# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/81 "2013-10-30T17:18:28Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > The Grey Fox An unusual choice but I like it! > [@Lukeinva](#): > > Little Big Man I considered this too and wondered if it might appear. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/82 "2013-10-30T17:20:02Z")
It is cruel to make us choose just five. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/83 "2013-10-30T17:35:11Z")
I’m sure if I were going to be cute I’d come up with a scholarly list if well made and “critics favorites”, but these are the movies that I tend to watch over and over and that I keep coming back to, and that I see something new in everytime I watch them: 1: 2001: A Space Odyssey 2: Brazil 3: Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World 4: Koyaanisqatsi 5: The Grey Fox ETA: Don’t know why I didn’t see that someone else had chosen The Grey Fox as well. It truly is a wonderful movie! ---
**Author:** ![Alma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alma)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/84 "2013-10-30T17:53:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It is cruel to make us choose just five. I’m with you. Twenty, no problem. Ten, I can narrow it down if I must. Five? That’s _hard_. But here’s my first-comes-to-mind list: Wings of Desire The Third Man Brazil Dead Man Spirited Away > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Oh man, also the The Hudsucker Proxy and Josey Wales etc. Damn, I couldn’t think of my favorite Coen brothers movie so I left them off entirely. I think Hudsucker Proxy is it. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/85 "2013-10-30T18:56:50Z")
Pulp Fiction Mary and Max The Battle of Algiers Back to the Future Groundhog Day ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/86 "2013-10-30T19:09:56Z")
The Grapes of Wrath (1940) Lawrence of Arabia (1962) To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Apocalypse Now (1979) ---
**Author:** ![Xavier\_Breath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/76d3ee/32.png) [@Xavier\_Breath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier_Breath)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/87 "2013-10-30T20:20:11Z")
The Man Who Would Be King Cool Hand Luke The Illusionist Triplets of Belleville Porco Rosso ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/88 "2013-10-30T20:38:17Z")
I used to rank these sorts of things compulsively, but I’ve moved away from that. In no particular order: The Searchers The Seventh Seal Apocalypse Now The Usual Suspects The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari ---
**Author:** ![equinoxi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@equinoxi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/equinoxi)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/89 "2013-10-30T21:11:08Z")
Being John Malcovich Raise the Red Lantern Pulp Fiction Annie Hall 12 monkeys ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/90 "2013-10-30T23:41:18Z")
I cna pick five, but then in half an hour I’d remember others. Okay, here goes. A Man For All Seasons Chariots of Fire Schindler’s List The African Queen\* Broken Blossoms( a silent film) \*contains perhaps my favorite single line in all film, well, the funniest at least _I now pronounce you man and wife. Proceed with the execution._ ---
**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 9, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/91 "2013-12-09T20:11:59Z")
Ok, so it’s a comatose thread if not an outright zombie, but I thought I would throw in a vote for my favorite Spielberg film and a contender for best WWII film: _Empire of the Sun_ ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/92 "2013-12-09T20:48:41Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Ok, so it’s a comatose thread if not an outright zombie, but I thought I would throw in a vote for my favorite Spielberg film and a contender for best WWII film: _Empire of the Sun_ In the sprit of your post. Here is my favorite “addiction/compulsion” films. House Of Games The Gambler (James Caan’s best performance, after The Godfather) I’ll Cry Tomorrow Drugstore Cowboy Days Of Wine And Roses ---
**Author:** ![jrsone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/93 "2013-12-09T21:07:20Z")
The Shining Airplane! The Sound of Music Back to the Future Terminator 2 ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/94 "2013-12-09T21:22:24Z")
Surprised to see all the love for Raiders of the Lost Ark, when to me Last Crusade’s the most enjoyable film in the set. But then I suspect that’s at least part because I was born in '78 so Raiders was never “fresh” for me. **Casablanca Princess Bride Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Serenity** Hmmm… I’m really tempted to put Demolition Man in that last slot. (I am “John Spartan” after all!). It is such a nice little adventure in libertarianism… I also want to put in Empire Strikes Back, but ESB’s flaw is it’s not a standalone film — you have to come in with an understanding of & emotional attachment to the characters, and you don’t really get a sense of fulfillment at the end. No one’s mentioned Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, but I can’t see one I’d remove from the above for it. I see some like Philadelphia Story already got votes above, so I’m gonna say #5: \*\*The Poseidon Adventure. \*\* Because it’s half the length of Titanic, has 5x as many “main characters”, is willing to legitimately kill them off, showed you can do special effects compellingly without CGI… ---
**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:** [December 9, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/95 "2013-12-09T21:32:32Z")
> [@kevja](#): > > The Gambler (James Caan’s best performance, after The Godfather) I agree those are two of Caan’s greatest performances. But you should also check out _[Thief](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thief_(film))_. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/96 "2013-12-09T22:03:37Z")
\*\*\*Casablanca American Graffiti The Best Years of Our Lives Wait until Dark A Man for All Seasons * * * ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/97 "2013-12-10T15:30:11Z")
The Sound of Music The Green Mile The Shawshank Redemption The Godfather Gone With the Wind I really need to watch Casablanca some day to find out what all the hoorah’s are about. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/98 "2013-12-11T03:40:35Z")
Just my top five, eh? That’s tough. I’ll say: _Breaker Morant Casablanca The Incredibles Aliens Limitless_ Runners-up (some of which, depending on the day, might rise to the top five): _Star Wars Raiders of the Lost Ark Trading Places Alien 2001: A Space Odyssey Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring Dark City The Hidden Gladiator Glory Memento The Big Lebowski Blazing Saddles Fargo The Avengers Iron Man Superman Air Force One Airplane! Back to the Future The Usual Suspects All the President’s Men The Matrix Terminator 2: Judgment Day Saving Private Ryan Groundhog Day Catch Me If You Can Apollo 13 Excalibur The Third Man Blade Runner Pride & Prejudice_ ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/99 "2013-12-11T03:48:57Z")
Top five of what? Here’s one top five: Citizen Kane The Godfather Star Wars Pulp Fiction Toy Story ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469/100 "2013-12-11T04:36:09Z")
Fight Club Breakfast at Tiffany’s The Godfather Rocky The Castle Damn only 5 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-5-greatest-films/672469.md?page=6)