In case you haven't noticed lately, the geeks have taken over Hollywood. (And the rest of you should be thanking us.)
Ever since the pivotal moment that mainstream crowds embraced
Star Wars en masse in the summer of 1977, geek lore has risen from its fringe, low-budget roots to drive the biggest blockbusters year after year. At times these films are quite sophisticated, even Oscar-worthy, but we don't hold that against them. Deep down inside, behind the increasingly awesome special effects, every geek movie still has a heart of pure B-movie escapism. And that's the way it should be: who wants to live in the boring old real world anyway?
If you're ready to embrace your inner geekiness (and there's a little geek in all of us), movies are the quickest path to the dark side. And with the number of geek-worthy movies seeming to increase every year, now is a great time to jump on the bandwagon. From an objective standpoint, some of the films listed below are better made than others, but if you're a geek, you don't care about that. You only care about how much
geek cred each movie has.
So what gives a film geek cred? Well, for starters, it's in the name of this website: it helps to have aliens, robots and/or zombies! While any kind of movie can earn its geek stripes if it tries hard enough, action, fantasy, horror and sci-fi movies don't need to try quite as hard. The same goes for ridiculous or subversive comedies, cult classics and various other films that fly below the mainstream's radar.
With that in mind, you'll find a wide variety of styles and subjects in the list below. Some are insanely smart, and some are just big dumb fun wrapped in a gorilla suit. (Because I'm not going to lie to you: geeks like brainy movies that explore new possibilities, but unless the dialogue is about time-travel, we'd rather see something blow up than listen to a lot of it.) Through all of it, though, you'll find a vein of adventurousness: stories that fill you with wonder and amazement, iconic characters that you can root for (or against) again and again, and concepts that challenge what is possible. In other words, everything that makes movies great. (See? You're welcome.)
Of course, your individual tastes may vary: no two geeks are the same. So I have also categorized them all to the best of my ability, including standard genres (action, drama, comedy, etc.) and more esoteric categories that may be of interest to geeks (anime, blaxploitation, steampunk, werewolf, etc.). That way, if you just can't get enough kaiju movies, you can use your browser's "find" function to located the best of them below.
For a full list of categories and explanations, click here.
Now, not every geek will agree with all of the selections below. Some of us argue that only sci-fi is truly geek-worthy, for example, and for every geek that obsesses about zombies, there's another that says zombie movies have worn out their welcome. Others will argue against including any movie at all that has been commercially successful. Don't listen to any of those haters, though: contrary to popular belief, trolling doesn't win you any geek cred. No, geeks come in every variety: sports geeks and spy geeks, monster geeks and martial arts geeks. Rest assured that no matter what your preferences:
Watching any of the films below will instantly add to your geek cred.
Disagree with me? Know of a movie I've forgotten? Leave your comments below.
Note that all films are listed below by the year they were first (wide) released. At the very end, you'll also find a list of quality serial films (short, multi-part stories that ran in movie theaters before television caught on), and a list of the more consistently geek chic theatrical short film series.
Chronicle [action / adventure / drama / found-footage / sci-fi / superhero / suspense / teen]
2012 near misses:
The Adventures of Tintin [action / adventure / animation / fantasy / kids / suspense]
Attack the Block [action / alien / comedy / horror / invasion / monster / sci-fi]
Captain America: The First Avenger [action / adventure / Nazi / sci-fi / superhero]
my review
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 [action / adventure / fantasy / ghost / dragon / teen / werewolf / wizardry]
Hugo [adventure / drama / kids / suspense, dir. Martin Scorsese]
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol [action / adventure / spy, dir. Brad Bird]
The Muppets [adventure / animal / comedy / drama / kids / musical / puppets]
Rise of the Planet of the Apes [action / adventure / animal / invasion / sci-fi]
Super 8 [action / adventure / alien / monster / sci-fi / suspense / teen, dir. J.J. Abrams]
Thor [action / adventure / fantasy / superhero]
my review
X-Men: First Class [action / adventure / buddy / mutation / superhero / teen]
2011 near misses:
- The Adjustment Bureau [action / romance / sci-fi / suspense, Matt Damon]
- Battle Los Angeles [action / alien / invasion / war]
- Colombiana [action / adventure / crime / revenge / suspense, Zoe Saldana]
- Cowboys & Aliens [action / adveture / alien / invasion / monster / sci-fi / suspense / western, Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, dir. John Favreau]
- Drive Angry [action / adveture / crime / demon / fantasy / revenge / road, Nicholas Cage]
- Fast Five [action / adventure / crime / road, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson]
- Fright Night [action / comedy / horror / vampire]
- The Green Hornet [action / adventure / crime / martial arts / superhero, Seth Rogan, Jay Chou]
- Immortals [action / adventure / drama, epic / fantasy, Henry Cavill]
- Kill List [crime / drama / horror / suspense]
- Kung Fu Panda 2 [action / adventure / animal / animation / comedy / kids / martial arts, Jack Black]
- Limetless [drama / superhero / suspense]
- Melancholia [drama / sci-fi]
- Paul [adventure / alien / comedy / road / sci-fi, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen]
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides [action / adventure / comedy / fantasy / pirate / swashbuckler / vampire / zombie, Johnny Depp]
- Puss in Boots [animal / animation / comedy / fantasy / kids / spoof, Antonio Banderas]
- Rango [adevnture / animal / animation / comedy / western, Johnny Depp]
- Real Steel [action / drama / robot / sci-fi / sports]
- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows [action / adventure / buddy / steampunk / suspense, Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law]
- Source Code [action / sci-fi / suspense / time-travel]
- The Thing [alien / horror / monster / mutation / sci-fi]
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon [action / adventure / alien / invasion / robot / sci-fi, dir. Michael Bay]
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [action / adventure / animal / dragon / epic / fantasy / kids]
Despicable Me [action / adventure / animation / comedy / kids]
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within [action / crime / suspense]
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 [action / adventure / fantasy / teen / werewolf / wizardry]
How to Train Your Dragon [action / adventure / animation / dragon / fantasy / kids]
Inception [action / adventure / nonlinear / sci-fi / suspense / virtual reality]
Iron Man 2 [action / adventure / robot / sci-fi / superhero, Robert Downey Jr.]
