I’m no film scholar, and I know little to nothing of proper film criticism.

But I’m lucky because, when I was a kid, there weren’t any movies or music or art or books that were deemed “OFF-LIMITS” to kids. My mother was a renaissance woman who knew the value of a diverse education.

For that reason, I was reading Stephen King when my contemporaries were still on comic books. And watching John Carpenter films when the other first-graders were still cutting their brains on Disney.

I was exposed to the kind of dry adult dramas that would have most kids snoozing but which I found fascinating. And pretty much ruined me for so-called kids’ movies early on.

We didn’t go to church, we watched old movies. And, while the Von Trapp’s sang together, my family challenged each other with movie quotes, and tests of general film knowledge. Who starred in this? What year was that? What was the remake called? What’s this really a ripoff of?

OK, I protest too much.

Here are, simply, my favorite 100 films.

Why a hundred? Because, people are always asking each other, “What’s your favorite movie?”

My response is always the same: “I can’t possibly tell you my favorite film because I don’t have one.”

I love too many movies equally.

Instead, I might—MIGHT—be able to narrow my favorite movie down to 100 movies.

But even that’s an exercise in frustration.

In compiling this list, I started off by naming a bunch of movies I like, or think I like, or liked when they first came out but have since come to find them lacking.

On the first run though, I came up with a list of nearly 150 films dating from the 1940s to the 2020s.

You won’t find any silent films on this list. I’ve seen a dozen or so and enjoyed some parts of each but I’m just not built for that dearth of dialogue.

Neither will you find any Kurosawa, Fellini, Bergmann, Antonioni, or Tarkovsky.

I’m just not that fancy.

Nor could I—no matter how tempting—fall into the trap of trying to show everyone how a-smart I am through my choices in cinema.

Sure, I enjoyed Citizen Kane but Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons and The Stranger are much more of a joy to watch. And, as much as I’d like to win the adoration of motion picture poohbahs, I’ve never had any strong feelings for Taxi Driver in either direction.

What this list really did was force me to be honest with myself.

At first I piled up a bunch of flicks I truly love, like Full Metal Jacket, Scarface, Hellraiser II, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Raising Arizona, An American Werewolf in London, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Star Trek The Motion Picture, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Star Trek The Wrath of Khan, Big Trouble in Little China, John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars, Interiors, Hannah and Her Sisters, Annie Hall, Good Will Hunting, Silence of the Lambs, The Postman, Gangs of New York The Game (1997), Whiplash, Shawshank Redemption, Jacob’s Ladder, and The Royal Tenenbaums.

Then I realized, this isn’t just a compilation of titles I enjoy.

If I was going to put this type of time and thought into a project, it had to mean something. These movies had to mean something to me on an almost spiritual level.

Pretentious bullshittery? Maybe.

I had to ask myself: were those truly my most beloved films? If I could only ever watch the same 100 movies for the rest of my life, would those be on the list?

In order to keep this list manageable, I devised some basic parameters for a film’s inclusion on the list.

I. For starters, I must have watched the movie no fewer than five times.

II. Also, the movies had to be of the sort I can still watch over and over and over.

True, I’ve probably seen Forrest Gump five times, but I’m over it. Burned out. It’s an amazing movie I am confident I will never watch again. I don’t know why. It’s just the way it is.

I present, in no particular order, my favorite hundred flicks.

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1. Joe Dirt – Might as well start with a choice destined to enrage and mystify. I Hated this the first time I watched it. Thought it was the stupidest thing I ever saw. In fact, I think I shut it off after fifteen or so minutes. But, went back and gave it a try and realized it’s actually quite entertaining. Now one of my favorite movies. Seen it so many times.

2. Midnight in Paris – This is at once a writer movie, a Woody Allen movie, and as close as we’ve gotten—thusfar—to a taste of a screen adaptation of A Moveable Feast. This is in my top 10 most-watched movies.

3. Basic Instinct – Maybe my favorite thriller. What a masterpiece. George Dzundza at his best. And Sharon Stone ain’t bad, neither!

4. Cool Hand Luke – First saw this 20 years ago and fell in love with it. And it only gets better with time.

5. Empire Strikes Back – Had this lunchbox when I was in first grade. Had a red Yoda thermos. Loved it when I was 7, still love it at 47 (48?).

