Top 24 Favorite Movies

As today is my 24th birthday, I thought it would be fun to share my 24 favorite movies. I am by no means, trying to brag about how sophisticated my movie taste is. This is a pretty basic list and with movies, one would expect from someone my age and with my personality. Regardless, these are all movies, that I enjoy every time I watch them and are ones a couple watch on a loop. Basically, if I was on a desert Island with a TV and DVD player, these would be the movies I would take. I did cheat a bit and grouped some movies together in one spot, so technically there are more than 24. However, this was only done so that my list wasn't taken up by multiple movies from the same franchise. I also won't be putting scores or grades on these as they are all basically 9.5/10 and above for me. With that being said, here is the list of my top 24 favorite movies.

24. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is my wizarding world representative on this list. I have always enjoyed the Harry Potter series, both the books and the movies. The whole world of wizards and magic is just so enjoyable to watch and be a part of. This movie is so great as it pulls out all the stops and closes out an 8 film series in a big way. The action and battles in this film are so cool. All of the characters get some moment to shine or some big character arc. This movie also manages to tie plot points together throughout the entire sage showing why some characters behaved in the way that they do. Finally, the big final battle between Harry and Voldemort is just so cool to see and delivers such a big finish.

23. Ghostbusters

This is such a great movie. It has so many strong characters and a strong story. The original team (Egon, Ray, Peter, and Winston) have such great chemistry together. Each character is funny in their own way and manages to deliver laughs throughout the film. The story is just so iconic too. The action is really strong as well and the special effects hold up reasonably well. The movie runs at a solid pace with all the right twists and turns. There are just so many iconic scenes that everyone remembers, from the stay puff marshmallow man to the intro with muncher. There is just not much of anything wrong with this film and it is just so enjoyable to watch. The film is such an icon and everybody should see it at least once.

22. Predator

Predator is one of the greatest Sci-Fi action films ever made. It has so many good action sequences, one-liners, and memorable characters. While Arnold Schwarzenegger is the lead in the film, the film does not feel like your typical Schwarzenegger film. All of the characters have such great chemistry together and they all get at least one memorable line. I also thought the Predator was a very formidable villain and was really fun to watch. Finally, I thought the final fight between Dutch and the Predator was very well done. The way Dutch handles the fight and sets up his traps was really well done. Overall, this is a film that, aside from a few jokes has aged very well and could be released today and would be seen as just as good.

21. Aladdin

Aladdin is my favorite Disney animated movie. The story is simple, solid, and very memorable. The characters are all really fun as well. I also really enjoy all of the songs with "Friends Like Me" being my favorite Disney song and have the entire Aladdin Soundtrack downloaded on my phone. I also really enjoy the animation style of these Disney movies as this was at the point where they were still drawing everything but really refined the process. Of course, the stand out of this movie is Robin Williams as the Genie. The Genie is one of my favorite movie characters of all time and is really fun to watch with his over-the-top performance, references, and impressions. In the end, this movie is just a lot of fun and always brings back a lot of good childhood memories.

20. X-Men Days of Future Past

X-Men Days of Future Past is my favorite of the X-Men films. I am always a sucker for a good time travel story and this movie absolutely delivers that. I like how the movie manages to balance the darker tone of the future with the lighter tone of the past while still doing justice to both. I also really liked how they were able to connect both versions of the X-Men characters so that we were able to see them on screen together. I really like Wolverine as the lead in the film and making him have to travel between the two timelines. I also enjoyed being able to see the original X-Men characters one last time before they were retired to make way for the reboot. Finally, I think the time travel logic in this film actually holds up and is handled in a way that actually makes sense. Overall, it is a solid X-Men time travel story that delivers what fans wanted.

19. Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 is Pixar at its finest. Not only is it a top-tier Pixar movie, but it is one of the few animated movies to be nominated for best picture at the Oscars. This movie brings the story to a natural place where Andy would be after 11 years and provides a compelling story of how the toys would be reacting to it. I really like how the daycare segment feels like a prison break movie. The movie also wasn't afraid to go darker with the dump sequence which I feel makes the movie even stronger. The movie goes so far as to make you think that the toys are actually going to die which just adds to the complexity of the story. Lotso is one of the best villains out of all of the Pixar films. He's so evil but you can also understand how he got to where he is in this movie. Finally, the way they ended things with Andy felt like such a natural ending and tied things up so nicely.