my review
Kick-Ass [action / adventure / superhero]
Machete [action / crime / revenge / suspense, Danny Trejo, dir. Robert Rodriguez]
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World [action / adventure / comedy / fantasy / martial arts / musical / surreal]
Shutter Island [drama / suspense, Leonardo Dicaprio, dir. Martin Scorsese]
13 Assassins [action / adventure / samurai]
True Grit [adventure / drama / revenge / western, Jeff Bridges, dir. Joel and Ethan Coen]
2010 near misses:
- The Book of Eli [action / adevnture / post-apocalyptic / road, Denzel Washington]
- Clash of the Titans [action / adventure / bug / epic / fantasy / monster, Sam Worthington]
- The Expendables [action / adventure / suspense, Sylvester Stalollone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Micky Rourke]
- Ip Man 2 [action / adventure / martial arts, Donnie Yen]
- The Losers [action / crime / drama / jungle / revenge, Idris Elba, Zoe Saldana]
- Megamind [action / adventure / alien / animation / mad scientist / superhero, Will Ferrell]
- Monsters [adventure / alien / road / suspense]
- Predators [action / adventure / alien / jungle / suspense]
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time [action / adeventure / fantasy / desert / time-travel]
- RED [action / adventure / comedy / suspense, Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman]
- Resident Evil: Afterlife
- Robin Hood
- Salt
- Shrek Forever After [animal / animation / buddy / comedy / dragon / fantasy / kids / romance / spoof, Mike Meyers]
- Super
- Tangled
- Toy Story 3
- TrollHunter [adventure / fantasy / found-footage / horror / kaiju / monster]
- Tron: Legacy [action / adventure / robot / sci-fi / virtual reality, Jeff Bridges, Walt Disney Company]
- Unstoppable
Avatar [action / adventure / alien / dragon / epic / invasion / sci-fi]
my review
Black Dynamite [action / blaxploitation / comedy, Michael Jai White]
District 9 [action / adventure / alien / bug / drama / mutation / sci-fi]
Fantastic Mr. Fox [ action / adventure / animal / animation / comedy / crime / kids / stop-motion, George Cloony, dir. Wes Anderson]
The Hangover [adventure / comedy]
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [action / adventure / fantasy / teen / werewolf / wizardry]
Moon [sci-fi / suspense, Sam Rockwell]
Ponyo [adventure / animation / animal / anime / fantasy / kids / wizardry, dir. Hayao Miyazuki]
Sherlock Holmes [action / adventure / buddy / steampunk / suspense, Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law]
Star Trek [action / adventure / alien / buddy / sci-fi / space / time-travel, dir. J.J. Abrams]
my review
Up [action / adventure / animal / animation / buddy / comedy / drama / kids, Pixar]
Watchmen [action / adventure / nonlinear / superhero, dir. Zack Snyder]
my review
Zombieland [action / adventure / buddy / comedy / invasion / road / zombie, Woody Harrelson]
2009 near misses:
Bolt [action / adventure / animal / animation / comedy / kids / superhero]
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian [action / adventure / animal / epic / fantasy / kids]
Cloverfield [action / found-footage / horror / invasion / kaiju / monster, prod. J.J. Abrams]
The Dark Knight [action / adventure / crime / superhero, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, dir. Christopher Nolan]
Hellboy II: The Golden Army [action / adventure / demon / fantasy / monster / mutation / robot / steampunk / superhero, dir. Guillermo del Toro]
The Incredible Hulk [action / adventure / mad scientist / mutation / superhero, Ed Norton]
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [action / adventure / alien / buddy / jungle / sci-fi, Harrison Ford, dir. Steven Spielberg, prod. George Lucas]
Ip Man [action / adventure / martial arts, Donnie Yen]
Iron Man [action / adventure / robot / sci-fi / superhero, Robert Downey Jr.]
