My Top Twenty Five Favorite Films of All Time

I update this list usually once a year. Truthfully, there are so many movies, and sometimes one or two of them will surprise me on a rewatch or a first viewing and capture my imagination, so this list will almost certainly be updated often over time, but here is the current list, with a small blurb about the film and what makes it so special!

Before diving in, it's important to understand that what I like and what I think is objectively "good" are two seperate things, and I encourage others to think this way. Just because you like something doesn't mean it's any good, and just because something is very good doesn't mean you have to like it. Favorite and least favorite just means that you personally enjoy it, and it provides you with some excitement, or is comforting, or has some wow factor that gets you every time!

25. Terminator 2: Judgment Day

1991, Dir. James Cameron

When we say something is or isn't badass, in some way we're probably thinking about Terminator 2. The first film is great, but it's grounded in a more traditional type of fear, while the sequel takes the horror element and ratchets it up to a thousand. A pretty much non-stop action classic with an awesome villain and crazy stunts.

24. Red Line

2009, Dir. Takeshi Koike

I'm a sucker for a good race movie, and this film's utterly gorgeous and intense animation push it to the top of that trope. Distinct and completely off the wall from the word go.

23. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

2010, Dir. Edgar Wright

This is an interesting little movie, absolutely chock full of rapid fire jokes and the masterful editing of the incomparable Edgar Wright. Over the years it's become something of a comfort film, I know that if I'm not having the best day I can always switch on Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

22. Dracula

1931, Dir. Tod Browning, Karl Freund

Dracula, as a character, is awesome, and this is my personal favorite incarnation of him. There's something utterly timeless about Lugosi's performance, and while it was a film based on a book with lots of violence, blood, and sex, it still manages to find a way to communicate these darker elements while being made in the Hays Code era of Hollywood. Simply an iconic film.

21. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

1963, Dir. Stanley Kramer

I mentioned earlier that I like race movies. This is the inspiration for so many of the ones we might be more familiar with. It's a long film, and finding it can be tricky, as it's not reliably hosted on most streaming platforms, but it's every bit as funny now as it was then, and I strongly encourage giving this Mad Mad Mad Mad movie a watch!

20. Point Break

1991, Dir. Kathryn Bigelow

Point Break went from a movie I didn't think I'd like, to a movie I watch every summer, to a movie I think about constantly. There's just so much right with this formula. Keanu Reeves is a national treasure, but the chemistry he brings to this role with the other marvelous performances make it so much more than just a high-octane thrill ride. Which, to be fair, it is.

19. The Twelve Chairs

1970, Dir. Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks, it should be remarked, is my favorite director of all time, and it was watching his movies growing up that inspired me to want to become a filmmaker. The Twelve Chairs is one of his lesser known projects, but is in many ways one of the more sincere, thoughtful, and richly entertaining in his catalogue. From vast, haunting wide shots of our two schmucks trekking through the Russian countryside, to bits of classic slapstick nonsense, do yourself a favor and check out The Twelve chairs.

18. The Castle in the Sky

1986, Dir. Hayo Miyazaki

I think for a lot of us our first interaction with Miyazaki would be Castle in the Sky or Spirited Away. In many ways this is one of Miyazaki's more middle of the road films in terms of scale and artistic vision, but it's the fantastical adventure that captivated my imagination the most as a child, and that rush of blissful nostalgia is always worth a rewatch.

17. The Princess Bride

1987, Dir. Rob Reiner

It always seems cliche to me to make this such a high film on my personal favorites, but I can't deny just how much fun I have everey time. From some of the most iconic quotes in cinema history to the jokes and bits that always seem to slip my mind, there's always something to appreciate in this cheesy, tightly produced little gem.

16. Spiderman

2002, Dir. Sam Raimi

I find myself liking this movie more and more every year. There's a kind of earnestness on display here that I adore, and the show-stealing Willem DaFoe as the Green Goblin just gets better and better with every watch. There's more to be said about this, especially when comparing and contrasting with modern super hero fare, but at the end of the day what makes this so special is the combination of sincere and genuine (if over the top) choices made by the creative team and the actors involved.

15. Pan's Labyrinth

2006, Dir. Guillermo del Toro

I recently had a conversation with one of my best friends about this movie, where the question was raised of - 'do you think it was real, or was it all fantasy in the end'? And it was an important question to me because the real answer is that it doesn't matter. Guillermo del Toro is one of the most creative and careful directors of our generation, and what mattered most of all was that he found a way to marry the grim reality of the setting with the fantastical elements of a fairy tale. There is truly nothing else like Pan's Labyrinth, and I am filled with the same bittersweet combination of joy and melancholy everytime I see it.

14. Darby O'Gill and the Little People

1959, Dir. Robert Stevenson

A goofy little film from Disney's live action musical phase (the first one) featuring one of the first performances of Sean Connery. I adored this movie as a kid, and I still find it as charming as I did back then. The mischievous and fun tone of the movie make for an absolute joy every time!

13. The Producers

1967, Dir. Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks' first film, and the project which would foster the relationships and talents that have propelled Brooks into the highest eschelons of creators in the world. While it doesn't always age the best in spots, the charm and over the top energy of a nascent Mel Brooks is intoxicating. Who ever thought, in a million years, you'd be laughing at a show called Springtime For Hitler?

