Kimi
Steven Soderbergh’s sci-fi thriller Kimi is Rear Window for the Alexa generation. Zoë Kravitz plays an agoraphobic techie who stumbles upon a crime and must overcome her fears to crack the case. It’s a suspenseful ride that’ll have you side-eyeing your smart devices and cursing Jeff Bezos.
3The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Only Peter Jackson could be trusted with something as precious as J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, which follows a group of ragtag adventurers on their quest to destroy an evil, powerful ring. Each role in this now-classic film was perfectly cast—from a young Elijah Wood, who plays the hobbit Frodo Baggins, to a stately Sir Ian McKellen as the wise old wizard Gandalf. Of course, the real star here is Andy Serkis, whose otherworldly portrayal of Gollum kick-started a career in playing complex motion-capture characters like Caesar in The Planet of the Apes and Kong in King Kong.
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4Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting turned its writers, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, into superstars—not to mention Oscar winners—and for good reason. This heartfelt film about a math genius in janitor’s clothing and the importance of therapy is a master class in emotional storytelling. Come for the memorable dialogue, stay to see Robin Williams in one of the best performances of his life.
6Parasite
Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning film, Parasite, is many things: a genre-defying thriller that explores the lives of two families from different worlds; a dark comedy about class warfare; and a social satire of the rich. But mostly it’s a badass movie with an ending you simply do not see coming.
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7All of Us Strangers
Listen, All of Us Strangers is a beautiful film, but it’s also a tearjerker. Technically, it’s about a lonely writer, played by the incomparable Andrew Scott, who reconnects with his deceased parents after a chance encounter with a neighbor. But there is so much more to this poignant drama than we can properly summarize here. Grab a box of tissues and watch it.
8Anatomy of a Fall
Anatomy of a Fall follows Sandra, a writer accused of murdering her husband in their remote mountain home, as her case goes to trial. It disrupts her fragile life with her blind son, Daniel, and their beloved family dog, Snoop. It’s impossible to discern who is telling the truth in this Oscar-nominated legal thriller, and that’s what makes it so fun to watch.
9The Big Lebowski
The Dude abides in The Big Lebowski, a Coen brothers-directed cult classic that’s as quirky and laid-back as its iconic protagonist. It’s an absurd film about a kidnapping (sort of) and also bowling.
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10Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is a wild ride through 1960s L.A. and a rapidly changing film-industry landscape. With Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt leading the way, it captures the chaos at the dawn of the New Hollywood era in Tarantino’s signature unhinged style.
11Death of Stalin
Armando Iannucci’s satirical take on the power struggles following Stalin’s death is both hilarious and bone chilling. In the film, Stalin’s cronies, played by a knockout ensemble cast featuring Steve Buscemi and Jeffrey Tambor, scramble to seize control. Chaos obviously ensues, with the contenders’ scheming, paranoia, and ineptitude on full display. Watch Death of Stalin to see why so many critics considered it the best comedy of 2017.
12Thank You for Smoking
Thank You for Smoking is a razor-sharp satire that takes aim at the tobacco industry and the spin doctors who defend it. Aaron Eckhart shines as the smooth-talking lobbyist in a film that’s as clever as it is thought-provoking. It’s a must-watch for anyone who likes their humor dark.
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13Sound of Metal
In Sound of Metal, Riz Ahmed delivers a gut-wrenching performance as a drummer who suddenly loses his hearing and is forced to rediscover himself amid silence. It’s a raw and immersive film, so watch it when you’re in the mood for something heavy.
14Interstellar
Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar is a mind-bending interplanetary odyssey through space and time that sticks with you long after the credits roll. Matthew McConaughey stars as a farmer-turned-pilot leading a crew of astronauts, including Anne Hathaway, on a quest to save humanity from extinction on Earth.
15The Big Sick
The Big Sick is a heartwarming rom-com rooted in the real-life love story of Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon. The pair’s budding romance is put to the test early on when Gordon falls into a coma amid a lovers’ spat, forcing Nanjiani to come to terms with their cultural differences and prove himself to Gordon’s parents, all while the love of his life remains unconscious. Balancing humor and heartache, The Big Sick was a hit when it premiered at Sundance in 2017. Its authenticity and charm still hold up today.
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16The Babadook
The Babadook is a psychological horror film that digs deep into the fears lurking in the shadows of motherhood. Jennifer Kent’s debut feature was well received by horror fans and critics alike for its profound insight into grief and mental health and for being, frankly, scary as hell.
17Ringu
Remember The Ring, the horror flick about the creepy girl with black hair who crawled out of a television? Well, Ringu is the original Japanese version of The Ring, and it’s worth watching because it’s twice as scary and a much slower, more terrifying burn. Have fun!
18Top Gun: Maverick
Behold the movie that brought theaters back from their post-Covid brink of collapse! But is it really as good as everyone says? Honestly, yes, it is. In Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise returns as the iconic pilot with a problematic ego, except this time he has been called in to mentor a new generation of aviators while reconciling with his past decisions. Yes, there is a beach volleyball scene.
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19Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks’s Oscar-winning performance anchors this touching tale of love, destiny, long-distance running, and 200 different kinds of shrimp. A critical and commercial success, Forrest Gump remains one of the best films to watch when you want to feel your feelings.
20The Godfather
Widely considered a cinematic masterpiece and one of the greatest films ever made, The Godfather follows the Corleone family’s rise to power and the complexities of organized crime. Francis Ford Coppola drew an Oscar-winning performance out of his star, Marlon Brando, and helped redefine the gangster film in the process. There would be no Goodfellas or The Sopranos if it weren’t for The Godfather.
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