Kung Fu Panda [action / adventure / animal / animation / comedy / kids / martial arts, Jack Black]
WALL-E [action / adventure / animation / comedy / kids / post-apocalyptic / robot / sci-fi / space, Pixar]
Wanted [action / adventure / superhero / suspense]
2008 near misses:
Big Man Japan [action / adventure / comedy / drama / kaiju / monster / sci-fi / spoof / superhero]
The Bourne Ultimatum [action / adventure / spy / suspense, Matt Damon]
Death Proof [action / road / suspense, Kurt Russell, dir. Quentin Tarantino]
Elite Squad [action / crime / suspense]
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [action / adventure / dragon / fantasy / teen / werewolf / wizardry]
Hot Fuzz [action / adventure / comedy / crime, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost]
The Man from Earth [drama / geek / sci-fi]
The Mist [alien / bug / horror / monster / suspense]
No Country for Old Men [crime / drama / suspense, dir. Joel and Ethan Coen]
Planet Terror [action / adventure / horror / sci-fi / suspense / zombie, Rose McGowan, dir. Robert Rodruiguez]
[REC] [horror / suspense / zombie]
Superbad [adventure / buddy / comedy / road / teen]
300 [action / adventure / epic / fantasy, dir. Zack Snyder]
Transformers [action / adventure / alien / invasion / robot / sci-fi, dir. Michael Bay]
2007 near misses:
Casino Royale [action / adventure / drama / spy, Daniel Craig as James Bond]
Children of Men [action / drama / dystopia / sci-fi]
The Departed [crime / drama / gangster / suspense, Leonardo diCaprio, Matt Damon, dir. Martin Scorsese]
Fearless [action / adventure / martial arts, Jet Li]
The Host [comedy / drama / horro / monster]
Little Miss Sunshine [comedy / road]
Pan's Labyrinth [fantasy / horror / nonlinear / suspense, dir. Guillermo del Toro]
The Prestige [drama / fantasy / mystery / nonlinear / steampunk / suspense / wizardry, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, dir. Christopher Nolan]
Rocky Balboa [action / drama / sports, Sylvester Stallone]
A Scanner Darkly [action / adventure / animation / crime / drama / dystopia / nonlinear / sci-fi / surreal, Keanu Reeves]
Slither [bug / comedy / horror / invasion / monster / mutation / sci-fi / zombie, Nathan Fillion]
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby [comedy / sports, Will Ferrell]
The Thief and the Cobbler: The Recobbled Cut [action / adventure / animation / desert / fantasy / wizardry]
V for Vendetta [action / adventure / dystopia / sci-fi, Natalie Portman]
2006 near misses:
Batman Begins [action / adventure / crime / ninja / nonlinear / superhero, Christian Bale]
Call of Cthulhu [drama / horror / nonlinear / suspense / sci-fi / silent]
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe [action / adventure / animal / epic / fantasy / kids]
The Descent [adventure / horror / monster / suspense]
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [action / adventure / fantasy / teen / wizardry]
Hoodwinked! [animal / animation / comedy / kids / spoof / suspense]
King Kong [action / adventure / animal / dinosaur / jungle / kaiju / monster]
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang [action / buddy / comedy / crime / suspense, Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer]
Kung Fu Hustle [action / adventure / martial arts]
9 [action / adventure / fantasy / post-apocalyptic / short, dir. Shane Acker]
Ong-Bak [action / adventure / martial arts]
Sin City [action / adventure / crime / nonlinear]
Serenity [action / adventure / sci-fi / space / suspense]
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith [action / adventure / alien / epic / fantasy / robot / sci-fi / space]
my review
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit [action / adventure / animal / animation / comedy / stop-motion / werewolf]
2005 near misses:
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy [comedy, Will Ferrell]
The Bourne Supremacy [action / adventure / spy / suspense, Matt Damon]
Dawn of the Dead [action / horror / suspense / zombie, dir. Zack Snyder]
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind [drama / romance / sci-fi, Jim Carey, Kate Winslet, dir. Michael Gondry]
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle [adventure / buddy / comedy / road / stoner, John Cho, Kal Penn]
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban [action / adventure / fantasy / teen / time-travel /werewolf / wizardry]
Hellboy [action / adventure / demon / fantasy / monster / mutation / steampunk / superhero, dir. Guillermo del Toro]
Hero [action / adventure / martial arts, Jet Li]
House of Flying Daggers [action / adventure / martial arts]
Howl's Moving Castle [adventure / animation / anime / fantasy / wizardry, dir. Hayao Miyazuki]
The Incredibles [action / adventure / animation / mad scientist / robot / superhero, dir. Brad Bird, Pixar]
Kill Bill Vol. 2 [action / adventure / martial arts / nonlinear / revenge, dir. Quentin Tarantino]
Napoleon Dynamite [comedy / teen]
National Treasure [action / adventure / suspense, Nicholas Cage]
Shaun of the Dead [action / adventure / buddy / comedy / invasion / zombie, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost]