6. Return of the Jedi – Saw this in the theater. What a night!

7. Clash of the Titans (1981) – I saw this at the drive-in theater when I was a kid. Probably in 1982.

8. They Live – 50 percent love of Roddy Piper, 50 percent love of this schlocky-in-a-good-way comic book of a film. No complaints. I wouldn’t change a thing.

9. You’ve Got Mail – This is in my top three romantic comedies of all time. Love it so much!

10. His Girl Friday – Saw this on TCM for the first time probably in 2009-ish. This film got me into many other screwball comedies of the time. Also in my top three romcoms.

11. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Forget that overhyped Marriage Story. This is the real deal. Wanna celebrate Valentine’s Day in a way you’ll never forget? Get a bottle of bourbon and your lover and watch this movie in a drunken stupor. Guaranteed to elicit an evening of adventure.

12. The Maltese Falcon – Just a great noir detective flick. Never tire of watching. Took me a few viewings to realize Sam Spade is a real heel.

13. 1776 (the musical) – First watched this when I was young and too poor to rent movies, so we got free movies from the library. This one annoys my daughter because later we bought the DVD and watched it quite often. “Vote yes! Vote yes! Vote for in-de-pen-den-cyyyyyy!!!”

14. Trial and Error (1997) – When I had one of my bouts with insomnia from 2000-2003, I’d watch this over and over all night long on a VCR tape. As soon as it finished, I would rewind it and watch it again. Probably the movie I’ve seen the most times in my life. Got to be in the hundreds of viewings. Now own it on DVD cuz it’s not streamable yet, and I’m still not tired of it.

15. At Eternity’s Gate – I love moves about painters and writers. I especially enjoy seeing the artist work in the movie. That might be boring to others but it gives me a comfortable feeling. Few can do genuine despair like Willem Dafoe.

16. Brotherhood of the Wolf – I watch tons of movies with subtitles but I’ve seen this French movie both ways and have to say they did such a wonderful job of dubbing that it’s one of the few times where I actually prefer the English dubbed version. If you haven’t seen this horror/mystery/thriller, check it out. It’s just an awesome movie!

17. Sideways – Who doesn’t love Sideways? This is one of those put-it-on-at-night-when-I-can’t-sleep movies. I never tire of it. Although, the more I watch this, the more I realize I am Miles. Shiiiiiiiiit.

18. The Tao of Steve – This one is a little more obscure. It’s one of those lower budget indie flicks that should’ve gotten more notice. A great philosophical buddy dramedy.

19. Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare – Saw this at the theater and loved it so much we stayed to watch it again. The 3-D on the big screen was so cool!

20. Lost in Translation – Does this really need explanation? It’s my kind of sad quiet romance.

21. As Good as it Gets – I’m more than a little like Melvin Udall, so this movie really touches me. And repulses me. And makes me jealous as a writer.

22. Big Sur – Rarely is a book so faithfully and powerfully adapted to the screen. This Jack Kerouac memoir—which really is just one long poem—is such a beautiful movie. To those who unfairly dismiss Jack, I say you obviously never read Big Sur. And boy-howdy are you missing out. Your loss, suckers!

23. On The Road – While it’s not as amazing as it’s cousin Big Sur, this other Kerouac memoir also made for a great movie that I revisit on a nearly monthly basis.

24. The Road – Yet another masterpiece of literature made into an amazing movie. Read the book. Then watch the movie. Then read the book again. Repeat.

25. Signs – The wife and I watch (listen to) this every week on one of our work-from-home days. It’s a perfect movie that’s become part of our routine.

26. The Goonies – You either know why this is on the list or you need to go watch it right now. I will accept no other explanations.

27. The Station Agent – Hard to believe this film is 20 years old. I bought it at a discount without knowing anything about it back in 2003 and it instantly became one of my favorites. This was many years before Peter Dinklage made it big with Game of Thrones.

28. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? – This came out the year I graduated from high school. Thirty years ago? Really? Woof.

29. August: Osage County – This is another monthly view. Sometimes weekly. Something about watching a highly dysfunctional family interact that makes me feel at home. Can’t imagine why. Oh, wait …

30. Five Easy Pieces – Love these quiet drama stories. I do wish they would’ve shortened the first act and spent more time on the third. But, Whatta ya gonna do?

31. Erin Brockovich – Just a fun feel-good movie I turn to again and again.

32. Iron Eagle – I was never a Top Gun fan. It just never connected with me. As a child of the ‘80s, the only jet-flying movie I really cared about was Iron Eagle. Go figure. Man, did they play this a lot on HBO back then or what?

