Entertainment Weekly has ranked what it terms “The New Classics,” cultural works released in the last 25 years. This is the list of the 100 best films from 1983 to 2008. I have bolded the movies I’ve seen. Feel free to share in the comments movies on the list you think I might like. Remember, I’m not going to watch things that are scary or bloody.
(And, no, I’m not even going to comment on the fact that Titantic is considered to be the third-best film of the last quarter century.)
1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)
3. Titanic (1997)
4. Blue Velvet (1986)
5. Toy Story (1995)
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
9. Die Hard (1988)
10. Moulin Rouge (2001)
11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
12. The Matrix (1999)
13. GoodFellas (1990)
14. Crumb (1995)
15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
16. Boogie Nights (1997)
17. Jerry Maguire (1996)
18. Do the Right Thing (1989)
19. Casino Royale (2006)
20. The Lion King (1994)
21. Schindler’s List (1993)
22. Rushmore (1998)
23. Memento (2001)
24. A Room With a View (1986)
25. Shrek (2001)
26. Hoop Dreams (1994)
27. Aliens (1986)
28. Wings of Desire (1988)
29. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
30. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
31. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
32. Fight Club (1999)
33. The Breakfast Club (1985)
34. Fargo (1996)
35. The Incredibles (2004)
36. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
37. Pretty Woman (1990)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
39. The Sixth Sense (1999)
40. Speed (1994)
41. Dazed and Confused (1993)
42. Clueless (1995)
43. Gladiator (2000)
44. The Player (1992)
45. Rain Man (1988)
46. Children of Men (2006)
47. Men in Black (1997)
48. Scarface (1983)
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
50. The Piano (1993)
51. There Will Be Blood (2007)
52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)
53. The Truman Show (1998)
54. Fatal Attraction (1987)
55. Risky Business (1983)
56. The Lives of Others (2006)
57. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
58. Ghostbusters (1984)
59. L.A. Confidential (1997)
60. Scream (1996)
61. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
62. sex, lies and videotape (1989)
63. Big (1988)
64. No Country For Old Men (2007)
65. Dirty Dancing (1987)
66. Natural Born Killers (1994)
67. Donnie Brasco (1997)
68. Witness (1985)
69. All About My Mother (1999)
70. Broadcast News (1987)
71. Unforgiven (1992)
72. Thelma & Louise (1991)
73. Office Space (1999)
74. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
75. Out of Africa (1985)
76. The Departed (2006)
77. Sid and Nancy (1986)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
80. Michael Clayton (2007)
81. Moonstruck (1987)
82. Lost in Translation (2003)
83. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
84. Sideways (2004)
85. The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)
86. Y Tu Mamá También (2002)
87. Swingers (1996)
88. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
89. Breaking the Waves (1996)
90. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
91. Back to the Future (1985)
92. Menace II Society (1993)
93. Ed Wood (1994)
94. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
95. In the Mood for Love (2001)
96. Far From Heaven (2002)
97. Glory (1989)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
99. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
100. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)
If I was you, I’d Netflix:
15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
It’s my favorite modern fairytale and surprisingly heartbreaking.
26. Hoop Dreams (1994)
Documentaries don’t get any better than this tale of 2 teens with NBA aspirations. Their parallel paths are fascinating, and I believe the DVD features recent commentary by both subjects.
52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)
79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Both are delightfully goofy, and Guffman is definitely Christopher Guest’s crew’s best.
Happy watching!
Comment by forepac 06.30.08 @ 10:58 pmI’ll put in a vote for Rushmore — it’s really funny, and an entirely different sort of high school/coming of age story than the more popular John Hughes movies. (Which I also love, I am not ashamed to admit it!)
Comment by Sarah 07.01.08 @ 9:40 amAww, Dazed and Confused is one of my favorites! So is Edward Scissorhands, despite Winona Ryder!
Y Tu Mamá También is really good too! As is Brokeback Mountain. Paul loves Rushmore, but I just thought it was stupid..
Comment by Jenn 07.01.08 @ 10:22 amHmm, not bloody or violent. Well, Moulin Rouge is one of my all-time favorites; This is Spinal Tap is a hoot, but I don’t understand why they put Waiting for Guffman from the same filmmakers and not Best in Show, which is so much better; and I can’t help it, I just think Austen Powers is huge fun.
Comment by Amy 07.01.08 @ 1:53 pmFargo is a great film, as is Memento. I loved Moulin Rouge too, and some of the others on your list you’ve not seen, but they don’t really seem “you” although Witness is excellent and men in Black is just funny!
See you at the weekend for “Le Tour”
Comment by Joy 07.02.08 @ 3:46 am