Shrek 2 [animal / animation / buddy / comedy / dragon / fantasy / kids / romance / spoof, Mike Meyers]
Spider-Man 2 [action / adventure / mad scientist / robot / superhero]
2004 near misses:
The Animatrix [action / adventue / animation / direct-to-video / fantasy / martial arts / post-apocalyptic / robot / sci-fi / short / virtual reality]
Finding Nemo [action / adventure / kids / suspense, Pixar]
Kill Bill Vol. 1 [action / adventure / martial arts / nonlinear / revenge, dir. Quentin Tarantino]
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King [action / adventure / bug / epic / fantasy / ghost / wizardry, dir. Peter Jackson]
The Matrix Reloaded [action / adventue / fantasy / martial arts / post-apocalyptic / robot / sci-fi / virtual reality, Keanu Reeves]
Oldboy [action / drama / suspense, dir. Chan-wook Park]
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl [action / adventure / fantasy / ghost / pirate / swashbuckler, Johnny Depp]
Primer [cult / geek / drama / sci-fi / suspense / time-travel]
28 Days Later [horror / invasion / zombie]
Underworld [action / fantasy / monster / suspense / vampire / werewolf, Kate Beckinsale]
X2: X-Men United [action / adventure / mutation / superhero, Hugh Jackman, dir. Brian Singer]
2003 near misses:
Blade II [action / adventure / monster / superhero / vampire, Wesley Snipes, dir. Guillermo del Toro]
The Bourne Identity [action / adventure / spy / suspense, Matt Damon]
Catch Me If You Can [adventure / comedy / crime / drama / suspense, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks]
The Count of Monte Cristo [action / adventure / drama / revenge / romance / swashbuckler. Jim Caviezel]
Dog Soldiers [action / horror / monster / suspense / werewolf]
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [action / adventure / fantasy / ghost / wizardry]
Infernal Affairs [crime / suspense]
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers [action / adventure / epic / fantasy / ghost / wizardry, dir. Peter Jackson]
Minority Report [action / adventure / sci-fi / suspense]
The Ring [ghost / horror]
Spider-Man [action / adventure / superhero]
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones [action / adventure / bug / alien / epic / fantasy / kids / robot / sci-fi / space]
my review
2002 near misses:
Cowboy Bebop: Knocking on Heaven's Door [a.k.a. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, action / adventure / animation / anime / crime / sci-fi]
Donnie Darko [cult / ghost / sci-fi / surreal / suspense / teen / time-travel]
GMK: Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah - Giant Monster All-Out Attack [action / adventure / bug / dragon / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone [a.k.a. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, action / adventure / fantasy / ghost / wizardry]
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring [action / adventure / demon / epic / fantasy / ghost / wizardry, dir. Peter Jackson]
Monsters, Inc. [action / adventure / animation / buddy / comedy / kaiju / kids / mad scientist / monster / mutation]
Mulholland Drive [demon / drama / fantasy / nonlinear / surreal / suspense / virtual reality, Naomi Watts, dir. David Lynch]
Ocean’s Eleven [action / comedy / crime / drama]
Shrek [animal / animation / buddy / comedy / dragon / fantasy / kids / romance / spoof, Mike Meyers]
Spirited Away [adventure / animation / anime / dragon / fantasy / ghost / kids, dir. Hayao Miyazuki]
Training Day [crime / drama / suspense, Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke]
Zoolander [action / adventure / comedy / spoof / spy]
2001 near misses:
Battle Royale [action / dystopia / sci-fi / suspense, dir. Kinji Fukasaku]
Charlie’s Angels [action / adventure / comedy / spy]
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [action / adventure / drama / martial arts]
Ginger Snaps [comedy / drama / horror / monster / suspense / werewolf]
Gladiator [action / adventure / drama / epic, dir. Ridley Scott]
Memento [action / crime / nonlinear / suspense, dir. Christopher Nolan]
O Brother, Where Art Thou? [comedy / drama / musical / road, dir. Joel and Ethan Coen]
Pitch Black [action / adventure / alien / horror / monster / suspense, Vin Diesel]
The 6th Day [action / adventure / invasion / sci-fi / suspense, Arnold Schwarzenegger]
Snatch. [action / crime / suspense, dir. Guy Ritchie]
Unbreakable [drama / superhero / suspense, dir. M. Night Shyamalan]
X-Men [action / adventure / mutation / superhero, Hugh Jackman, dir. Brian Singer]
2000 near misses:
Being John Malkovich [comedy / cult / fantasy / surreal]
The Blair Witch Project [found-footage / horror / suspense]
Fight Club [action / adventure / space / suspense, Ed Norton, Brad Pitt]
Galaxy Quest [action / adventure / alien / comedy / sci-fi / time-travel]
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris [action / adventure / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
The Iron Giant [action / adventure / alien / animation / buddy / kids / robot / sci-fi, dir. Brad Bird]
Lake Placid [action / comedy / cult / horror / monster]
