If there’s one thing I’m pretentious about, it has got to be movies. I absolutely love them, possibly a little too much if I do say so myself. After watching a billion of them, here’s a list of movies that I consider to be the best of all time. 

1. Nightcrawler directed Dan Gilroy 

For all of the Taylor Swift fans out there: look away. This movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Louis Bloom, a psychotic cameraman who is determined to make it in the news business. As his tenacity gets the best of him, he spirals into derangement, stopping at nothing to be the best. While his ambition cost him his strength, his greed defeated him. Can someone please add a tally to the list of mentally deranged white male characters I relate to? As much as I hate to say this, Gyllenhaal gave a jaw-dropping performance that will be remembered for the decades to come. There’s something about witnessing a hot guy go clinically insane that makes me go wild. This movie left me shaking, crying, and hyperventilating. Thanks to this movie, I might even have to forgive Jake for what he did to Taylor Swift. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Would I watch this with my parents?: Yes

1. The Handmaiden directed by Park Chan-wook

Imagine if “Portrait of a Lady On Fire” met “Ocean’s Eleven”… pure perfection! The Handmaiden centers around Sook-Hee (Kim Tae-Ri), a maid involved in an elaborate scheme to embezzle millions of dollars from her mistress, Lady Hideko (Kim Min-Hee). All I can say is: *chills*. This movie gave me literal chills. The cinematography? Beautiful. The acting? Tear-jerking. Plot? Otherworldly. I was actually invested in these characters, and what was going to happen to them. “The Handmaiden” is one of those movies that leaves you thinking about it for days to come. 

*There is some suggestive content. If that’s something you’re uncomfortable with then I would suggest not watching the movie*

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Would I watch this with my parents?: No. God, no. 

1. The Big Lebowski directed by Ethan and Joel Coen 

Described as a “stoner comedy”, “The Big Lebowski” does not disappoint. Starring Jeff Bridges as Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski, John Goodman as Walter, and Steve Buscemi as Theodore, this trio of idiots will leave you laughing non-stop. The movie follows The Dude, who is mistakenly identified as another man of the same name and given the task of hunting down a kidnapped woman. While there were some moments where I was left confused, it was nothing a simple Google search couldn’t explain. If you’re on the fence about watching this movie, just know that the Sam Elliot has a minor role in the movie. Sam Elliot and that irresistible accent of his could be in a movie about kicking puppies, and I would still give it 5/5 stars on Letterboxd. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

Would I watch this with my parents?: Yes, but the language is something to be mindful of.

1. Godfather directed by Francis Ford Coppola 

I don’t even know what to say about this movie, other than that it’s the greatest film of all time. And I’m not even joking, this movie literally has a 100% on Metacritic. The cinematography, the soundtrack, the acting, the script…everything about “The Godfather” is flawless. Let me add that the movie features a relatively young Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, a son of a Sicilian mob boss who hesitantly joins the family business. Michael, who has been wronged time and time again, succumbs to the dark side and is unsure of where time will bring him. “The Godfather” is, by far, my favorite movie of all time, and I think it would be a shame if you lived your life without watching it. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Would I watch this with my parents?: Yes, but I would definitely proceed with caution.

1. Scarface directed by Brian De Palma 

“Scarface” is centered around the story of Tony Montana (Al Pacino), a Cuban immigrant (yes, I know. Al Pacino is Italian and he plays a character who is Cuban. I didn’t make the casting, so don’t come at me) who slowly rises through the ranks to eventually become a merciless drug lord. This movie has some ICONIC performances from Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer, who plays his trophy wife and is absolutely done with him and his toxic behavior. There’s a reason “Scarface” is considered a cult classic among cinephiles, and I’m here to tell you that this movie ha

s a good reputation for a reason. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

Would I watch this with my parents: Yes, but there is some violence. Also if you’re not into self-centered misogynistic men, I would refrain from watching it.