33. A Christmas Story – It’s so popular they play it for 24 hours at Christmastime.

34. It’s A Wonderful Life – When pressed to say what my single favorite movie of all time is, I always give this answer. What can I say? I’m a sucker for beautiful sadness.

35. Mr. Turner – See also: I love movies about painters and writers. This one is great.

36. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – My first newspaper editor turned me onto Hunter S. Thompson. I read the book before I saw the movie and thought both were great.

37. 8 Mile – Another perfect movie. A hero’s journey. An underdog story. It’s set in my home state.

38. Grey Gardens (documentary) – This one fills the dark/depressing/odd categories nicely.

39. John Carpenter’s The Thing – Isolation. Paranoia. Perfection.

40. American Splendor – An unlikely curmudgeonly writer who’s really a nice guy underneath it all. Hmmmmmmm.

41. American Movie (documentary) – First watched this documentary around 20 years ago and was inspired to become a documentarian. It didn’t work out but it did help inspire me to keep at my writing.

42. Leaving Las Vegas – Who is the bleakest of them all? I’d say it’s Nick Cage’s best performance but every performance is Nick Cage’s best performance. Yep, I one of those people.

43. Paper Man (2009) – Another amazing movie I don’t think too many folks have seen. Go watch it! Now!

44. The Driver’s Seat (1975) – Weird and artsy and replete with Liz Taylor screentime.

45. Key Largo – Super cast, big-time thrills, lots of mystery and suspense. And Lionel Barrymore as a good guy.

46. Miracle on 34th Street – In my top five Xmas movies.

47. Rear Window – Probably my favorite Hitchcock film. A perfect movie. I like the ending just fine. I don’t care what Werner Herzog says.

48. Donnie Darko – I can’t keep using “masterpiece” without rendering it meaningless but, for my money, Donnie Darko is sooooooooooooo good. Opening with Killing Moon song? Patrick Swayze as a bad guy? Two Gyllennnnhaaaalllleeeres;kjwelrkjes for the price of one? Genius! Genius! Genius!

49. Wonder Boys – Another writer movie. And one of the very best.

50. Pollock (2001) – My fav painter movie. Probably seen this the most of all the painter flicks.

51. The End of the Tour – Ironically, I don’t prefer David Foster Wallace’s fiction. I’ve tried it and it’s just not my brand. Not for any douchie social or political reasons, mind you. I just don’t enjoy reading it. I do, however, think he was one of the greatest essayists to ever have lived. And I really enjoy this movie.

52. Field of Dreams – On the short list of movies that make me cry every single time.

53. No Country for Old Men – I’ve read this book easily ten times and seen the movie twice as often. Who’s obsessed with Cormac McCarthy? Oh yeah, I am.

54. Home Alone – nuff said.

55. Genius (2016) – Another great writer movie. Great cast. Great storytelling. And another writer I don’t actually read. But the movie!

56. Adaptation (2003) – Another movie that’s over 20 years old. I bought this on DVD when it came out and just couldn’t get enough of it. This came out when I was just getting started as a freelance writer. Watching it and others like it helped me survive the pain of rejection. And reassured me there was a place for weirdness in my art.

57. The Graduate – There’s plenty about this movie that could be improved—mainly in the dialogue—but I still love it for all sorts of reasons.

58. Rebel in the Rye – Another writer movie. Phew, there sure are a lot of them on this list. I’ll start a food fight again and say most of the people who call Salinger an “asshole genius” have neither read Catcher in the Rye, and if they have, they banked on their community college professor’s mimeographed breakdown of what the book is supposed to mean. You’d also have to forget what the guy went through while writing the book. Actually, here, you wanna know what Catcher in the Rye is about, check this out: https://bengohs.com/2020/03/19/reading-is-good-therapy/

59. Finding Forrester – ditto to great writer movies.

60. Zack and Miri Make a Porno – Ha! Wasn’t expecting how wild or fun this movie was.

61. The Shipping News – Read this book a bunch before I knew there was a movie. At first, I was not thrilled with the changes in the movie. But, I grew to love it just the same.

62. The Blues Brothers – My Uncle Bert (RIP) first showed me this movie. Used to watch it with him when I’d go visit. So many fun times. And what a quotable movie.
“It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.” —Elwood Blues

63. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) – An amazing cast and a wonderful story well told. How great is Burl Ives as Big Daddy? “Mendacity! Mendacity! Mendacity!”

