40 Movies Everyone Needs to See

Some people have a favorite movie. Others, like myself, can’t pick just one. There are some movies that everyone needs to see at least once whether you’re a connoisseur of the big-screen or not.

One of my goals in life is to watch every Best Picture winner since the first Academy Awards in 1927. I’m a little over a quarter of the way through over 80 years of the best of film.

I compiled a list of 40 movies (in no particular order) from all genres and decades that I think are the best of the best. It was difficult to whittle the list down to a whopping 40, but not every good movie is a “must-see.” Which movies would you add to this list?

Photo courtesy of loftcinema.com

•  "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998)

• "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994)

• "The Godfather" (1972)

• "Pulp Fiction" (1994)

• "Fight Club" (1999)

• "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975)

• "Goodfellas" (1990)

• "The Departed" (2006)

• "Casablanca" (1942)

• "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991)

• "Forrest Gump" (1994)

• "The Shining" (1980)

• "Back to the Future" (1985)

• "Full Metal Jacket" (1987)

• "Some Like It Hot" (1959)

• "The Sting" (1973)

• "The Big Lebowski" (1998)

• "Jaws" (1975)

• "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

• "Scarface" (1983)

• "Good Will Hunting" (1997)

• "The Graduate" (1967)

• "Star Wars" (1977)

• "Rear Window" (1954)

• "American Graffiti" (1973)

• "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969)

• "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982)

• "Dr. Strangelove" (1964)

• "Wall Street" (1987)

• "Thelma and Louise" (1991)

• "Caddyshack" (1980)

• "Office Space" (1999)

• "The Sandlot" (1993)

• "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986)

• "American History X" (1998)

• "The Rock" (1996)

• "Blazing Saddles" (1974)

• "Animal House" (1978)

• "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984)

• "Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987) 

Photo courtesy of IMDB.com

Photo courtesy of pippinmovies.com

Photo courtesy of lemondrop.com

Photo courtesy of posters555.com

Photo courtesy of squidoo.com

 

Check out AFI's movie lists