12. Ratatouille

2007, Dir. Brad Bird

Ratatouille is certainly a contender for the greatest Pixar film ever produced, and perhaps one of the greatest animated features ever made. The love, care, and respect that just radiates off the film has put it into a weight class of its own, and while it could easily become pretentious, the movie knows exactly when to employ a joke, when to twist the plot, and how to deliver some incredible moments in stylistic and gorgeous fashion.

11. Caddyshack

1980, Dir. Harold Ramis

I love me a good comedy, and Caddyshack is one of the best ever. The hilarious slapstick, back and forth witty remarks, and truly iconic performances wrapped up in this movie that is pure non-stop summer fun has aged the best, in my opinion, of all of the National Lampoon group's projects.

10. Coraline

2009, Dir. Henry Selick

What a delightfully twisted film, featuring classic fairy-tale esque ethereal moments and pure colorful fantasy. Some of the most wicked and iconic designs in any creative project I can think of, too. What I love about Coraline is the attention to detail, the precision, and just about everything regarding the terror of the Other Mother. A true spooky staple!

9. Waking Ned Devine

1998, Dir. Kirk Jones

Waking Ned Devine is a screwball Irish comedy where two best pals discover that someone in their tiny village has won the national lottery in Ireland, and they seek to get into their good graces. The catch? The man is dead. It's a hilarious and oddly sweet movie with an instantly lovable cast. St. Patrick's day is coming up, and this could .

8. The Babadook

2014, Dir. Jennifer Kent

The sign of a truly excellent horror movie is that it works well as more than just a horror movie. Fear and tension are only as good as the thing we're meant to be fearing, and the phenomenal terror that is built over the course of this horror masterpiece is so novel and so thrilling. I find something new and incredible everytime I watch the Babadook, and for those who are not big horror fans, I still recommend it. Yes, it's scary, but it has a lot more to offer. Come see what's underneath!

7. Mean Girls

2004, Dir. Mark Waters

I get surprised every time with how much I love the movie Mean Girls. It's iconic and hilarious, and is just a fun time from start to finish every time. Some of the performances on display in this movie are, in and of themselves, the foundations for character archetypes in modern films. It's just a good time, every time.

6. Pinocchio

1940, Dir. Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske

I earnestly love Pinocchio. What a phenomenal and dark little fairy tale, a movie that ages, in my opinion, the best of any of the golden age Disney film. The characters are instantly recognizable, and the simple yet gripping plot just continues to impress me with its maturity and excellence.

5. Chronicle

2012, Dir. Josh Trank

I saw this movie when it came out. At the time I was a high schooler and it was deeply intriguing. As time has gone on, I keep going back to Chronicle, and never ever finding myself disatisfying. It is engaging and tense, with a masterfully thought provoking plot and system, both grounded and surreal. The use of found footage is sometehing I tend to find cheap if used improperly, but this movie not only uses it to devastating effect, it employs the existence of cameras for the found footage as a metaphorical fourth principle character. I will most likely be writing a seperate analysis of Chronicle at some time, but for now, do yourself a favor and find this footage.

4. Inglorious Basterds

2009, Dir. Quentin Tarantino

One of my best friends and I make a point to sit down and watch this movie once a year, and I never have a bad time. Sure, the company's good, but I think it'd hold up even without the tradition. It's a flawlessly paced black comedy that is endlessly entertaining, and has an absolutely pitch perfect cast across the board.

3. Secret of Kells

2009, Dir. Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey

The Secret of Kells is one of those rare films to come along in a generation. It is anchored in a rich and stylized history, but in tune with the sense of wonder and even fear that seems so classical, so ancient in spirit. The film feels deeply and richly respectful of its original theme and messages, and is unquestionably beautiful. I love the journey with this movie, and have always found it to be a moving experience.

2. Blazing Saddles

1974, Dir. Mel Brooks

I get so sick of hearing people say you couldn't make a Blazing Saddles today. Read through Mel Brooks' autobiography and you'll understand that you couldn't make it then either! The notes Brooks was given (and then ignored) from the studio on test screenings included: get rid of the fart joke, get rid of the 'I'm Tired' number, get rid of all the n-words, stop using the word 'shit' so often, and don't do the Native American bit, to name a few. He didn't listen and the world's a better place for it. Blazing Saddles is a true masterpiece of comedy. It makes fun of tropes, racism, and bravado. It breaks the fourth wall so hard the characters watch the end of their own movie. The film is a joke every ten seconds, and almost every single one lands, even the random oddballs. Blazing Saddles isn't just classic, it's iconic.

1. The Dark Knight

2008, Dir. Christopher Nolan

The Dark Knight is a very important movie to me. I've cherished it for a very long time, and the way that it is crafted is, to me, utter perfection. Some of these movies that have come before on this list are movies I can watch multiple times and even often, but the Dark Knight is a movie that I truly can finish and start all over again. It's gripping and rich without a single dud performance or wasted moment. I've often wondered if I could find something I'd like more than it, and sometimes I worry it's a case of forgone nostalgia bias, but, at least for the purposes of this list, that's not such a bad thing. Perhaps it is nostalgia, perhaps it is simply that Christopher Nolan was able to make the movie that appeals to me the most (someone was bound to do it). At the end of the day, this is a list of my favorites, and The Dark Knight is my favorite film of all time.