64. The Man in the Hat – Here’s one of those films I watch at least monthly. Sometimes weekly. I love the idea of travel … but hate travelling. It’s movies like this which let me live that dream. And help keep me sane … ish.

65. Meet John Doe (1941) – This should be required viewing for every school kid. When I was little, they used to teach us things like citizenship and manners and the value of mutual aid. This movie encapsulates the value of such things in a powerful way.

66. Sunset Boulevard – Some days I feel like washed-up screenwriter Joe Gillis, and other days I feel like washed-up actress Norma Desmond. Guess that makes my wife Max Von Mayerling. Oh boy!

67. Mank’ – David Fincher’s project—written by his dad, no less—became an instant favorite of mine when it was released back in 2020. How often does an epic movie get made about the making of an epic movie. Almost never, I’m guessing.
One of my many favorite quotes from the movie comes from baddy Louis B. Mayer to a very drunk Herman Mankiewicz: “Because he likes the way you talk. Not the way you write. The way you talk. Don’t that chap your ass!”

68. Crossroads (1986) – Not the Brittney Spears movie! Crossroads is Ralph Macchio’s best film—yes, even better than The Karate Kid. [Don’t tell my wife I said that. OK, maybe they’re tied.] I’ve been obsessed with this since it came out in the mid-1980s. What an adventure!

69. Blazing Saddles – Greatest comedy movie of all time? Perhaps. Most offensive move of all time? I found the overhyped, unwatchable, and terribly boring Avatar movie far more offensive from a cinematic perspective. But, hey, whattoo I know? Also, “offended” doesn’t enter my vocabulary when I’m enjoying art. I either like it or I don’t. Life’s too short to waste energy on self-inflicted psychic wounds.

70. Back to the Future – Duh. Seriously. If you haven’t seen it, go do so.

71. City Slickers – Another perfect movie. Great story. Great cast. Leaves ya feeling nice. “That’s a good ‘Yahoo!’ son.”

72. Gung Ho – Michael Keaton. Town on the verge of ruin. Overwhelming odds. Quintessential ‘80s. One of the best feelgood movies ever made. Rarely do I see it on best movie lists. Shame shame.

73. Dracula (1992) – Saddest love story ever told. And the best Dracula movie ever made.

74. Goodfellas – I love Goodfellas. But do I love-love it?

75. Cop Land – Not just because Stallone plays a different kind of character but it sure helps.

76. Braveheart – This is one of those “hafta watch when flipping through the channels” films. What they left out of the script was just right.

77. Rocky – The undisputed king of underdog stories. Makes me cry every time. The man wrote, directed, and starred in it! If this was the only movie he ever made he’s still be a genius.

78. Terminator 2 – I didn’t care for the first one. Still don’t. The sequel is a got-dang masterpiece. I still remember hearing GNR’s You Could Be Mine on the radio for the first time on the way to go see the movie, which features this very song. Still an awesome song, too. Great for moshing and angry dancing and doing shots!

79. Alien – With most horror movies, I never wanna see the monster cuz it’s always a let-down from what I imagined. Thanks to Hans Ruedi (H.R. Geiger) this beast was far beyond anyone’s nightmares.

80. First Blood (1982) – Ironically the only “Rambo” movie that isn’t a Rambo movie. And is better for it.

81. The Firm – Is this my only Tom Cruise movie? Eh, it’s a great mystery very well written and with an ending you just don’t expect. What an ending! Paul Sorvino, you still scare me.

82. A Home of their Own – Let’s get depressed! Even the happy ending is fairly sad. Another one that came out when I was a senior in high school but I would’ve sworn it was older.

83. Silver Bullet (1985) & Wolf (1994) – Werewolves are my favorite of all the traditional monsters and this werewolf movie is number two on my list, just behind Wolf with Jack Nicholson. So, I guess Wolf shares this slot. Not just because it was the first movie my now wife and I went to 29 summers ago on our first date.

84. Born Yesterday (1950) – Broderick Crawford is the meanest sonofabitch—other than Robert Mitchum—and Judy Holliday is the sweetest little dumb-dumb. What a great movie! Bill Holden does a fine job but he’s waaay outshined by these two.