18. Mission Impossible Fallout

Mission Impossible: Fallout is the peak of the Mission Impossible franchise. It has the best story out of the entire series. It has some fantastic action sequences and stunts in this film such as the skydiving sequence and the helicopter chase. Henry Cavil is a fantastic addition to this film and is really able to keep up with Tom Cruise in terms of action and stunts. I also like how this film brings back Solomon Lane as he gave such a solid performance in the last film and continues to shine in this film. The pacing in this film is also really well done. It is essentially nonstop action for the entire film and really doesn't let up until the end. The big finale is so exciting and heart-pounding, no matter how many times I see it, I still get caught up in the excitement and feel like I am on the edge of my seat. This is a film that knows how to do an action movie right. It balances the tone and action perfectly and gives you nonstop thrills until the very end.

17. The Martian

The Martian is a movie that is surprisingly really funny. There are a lot of moments in the film that make me laugh out loud. I also really like all of the science and math stuff that is throughout this film. As a huge nerd, that stuff really interests me. Matt Damon really nails the role here. He is really able to pull off a compelling performance while having no one else on screen with him for 90% of the movie. I also like how the movie handles its pacing. While not exactly, a fast-moving plot, the way the story is told never allows the movie to drag or feel boring. Finally, this is one of the movies my mom and I share as a favorite, so having this always brings some good memories for me.

16. Aliens

Aliens is James Cameron's take on Alien by making it bigger, more exciting, and with more explosions. In my opinion, Aliens is the greatest of the Alien franchise. The action in this film is so well done. It has a lot of exciting moments and a whole lot of marine vs alien action. The pacing in this movie is good too. The movie is basically non-stop action from beginning to end and really keeps you entertained the entire film. The effects in this film are also really well done. Even though this film was made in the 80s, it still holds up for the most part. James Cameron doesn't overuse the Aliens to the point that they look cheesy, but just enough that they still come across as scary and have a presence in the film. Aside from the action and effect, the characters are also super memorable in this film. They have unique traits that make them stand out in the film and are all fun to watch. Ripley, Hicks, and Newt really create a sort of family bond towards the end of the film that gives hope for the characters when everyone else is getting killed. The dynamic between Newt and Ripely is also very well done. Ripley comes across as motherly to Newt while still able to be a strong female figure in the film. This is just a great classic film that still holds after 40 years.

15. Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Terminator 2: Judgement Day is the greatest of James Cameron's films and is arguably one of the greatest sequels of all time. As was with Aliens, the action in this film is so great. It is basically non-stop excitement as the story movies from place to place. The action is also really well done as it entails a lot of gun fights and car/bike chases. As with the original Terminator film, Arnold Schwarzenegger was made to play the role of the Terminator. However, there is the added dynamic of him being a bit of a father figure/ older brother to John Conner which makes this movie special. The interaction between the two characters is a lot of fun to watch and really adds a different perspective to the Terminator character as it shows him slowly learning what it is to be human. The character of Sarah is also very well done. She has quite a strong arc throughout the film as she is learning how to recover from the events of the previous film while also trying to be a mother. Throughout this film, Sarah has to learn how to regain her humanity and not turn into a mindless assassin as she fought so hard to destroy in the last film. Overall, this is another slam dunk by James Cameron and a great example of how a sequel should be.

14. Rocky

Rocky is my favorite sports movie. It is such an inspiring and fun to watch underdog story. Rocky is one of my favorite movie characters and is so likable in this movie. I really like how his character is handled in that he isn't going into the fight to win but just wants to go the distance and prove himself. Sylvester Stallone is also one of my favorite actors and plays the part of Rocky very well. There are so many iconic moments and lines in this movie. Also, the main score is one of the most iconic themes of all time. The third act of the film is one of the most crowd-pleasing and pump-up moments of all time (though arguably Rocky 2 does it just a little better). Overall, this is just a great movie to watch when I ever need to be amped up.

13. Ready Player 1

Ready Player One is the first of Steven Spielberg's films to be on this list. I like this movie a lot more than most people do. I really enjoy all of the references to movies, retro video games, and 80's pop culture (basically all of the stuff I am into). I also really like how it includes a lot of cool movie icons, such as the Back to the Future DeLorean, the hotel from The Shining, and the Iron Giant, as main components of the plot. I like the whole world this movie is set in and think the movie does a great job of building the world. Finally, I like the whole treasure-hunting aspect of the plot and think it is a really fun way to take us through this world. In the end, this is a really fun movie with all sorts of references and nostalgia.

