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Nothing inspires more arguments than a “Best Of” listicle.
These lists are obviously subjective. One person’s film classic is another’s stuffy, overwrought yarn. They still should adhere to some basic principles and not be a cinematic mash note meant for a very small gathering of like-minded souls.
That’s why HiT’s list is different.
These are by no means the “best” films in the traditional sense. You won’t find “Citizen Kane,” “Casablanca” or “Some Like It Hot” here.
Nor “Gone with the Wind,” “The Wizard of Oz” or “The Godfather.”
The following movies moved this film critic, reflecting why HiT exists in the first place. To paraphrase a Kevin Costner flick, it’s for the love of the movie.
Period.
These 25 films are essential to who this critic is as a person and film lover … for better and (what may will argue) worse!
- “Raising Arizona” – A comedy you can watch a dozen times and still discover new comic gems
- “Jaws” – A perfect movie, even with an imperfect robot shark stalking our heroes
- “Alien” – Mesmerizing. FX that haven’t aged a day. Claustrophobic, frightening and unforgettable
- “Aliens” – So good, so different, so essential as both an action epic and sci-fi triumph
- “Raiders of the Lost Ark” – Escapism at its zenith, pure popcorn entertainment
- “Star Wars”/”Empire Strikes Back”/”Return of the Jedi” – Yes, even “Jedi” – no apologies here
- “Superman” – We believed a film could cast the perfect Man of Steel
- “Airplane!” – It’s become synonymous with the word “comedy”
- “This Is Spinal Tap” – Put mockumentaries on the map, and none could match its brilliance
- “Young Frankenstein” – Mel Brooks’s best film
- “Poltergeist” – The faux ending puts this thriller over the top
- “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” – John Hughes working on another level of teen anxiety and humor
- “Robocop” (1987) – Funny, bittersweet and, ultimately, so achingly human (“Murphy, it’s you!”)
- “Avengers: Infinity War” – It’s the pinnacle of superhero action with a shocking dash of comedy
- “Shane” – A treatise on manhood capped by the ultimate duel
- “The Silence of the Lambs” – It gets better with every viewing (how is that even possible?)
- “The Graduate” – There’s never been a better film capturing the moment between college and adulthood
- “The Dark Knight” – No superhero film ever made comic books real like this
- “Hair” – The movie soundtrack crushes every Broadway variation
- “Predator” – Few action films are crafted with such care, intensity and heroism
- “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” – The peak of R-rated comedies in every way that matters
- “The Descent” – Be very, very afraid of the dark
- “Elf” – Will Ferrell and co. lap every other Christmas classic
- “Beautiful Girls” – The essence of the male mind, many warts and all
- “A Fish Called Wanda” – A sublime cast fuses the very best of British and American comic styles
Let the arguments begin!