The Matrix [action / adventue / fantasy / martial arts / post-apocalyptic / robot / sci-fi / virtual reality, Keanu Reeves]
Mystery Men [action / adventure / comedy / spoof / superhero]
Office Space [comedy / spoof, dir. Mike Judge]
Princess Mononoke [adventure / animation / anime / fantasy / kids, dir. Hayao Miyazuki]
The Sixth Sense [fantasy / ghost / horror / suspense, dir. M. Night Shyamalan]
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace [action / adventure / alien / epic / fantasy / kids / robot / sci-fi / space]
my review
Three Kings [action / adventure / comedy / desert / war, George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube]
Toy Story 2 [action / adventure / animation / buddy / fantasy / kids, Pixar]
1999 near misses:
The Big Lebowski [action / adventure / comedy / cult / stoner]
Blade [action / adventure / monster / superhero / vampire, Wesley Snipes]
Dark City [alien / cult / drama / fantasy / film-noir / sci-fi / suspense]
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels [action / crime / drama / suspense, dir. Guy Ritchie]
Out of Sight [action / comedy / crime / nonlinear / romance / suspense, George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle]
Pi [a.k.a. π, drama / geek / sci-fi / suspense, dir. Darren Aronofksy]
Rushmore [comedy / cult / teen]
Saving Private Ryan [action / drama / Nazi / war, Tom Hanks]
The Thin Red Line [drama / nonlinear / war, dir. Terence Malick]
The Wedding Singer [comedy / musical / romance, Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore]
1998 near misses:
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery [action / adventure / comedy / spoof / spy, Mike Meyers]
The Fifth Element [action / adventure / alien / comedy / sci-fi / space, Bruce Willis]
Gattaca [drama / sci-fi]
Jackie Brown [action / blaxploitation / crime / drama / suspense, Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, dir. Quentin Tarantino]
L.A. Confidential [crime / drama / film-noir / suspense, Kevin Spacey, Russel Crowe]
Men in Black [action / adventure / alien / buddy / comedy / sci-fi, Will Smith]
Starship Troopers [action / adventure / alien / bug / sci-fi / space / spoof / war]
1997 near misses:
Fargo [comedy / crime / drama / suspense, dir. Joel and Ethan Coen]
Gamera 2: Assault of the Legion [action / adventure / bug / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
Happy Gilmore [comedy / sports, Adam Sandler]
Independence Day [action / adventure / alien / disaster / drama / invasion / sci-fi, Will Smith]
Scream [horror / slasher / suspense / teen]
Swingers [buddy / comedy / road / spoof]
1996 near misses
Apollo 13 [adventure / drama / geek, Tom Hanks]
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe [action / adventure / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
GoldenEye [action / adventure / spy, Piers Brosnan as James Bond]
Heat [action / crime / drama]
Se7en [crime / drama / suspense, Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt]
Toy Story [action / adventure / animation / buddy / fantasy / kids, Pixar]
12 Monkeys [action / adventure / post-apocalyptic / sci-fi / suspense / time-travel, dir. Terry Gilliam]
The Usual Suspects [action / adventure / crime / nonlinear / suspense, Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne]
1995 near misses:
Cemetery Man [comedy / horror / zombie, dir. Michele Soavi]
Clerks. [comedy / cult / drama, dir. Kevin Smith]
Fist of Legend [action / adventure / martial arts, Jet Li]
Forrest Gump [comedy / drama / spoof / war, Tom Hanks]
The Legend of Drunken Master [action / adventure / martial arts, Jackie Chan]
Leon: The Professional [action / crime / drama / suspense, Jean Reno, dir. Luc Besson]
The Lion King [action / adventure / animal / animation / drama / jungle / kids / musical, Walt Disney Company]
Pulp Fiction [action / adventure / crime / drama / fantasy / nonlinear / suspense, dir. Quentin Tarantino]
Speed [action / adventure / crime / road / suspense, Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock]
Stargate [action / adventure / alien / geek / sci-fi, James Spader, Kurt Russell]
True Lies [action / adventure / spy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis]
1994 near misses
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm [action / adventure / animation / crime / superhero / suspense]
Demolition Man [action / adventure / sci-fi / spoof, Sylvester Stallone, Sandra Bullock, Wesley Snipes]
The Fugitive [action / adventure / crime / suspense, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones]
Groundhog Day [comedy / fantasy / holiday / romance / time-travel, Bill Murray]
Jurassic Park [action / adventure / dinosaur / jungle / monster / sci-fi, dir. Steven Spielberg]
Last Action Hero [action / adventure / buddy / comedy / fantasy / spoof, Arnold Schwarzenegger]
The Nightmare Before Christmas [action / adventure / animation / fantasy / ghost / holiday / horror / kids / monster / stop-motion, dir. Tim Burton]
Tombstone [action / adventure / buddy / western, Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer]
1993 near misses:
