My Top 32 Movies of All Time (2024)

I’ve spent the last two months gradually compiling a list of my all-time favorite movies. I had to spend that amount of time, because in the past, whenever I’ve attempted to sit down and compile the list in one sitting, I would inevitably leave some important ones out since it’s impossible to reflect upon a lifetime of movie watching all at one go. So a couple of months ago, I started the list on my computer and anytime one of my favorite movies would cross my radar, I’d make it a point to jot it down.

I’m pretty confident my list is now complete.

First, I want to explain the concept of “My Top 32 Movies.” The movies on this list are ones that have made a lasting impression on me, either in subject matter, storyline, or acting. These aren’t simply movies I love watching, because if that were the case, I would have a hundred more on the list (everything from Steel Magnolias to The Breakfast Club to City Slickers to When Harry Met Sally.) No, the movies on this list are, to me, truly great movies that I will drop everything to watch, and that I could watch over and over and over, time and time again, and never get burned out or bored. The stories are compelling, the acting is top notch, and the whole experience of watching the movie grips me to the point that I can’t stop watching, no matter what I do.

Heads up: You can probably deduce from the number of movies on this list that I’m planning another Movie Madness tournament based on these films. I’ll keep you posted on that!

For now, though, I am listing the movies in no particular order. After the time and angst it took me to compile the list of movies, I don’t think I’m emotionally stable enough to rank them. Ha.

I repeat: THESE ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.

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The Godfather, Parts I and II. For the purposes of this list, I’m grouping the two together since they really are one in the same story. I became hooked on The Godfather movies after the birth of one of my babies, and my love for it is eternal.

Al Pacino. That is all.

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No Country for Old Men. This is my favorite Coen Brothers film bar none, and if I were compiling a list of “Perfect Movies”—ones in which I can find not a single flaw—this would be on it. Javier Bardem is exquisite, Josh Brolin is spectacular, and Kelly Macdonald, the Irish actress who plays Carla Jean, is breathtaking.

Favorite Line: “That coin don’t have no say! It’s just you!”

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Mildred Pierce. The Original. This compelling tale of motherhood and murder captivated me when I first saw over thirty years ago, and I’ve never grown bored of it. Joan Crawford won an Oscar for this one, and if you’ve seen it, you know why.

Favorite line: “Get out, Veda. Get out before I kill you!”

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Zero Dark Thirty. The story of the killing of Osama Bin Laden through the eyes of a CIA agent (played by Jessica Chastain) in Pakistan. It’s a haunting glimpse of the events that led to locating him.

My favorite part: Jessica Chastain. Um…wow.

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Parenthood. This is probably the only comedy on my list, but it’s because the characters and the relationships are so imperfect and real, you can relate to almost every single one. I can’t watch it without tearing up.

Favorite exchange: “As far as I’m concerned, your grandmother is brilliant!”

“Yeah, if she’s so brilliant, why is she sitting in our neighbors’ car?!?”

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Rain Man. First of all: Dustin Hoffman. Second of all: I love the tender relationship that develops between “Rain Man” (Raymond) and his little brother Charlie Babbitt (played by Tom Cruise) who’ve been separated for most of Charlie’s life.

Favorite moment: After Charlie explains to Raymond that it’s best for him to go back to Walbrook, Raymond leans over and touches his head to Charlie’s. Fighting back tears, Charlie says in almost a whisper, “I like having you for my big brother.”

And then I’m sobbing on the floor.

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Terms of Endearment. Mother. Daughter. Marriage. Babies. Astronauts. Cancer. Tears.

Favorite line: “GIVE MY DAUGHTER THE SHOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

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As Good As it Gets. My favorite Jack Nicholson role ever, and that’s saying something. (It’s my favorite Helen Hunt role, too.)

Favorite line: “Sell crazy someplace else. We’re all stocked up here.”

Favorite line runner up: “Last word freak.”

Awakenings. Based on Oliver Sacks’ memoir, this movie tells the story of Dr. Sacks’ work with post-encephalytic patients wherein he was able to briefly “awaken” them through the use of a certain drug. It’s triumphant and heartbreaking.

Favorite moment: Robert DeNiro and Penelope Ann Miller’s slow dance when the effects of his drugs are wearing off.

(I repeat: Heartbreaking.)

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The Town. Best Boston crime movie ever. Ben Affleck, oh my gosh. Jeremy Renner, oh my gracious. Rebecca Hall, oh my lands. You feel like you’re there, and this is one of those tricky movies where you sort of pull for the criminal…but only because he wants out of that life.

Favorite line: “But I know I’ll see you again…this side or the next.”

