The other day, my 17-year-old daughter texted a question on the family group chat. “Poll! What are your top three favorite movies?”
Naturally, when someone asks you a question that broad, you can’t think of a single movie you’ve ever seen in your life. One, for me, was obviously The Godfather, though, so I texted that first — followed by Annie Hall and a tie between Finding Nemo/The Incredibles. My husband texted The Godfather, Thin Red Line and Rushmore. Our other daughter, Abby, 15, had a hard time limiting herself to three and texted Get Out, Juno, Black Panther, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Up and Iron Man.
My daughter Phoebe (whose favorites included No Country for Old Men, Unforgiven and Little Miss Sunshine) then told us that her film teacher at school had predicted The Godfather would be on most if not all the Top Three lists of an older generation. And look at that, her teacher was right!
Two years ago, I queued up The Godfather and The Godfather Part II back to back, and beforehand actually worried that maybe they weren’t going to hold up. But it was the opposite: they were better than I’d remembered and now it’s my goal to convince my kids to make room in their top three for either.
What about you? What’s in your top three?
P.S. Actors’ movie accents rated, and the best TV show of all time.
(Photos from top: The Godfather, Get Out, Little Miss Sunshine, Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Godfather.)
65 COMMENTS
It’s a Wonderful Life
African Queen
Gone With the Wind
1. Lawrence of Arabia
2. The life of others
3. Stella (an old greek film)
Limiting it to 3 is impossible so:
Blue Valentine
Being There
Breaking the Waves
Mary Poppins
Brazil
About Time
Star Wars
Seven
What About Bob
Dead Poets Society
Stuart Saves His Family
Isle of Dogs
American Beauty
Blair Witch Project
Roman holiday
Thelma & Louise
Casablanka
That changes depending on the mood I am in but today, I’d say
– While you were sleeping
– Mrs. Doubtfire
– To Wong Foo (Thanks for everything, Julie Newmar)
1. Amelie
2. Old Boy (original)
3. All of Me
(For kicks) 4. City of God
In America
The Big Chill
Little Miss Sunshine
The Shining
There Will Be Blood
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
1. ANYTHING with Cary Grant (see what I did there? ?)
2. ANYTHING with Doris Day
3. About a Boy
During this Covid sh…show (sorry) I’ve had a difficult time reading/watching anything that might tear at the heartstrings…just craving comfort food literature and media. Rewatching favorite episodes of Murder She Wrote/Magnum P.I., Durrells of Corfu…any fun movie with Paris or Italy as a character. Anyone else having this issue? I’ve decided to just give myself grace and go with it; however, with fall upon us, I think I need to challenge myself a bit more!
I’ve been watching the same things! It gives me a lot of comfort too!
Yes!! About a Boy is such a great film – hilarious, heartbreaking, heartwarming – and not enough people know about it.
Yes! I ADORE Cary Grant (and watch a lot of classic movies). I just made my 13-year-old son watch North by Northwest with me last night – such great storytelling…
1. Double Indemnity
2. Airplane
3. Bringing Up Baby
1. Best in Show
2. Rushmore and The Grand Budapest Hotel (actually anything directed by Wes Anderson!)
3. The Graduate
… and one more 4. Clueless! It will always be on my movie list.
Babel
Casino
Magnolia
Jo Jo Rabbit is a must see and should have had more recognition.
Yes! Definitely one of my favorites
Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth)
Anne of Green Gables (Megan Follows)
Something’s Gotta Give
You’ve Got Mail
What are your favorites Joanna Goddard?
Ratatouille (Favorite cartoon)
The Shape of Water (Favorite filmography)
When Harry met Sally (Favorite romance)
Mamma Mia (Favorite musical)
Singing in the rain (Favorite childhood movie)
Marley & Me (Favorite dog movie)
The Intouchables (favorite tearjerker)
1917 (newest fav)
You got mail
Because I said so
Crazy stupid love
Good will hunting
Also like the shape of water
And a little princess
Too hard to narrow to three.
One flew over the cukoos nest
To Wong Foo (Thanks for everything, Julie Newmar)
Barfly
Forest Gump
*The Godfather
*Pride & Prejudice (Colin Firth version)
*Working Girl
*Close Encounters
*Star Wars (any or all)
About Time
Fried Green Tomatoes
Braveheart
Ugh, About Time! That is one of those that I would *not* think of off the top of my head if someone asked me this question but sure enough, whenever I see it streaming somewhere I think of how moving and life-changing it was for me. I’ve often thought of it during moments in life when I’ve been forced to consider both the permanence of my choices. I think it serves as a good reminder that there is, in a way, a lot of alternative versions of your life that could have been lived. Like what Cheryl Strayd called “the ghost ship that didn’t carry us.” That’s okay. Relish the life you’re in!
