Everybody has a list of movies that they love – movies that they could happily watch over and over and over again. Everybody has heard the groans of friends and family as they played that one favourite movie for the umpteenth time. Sometimes, though, a movie can be worth watching without becoming a favourite. You may not even enjoy the movie to begin with but it has some message that ought to be heard. Or maybe you did enjoy the movie but not enough to make it a favourite. Perhaps you simply felt the film had artistic merit. Whatever the case, we all know of at least one movie that we feel everybody should see, and I am no different. So here is my list of movies that everybody should see at least once before they die.

Grave of the Fireflies

This is, without doubt, one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen. Set in Japan in the final days of World War II, it tells the story of two orphaned siblings and their struggle to survive in a world gone mad. A word of warning – make sure you have a box of tissues handy. Even my (then 6 years old) son cried at the end of this movie.

He Died With A Felafel In His Hand

He Died with a Felafel in His Hand (film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An Australian movie about living in shared housing in the eighties. Hilarious!

Scent of a Woman

In my opinion, this is the best movie Al Pacino has ever done, with the possible exception of The Godfather.

V for Vendetta

Set in a near-future dystopian society where Britain is ruled by a fascist theocracy. This is a story about the power of the people – we can only be oppressed if we allow it. In light of recent world events, I feel this is a movie everybody should see.

Little Shop of Horrors

A classic eighties musical about a very unique plant.

Kelly’s Heroes

Worth watching, if only to see Donald Sutherland’s Oddball performance.

Medicine Man

What if you found the cure for Cancer – and lost it? Sean Connery stars in this movie about a brilliant scientist, a lost cure and a race against time.

84 Charing Cross Road

Based on a true story, and starring Anthony Hopkins, this is one of the greatest love stories ever told.

10 Canoes

A parable of forbidden love from Australia’s mythical past, with storytelling by Australian icon David Gulpilil (Crocodile Dundee and Rabbit-Proof Fence) and starring his son Jamie as the covetous youth Dayindi.

Das Boot

Life aboard a German submarine in the middle of a war. You really must watch this in German, though.

Hard Candy

What happens when a paedophile picks up the wrong girl? I should warn you, though – this film is not for the squeamish.

LadyHawke

A classic tale of magic, romance, curses and vengeance.

The Princess Bride

A fairy tale even the grown-ups can enjoy.

Cover via Amazon

The Dark Crystal

This was one of my favourite movies when I was a kid. Now, I get to enjoy it with my own kids.

Labyrinth

This was very popular when I was kid, though I did not enjoy it. I like to watch it now, though, and my kids love it.

Harold and Maude

A seventies film about life, death and the love that grows between the teenaged Harold and the elderly Maude.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

This cult classic needs no explanation.

Alien vs Ninja

Weird but awesome!

The Shawshank Redemption

An innocent man is sentenced to life in prison, but he never loses hope. It sounds boring but, believe me, it isn’t.

Pan’s Labyrinth

For those of us who still believe and those who wish they could.

All Quiet on the Western Front

Still one of the best war movies ever made.

Gallipoli

A great Australian film about a terrible time in Australia’s history.

Kokoda

The true story of how the People’s Militia – untrained, untried, volunteer soldiers – prevented the invasion of Australia.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

I personally find this movie boring, but it tells an important story about war history.

Cover of The Bridge on the River Kwai

Edward Scissorhands

A beautiful story about love, jealousy and what it is to be different.

The Lion King

I know this is a kids movie, but you’re never too old for The Lion King and this is one of my favourites!

Spirited Away

A wonderful film by Studio Ghibli about a little girl trapped in the world of spirits.

Howl’s Moving Castle

A Studio Ghibli film about a woman cursed, a wizard, a fire demon and an enchanted castle.

Ponyo

A Studio Ghibli film centered on a 5-year-old boy and his relationship with a goldfish princess who longs to become human.

Related articles

• The Jim Henson Company Wants You to Write a New Dark Crystal Novel (geekosystem.com)
• Wonderful Things: Harold and Maude (crowdsourcedivorce.com)
• My Favorite Movie Kids (lilyincanada.wordpress.com)

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Tags: Dark Crystal, Harold, Harold and Maude, horror, Maude, movies, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Shawshank Redemption, World War II