving off a ton too. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/55 "2013-10-29T13:15:30Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I give up – my head is in danger of assploding. now\* that \*would be a great flick. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/56 "2013-10-29T13:20:39Z")
> [@botfly](#): > > now\* that \*would be a great flick. It would be a very short but colorful film – perhaps it could run paired with _Bambi Meets Godzilla_. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/57 "2013-10-29T13:32:11Z")
_Bambi Meets Godzilla_ was tame compared with its sequel. you know the one, _godzilla, king kong vs bambi_ i think animal rights put a stop to it although no animal was harmed. ---
**Author:** ![SetentaeBolg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SetentaeBolg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SetentaeBolg)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/58 "2013-10-29T13:46:32Z")
I’m happy to see Local Hero pop up twice here. It’s not in my personal top 5, but I think it certainly deserves to be more widely known. My top 5: 2001: A Space Oddysey Airplane Goodfellas The Hudsucker Proxy (or Miller’s Crossing) Excalibur ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/59 "2013-10-29T14:20:23Z")
1. The Double Life of Veronique 2. Natural Born Killers 3. 12 Monkeys 4. Irma Vep 5. Josie and the Pussycats Curiously all of them are within about 10 years of each other. Though in my defense, Tarkovsky’s Andrei Rublev and Bondarchuk’s War and Peace just missed being on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/60 "2013-10-29T15:08:35Z")
Without thinking about it carefully, the first I’d list are: Casablanca A Thousand Clowns King of Hearts And then I have to think about it, and the answers change all the time. Plus I can’t cut it off at two. Right now, the top candidates for those two spots are: Apollo 13 Memento Alien (or maybe Aliens – one of the few sequels as good as the original. Quit there, though.) Blade Runner Pulp Fiction And yeah, Back to the Future was a riot, and Terminator was way better than I expected it to be, even though I saw it first on a small screen. There are a bunch of movies listed above that I’ve never seen, and I think I should. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469.md?page=4)