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The Insider. Russell Crowe in one of his best roles. Fascinating story about Big Tobacco and a lone whistleblower. Another great Al Pacino role, too.

Favorite moment: The deposition. “Oh, you’ve got rights. And lefts. Ups and downs and middles. So what? You don’t get to instruct anything around here. This is not North Carolina, not South Carolina, nor Kentucky. This is the sovereign state of Mississippi’s proceeding—WIPE THAT SMIRK OFF YOUR FACE! Dr. Wigand’s deposition will be part of this record. And I’m going to take my witness’s testimony whether the hell you like it or not!”

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Sophie’s Choice. This film version of William Styron’s searingly painful story of Polish Holocaust survivor Sophie will turn you inside out. If Meryl Streep hadn’t won Best Actress for this, I would never have watched the Oscars again. She is otherworldly.

Favorite line (originally from the book): “I let go the rage and sorrow for Sophie and Nathan… and for the many others who were but a few of the butchered and betrayed and martyred children of the Earth. When I could finally see again, I saw the first rays of daylight reflected in the murky river. This was not judgment day. Only morning; morning, excellent and fair.”

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Schindler’s List. How many Spielberg movies are on this list? I haven’t counted, but this is near the top.

Favorite moment: When Schindler collapses under the weight of knowing that with all the money he wasted, he could have saved more. It’s a heartbreaking display of soul-crushing humility.

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The Prince of Tides. I love southern authors, and this movie version of Pat Conroy’s book of the same name is beautiful in so many ways. At the time of the movie’s release, I remember that some people considered Nick Nolte’s performance over-the-top…and that’s exactly what I loved about it. He was all in.

(This also needs to be added to the list of “Cheatin’ Movies” that Marlboro Man teases me about watching.)

Favorite line (also from the book): “But it is the mystery of life that sustains me now.”

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The Graduate. 1960’s and Mike Nichols perfection. The story of college graduate Benjamin, who finds himself at a crossroads in life. And finds himself stuck in a torrid affair with one of his parents’ good friends! Ack!

Favorite part: The montage of Benjamin’s summer of discontent with Simon and Garfunkel’s “April Come She Will” playing in the background.

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L.A. Confidential This movie opened up my eyes to Aussie actors (Russell Crowe? Guy Pearce?) and, along with the next film in this list, sealed my love for film noir/neo-noir movies.

Favorite moment: Russell Crowe busting into the interrogation room once he hears a woman might be in danger somewhere. “Where’s the girl? WHERE! IS THE GIRL?”

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Body Heat. You definitely want to make sure the kids are nowhere near the house if you watch this one. But oh…William Hurt. The way he is pulled into Kathleen Turner’s web…the extent to which she dupes him. I shudder. This movie is sultry and dark, and I love it.

Favorite part: When Ned finds out that Maddy forged the signature on Edmond’s new will. “You have really done it, Maddy…”

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Munich. This movie chronicles the massacre at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, where a group of Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists…and Israeli’s retaliatory response to the massacre.

Favorite part: Eric Bana. He’s…intense. (It’s almost impossible to imagine, while watching this movie, that he started out as a comedian.)

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Sideways. Another one you don’t want to watch within 500 miles of the kids. Just saying.

Apart from that, though, if you haven’t seen Sideways, you’re missing out on Paul Giamatti’s best acting performance (which is saying a lot), and a little gem of a wine movie.

You might just want to close your eyes during a couple of scenes.

That is all.

Favorite moment: When Miles and Maya explain to each other what they love about wine. “I like to think about what was going on the year the grapes were growing; how the sun was shining; if it rained. I like to think about all the people who tended and picked the grapes. And if it’s an old wine, how many of them must be dead by now. I like how wine continues to evolve. Like if I opened a bottle of wine today it would taste different than if I’d opened it on any other day. Because a bottle of wine is actually alive.”

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Ordinary People. The story of a wealthy suburban family rocked by the death of one of the sons and the suicide attempt of the other, this movie won Timothy Hutton an Oscar and was the first movie since Bambi that made me cry blubbering, hysterical tears.

Favorite scene: When Donald Sutherland confronts Mary Tyler Moore on the golf course during their vacation in Houston.

“Can’t you see anything except in terms of how it affects you?”

“No! And neither can you! And neither can anyone else! Only maybe I’m just a little more honest about it.”

“Well, stop being so honest, and start being a little generous, and start thinking about him for awhile!”

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The Color Purple. I first saw it in 1986. It was my first experience with Whoopi Goldberg, and it remains at the top of my list of Favorite Redemption Movies of all Time. (If Albert, who did nothing but wrong Celie during their entire life together, can make things right for her in the end…well, redemption is possible for anyone.)

