Classic (Or Popular; Or Hit) Movies You've Never Seen

It sucks donkey balls. Seriously. That's not reverse psychology. I wish I hadn't seen it, just because I can't erase its putridness from my brain.

 

I can't think of five things IJAG and I both like, and yet we like each other.

I think. :

 

I've never been a big movie buff. Hell, I probably own fewer than 15 titles on DVD.

From AFI list, 2007:

1. Citizen Kane, 1941.
3. Casablanca, 1942.
5. Singin' in the Rain, 1952.
6. Gone With the Wind, 1939.
7. Lawrence of Arabia, 1962.
9. Vertigo, 1958.
11. City Lights, 1931.
12. The Searchers, 1956.
14. Psycho, 1960.
16. Sunset Blvd., 1950.
18. The General, 1927.
19. On the Waterfront, 1954.
21. Chinatown, 1974.
22. Some Like It Hot, 1959.
23. The Grapes of Wrath, 1940.
25. To Kill a Mockingbird, 1962.
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1939.
27. High Noon, 1952.
28. All About Eve, 1950.
29. Double Indemnity, 1944.
30. Apocalypse Now, 1979.
31. The Maltese Falcon, 1941.
35. Annie Hall, 1977.
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957.
37. The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946.
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 1948.
39. Dr. Strangelove, 1964.
40. The Sound of Music, 1965.
41. King Kong, 1933.
42. Bonnie and Clyde, 1967.
43. Midnight Cowboy, 1969.
44. The Philadelphia Story, 1940.
45. Shane, 1953.
46. It Happened One Night, 1934.
47. A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951.
49. Intolerance, 1916.
50. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001.
51. West Side Story, 1961.
53. The Deer Hunter, 1978.
54. M-A-S-H, 1970.
55. North by Northwest, 1959.
58. The Gold Rush, 1925.
59. Nashville, 1975.
60. Duck Soup, 1933.
61. Sullivan's Travels, 1941.
62. American Graffiti, 1973.
63. Cabaret, 1972.
64. Network, 1976.
65. The African Queen, 1951.
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1966.
69. Tootsie, 1982.
71. Saving Private Ryan, 1998.
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969.
75. In the Heat of the Night, 1967.
77. All the President's Men, 1976.
78. Modern Times, 1936.
79. The Wild Bunch, 1969.
80. The Apartment, 1960.
81. Spartacus, 1960.
82. Sunrise, 1927.
84. Easy Rider, 1969.
85. A Night at the Opera, 1935.
86. Platoon, 1986.
87. 12 Angry Men, 1957.
88. Bringing Up Baby, 1938.
90. Swing Time, 1936.
91. Sophie's Choice, 1982.
93. The French Connection, 1971.
95. The Last Picture Show, 1971.
96. Do the Right Thing, 1989.
97. Blade Runner, 1982.
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy, 1942.
100. Ben-Hur, 1959.

 

I went from about 1983 until about 1993, and didn't see one movie in a theater. Not one.

So I have a huge hole in my viewership history.

Being a poor struggling journalist had a lot to do with that.

For that matter, I didn't see a ton of movies growing up, either. I bet I still haven't seen 100 movies in a theater in my life. Now that I think of it, maybe not 50.

Since the invention of DVDs and being able to afford premium cable channels, I've been playing catchup for about 15 years.


Although I've fully succumbed to Star Wars, Star Trek, Superman, Batman and Spider-Man geekdom, I can proudly say I have never watched even one single second of any LOTR, Harry Potter, or X-Men movie.

 

Well, with this IJAG stamp of disapproval, I bet I never see it. No donkey balls for ME.