I’ve always been somewhat ashamed of my taste in movies, thinking they weren’t cool enough but after reading this list, I realize I’m in good company! How to choose only three though…
1. Pride and Prejudice (2005-seen at least 300 times)
2. Practical Magic (I would just really love to be a talented witch with a botanical shop on a drizzly sort of island who lives in the most covetable home in movie history)
3. Harry Potter: The Philosopher’s Stone, not because it’s overly good but because the discovery of a magical wizarding community and his true place in the world where people love him just makes me so happy and a little jealous! (I am 34 and still hope that magic is real, I’m not sure if it’s problematic from a mental health standpoint or me just being young at heart with a fabulous imagination ?)
I could have also added The Holiday, Bridget Jones, Little Women, About Time, Moulin Rouge, The Notebook… gah, so many good ones!
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Romeo and Juliet (Baz Luhrman)
Victor, Victoria
(….wait…oh please, not just three!)
Katy- I thought of Luhrman’s R&J immediately when I saw the post! I wouldn’t have thought I’d Victor, Victoria but loved that movie!! We definitely are on a similar similar length.
The Quiet Man
The Third Man
Cinema Paradiso
I have NEVER heard anyone else say that their favorite movie is Baby Boom — except for me! It is THE BEST. Diane Keaton is my favorite actress, and forget The Godfather, this is her best work. It is the perfect film.
Yes!! 1000% the BEST!
After the wedding
Steel Magnolias
The Sound of Music
The Birdcage
Romancing the Stone
English Patient
all my fav too
Romancing the Stone, hee hee. This is my tribe.
Harold and Maude
Blazing Saddles
Hot Fuzz
Can’t believe I didn’t see these here.
harold and maude is in my top three for sure! love love love.
Interstellar
Sabrina (the 1954 version)
Persuasion (the 2007 version)
honorable mentions:
Harry Potter and the half blood prince
Anastasia
An affair to remember
Midnight in Paris
My top two are easy. I scrolled pretty far and I didn’t see anyone for The Princess Bride. I’m assuming I missed a bunch at the beginning of the comments? Because if not – guys! Princess Bride! #2 is You’ve Got Mail (actually kind of surprised to see how many others put this in their top 3!). #3 I’m gonna say Say Anything, although it could just as easily be Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, The Sandlot, or Only You. I like this game!
Yes! Only you!!
Top 3:
Pride and prejudice
The princess bride
Jaws
Runners up:
Love actually
The holiday
You’ve got mail
When Harry met sally
Gladiator
I enjoy your taste in movies!
I have Pride and Prejudice, The Holiday and Practical Magic on constant rotation and the others you mentioned (aside from Jaws *shudders*) are on often!
I love love but hate rom coms, so mine are:
Singin’ In The Rain
About Time
Amour
About Time!! What an incredible movie ?
The Godfather 2
Heat
Seven
1. When Harry Met Sally
2. Barefoot in the Park, 1967
3. Runaway bride
4. Pretty Woman
5. Cast away
6. Big
7. You’ve got Mail
8. The Shawshank Redemption
9. Trading places
10. Coming to America
11. The war of the Roses
12. Nine to five
13. The Beverly Hillbillies
14. Catch Me If You Can
15. Mrs. Doubtfire
16. What Women Want
17. HouseSitter, 1992
18. The Apartment, 1960
19. Some like it hot
20. The odd couple, 1967
21. The Prisoner of Second Avenue, 1975
22. Breakfast at Tiffany’s
23. Desk set, 1957
24. Funny farm, 1988
25. City Lights, 1931
And so many others!) I’m 27)) Hi from Ukraine!)
Has anyone ever seen “Return To Me”?! It is so precious and sweet and funny.
So… (not in order necessarily)
– Return to Me
– Little Women (Winona version)
– Gone, Baby Gone and The Visitor
*3 is too hard!
Return to me is in my top 3!
Yessssss Little Women, so damn good!
1. Cinema Paradiso
2. Forrest Gump
3. Volver
Random order and will beat myself in about 10 min when I will think of many more I could have chosen instead ❤️
When Harry America Sally
Best in Show
Fried Green Tomatoes
Almost Famous
Amelie
Fight Club
Grease
I have scrolled as far as my eyes will let me and I am SHOCKED that I have yet to see No Country for Old Men mentioned! My other honorees would be Garden State, Whiplash, Blue Valentine and basically any Jake Gyllenhaal film (Nightcrawler!)
You and I have the same taste! I loved No Country, Whilash and Blue Valentine!! I haven’t seen Garden State, but I’m going to take your recommendation.
