Can't decide what to watch?? Here's my personal list of 150 favorite films — Based on a lifetime of watching way tooo many movies ◡̈ Let me know your thoughts!! Also, lmk if there are any movies I missed / should check out?
Sections
13
feel good + classics
animation
comedy
romance + relationships
drama
coming of age + family
feel good + classics
★
A timeless experience, an honest journey despite life's unexpected turns. This movie is iconic, pure magic!
Forrest Gump (1994)
The ultimate day of rebellion, fun, & breaking all the rules.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
The perfect buddy cop chaos
Rush Hour (1998)
Seizing the day & embracing the power of our own voice
Dead Poets Society (1989)
This movie changed the game forever
Jurassic Park (1993)
Tappin' my Christmas feet!!
A Charlie Brown Christmas (TV Movie 1965)
A captivating movie on the genuis, the human, & finding your path in life
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Did someone say festive cheer??
Elf (2003)
The beautiful & strange story that’s truly one of a kind
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
A high-energy & unforgettable ride through Chicago
The Blues Brothers (1980)
animation
★
Soundtrack has no misses, culture is embraced beautifully
Coco (2017)
This movie is an obvious mention on this list
Spirited Away (2001)
This movie blew every expectation out of the water
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
What a beautiful & relatable movie to show children AND adults
Inside Out (2015)
Iconic I do not make the rules
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
A delicious story on courage, passions, & silliness
Ratatouille (2007)
Everyone must understand this is the best Shrek, no flaws
Shrek 2 (2004)
When EVER has any movie explored pre-birth to this depth, it is one in its own
Soul (2020)
I am apart of the Lorax cult, I am here on my own will & I am not ashamed
The Lorax (2012)
Quirky final boss
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Do not be fooled!! I have not shown this to a single person who did not think this movie was amazing
The Lego Movie (2014)
Do I need to explain
Finding Nemo (2003)
Ensire Toy Story series is magic but especially both 2 & 3
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Ensire Toy Story series is magic but especially both 2 & 3
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Had my crying in the theater so embarassing
The Wild Robot (2024)
Altered my young brain in a beautiful way
Bambi (1942)
comedy
★
I will stand by this movie until death does us part
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
Comedy doesn't hit like this anymore
Coming to America (1988)
Iconic scene one after another
Nacho Libre (2006)
I had no idea who Bo Burnham was, watched this & just like that.. a fan of Bo Burnham
Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)
Foul-mouthed underdog classic filled with chaos, heart, & unforgettable little league moments
The Bad News Bears (1976)
A cult classic full of chaos, charm, and one very chill dude
The Big Lebowski (1998)
romance + relationships
★
I will never stop talking about this, 5/5 series on all ‘Befores’
Before Sunrise (1995)
I will never stop talking about this, 5/5 series on all ‘Befores’
Before Sunset (2004)
I will never stop talking about this, 5/5 series on all ‘Befores’
Before Midnight (2013)
A raw take on love with insane performances
Blue Valentine (2010)
Savor love.. savor life!!
About Time (2013)
Love is more than a game!!
Love & Basketball (2000)
This movie is so my vibe, falling in love with in-between moments
Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)
A tender & timeless connection
Touch (2024)
The ultimate friendship-to-love story
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Not completely a love story, but a story on love, heartbreak, & perspective
500 Days of Summer (2009)
What it was, what it is, & what it could've been
Past Lives (2023)
An epic romance that defined a generation — and broke all our hearts
Titanic (1997)
Timeless for a reason
Casablanca (1942)
Despite the flaws haha, it delivers the message that love can power through all!!
Me Before You (2016)
A summer of self-discovery & first love that lingers like a sweet memory
Call Me by Your Name (2017)
To be swooned!!
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Every frame burns with emotion — a quiet storm of forbidden love
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
A tender reunion wrapped in memory, regret, and quiet hope
Blue Jay (2016)
drama
★
Academy Award for Best Picture 2022, and for a reason!! CODA stands for ‘Children of Death Adults’
CODA (2021)
This movie is so iconic, I'll never get over it
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
High-stakes action meets emotional legacy — a thrilling return!
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Slick & sleep getaway movie that has fueled & thrilling pacing
Baby Driver (2017)
Tension on & off the court
Challengers (2024)
Courage, truth, and change — told through unforgettable voice
The Help (2011)
So bizarre, theater gasped & laughed out loud in unison
Poor Things (2023)
Strong story on survival & resilience through Nazi territory during World War II
Deeply human experience through the perspective of dementia & memory loss
Still Alice (2014)
A hauntingly elegant tale of obsession, control, & unexpected intimacy
Phantom Thread (2017)
This woman is iconic & her hair is a characteristic on its own
Pretty Woman (1990)
Tender tender tender!!
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024)
Refreshingly bold — connection in the most unlikely place
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
coming of age + family
★
A chaotic road trip with a chaotic family where each family member stands on their own
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Family through friendship & the bittersweet edge of growing up
Stand by Me (1986)
Off-the-grid ideals meet real-world love
Captain Fantastic (2016)
Awkward, raw, & honest
Eighth Grade (2018)
Intimate and powerful — a daughter's love, strength, & sacrifice
Daughters (2024)
Growing pains, identity, & belonging
Dìdi (2024)
A deeply intimate portrait of memory, love, & the things we don't say
Aftersun (2022)
Heartwarming & hilarious — the beauty of chosen family
Instant Family (2018)
A tender, funny, & quietly profound story of unlikely bonds & second chances – This movie feels like a warm Christmas hug
The Holdovers (2023)
documentary + true events
★
This documentary is unforgettable & I believe I will speak on it until the day that I die
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
Staggering, haunting, & essential — humanity’s darkest hour, remembered.. This film depicts the forced relocation of Polish Jews to the Kraków Ghetto & the subsequent establishment of the Płaszów concentration camp during World War II.
