This list took me far too long to compile because I am a complete movie geek. I am known to be at the movies every week with at least one of my friends, swooning over something new that I have been dying to see for months. Whenever I watch a movie, I immerse myself into the filmography and cannot be torn away. If I am distracted for even a second, I feel the strong urge to rewind and make sure I don’t miss anything important. If a new movie is coming out, chances are I’ve seen it, and if I haven’t, I’ll be watching is ASAP. Making this list took a long time, but these are my current top ten favorite movies. If you haven’t watched any of these, it’s time for you to sit down and have a movie marathon. Grab the popcorn and get ready, because these movies are emotional rollercoasters!

1. Me, and Earl, and the Dying Girl
   1. This movie is based off of a book written by Jesse Andrews and it is a tear jerker. A senior in high school named Greg lives a life of pessimism and general self loathing. He does not consider himself friends with anyone, even Earl, the boy he has been hanging out with since he was five. He is just acquaintances with every high school clique in order to avoid any issues. When his mother forces him to hang out with Rachel, a girl just recently diagnosed with Leukemia, his entire life turns upside down. This is my go to rainy day movie and is great to just curl up on the couch in a sweatshirt with a box of tissues.
2. The Lone Survivor
   1. I was never really sure I ever wanted to watch this movie because of the fact that it was based on a true story, but I have never regretted watching it. This is one that I have watched over and over again. This movie is based off the book written by Marcus Luttrel about his terrifying ordeal in the mountains of the Middle East. This autobiography shows how four men venture into the mountains on a mission to a major leader of the Taliban. When they are hiding in the brush, they are discovered by goat farmers, who out them to the Taliban, and they need to survive until the military is able to save them.
3. Argo
   1. Ben Affleck stars in this film as an extractor who is called upon by the US government to save six US embassy workers who escaped a raid on their government building in Iran. They took refuge with the Canadian Ambassador, but are more than likely going to be killed if they are seen. Ben Affleck’s character devises a plan called Argo that will make the six workers seem like movie stars that are going to be starring in a movie in order to get them back to the United States. This film is filled with plenty of action and suspense. It is yet another movie based on a true story.
4. The Breakfast Club
   1. This 1980’s classic is one that most people have at least heard of. Everyone knows of the princess, the brains, the jock, the criminal, and the basketcase. Most people have seen this iconic movie and whether they liked it, loved it, or not at all, it left some type of impression on them. The six strangers who were forced to be together on a saturday for detention fought, cried, and laughed into their unconventional friendships. Even if 1980’s movies aren’t your thing, The Breakfast Club is a movie that you need to experience.
5. The Shawshank Redemption
   1. As you can see, there is a trend here. I am a sucker for movies based on books, and along with being one of my favorite movies of all time, The Shawshank Redemption is also my favorite novellas of all time. It follows the conviction of Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, a man accused of murdering his wife and her lover. His story is told through the perspective of Red, played by Morgan Freeman, who was also convicted of murder. It shares the abuse, heartache, and friendships Andy experiences in Shawshank prison and will give you an inside look at prison life in the mid 20th century. It is able to be watched on Netflix.
6. The Gift
   1. This film strays away from the others in my top ten, but follows a genre I have come to love. This movie is a mix of horror and psychological thrills that leave you on the edge of your seat every minute. You never know what is going to happen next, and the twists leave you reeling. It took me days to recover from the movie. It follows the new life of a man and his wife, who just moved to a new town and they see a man they knew in high school. He is still upset about their fights in high school, and also suffers from some mental issues that lead him to torment the newlyweds.
7. The Princess Bride
   1. Classic movies are some of the best ones, and this oldie is one that has been quoted for years. Some people may even quote it without even knowing. If you’ve ever heard the phrases, “As you wish,” or “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die,” then you need to watch this movie. It takes place in a mythical kingdom, where a girl falls in love with a stable boy. When he disappears, she leaves and is engaged to marry a prince. The stable boy returns years later and their adventure ensues. There is not much I can say without giving away the movie, so just go watch it on Netflix.
8. Warriors
   1. When my dad first showed me this, I never thought I would like it, let alone love it. The whole concept is very “out there” and odd. There is a gang takeover of New York City, and every block is owned by a gang. There is a huge meeting of all gangs led by Cyrus, who is trying to unite them all in order to have more control over the city. When he is shot, the Warriors are blamed, and they need to make it back to Coney Island, their turf, before they are killed by the other gangs. This must watch is easily accessed on Netflix.
9. Stuck in Love
   1. These aren’t my favorite types of movies, but romantic movies cans ometimes tug at my heartstrings enough to leave an impression. Stuck in Love follows the confusing life of a teenager who has divorced parents. His family is broken, with his sister hating his mom, and their dad still in love with his ex wife. They are all writers who are looking to make it big, and they all are stuck in love in some way. I watch this movie weekly because of how much it makes my heart swell. It is in Netflix and will forever hold a spot in my list.
10. The Truman Show
    1. Last, but not least, this is my most recent watch, and it immediately took a spot in my top ten must watch movies. Again, it is an odd concept, but also one of the few movies where Jim Carrey holds a serious role. It shows the life of Truman, who was taken as a baby into the television industry. His whole life is filmed, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, and he has no idea. People who come onto the show try to tell him that his whole life is a lie, but they fail. He begins to realize that something is wrong, and his life goes awry.

Movies are a large part of my life, and they provide more worlds for me to immerse myself into. These movies here are must watches that are far too enjoyable. They evoke emotions that I never even knew I had. If you are ever looking for a good movie to watch, just look at this list. You won’t regret it.