Love actually
Schindler’s list
Oceans 11
Amelie
The Royal Tenenbaums
& The Godfather, obviously.
Would you please do a similar post asking:
What are your top 3 favorite movies to watch as a family?? I would love more recommendations for ones to watch with kids for movie nights!
Thanks so much!
Schindlers list
A beautiful life
Grease
And I have to: saturday night feveeeerrrr!
Depends on the age of the kids, but when I met my husband and his 11 year old son, we bonded hard over Blended (my stepson loves anything with Adam Sandler, and this is a legit cute movie) and Chef. Chef has a bit of language, but we’ve watched both movies dozens of times together. We also do “bad movie marathons” (Jaws 3, San Andreas, Sharknado, etc). Anything with the Rock is a good bet. :) But again it would depend on ages.
Almost any movie before 1970 would not present inappropriate material- but most all h e great acting and story lines. Personally, I like-“ the Shoppe Around the Corner”; Three Godfathers; “Father Goose”
Too many to think of! Right off the top of my head:
* Cool Hand Luke
*Sense and Sensibility
* Rocky Horror Picture Show
Beetlejuice
Little Women *Winona Ryder version
You’ve Got Mail
Bermuda depths !
Cone heads
Mars attacks
Earth girls are easy
Men in Black
The Life Aquatic and The Darjeeling Limited
Amelie
Moulin Rouge
Big Fish
Yes! Big fish. ❤️
Pride and Prejudice (both the 1995 and the 2005 versions)
The Breakfast Club (really anything with Molly Ringwald)
The Sound of Music
Love to rewatch:
You’ve Got Mail
Sleepless in Seattle
The Godfather I + II
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Bridget Jones’ Diary
Notting Hill
Rear Window
Amelie
I love your list! I would have to add Persuasion.
Oh my, gotta do this:
A few good men
Pretty Woman!!!!!! I know must of the script by heart!
Joanna, you have to watch the last black man in San Francisco!
This is an easy one:
Fried Green Tomatoes
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Off the Map
Too many. I am a movie person so I have categories. I’ll do top 3 Old Movies:
-Swiss Family Robinson
-Operation Petticoat
-Pillow Talk
These are the best! I love the patina of these movies. Makes you wish for a different time (and I’m 28).
Great Choices! I love all of these!
Goodfellas
Palm Trees in the Snow
This is 40
I could watch these every day for the rest of my life.
You’ve Got Mail
The Sandlot
Mean Girls
Yes!! All 3 in at least my Top 10. Great taste :)
I can’t do 3. So I’m going collection instead!
Harry Potter – the entire collection
anything Sandra Bullock
Armageddon – I cry every time!!!
I am 36 and never watched the God Father. Thinking maybe I should
Me, too! I’m 36 and have never seen it either!
Anything with Jessica Lange. If I had to pick 3…
Blue Sky
Big Fish
Everybody’s All American
13 year old me will always think GREASE is the best movie ever.
Boys on the Side
Breakfast Club
One Week
Ahhhh Breakfast Club! A lot of 80’s in this post. Rock on!
Talk to her
Frida
The cake maker
Yes, Talk to Her!
our family favourites:
– Sound of Music
– What we did in our holiday
– Lock Stock and 2 smoking barrels
Billy Elliot
Never Been Kissed
Bridget Jones’ Diary
So many good movies but these are hands down my all time faves.
Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight (sneakily chucked them in together)
Once
Wild (probably because it came at just the right time for me)
I’m with you Emma. My brain kind of had a tizz when I tried to think of any movies I love, but your movie choices are perfect :)
Can we do this with books next?!
YES!!
I’m in!
True Romance
Heartburn
The Bourne Identity
Sooo many but without hesitation…
Crooklyn
The Matrix
Spirited Away
Gotta have a movie night soon!
Too many to narrow down so here’s my long list, in no particular order:
Jurassic Park
You’ve Got Mail
Spanglish
Father of the Bride 1 & 2
Love Actually
Harry Potter
Emperor’s New Groove (my kids and I laugh hysterically through the whole thing!)
It’s a Wonderful Life
About Time
Singin’ In the Rain
…and because I can’t choose just three….
Life is Beautiful
Roman Holiday
Little Women (1994)
Newsies
Casablanca (though I do adore To Have and Have Not too)
Howl’s Moving Castle (The animation where you first see the castle is amazing!)
You’ve Got Mail (I realize that objectively, Ephron may have had better films but I love books, I love bouquets of pencils and Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks interacting)
Runners up might include Beauty and the Beast, the Third Man, and It Happened One Night
I LOVE You’ve Got Mail – it’s one of the few movies my daughters and I look forward to watching every fall (another being Little Women).
