Inspired by @nessa_please. This will be a long list because I am older than all you youths of today. But I am one of you! See: Bae. Fleek. Who let the dogs out.
1975: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Terrifying movie.
1976: Rocky
One of the greatest movies ever in my opinion and so meta: the film basically is Rocky.
1977: Star Wars
Duh.
1978: Animal House
I haven’t seen this in years but we sure watched it a lot when I was a kid. “Seven years of college down the drain!”
1979: Apocalypse Now
This list is reminding me of movies I should re-watch.
1980: The Empire Strikes Back
The last star wars that will appear on this list. Also the best Star Wars. Also a great movie.
1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark
To little boy me this was the perfect movie.
1982: The Wrath of Kahn
The only Star Trek movie I really loved. And that ear thing creeped me right out as a kid.
1983: WarGames
I think this was my first movie obsession. We watched this probably a hundred times one summer.
1984: Terminator
Maybe the best sci-fi film ever.
1985: Back to the Future
Was fantastic then, still fantastic now.
1986: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Still love it. The first Hughes film that felt like it was mine and not my sisters’. Although they loved it too.
1987: Moonstruck
A wonderful almost forgotten movie.
1988: Rain Man
I remember seeing this in the theater and being really moved by it.
1989: When Harry Met Sally
I’ve watched this almost every year since it came out. I’ve also listed about it more than once.
1990: Joe Versus the Volcano
One of my life-long favorites.
1991: The Fisher King
I remember loving this movie but I don’t remember much about it except the Tom Waits cameo (I was a budding Tom Waits fan by this point in my life). Must watch again.
1992: Glengarry Glen Ross
So sweary.
1993: Jurassic Park
Blew my mind. Probably the most affecting visual effects I ever saw or will see again.
1994: The Hudsucker Proxy
I love this movie. Plus I’m a sucker for a Muncie girl.
1995: Apollo 13
Heart stopping.
1996: Jerry Maguire
A Tom Cruise movie I loved. Also everyone fell in love with Renee Zelwegger in this. “Show me the money!”
1997: Men in Black
Contentious but I’m willing to admit that I love every single thing about this campy classic.
1998: The Truman Show
The first and best of its kind.
1999: The Matrix
I don’t think people who didn’t see it for the first time when it was released can ever appreciate how visually stunning this movie was. It was so heavily copied after its release that it seems dated now.
2000: Chocolat
Another of my favorites. I have been rewatching it every so often for 16 years.
2001: Ghost World
Didn’t discover it until 2015 but this might be my favorite movie period.
2002: Whale Rider
Another film I loved that other people didn’t seem to love as much.
2003: Lost in Translation
Definite contender for my favorite movie.
2004: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Another perennial watch and all time favorite.
2005: Walk the Line
Great performances made this movie for me.
2006: Little Miss Sunshine
Quirky but actually very funny and moving.
2007: Waitress
Super good movie with a sad story behind its making.
2008: WALL-E
The second best Pixar movie.
2009: District 9
Another of my favorite sci-fi.
2010: True Grit
Great book, great movie.
2011: Hanna
I’m not a big action movie person but I loved this one.
2012: Brave
I was going to put Beasts of the Souther Wild, which I loved, but @sophster would kill me if I didn’t put Brave instead. She and I have watched it together many times and she is basically Merida with short brown hair.
2013: 12 Years a Slave
I’m a big Chiwetel Ejiofor fan ever since Serenity and this movie knocks you out.
2014: The Imitation Game
A movie near and dear to my heart as a computer programmer who always felt Alan Turing’s story deserved more representation.
2015: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
This movie was a huge surprise to me. I went because it was free and I was traveling alone. I expected to hate it and ended up loving it.
2016 so far: Hail, Caesar!
Hilarious and perfectly acted.
