I have 50 premium movie channels that I pay for, hundreds of DVDs and can buy a pay-per-view anytime. I love watching movies. New movies, the classics, war movies, sports movies, it doesn’t matter. I love all movies. I put a bag of popcorn in the microwave, have a little soda and relax for a few hours. I watched one of my favorite movies a few weeks ago, Top Gun, so I thought I would write a post about my all-time favorite movies.
Here are 5 of my all-time favorite movies in no particular order:
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Top Gun It is a great story, I love the music and I still quote lines from the Maverick and Goose volleyball scene. |
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The Godfather Wow! I think I could watch this movie all day. Marlon Brando was amazing. I love movies about the Mob and the cast is phenomenal. In fact, I like seeing the cast in their younger years and think about how their careers have progressed. |
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One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Jack Nicholson was brilliant! No need to say more. |
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Jaws It’s water with a story line from Massachusetts, drama and one very large shark! |
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The Usual Suspects It has a good (not great) cast but Kevin Spacey was brilliant. There are lots of twists and turns and I never could figure out what was going to happen. This movie kept my interest for every second! |
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My list isn’t based on how the movies did at the box office or award ceremonies. My criteria were how much I liked the movie and would I watch it 10 times and still enjoy it?
- What do you think of my list?
- What movies are on your all-time favorite list?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Lisa Lockwood says:
I’m with you Merrill – I LOVE movies! My top 5 would have to be:
1. The Godfather
2. Airplane
3. Jaws
4. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
5. The Princess Bride
Tough to narrow it down to only 5 though!
Amy Shields says:
Lisa – I asked both of my daughter’s their fav 5 and both included The Princess Bride. They now think you’re really cool!
Robert Harrell says:
Godfather 2
The Godfather
Schindler’s List
Forrest Gump
Tie for 5 with a million others…among them Risky Business, New York, New York, The World According to Garp, Terms of Endearment, Sabrina (the original), A League of Their Own, The Children’s Hour (way ahead of its time), Something’s Gotta Give, Something The Lord Made, etc. etc. etc.
I highly recommend all of these.
Matt O'Mara says:
Great list… ‘The Godfather’ (Parts 1 and 2) should be on every man’s top movie list. Almost all you need to know about life can be learned from Vito Corleone 🙂
I’m a huge fan of ‘Cool Hand Luke’ and could watch that movie anywhere, anytime. Favorite line is ‘What we have here is a failure to communicate’ (said with a slow, southern drawl).
I’m also very partial to the great WWII movies (The Longest Day, Midway, and of course Saving Private Ryan). All excellent movies that capture the historic importance of that time.
Uncle J says:
Gone With The Wind – Wizard Of Oz – Sound Of Music – Mary Poppins – The God Father.
You can tell by my selections I’ve been around for awhile!
John Sadler says:
It is very difficult to come up with a Top 5 Movie List.
1. The Godfather I and II
2. Jaws
3. Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back
4. Chinatown
5. Ordinary People
Others:
The Blues Brothers, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Cinderella Man, Lawrence of Arabia, The Shining, Field of Dreams, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters just to name a few….
LS says:
I’d have to think on this awhile but without a doubt, Shawshank Redemption makes the list. Others in contentions would be Star Wars, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Field of Dreams, Breakfast Club, A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, Dances with Wolves, Toy Story, Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and Christmas Vacation.
This list probably tells you a little something about my age as most are from the 80’s or early 90’s.
Stephenie Gordon says:
I’m really having a hard time with this!
in no particular order:
1. Usual Suspects
2. Saving Private Ryan
3. Good Will Hunting
4. Shawshank Redemption
5. Primal Fear
Dirty Dancing and Top Gun should be on this list too. those will be classics. The Big Chill and 16 Candles as well. Goonies too!
Tony Amador says:
Shawshank Redemption
Usual Suspects
In the Name of the Father
Heat
Reservoir Dogs
Robert Harrell says:
Stephanie…I forgot about Primal Fear.This is a GREAT movie with Edward Norton, Richard Gere and Laura Linney.
Roger Austin says:
I agree with Top Gun and The Godfather. The Usual Suspects was good but not a top 5.
I would add Cool Hand Luke, High Plains Drifter and The Graduate.
I still have to watch The Wizard of Oz now and then as well.