85. Unforgiven (1992) – Greatest Western ever made. These final lines of the movie are enough to make it great: “All right, I’m coming out. Any man I see out there, I’m gonna shoot him. Any sumbitch takes a shot at me—not only gonna kill him, I’m gonna kill his wife, all his friends, and burn his damn house down. Nobody better shoot. You better bury Ned right! Better not cut up, nor otherwise harm, no whores. Or I’ll come back and kill every one of you sons of bitches.”

86. Superman II (1980) – I don’t care for superhero movies but I love-love-love this one.

87. Stand by Me – Long before I saw this movie, I remember my mother reading the hilarious pie-eating contest to me and us both laughing so hard we were crying and snotting. It really is the little things in life.

88. Apocalypse Now – If the movie only consisted of the first ten minutes or so, it’d still be great.

89. The Deer Hunter – I grew up in a dying industrial town. Granted, we were on the verge of the first Gulf War, not Vietnam, but this movie reminds me a lot of where I come from and the people I grew up with.

90. Jaws – There’s a reason this movie is universally loved.

91. All the President’s Men – Maybe it’s the journalist in me but I get a real kick out of this telling of the events surrounding the Watergate coverup. Though, if you know William Goldman’s tale regarding script and casting of the movie, it’s almost as filled with intrigue and double-cross.

92. Planet of the Apes (original) – First saw this as a little kid and was enthralled. The music, the cinematography. Heston Heston Heston! And don’t get me started on Linda Harrison!

93. Pulp Fiction – My little brother turned me on to this movie. I think this was my first Tarantino experience. And what a ride it was.

94. True Romance – I take that back. This, unbeknownst to me, was my first Tarantino film. I’ve heard he doesn’t care for it. Probably because he didn’t get to direct. Too bad. It’s a great movie. He should’ve been happy it got made so well.

95. Ace Ventura Pet Detective II: When Nature Calls – One year, I decided I would watch this movie once per day. There was a time when I could do almost all the lines along with the movie. I still remember large chunks of Ace’s dialogue. Here goes (without googling):
CHOPPER PILOT: Ace, I wouldn’t go up there if I were you.
ACE: If you were me then I’d be youuuu! And I’d use your body to get to the top of the mountain. You can’t stop me no matter who you are. Lay-who-zay-her. Loser!

96. The Ring – Not only did (does) this movie scare the shit out of me, but it’s a great mystery. And should be on a list of the best detective films ever made. Whenever I need a boost while working on a horror script, I go back and watch this disturbing gem. And then have trouble falling asleep. And walking down dark hallways.

97. The Elephant Man – I think I was 8 (1983) when I first saw this. Watched it with my mom and stepdad, and little brother. I was the only one who cried. They were on the couch, and I was lying on the carpet in front of the TV, coffee table between us, so they didn’t see. I did my best to hide it. And I remember thinking there was something wrong with me. Now I know there was something wrong with them. So beautiful. So sad. David Lynch did such a good job.

98. Brighton Beach Memoirs – first saw this in 1987 when I was 12. I was home “sick” from school and all alone watching whatever HBO, our only premium cable channel at the time, had to offer. This came on and whisked me away on a pubescent adventure I’ve never forgotten. I have no interest in moving to New York, but this is one of a couple films that had me convinced at various times in my life that I really needed to go there.

99. The Banshees of Inisherin – One of the few newer movie on my list. Sure it’s the dysfunction and beautiful landscapes, and the humor is nice. But there’s something else about this movie. Maybe Brendan Gleeson’s desperation to create something of value with his dwindling time on Earth. OK. Definitely that.

100. Leon The Professional – I wasn’t mature, savvy, or literarily educated enough to catch the not-so-subtle Lolita underpinnings when this movie first came out. All I cared about was the amazing cinematography, the highly stylized filmmaking, and how sad and badass Leon the hitman was. Some people love to stew in art-induced hysteria while cranking up the manufactured “Controversy Machine.” I’m not interested in all that. All I know is this movie is still as cool as it was when it first came out.

There you have it. A completely un-asked-for list of my favorite 100 movies.

My full list of favorite films is probably 500 long but this will have to suffice.

I’m sure, as time goes on, I’ll do some tweaking.

Who knows, maybe I’ll eventually make another list of movies—a second 100 favorite films. Or maybe a 100 most-hated—now that would be fun!

But, for now, to the best of my memory, these are the pictures that helped make me who I am as a cinephile, writer, and person.

Now go make your own list.