I’ll take another shot with the rules. Gotta pick just 5. There are dozens if not a hundred or more that can be justified to be at the top. I thought about it in terms of the films that were game-changers, that had huge impacts and captured the zeitgeist of their era. And, are imminently quotable and also always entertaining. You can watch them over and over and never be bored and always be amazed at how great they are. Sure, Citizen Kane is a masterpiece, but how many times can you watch it? I watched it once, it was good. But I doubt I’ll watch it again. How many times have you seen the ones in this list??
Dirty Harry. Quotable? Well, do you feel lucky? It’s a great showpiece for Eastwood. But it also changed everything. Hard as it is to believe in the era of John Wick, but this movie was very much a controversial shocker as far as the violence and gunplay. It paved the way.
Jaws. It was the first massive hit. The first movie to create blocks-long lines. I have a personal connection to this one as I worked at a drive-in when it premiered, and saw it about 70 times. Guess what, it never got old! It is a masterpiece with the perfect cast.
Star Wars. Hardly needs an explanation. This movie changed everything and spawned a multibillion dollar empire. Empire, get it?
The Matrix. Another movie that spawned a new era. The effects were awesome and the story was mysterious and cool. You left the theater in awe of what you saw and were thirsty for more. Too bad the sequels didn’t live up to the original.
Pulp Fiction. What?? Say what again, I dare you.