Favorite moment: Celie and Nettie’s reunion.

Favorite moment runner up: Just after Celie and Nettie’s reunion, when the silhouette of Albert (Danny Glover) and his horse passes by in the background.

TEARS.

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Chariots of Fire. First saw it in seventh grade. Last saw it two weeks ago. I love it even more now than I did then. It’s the story of dedication and faith and running and triumph.

Favorite line: “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”

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Broadcast News. Albert Brooks at his best, Holly Hunter at her best—perfect writing, perfect delivery, just a completely enjoyable movie.

Favorite quote: “I’ll meet you at the place near the thing where we went that time.”

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Children of a Lesser God. When I just typed that title, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Have you seen it?

It’s beautiful. Emotional. Heavy. Difficult.

My favorite thing: Marlee Matlin. You won’t be able to take your eyes off of her the entire movie. She won Best Actress for this role, and she deserved it.

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The Big Chill. Please don’t kill me. I’m just being honest here.

William Hurt.

JoBeth Williams.

Kevin Kline.

Jeff Goldblum.

Tom Berenger.

Glenn Close.

Meg Tilly.

Mary Kay Place.

Favorite line: “Wrong—a long time ago we knew each other for a short period of time; you don’t know anything about me. It was easy back then—no one had a cushier berth than we did. It’s not surprising our friendship could survive that! It’s only out there in the real world that it gets tough.”

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Lord of the Rings. I’m referring to all three movies here, as I would be hard pressed to pick my favorite, and (as was the case with Godfather I and II) they’re all part of the same story. And I realize it’s a little obvious to pick Lord of the Rings for this list, as the movies are so over-the-top incredible in terms of the effects and sheer production.

But it’s the fundamental theme of good versus evil that runs through each installment that will keep me coming back the rest of my life. I know we have Tolkien to thank for that, but the movies definitely do it justice.

Favorite line: “My friends. You bow to no one.”

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Atonement. Maybe it’s because I’ve only seen it three times and it isn’t played on cable enough for me to grow tired of it…but this one really stuck with me after I saw it for the first time. It’s the story of a false accusation and all the pain that ensued, told against the backdrop of World War II England…and the amends the accuser tries to make at the end of her life. The sets and costumes are magical, the cinematography breathtaking, and the acting (especially from James McAvoy) is amazing.

Favorite scene: McAvoy’s stumbling walk around chaotic Dunkirk Beach as he awaited evacuation. It will take your breath away.

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Good Will Hunting. Another of my favorite Baaaaaaston movies, this one made me forever pull for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck—who were not just the actors in the movie, but also the writers of the screenplay. Minnie Driver shines, and Robin Williams is outstanding.

Favorite moment: When Matt Damon gives Robin Williams the reason he shouldn’t go to work for the NSA. (Watch it on You Tube sometime.)

Favorite moment runner up: When Minnie Driver asks Matt Damon to come to California and he turns her town. Emotional scene, man!

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Kramer vs. Kramer. A painful movie about divorce and child custody that’s worth watching for two important reasons: Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep.

Favorite line: “I woke up this morning, and I kept thinking about Billy…and I realized I should have painted clouds downtown because then he would think that he was waking up at home.”

UGH!

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Inception. The brain-twisting storyline. Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cottilard, the music, and everything. It’s nuts, and when I first saw it, I became consumed with it for a several-week period.

Did the top stop spinning? Well, you’ll have to decide that for yourself.

Favorite line: “That’s the kick, Ariadne! You have to go now!”

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Psycho. This movie caused me to exclusively take baths from 5th to 10th grade. There’s never been another like it.

Favorite line: “They’re probably watching me. Well, let them. Let them see what kind of a person I am. I’m not even going to swat that fly. I hope they are watching. They’ll see. They’ll see and they’ll know, and they’ll say, “Why, she wouldn’t even harm a fly…”

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North by Northwest. All I can say is this: Cary Grant. It’s almost painful to watch, he’s so debonair and suave.

Favorite thing: Cary Grant.

Favorite thing runner up: Cary Grant.

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My Left Foot.The story of Irish writer and painter Christy Brown. I can’t handle Daniel Day Lewis in this movie. The focus. The dedication. The…talent. He’s flawless.

If you haven’t seen it, watch it. It’s beautiful.

Favorite scene: The whole darn movie.

THE END!

(And I think that might have been 34 movies. But who’s counting?)

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Ree Drummond

The Pioneer Woman

I’m a desperate housewife, I live in the country, and I’m obsessed with butter, Basset Hounds, and Ethel Merman. Welcome to my frontier!

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