Schindler's List (1993)
A real journey of love, grit, & hope
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
She swam into history, courage meets current in this true story!!
Young Woman and the Sea (2024)
One man, one mower, one journey
The Straight Story (1999)
From farm fields to space, a dream built on determination
A Million Miles Away (2023)
The rise of a cultural movement, a revolution!!
Straight Outta Compton (2015)
Behind every legend are the roots, here are the roots..
King Richard (2021)
The collision of art & activism, I feel honored to have watched this slice of history
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)
Soo deeply moving.. a story on survival, family, & human will
The Impossible (2012)
Captivating insight on the insides on Shia Labeouf's upbringing, I watched this shortly after the 'Just do it!!' event
Honey Boy (2019)
When passion beats the odds!!
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
A 'to be a fly on the wall' movie!!
One Night in Miami... (2020)
Brilliance in story, acting, scripting, & history!!
Oppenheimer (2023)
A road trip through identity, friendship, & the beauty of transition
Will & Harper (2024)
I just wnat to say that Neil landed on the moon with a 156 hr when I'm 188 bps when I'm going up stairs
Apollo 11 (2019)
The market crash. . . but with flair
The Big Short (2015)
music/musical
★
Every song, scene, actor, & component of this movie is perfection
Hamilton (2020)
A joy-filled escape!! You will get up, dance, & sing along
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Iconic, iconic, iconic + the best soundtrack
Grease (1978)
When will the movie stream… WHEN. WILL. THIS. MOVIE. STREAM.
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé (2023)
In Gaga we trust – I will scream this soundtrack.. when talent meets tragedy!!
A Star Is Born (2018)
“Classic, charming, & full of heart
The Sound of Music (1965)
Tense, explosive, & impossible to ignore – The ending had me at the edge of my seat
Whiplash (2014)
Coming-of-age on the road
Almost Famous (2000)
Power, precision, & the unraveling of genius — an intense slow burn
Tár (2022)
action + crime
★
The American gangster story at its finest
Goodfellas (1990)
A masterpiece in every frame
The Godfather (1972)
Rare sequel perfection
The Godfather Part II (1974)
If I could nail this impersonation, I'd never be myself again
Scarface (1983)
Tarantino unchained perfection
Django Unchained (2012)
Tension that never lets go!!
The Departed (2006)
Very brave, lots of heart. Accents are either really good or really bad. Epic that this is based on history.. also, BAGPIPES.
Braveheart (1995)
Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, & Joe Pesci are the mob gangster Holy Trinity
The Irishman (2019)
Based on a true story?!?! C'monn
American Gangster (2007)
I love this entire series, bam bam bam
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
This movie stressed me out so much, anxiety in MOTION
Uncut Gems (2019)
Slick & wild chaos — every stop brings more madness
Bullet Train (2022)
adventure
★
A thrilling game of cat and mouse… unbelievable story except that it's true
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
I cried, yes, & I will cry every time
Cast Away (2000)
Laughed actually out loud, so relevant & heart-felt
Thelma (2024)
A magical finale that delivers, the end is everything!!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
A beautiful & blurry take on story-telling & memory
Big Fish (2003)
Explosive, electric, & full of heart – This movie is fun, fun, fun
RRR (2022)
A groundbreaking new Spidey era
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Lets keep it going…
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Nah, lets keeeeeep it going!!!
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
sci-fi + alt realities
★
This movie is BREATHTAKING, either through gasps or complete awe
Interstellar (2014)
Reality isn’t always what it seems — a brilliant, mind-opening watch
The Truman Show (1998)
Multiverse final boss
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
I'm not even into zombies, let alone zombie comedy?? This one was perfect
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Every scene is beautiful & it was worth the wait
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Beyond its years, powerful story on love, loneliness, & connection
Her (2013)
Wes Anderson’s quirky take on man's best friend
Isle of Dogs (2018)
Zombie thriller that hits hard, HARD
Train to Busan (2016)
A pastel-colored puzzle.. Wes Anderson films everything so beautiful
Asteroid City (2023)
Mind fucked, fucked my mind
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Saw this in big screen, went back the next day & saw it again
Dune: Part Two (2024)
intense, mental, + scary
★
Nail-biting!! A razor-sharp, genre-bending thriller
Parasite (2019)
This movie is played BACKWARDS, & STILL tricked me
Memento (2000)
Iconic for a reason, ICONIC FOR A REASON
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
I've watched this more times than I can count & it keeps getting better
Shutter Island (2010)
A rebellion against control — tragic, tender, powerful
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
A moody, time-bending trip through fear & fate
Donnie Darko (2001)
Dark & relentless — how far would you go for answers
Prisoners (2013)
One dinner party, one anomaly — a micro-budget mindwarp… I talked about this for weeks!!
Coherence (2013)
Love, anger, & mental health collide
Mommy (2014)
Isolating experience, held my breath the entire time
Gravity (2013)
slow burn + lasting message
★
This may be my favorite movie of all time, I think everyone can take something from it — It’s only an hour!! I wish it streamed on more services
It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)
Two siblings, this movie is so beautiful & devastating
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
A dreamy, neon-lit night in Hongkong — You’re automatically cooler if you watch this. Also, this is one of Tarantino’s favorite movies of all time.
Chungking Express (1994)
A gentle, meditative portrait of a quiet man finding joy in the everyday
Perfect Days (2023)
A timeless reminder that one life can touch so many others
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
A deeply moving reflection on mortality
Ikiru (1952)
A bold, bittersweet ride through midlife & rediscovering vitality
Another Round (2020)
I don’t condone any of this behavior but also I understand
