The 2020s seem to be the decade of short-form media, but despite the temptation of doom-scrolling, movies are a constant presence in my life. Memories of films fill even my earliest memories. I can’t tell you what my fifth birthday was, but I can tell you about the first time I watched Spaceballs after I came home from preschool.

So, what are some movies that I consider essential to watch? After some time, I compiled a list of movies that demonstrate a combination of quotable lines, beautiful cinematography, soundtracks, and layered storylines. Here are five of my favorite movies and why I consider them a must-watch:

1. Spaceballs (1987)- Mel Brooks

Although I mentioned this movie in the introduction, this masterpiece deserves more than just a sentence. Directed by Mel Brooks, the movie is a parody of the famous Star Wars series. It follows the story of two space mercenaries, Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and Barf (John Candy).

Yes, Barf. Barf is half-man, half-dog. A “mog,” as he coins. The pair receives a call from a King in which he pleads for the two to save his daughter, who has been captured by the Spaceballs.

The parody includes clever jokes that go beyond quick puns. There are layers of comedy that are present in every scene of the movie: the comically large helmet worn by Dark Helmet, character parallels such as Pizza the Hut, and, of course, the breaking of the fourth wall that occurs throughout the film. I mean, how can you not laugh when you see a Yoda look-alike named “Yogurt” who teaches Lone Starr how to use the “schwartz.”

"San Diego Comic-Con, Barf (left) and Dark Helmet (right)"

Image Credit: Mooshuu from Wikimedia

Mel Brooks, being the genius director he is, leaves you cracking up the entire movie. Spaceballs manages to keep you on the edge of your seat, scared for what’s happening next, while making you feel like you’re going to get abs from laughing. The comical timing of every scene makes this movie more than your average film.

Quite literally, from start to end, comedy is the center of the movie’s purpose. Spaceballs is a family favorite in my home and never fails to make it to family movie night at least twice a year.

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La La Land (2016)- Damien Chazelle

From the first scene, I knew this was going to be my favorite movie. La La Land opens with a dance sequence in the middle of a highway in California. It pictures a freeway that’s stopped with traffic. Then, the dancers get out of the stopped cars, jump on the hoods of cars, do tricks with bikes, mosh to a band that is in the back of a truck, all on a real freeway ramp in Los Angeles while attacked with California summer heat.

To pair with the dancing that occurs throughout the movie, the director, Damien Chazelle, includes over a dozen songs that are playlist-worthy. For each emotion-packed scene, whether it’s joyful or melancholy, there is a song that fits perfectly with it. My personal favorite is “City of Stars,” which appears twice in the movie, each time being hard-hitting and meaningful.

Although the movie has beautiful dance scenes and music, one of my favorite features in the film is the colors. Throughout the movie, we see scenes full of bright colors such as yellow, red, and blue. These three colors dominate the screen.

Each scene looks like something straight out of a magazine. The swirling colors on the screen make this movie one of the most visually enjoyable movies I have ever seen. To do this movie justice, I have linked a scene below that demonstrates how Chazelle incorporates color as a primary factor, not just as a background component. Don’t worry—there are no spoilers (it’s one of the first scenes in the movie).

3. The Phoenician Scheme (2025)- Wes Anderson

The Phoenician Scheme is a new movie released this year. Despite it not being the objectively "best" Wes Anderson film, I think it deserves a place on this list. I went to see this movie in the theatre a few weeks ago and it was a breathtaking experience.

The way Wes Anderson directs the cinematography of films is one of a kind. He's one of those directors who you wouldn't need to see his name in the credits to know it's his film.

There's one scene in the movie that I couldn't stop thinking about. In the film, the main character is seen relaxing in a bathtub. He's wealthy and has a lot of servants.

As he relaxes, there is a scene shot from above that depicts a handful of people moving around the bathroom doing various tasks. It's an odd scene (an odd movie if I'm being entirely honest, but it's Wes Anderson, so it's to be expected), but it's not what was happening that made me fall in love with the scene—it's the how.

The actors glide in a slow-motion montage that has so many things going on at once. One servant is bringing wine, the main character is eating, another servant is washing their hands, a third is cleaning his wounds, etc. The scene is beautifully filmed and is eye candy for movie lovers.

Below is a compilation of a few visuals from the film. They don't include any dialogue, so there are no spoilers. (The bathroom scene is at 2:51).

The entire movie, along with most of Wes Anderson's films, is a must-watch for movie lovers because of its timeless cinematography. Even if his stories are on the peculiar side, the appreciation you will feel for the way he films his movies is more than enough to justify the oddities. The muted/pastel color pallets he chooses for his films, along with the uniquely filmed scenes, are a staple of his work. If you're interested in more of his movies, I recommend The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel.

4. Fight Club (1999)- David Fincher

Fight Club, or more appropriately "f**** c***" according to the first and second rules of fight club, is a movie full of plot twists. The storyline follows an insomniac (Edward Norton) who meets a salesman (Brad Pitt) while travelling. The two end up forming a fight club to work off some steam, and the movie follows their expansion of the club. Although that's the initial story, their little club becomes more than they can handle, which leads to a few intense scenes.

The movie includes many side plots that make it all the more enjoyable. But one of my favorite aspects of the movie was the acting. Edward Norton, one of my favorite actors, plays his role flawlessly.

Almost good enough to forget he's acting. Brad Pitt delivers lines with an intensity that makes the film's pressure feel real. And, of course, Helena Bonham Carter adds a twist to the vibe of the movie with her eerie style and dedication to the role.

"Edward Norton (left), Brad Pitt (middle), and Helena Bonham Carter (right)"

Image Credit: Kigz from Wikimedia

The unexpected ending of the movie, followed by another unexpected final twist, is what makes this movie so great. There wasn't a second I was bored, nor a second that I could guess what was going to happen next. David Fincher truly made a masterpiece with Fight Club, and it effortlessly makes it onto my list of favorite movies.

5. Reservoir Dogs (1992)- Quentin Tarantino

This wouldn't be a fair list without a Tarantino movie on it, so here's one of my favorites from him: Reservoir Dogs. The movie follows six criminals, all with codenames named after colors, who carry out a heist. After an unexpected ambush during the heist, the group realizes that it was too perfect to be a coincidence and decides that one of the six was an informant for the police. The movie depicts the group doing whatever they can think of to figure out who the rat is.

Although I would consider it to be a comedy movie, Reservoir Dogs is probably the goriest movie I've ever laughed at while watching. It makes you want to look away from the screen while not wanting to cover your ears so you can hear the hilarious lines. It made me feel like I was going to be sick from the gore, die from laughter, and pass out from the tense scenes all at once. The movie is truly a rollercoaster.

Tarantino's unpredictable endings with his impressively gory scenes make this a classic. He has a unique ability to make violence the center of a movie while still retaining a plot. If you enjoy Reservoir Dogs, I would recommend his two most famous movies, Pulp Fiction and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, as well as his 2009 classic: Inglorious Bastards.

"Quentin Tarantino in Paris at the César Awards ceremony"

Image Credit: Georges Biard from Wikimedia

All of these movies have a special place in my heart. The directors and actors made me fall in love with more than just the plot: they made me fall in love with film as a whole. Some movies truly make you realize how much thought goes into movies.

These five movies made me realize just that. And for that reason, I consider them to be worthwhile to watch.