Oh this is agony! So thrilled that someone mentioned Stop Making Sense!! On the music theme, I have a die-hard love for Tommy. Big fan of Philadelphia, ANYTHING by the awesome Coen boys, The Piano, and also Beginners- an exquisite fulm with Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer and Goran Visnjic.
Ahhh! This is so tough.
1. This is an easy one… leaps and bounds ahead of all the others… BABY BOOM. I watch this every time I’m sick and any time I get a rainy day at home with nothing to do. I play it for all my coworkers when I have to work over the weekend and have co-opted the plot to tell to my nieces and nephew during bedtime stories. It is THE perfect movie to me and I will never get sick of it. I’m an expert in the 80’s Rom-Com featuring career women walking around NYC in their skirt suits and sneakers, and Baby Boom completely holds up. It contains a scene with enthusiastic consent! With the exception of the nanny interviews, there aren’t even any cringe-worthy scenes. And Sam Shepard as the hot vet? Swoon.
2. Now and Then – My childhood best friend and i spent many a summer riding our bikes all around town while singing “Knock Three Times”, contemplating water vs. pudding balloons, and daydreaming about Devon Sawa’s butt – all thanks to this movie.
3. Can’t Hardly Wait – probably the most underrated teen movie. And Ethan Embry. Again, swoon.
Honorable mentions that really all could have been #3: Waiting To Exhale, That Thing You Do, Sabrina (w/ Audrey Hepburn), Pride and Prejudice (w/ Keira), Father of the Bride, Dirty Dancing, any Nora Ephron movie (but especially When Harry Met Sally)
Titanic came out when I was in 8th grade (making me the perfect age to develop a HUGE crush on Leonardo) and I saw that movie EIGHT TIMES in the theater. For real. The best part is it that I haven’t watched it since. Anyway, my perennial favorites are as follows:
1. Pride and Prejudice (Kiera’s version)
2. Jurassic Park (not sure why, but I love this movie)
3. Ocean’s 11 (this movie is nearly perfect and amazingly, there’s no sex, violence or swearing!)
The Third Man
The Lady Eve
The Searchers
All time favorite
Return To Me-bring on the Kleenex
Anything with Sandra Bullock or Reese Witherspoon
Serendipity
National Treasure 1 and 2
Can I controversially suggest a top three bad movies poll? Movies you know aren’t the peak of the art form (or have been generally panned) but hold a very special place in your heart?
Mine:
Elizabethtown
Oceans 12
Beauty Shop (W/ Queen Latifah)
Moulin Rouge
O Brother Where Art Thou?
Minority Report
Interstellar
Sixteen Candles
Lilo & Sitch
Love your top 3!!!
So hard to pick 3 and I feel like my favorites change all the time as I see new movies through the years. I feel like this question gets asked and I immediately forget movies I have watched and loved, so I started keeping a list on my phone.
True Stories
Working Girl
The Graduate
Too many favorites:
The Godfather
Miller’s Crossing (by the incomparable Cohen Brothers)
High Society (the remake of the Philadelphia Story)
Harry Potter –all of them
All the Doris Day movies (sing, act and gorgeous!)
All the Audrey Hepburn movies
Pan’s Labrinth
The Party (Peter Sellars at his best)
All of Cary Grant’s movies
One movie that I don’t nderstand the love is –The Big Lebowski (only movie that I can remember walking out)
Random, question but since you like Cary Grant films and high Society, do you also like the Philadelphia Story? Love your list! Also- I’ve only seen a few Doris Day films. What would you recommend as your top three from her?
Too many favorites. I could never just pick 3:)
Meryl: Out of Africa, Bridges of Madison County, Devil Wears Prada, Julie & Julia
Brit: English Patient, 2005 Pride & Prejudice, Far From the Madding Crowd, Much Ado About Nothing
Time Travel-ish: About Time, Age of Adeline, Inception, Midnight in Paris
Christmas: Elf, Love Actually, the Holiday, Family Stone, Step Mom, White Christmas
Just Life: Dan in Real Life, Crazy Stupid Love, Secret Life of Walter Mitty, We Bought a Zoo, Aloha, Chef, Dear Frankie
Spy/Heist(new versions): Man From Uncle, Oceans…,Thomas Crown Affair, Italian Job
Oldies: Court Jester, Bringing up Baby, West Side Story, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
And there’s many more favorites! I’ve never wanted to see any of the Godfather movies, but think I will try one out now:)
Great list! Love the categories!
autopsy of jane doe , 300 and 3rd is golden eye 007 are my favourites movies
1. Amelie
2. Volver (w/Penelope Cruz)
3. Royal Tenenbaums/Darjeeling Limited