Aladdin [action / adventure / animation / comedy / desert / fantasy / kids / musical / romance / wizardry, Walt Disney Company]
Army of Darkness [comedy / cult / demon / adventure / fantasy / monster / time-travel, Bruce Campbell, dir. Sam Raimi]
Braindead [a.k.a. Dead Alive, comedy / gore / horror / zombie, dir. Peter Jackson]
Dead Alive [comedy / gore / horror / zombie, dir. Peter Jackson]
El Mariachi [action / adventure / romance / western, dir. Robert Rodriguez]
Hard Boiled [action / crime / suspense, dir. John Woo]
Reservoir Dogs [action / crime / drama / nonlinear / suspense, dir. Quentin Tarantino]
Supercop [action / adventure / martial arts, Jackie Chan]
Unforgiven [action / drama / western, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman]
Wayne’s World [buddy / comedy / musical, Mike Meyers, Dana Carvey]
1992 near misses
Beauty and the Beast [adventure / animation / drama / fantasy / kids / monster / musical / romance, Walt Disney Company]
New Jack City [blaxploitation / crime / drama / gangster]
The Rocketeer [action / adventure / Nazi / superhero]
The Silence of the Lambs [action / crime / suspense, Jodi Foster]
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country [action / adventure / alien / sci-fi / space / suspense]
Terminator 2: Judgment Day [action / adventure / buddy / post-apocalyptic / robot / sci-fi / suspense / time-travel, Arnold Schwarzenegger]
Thelma & Louise [buddy / crime / drama / road, Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Brad Pitt, dir. Ridley Scott]
1991 near misses:
Back to the Future Part III [action / adventure / buddy / comedy / mad scientist / sci-fi / teen / time-travel / western, Michael J. Fox]
Darkman [action / adventure / crime / superhero, Liam Neeson]
Edward Scissorhands [drama / Frankenstein / surreal, Johnny Depp]
La Femme Nikita [action / adventure / spy / suspense]
Goodfellas [action / crime / drama / gangster]
The Hunt for Red October [action / drama / suspense, Alec Baldwin, Sean Connery]
Miller's Crossing [crime / drama / gangster, Gabriel Byrne, dir. Joel and Ethan Coen]
Total Recall [action / adventure / mutation / sci-fi, Arnold Schwarzenegger]
Tremors [action / bug / monster / suspense]
1990 near misses:
The Abyss [alien / drama / sci-fi / suspense]
Back to the Future Part II [action / adventure / buddy / comedy / dystopia / mad scientist / sci-fi / teen / time-travel, Michael J. Fox]
Batman [action / adventure / crime / superhero, Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton]
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure [adventure / buddy / comedy / time-travel, Keanu Reeves]
Gandahar [a.k.a. Light Years, action / adventure / alien / fantasy / sci-fi]
Godzilla vs. Biollante [action / adventure / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade [action / adventure / buddy / fantasy / Nazi, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, dir. Steven Spielberg, prod. George Lucas]
The Killer [action / crime / suspense, Chow Yun Fat, dir. John Woo]
Lethal Weapon 2 [action / buddy / crime, Mel Gibson, Danny Glover]
The Little Mermaid [adventure / animal / animation / comedy / fantasy / kids / musical / romance / wizardry, Walt Disney Company]
Near misses:
Akira [action / adventure / animation / anime / cult / sci-fi / superhero]
Beetlejuice [comedy / fantasy / ghost, Michael Keaton]
Die Hard [action / suspense, Bruce Willis]
They Live [action / alien / comedy / cult / horror / invasion / monster / sci-fi / spoof, Roddy Piper]
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? [action / adventure / animal / animation / buddy / comedy / suspense]
Willow [action / adventure / fantasy / dragon / stop-motion / sword-and-sorcery / wizardry, Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, dir. Ron Howard, prod. George Lucas]
1988 near misses:
Evil Dead II [comedy / cult / demon / horror / fantasy / monster, Bruce Campbell, dir. Sam Raimi]
Full Metal Jacket [drama / jungle / war]
Hellraiser [demon / horror / monster, dir. Clive Barker]
Lethal Weapon [action / buddy / crime, Mel Gibson, Danny Glover]
The Lost Boys [action / adventure / monster / teen / vampire]
The Monster Squad [action / adventure / comedy / Frankenstein / kids / monster / vampire / werewolf]
Predator [action / adventure / alien / jungle / monster / sci-fi, Arnold Schwarzenegger]
The Princess Bride [action / adventure / comedy / fantasy / kids / pirate / revenge / romance / swashbuckler]
Raising Arizona [action / adventure / comedy / crime, Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, dir. Joel and Ethan Coen]
RoboCop [action / adventure / Frankenstein / robot / sci-fi / spoof / superhero, Peter Weller]
The Running Man [action / adventure / dystopia / sci-fi / spy, Arnold Schwarzenegger]
Spaceballs [action / adventure / alien / comedy / robot / sci-fi / space, dir. Mel Brooks]
The Untouchables [crime / drama / gangster, Kevin Costner]
Wall Street [crime / drama, Michael Douglas, dir. Oliver Stone]
1987 near misses:
Aliens [action / adventure / alien / monster / robot / sci-fi / space / suspense, Sigourney Weaver, dir. James Cameron]
Big Trouble in Little China [action / adventure / buddy / comedy / cult / demon / fantasy / ghost / martial arts / ninja / wizardry, Kurt Russell]