Ed Sugar says:
Wow! All great titles above.
Limiting myself to the first 5 top of mind not already mentioned, here are my choices:
“GoodFellas”
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”
“Monty Python And The Holy Grail”
“Dr. Strangelove”
“The Bridge Over The River Kwai”
Man, this is like choosing between your children
Rick Johnson says:
“The Deer Hunter”
“Apocalypse Now”
“Dirty Harry”
“Its a mad, mad, mad world”
“Midway”
Robert Harrell says:
As I peruse everyone’s favorite movies, I see another that I love but it didn’t come to mind…Goodfellas. I remember I couldn’t wait for it to open…I went the first night, got there early thinking it would be packed, and about 20 showed up. This also brought to mind Miller’s Crossing…another gangster movie.
Jennie says:
Silence of the Lambs
Shawshank Redemption
Murder In The First
Goodfellas
A League of Their Own
Could keep going…
Bob Graham says:
OK, I’m about to list them and I hope and pray that someone besides Ed Sugar is familiar with the titles:
1. THE WILD BUNCH
2. THE SEARCHERS
3. BONNIE AND CLYDE
4. DUCK SOUP
5. KAGEMUSHA
Jim Picard says:
Favorite Movies (no particular order):
1. Chinatown
2. Casablanca
3. Godfather Part II
4. Roaring 20’s (Bogart/Cagney/Robinson, 1939)
5. Wizard of Oz
Amy Shields says:
This might be the toughest blog yet…only 5? Impossible! Based solely on how many times I’ve watched them and how much I know by heart:
Braveheart (MG is a jerk, but I’ve seen this no less than 30 times)
Sleepless in Seattle
Remember the Titans
Life as a House
Good Will Hunting
Very close: Shawshank Redemption, The Bourne Identity series, Scarface, Benny & Joon, Chocolat, Shop Girl, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Pride & Prejudice.
Brian Ottum says:
2001: A Space Odyssey
Star Wars
Close Encounters
Saving Private Ryan
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Yes, I must be a geek. Like Merrill, I have lots of premium movie channels. Have to admit that a big impetus for me getting my first smartphone last month is so that I could access RottenTomatoes.com while in the basement man cave. Won’t watch anything under 70% (unless it’s SciFi, or if family members are choosing).
Will Morris says:
Merrill,
A lot of good movies listed, and I have several favorites. But my criteria for this list relates to movies that are regularly shown on TV and- “if just flipping channels and this movie is on, do I stop and watch the rest of the movie, even if it has already started?” Blazing Saddles is not usually on TV.
Field of Dreams
The Natural
Bull Durham
Forrest Gump
Blues Brothers – Animal House (tie)
Sybil Stershic says:
I can list my favorite films in five movie categories:
1. Romantic comedy relationships: Lovers & Other Strangers, Moonstruck, Starting Over
2. Early SNL cast member comedies: Animal House, Stripes, Trading Places, Blues Brothers, Meatballs
3. Mel Brooks & Woody Allen: Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Play It Again Sam, Take the Money and Run, Love & Death
4. Sports comedies: Major League, Bull Durham, The Replacements
5. Time Fantasy: Field of Dreams, Pleasantville, Peggy Sue Got Married.
I also love the musical classics of Busby Berkeley, Astaire-Rogers, and Gene Kelley … oh, and the Marx Brothers’ Coconuts!
Naomi Lenoci says:
Limiting it to 5 is difficult – even 10 would be a challenge. Here goes:
Pretty Woman
Chicago
Shawshank Redemption
Bridge Over River Kwai
Untouchables
Then add in Gone With the Wind, African Queen, Saving Private Ryan and anything with Tom Hanks and Richard Gere. Have to go watch a movie – now!! Thanks.
Larry Gulledge says:
Five of my favorites include:
The Quiet Man
My Fair Lady
Godfather I & II
Sound of Music
The Longest Day
Ed Case says:
Agree on:
Gone With The Wind (Production and Acting)
Casablanca (Acting)
Saving Private Ryan (Production Authenticity and Subject)
Personal Favorites:
Flash Dance (Overcoming Pride)
Ferris Bueler’s Day Off (Ain’t life grand!!)
Al says:
It’s said that a person can be jugded by the company they keep. I think the same can be said about the movies they enjoy. Therefore, I’ll pass on this one. ;0)