12. Die Hard

This is such a fantastic movie. John McClane's tank top is in the Smithsonian, this movie is basically perfect. The action in this movie is amazing. It is not over the top as many modern action movies are. It is very grounded in its action and fight sequences. As the movie is just about a regular guy trying to take down some bad guys, the action matches that and makes for some very realistic sequences. The characters are all very good too. John McClane is of course the staple of this movie, but Hans Gruber is also a major standout and arguably one of the greatest movie villains of all time. The story itself is very simple and moves at a very brisk pace. It finds the perfect balance between rushing through the story and adding too many slow scenes that it drags. Finally, the dialogue in the film is very well done. There are no throwaway lines in the film. Every line is connected to something relevant later in the film. Overall, this is a near-perfect action Christmas movie and is one of my all-time favorite movies.

11. Jojo Rabbit

Jojo Rabbit is probably the least-known movie on this list. This movie is about a young boy who lives in Nazi Germany, is a part of the Hitler Youth Program, and has Hitler as an imaginary friend. However, his world turns upside down when he discovers that his mom has hidden a young Jewish girl in their house. This movie was directed by Taika Watiti who also directed Thor Ragnorak. Every time I've watched this movie, I have liked it more and more. Taika Watiti was able to convey a dark time in Europe through the eyes of a child. This movie has a lot of really funny moments and is a lot funnier than a movie about the Nazis was ever expected to be. I also really like how Hitler was portrayed in this movie as he is played as an absolute idiot and it is really funny. While it has a lot of funny moments, the movie also does a really good job of providing some sweet and emotional moments. Overall, this is a really well-done movie that has slowly climbed its way up my favorites list.

10. Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is definitely one of the most groundbreaking films of all time. This movie has a fantastic cast, a great story, practical effects, and an amazing score. Stephen Spielberg was able to create a movie that can shine through its great characters while also delivering Dinosaur action. The pacing in this movie is just great. Even though the dinosaurs don't get loose until almost an hour into the film, their presence is felt throughout the whole film and you can feel the tension wondering when they are going to show up and attack. There are so many iconic scenes and lines in this film as well as an unforgettable score by John Williams. The dinosaurs also look so good in this film. The effects they used still hold up today. Finally, the characters in this movie are fantastic. Each is perfectly cast and has great chemistry with the other. Overall, this is one of the most iconic movies of all time and changed the game with how movies could handle CGI.

9. Back to the Future

Back to the Future is one of my favorite time travel movies and is just an all-time classic. The story is just so fun and told so perfectly. Doc and Marty are both so good in this film. They have such great chemistry together and play off each other so well. The effects in this movie hold up really well too, this movie could be released today and the special effect would still look good. This movie has humor, excitement, suspense, and adventure and does justice to all of those genres. The score of this movie is also one of the greatest ever written and is most of the reason why some of the scenes are as exciting as they are. In the end, this is a perfect movie with memorable characters and a story that is great to watch all the time.

8. Interstellar

Interstellar is the first of multiple Christopher Nolan films on my list. Christopher Nolan does a great job with high-concept and complex films that always leave the audience thinking and Interstellar is no exception. This film dives deep into the concept of space travel as well as gravity and its impact on the speed of time. Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway are both great in this film and able to help us go on this interplanetary journey. The movie also does a great job of interconnecting everting with things towards the beginning of the film being relevant at the end. It is also able to deliver some really intense sequences that kept me on the edge of my seat. Overall, this is a very interesting, highly complicated film that is one that I find something new every time I see it.

7. Inception

The second Christopher Nolan film on this list, Inception also delivers a high-concept, high-thinking plot. This movie has a super interesting plot and explores the idea of the dream world and journeying into other people's dreams. All of the characters are a lot of fun and really add something to the film as a whole. There are a lot of amazing sequences in the film, such as the hallway fight scene, that are just really well shot. I am always just amazed at the level of perfection the whole dream sequence is at especially when the movie starts layering dreams on top of dreams. This is just a fascinating movie and one that I could watch over and over again.

6. Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is my favorite drama of all time. I really like the way the story was told with Forrest telling his life story in his unique way. Tom Hanks does a great job as Forrest and really comes across as a likable and compelling lead character. The side characters are all a lot of fun as well with Lieutenant Dan probably having the biggest arc in the movie. The movie also does a really good job with its pacing. As it is mostly in an episodic format, it really keeps things moving from one event to the next without it ever feeling like it drags. There are also a lot of funny moments in this mostly just with Forrest and his overall unawareness. Finally, this film really delivers some emotional moments and manages to combine everything together into a perfect ending. Overall, this is a very well-done movie and one of the few that I consider a masterpiece.

5. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade/Raiders of the Lost Ark

This is the first entry on the list that I kind of cheated on as I included both Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Raiders of the Lost Ark in this spot. I really enjoy both of these movies. Harrison Ford is the perfect person to play Indiana Jones. These movies are also really funny and do a great job of including humor in the overall adventure story. The action sequences in these movies are also really well done. They are all done with practical effects and stunt work and with no CGI. The Last Crusade is a lot of fun because of the dynamic between Indiana Jones and his dad. Their chemistry leads to some really funny moments. Raiders of the Lost Ark is great because it is just so iconic and has so many great moments. Raiders of the Lost Ark is basically the quintessential adventure film and is just so memorable. Finally, the score in both of these movies is just so good. John Williams really killed it with the music. In the end, both of these films are so much fun and clearly take the name of the greatest adventure films of all time. If both films were in separate spots on the list, they would both still be in the top 10.

4. The Dark Knight

The Dark Night is the final Christopher Nolan movie on this list. This film is one of the greatest superhero films of all time. This film is masterfully written and directed and does a great job with its pacing. The film is just so exciting and suspenseful throughout and it never really lets up until the end. Heath Ledger as the Joker gives a legendary performance and is probably one of my favorite movie characters of all time. Harvey Dent is another great addition to the story with his arc being so fascinating and tragic. Finally, I like how this film is all about the idea of limits. Batman has to figure out how far he is willing to go to stop the Joker without losing his humanity. Overall, this is a fantastic film and another one that I consider an absolute masterpiece.

3. Star Wars Original Trilogy

This spot is another one that I cheated on a bit as I included all 3 original Star Wars films. I am a huge Star Wars nerd which is why these films are so high on this list. All three of these films are so easy to watch. I could have them on all the time and never get tired of them. They were all groundbreaking in terms of special effects and changed the way movies were made. The original film was just so big. It introduced us to the world of Star Wars and all of these characters. Empire Strikes Back took the characters and added more to them. This film is also widely considered one of the greatest sequels ever made. Return of the Jedi ties everything up really nicely and ends with an amazing space battle and final duel between Luke and Vader. The characters in these films are all so iconic and great. The world-building that was done was just amazing. There are so many planets to explore. Finally, the space battles and lightsaber duels are just so cool to watch. In the end, this trilogy is just so much fun and has been a set of movies that I have watched since I've been a little kid. Had I not grouped these into one spot, then 1&2 would be in the top 10 while 3 would be in the top 20.

2. Avengers Endgame/Infinity War

These two films are the two greatest superhero movies of all time. These films are probably the largest in scale of all the MCU and are basically the build-up of all the MCU films up to this point. Avengers Infinity War manages to bring into basically every single character in the MCU without making the film feel overstuffed and makes it so all the characters have adequate screen time while Avengers Endgame manages to close out all of the arcs of our avengers in a satisfying way and deliverers the payoff of stories from over 10 years and 23 different movies. Both movies are two of the longest in the MCU film but the pacing makes them go by so fast. Avengers Endgame delivers a third act that is probably one of the greatest final hours put into a film. It gives the fans exactly what they want and is nonstop payoff. The final battle of this film is probably the best experience I've ever had in a theater. Avengers Infinity War delivers a finale so shocking that you cannot wait for the final installment. These are just peak MCU and groundbreaking in the way it was able to tie in and pay off things from 23 different movies. Overall they are just fantastic and perfect movies. Had I been placing these groups of movies individually Avengers Endgame would be at 2 and Avengers Infinity War would be at 3.

1. The Lord of the Rings

While The Lord of the Rings is technically three movies, I have always viewed them as one movie as they are all one complete story. This has been my favorite movie ever since my mom introduced it to me as a kid. It is nothing short of epic. The story itself is expansive and well-told. It takes time to introduce you to all of the characters. With a runtime of 9+ hours, the story really allows for things to build and grow and for all characters to get their time in the spotlight. The action scenes and battle sequences are also so cool to watch. They all are done on such a large scale and are so entertaining to watch. There are so many scenes in this movie that give me chills every time I watch them. The score in these films is always quite good. The music really nails the tone of the scenes with so much of the music adding to the overall epic-ness of the movie. Overall, I just love this movie. I can watch it over and over again and never get tired of it.