Blue Velvet [crime / drama / surreal / suspense, dir. David Lynch]
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off [adventure / buddy / comedy / road / teen, Matthew Broderick]
The Fly [bug / drama / horror / mad scientist / monster / mutation / sci-fi / suspense, Jeff Goldblum]
Highlander [action / adventure / fantasy, Christopher Lambert]
Labyrinth [adventure / fantasy / kids / musical / puppet / suspense / teen, Jennifer Connelly, David Bowie, dir. Jim Henson]
Night of the Creeps [alien / comedy / cult / horror / sci-fi /spoof / zombie]
Platoon [action / drama / jungle / war]
Three Amigos [comedy / fantasy / spoof / western]
Top Gun [action / adventure / drama, Tom Cruise]
1986 near misses:
Back to the Future [action / adventure / buddy / comedy / mad scientist / sci-fi / teen / time-travel, Michael J. Fox]
Better Off Dead [comedy / teen]
Brazil [cult / dystopia / fantasy / sci-fi / spoof / steampunk, dir. Terry Gilliam]
Commando [action / adventure / revenge, Arnold Schwarzenegger]
Day of the Dead [horror / zombie, dir. George A. Romero]
Fletch [action / adventure / comedy / crime, Chevy Chase]
The Goonies [adventure / comedy / kids / mutation]
Ladyhawke [action / adventure / comedy / drama / fantasy / romance]
Legend (Director's Cut) [action / adventure / demon / epic / fantasy / romance, Tom Cruise, Tim Curry, Mia Sara, dir. Ridley Scott]
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure [adventure / comedy / cult / road]
Police Story [action / adventure / martial arts, Jackie Chan]
Rambo: First Blood Part II [action / adventure / jungle, Sylvester Stallone]
Ran [action / drama / epic / revenge / samurai / war, dir. Akira Kurosawa]
Re-Animator [cult / Frankenstein / gore / horror / mad scientist / zombie]
Real Genius [comedy / geek / sci-fi / teen, Val Kilmer]
Return of the Living Dead [comedy / horror / zombie]
Rocky IV [action / drama / sports, Sylvester Stallone]
Weird Science [comedy / fantasy / teen, Anthony Michael Hall]
1985 near misses:
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension [action / adventure / alien / comedy / cult / mad scientist / musical / sci-fi, Peter Weller]
Beverly Hills Cop [action / adventure / comedy / crime, Eddie Murphy]
Blood Simple [crime / drama / film-noir / suspense, dir. Joel and Ethan Coen]
Dune [action / adventure / bug / alien / epic / fantasy / sci-fi / space]
Ghostbusters [adventure / comedy / fantasy / ghost / kaiju / mad scientist / monster]
Gremlins [action / adventure / comedy / fantasy / invasion / monster]
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom [action / adventure / fantasy / jungle, Harrison Ford, dir. Steven Spielberg, prod. George Lucas]
The Karate Kid [drama / martial arts / sports / teen]
The NeverEnding Story [adventure / epic / fantasy / kids / puppet]
A Nightmare on Elm Street [horror / monster / slasher / teen / virtual reality, dir. Wes Craven]
Repo Man [action / adventure / comedy / cult / mad scientist / sci-fi]
Romancing the Stone [action / adventure / comedy / jungle / road / romance, Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas]
Sixteen Candles [comedy / cult / romance / teen, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, dir. John Hughes]
The Terminator [action / adventure / post-apocalyptic / robot / sci-fi / suspense / time-travel, Arnold Schwarzenegger]
This Is Spinal Tap [comedy / cult / documentary / musical / spoof]
1984 near misses:
Fire and Ice [action / adventure / animation / fantasy / sword-and-sorcery / wizardry, dir. Ralph Bakshi]
Krull [action / adventure / epic / fantasy / sci-fi / sword-and-sorcery / wizardry]
The Right Stuff [adventure / drama / geek]
Scarface [action / crime / drama / gangster, Al Pacino]
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi [action / adventure / alien / epic / fantasy / ghost / kids / monster / puppet / robot / sci-fi / space, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, James Earl Jones, dir. Richard Marquand, prod. George Lucas]
1983 near misses:
The Beastmaster [action / adventure / animal / cult / fantasy / monster / sword-and-sorcery / wizardry]
Blade Runner [action / adventure / crime / cult / dystopia / robot / sci-fi, Harrison Ford, dir. Ridley Scott]
Conan the Barbarian [action / adventure / fantasy / sword-and-sorcery/ wizardry, Arnold Schwarzenegger]
The Dark Crystal [adventure / epic / fantasy / kids / puppet, dir. Frank Oz / Jim Henson]
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial [action / adventure / alien / buddy / drama / kids / sci-fi, dir. Steven Spielberg]
First Blood [action / adventure / drama / war, Sylvester Stallone]
48 Hrs. [action / adventure / buddy / comedy / crime / suspense, Eddie Murphy, Nick Nolte]
The Last Unicorn [adventure / animal / animation / fantasy / kids / musical / wizardry]
Poltergeist [fantasy / ghost / horror / monster / suspense]
Q: The Winged Serpent [dragon / horror / kaiju / monster / suspense]
Rocky III [action / drama / sports, Sylvester Stallone]
The Secret of NIMH [adventure / animal / animation / kids / sci-fi / suspense]