 

The AFI list is great, but for a more modern list, I'll use the Top 100 highest-grossing movies of all-time (not adjusted for inflation). I haven't seen:

7. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
12. The Passion of the Christ
18. The Lion King
22. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
26. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
29. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
31. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
32. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
34. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
37. Meet the Fockers
39. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
46. Night at the Museum
48. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
50. Cars
66. WALL-E
73. Alvin and the Chipmunks
75. Kung Fu Panda
81. Wedding Crashers (I actually watched a half hour. Stupid movie)
82. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
83. Ratatouille
92. Happy Feet
94. Ice Age: The Meltdown
95. Madagascar
98. Grease

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic.htm

 

By that list, Sleeper:

6 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Fox $431,088,301 1999
7 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest BV $423,315,812 2006
8 Spider-Man Sony $403,706,375 2002
9 Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Fox $380,270,577 2005
10 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King NL $377,027,325 2003
11 Spider-Man 2 Sony $373,585,825 2004
12 The Passion of the Christ NM $370,782,930 2004^
13 Jurassic Park Uni. $357,067,947 1993
14 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers NL $341,786,758 2002^
15 Finding Nemo BV $339,714,978 2003
16 Spider-Man 3 Sony $336,530,303 2007
18 The Lion King BV $328,541,776 1994^
19 Shrek the Third P/DW $322,719,944 2007
20 Transformers P/DW $319,246,193 2007
21 Iron Man Par. $318,313,199 2008
22 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone WB $317,575,550 2001
23 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Par. $317,023,851 2008
24 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring NL $314,776,170 2001^
25 Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Fox $310,676,740 2002^
26 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End BV $309,420,425 2007
27 Return of the Jedi Fox $309,306,177 1983^
28 Independence Day Fox $306,169,268 1996
29 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl BV $305,413,918 2003
31 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix WB $292,004,738 2007
32 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe BV $291,710,957 2005
33 The Empire Strikes Back Fox $290,475,067 1980^
34 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire WB $290,013,036 2005
36 The Matrix Reloaded WB $281,576,461 2003
39 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets WB $261,988,482 2002
40 The Incredibles BV $261,441,092 2004
43 I Am Legend WB $256,393,010 2007
44 Monsters, Inc. BV $255,873,250 2001
45 Batman WB $251,188,924 1989
46 Night at the Museum Fox $250,863,268 2006
47 Men in Black Sony $250,690,539 1997
48 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban WB $249,541,069 2004
50 Cars BV $244,082,982 2006
51 Bruce Almighty Uni. $242,829,261 2003
52 Raiders of the Lost Ark Par. $242,374,454 1981^
54 My Big Fat Greek Wedding IFC $241,438,208 2002
57 X-Men: The Last Stand Fox $234,362,462 2006
58 War of the Worlds Par. $234,280,354 2005
59 Cast Away Fox $233,632,142 2000
60 The Exorcist WB $232,671,011 1973^
61 The Lost World: Jurassic Park Uni. $229,086,679 1997
62 Signs BV $227,966,634 2002
63 Hancock Sony $227,946,274 2008
64 The Bourne Ultimatum Uni. $227,471,070 2007
65 Rush Hour 2 NL $226,164,286 2001
66 WALL-E BV $223,806,889 2008
67 National Treasure: Book of Secrets BV $219,964,115 2007
69 King Kong Uni. $218,080,025 2005
70 Ghost Par. $217,631,306 1990
71 The Da Vinci Code Sony $217,536,138 2006
72 Aladdin BV $217,350,219 1992
73 Alvin and the Chipmunks Fox $217,326,974 2007
74 Saving Private Ryan DW $216,540,909 1998
75 Kung Fu Panda P/DW $215,434,591 2008
76 Mission: Impossible II Par. $215,409,889 2000
77 X2: X-Men United Fox $214,949,694 2003
78 Austin Powers in Goldmember NL $213,307,889 2002
79 300 WB $210,614,939 2007
81 Wedding Crashers NL $209,255,921 2005
82 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory WB $206,459,076 2005
83 Ratatouille BV $206,445,654 2007
85 Batman Begins WB $205,343,774 2005
86 Terminator 2: Judgment Day TriS $204,843,345 1991
87 The Mummy Returns Uni. $202,019,785 2001
88 Armageddon BV $201,578,182 1998
89 Superman Returns WB $200,081,192 2006
91 Pearl Harbor BV $198,542,554 2001
92 Happy Feet WB $198,000,317 2006
93 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Par. $197,171,806 1989
94 Ice Age: The Meltdown Fox $195,330,621 2006
95 Madagascar DW $193,595,521 2005
97 Men in Black II Sony $190,418,803 2002
99 Gladiator DW $187,705,427 2000

 

Like I said, I don't really watch movies:

2. The Dark Knight
4. Shrek 2
7. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
9. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
10. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
11. Spider-Man 2
12. The Passion of the Christ
14. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
15. Finding Nemo
16. Spider-Man 3
19. Shrek the Third
20. Transformers
21. Iron Man
22. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
23. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
24. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
25. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
26. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
29. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
31. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
32. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
34. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
38. Shrek
39. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
40. The Incredibles
43. I Am Legend
44. Monsters, Inc.
46. Night at the Museum
48. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
49. Toy Story 2
50. Cars BV
51. Bruce Almighty
54. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
57. X-Men: The Last Stand
58. War of the Worlds
62. Signs
63. Hancock
64. The Bourne Ultimatum
65. Rush Hour 2
66. WALL-E
67. National Treasure: Book of Secrets
69. King Kong
71. The Da Vinci Code
73. Alvin and the Chipmunks
74. Saving Private Ryan
75. Kung Fu Panda
77. X2: X-Men United
79. 300
82. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
83. Ratatouille
85. Batman Begins
87. The Mummy Returns
89. Superman Returns
90. Gone with the Wind
91. Pearl Harbor
92. Happy Feet
94. Ice Age: The Meltdown
95. Madagascar
96. Toy Story
97. Men in Black II
100 The Day After Tomorrow

 

You've never seen The Third Man? Really? How have I seen that, like, 20 times, we lived in the same house, and you've never seen it? You SUCK!

Anyway, my list from the AFL/CIO/AFI list. I'm open-minded to watch anything great, but the italicized titles are ones I have to admit I really have no desire to watch. Red ones are movies I would really like to see. Blue ones are movies I haven't seen in their entirety.

5. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
6. Gone with the Wind (1939)
11. City Lights (1931)
12. The Searchers (1956) ... found it kind of boring
16. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
18. The General (1927)
19. On the Waterfront (1954)
22. Some Like It Hot (1959)
23. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
27. High Noon (1952)
28. All About Eve (1950)
29. Double Indemnity (1944)
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
43. Midnight Cowboy (1969) ... over-rated, clap-clap, clap-clap-clap!
44. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
45. Shane (1953)
46. It Happened One Night (1934)
47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
48. Rear Window (1954)
49. Intolerance (1916)
51. West Side Story (1961)
54. M*a*s*h (1970)
58. The Gold Rush (1925)
59. Nashville (1975)
61. Sullivan's Travels (1958)
62. American Graffiti (1973)
63. Cabaret (1972)
65. The African Queen (1951)
67. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
78. Modern Times (1936)
80. The Apartment (1960)
81. Spartacus (1960)
82. Sunrise (1927)
85. A Night at the Opera (1935)
87. 12 Angry Men (1957)
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
90. Swing Time (1936)
91. Sophie's Choice (1982)
93. The French Connection (1971)
96. Do the Right Thing (1989)
97. Blade Runner (1982)
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
100. Ben-Hur (1959)

101. Blood Freak -- I've seen this opus about a Jesus-freak biker who gets hooked on drugs, becomes a guinea pig at a poultry factory, turns into a turkey (or DOES he?) and begins killing junkies to drink their blood to feed his drug habit. Along the way, he bones his girlfriend, turkey-style, and meets up with the most unintentionally hilarious hippies in cinemadom.

Just including it so none of you forget it on your lists.

 

I just took a list of the top 100 adjusted for inflation. The most notable of that list I haven't seen:

5. The Ten Commandments (I was born into a Catholic family. So, I may have been forced to watch this while still in the womb.)
26. Thunderball (I remember Connery, Florida and car underwater. But Maybe that's the gist of it)
33. Love Story (Love is never having to say I'm sorry for not seeing this movie)
43. The Robe (Never heard of it).
63. Smokey and the Bandit (That's right. No. 63 all-time!)
70. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
89. House of Wax
95. Sergeant York (Dick York. Dick Sargent. Sergeant York. As if we wouldn't notice).

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm

 

Starman: X-Men is outstanding, unless you absolutely hate comic-book movies (and maybe even then, too.)

 

That's a fascinating list, in some ways, more so than the critics' lists.