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan [action / adventure / alien / buddy / geek / sci-fi / space]
The Sword and the Sorcerer [action / adventure / fantasy / sword-and-sorcery / wizardry]
The Thing [alien / horror / monster / mutation / sci-fi, Kurt Russell, dir. John Carpenter]
Tron [action / adventure / cult / robot / sci-fi / virtual reality, Jeff Bridges, Walt Disney Company]
1982 near misses
An American Werewolf in London [comedy / fantasy / ghost / horror / monster / werewolf, dir. John Landis]
The Cannonball Run [comedy / road / spoof, Burt Reynolds]
Clash of the Titans [action / adventure / epic / fantasy / monster / stop-motion, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
Dragonslayer [action / adventure / dragon / fantasy / sword-and-sorcery / wizardry]
Escape from New York [action / adventure / crime / cult / dystopia / sci-fi, Kurt Russell, dir. John Carpenter]
The Evil Dead [comedy / cult / demon / horror / fantasy / monster, Bruce Campbell, dir. Sam Raimi]
Excalibur [action / adventure / fantasy / sword-and-sorcery / wizardry]
Raiders of the Lost Ark [action / adventure / fantasy / jungle / Nazi, Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, dir. Steven Spielberg, prod. George Lucas]
The Road Warrior [action / adventure / post-apocalyptic / road, Mel Gibson]
Stripes [comedy / war, Bill Murray, dir. Ivan Reitman]
Superman II [action / adventure / alien / drama / romance / sci-fi / superhero, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman]
Time Bandits [action / adventure / comedy / cult / demon / epic / fantasy / spoof / steampunk / time-travel, dir. Terry Gilliam]
1981 near misses:
Airplane! [comedy / disaster / spoof, Leslie Nielson]
The Blues Brothers [action / adventure / buddy / comedy / musical / Nazi / road, John Belushi, Dan Akroyd, dir. John Landis]
Caddyshack [comedy / sports, Chevy Chase, dir. Harold Ramis]
Flash Gordon [action / adventure / alien / epic / mad scientist / sci-fi]
Raging Bull [drama / sports, Robert De Niro, dir. Martin Scorsese]
The Shining [ghost / horror / suspense, Jack Nicholson, dir. Stanley Kubrick]
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back [a.k.a. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, action / adventure / alien / epic / fantasy / ghost / monster / puppet / robot / sci-fi / space / stop-motion, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, James Earl Jones, dir. Irvin Kershner, prod. George Lucas]
1980 near misses:
Alien [action / adventure / alien / horror / monster / robot / sci-fi / space / suspense, Sigourney Weaver, dir. Ridley Scott]
Apocalypse Now [drama / jungle / war / suspense, Martin Sheen, dir. Francis Ford Coppola]
The Jerk [comedy / cult, Steve Martin]
Life of Brian [comedy / epic / spoof, Monty Python]
Mad Max [action / adventure / post-apocalyptic / road, Mel Gibson]
Rocky II [action / drama / sports, Sylvester Stallone]
Stalker [action / adventure / alien / fantasy / sci-fi / suspense, dir. Andrei Tarkovsky]
Time After Time [action / adventure / crime / sci-fi / steampunk / suspense / time-travel]
The Warriors [action / adventure / crime / cult / drama]
Zombie [a.k.a. Zombi 2, adventure / horror / zombie, dir. Lucio Fulci]
1979 near misses:
Animal House [comedy / teen, John Belushi]
Dawn of the Dead [cult / horror / invasion / zombie, dir. George A. Romero]
The Deer Hunter [drama / jungle / suspense / war, Robert De Niro]
Drunken Master [action / adventure / martial arts, Jackie Chan]
Halloween [horror / monster / slasher / suspense, Jamie Lee Curtis, dir. John Carpenter]
Invasion of the Body Snatchers [alien / horror / monster / sci-fi / suspense]
Piranha [comedy / cult / horror / monster / suspense]
Superman [action / adventure / alien / drama / romance / sci-fi / superhero, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman]
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin [action / adventure / martial arts / revenge, dir. Liu Chia-Liang]
Up in Smoke [adventure / comedy / musical / road / stoner, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong]
1978 near misses:
Eraserhead [drama / fantasy / mutation / sci-fi / surreal, dir. David Lynch]
Slap Shot [comedy / cult / sports, Paul Newman]
Smokey and the Bandit [action / adventure / comedy / road, Burt Reynolds, Sally Field]
The Spy Who Loved Me [action / adventure / spy, Roger Moore as James Bond]
Star Wars [a.k.a. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, action / adventure / alien / epic / fantasy / ghost / monster / robot / sci-fi / space, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, James Earl Jones, dir. George Lucas]
Suspiria [horror / monster / suspense / wizardry]
Wizards [action / adventure / animation / fantasy / sci-fi / wizardry, dir. Ralph Bakshi]
1977 near misses:
Dolemite 2: The Human Tornado [action / blaxploitation / crime, Rudy Ray Moore]
Logan’s Run [action / asdventure / drama / dystopia / robot / sci-fi / suspense]
The Outlaw Josey Wales [action / adventure / crime / drama / western, Clint Eastwood]
Rocky [action / drama / sports, Sylvester Stallone]
Silver Streak [action / buddy / comedy / crime / road / suspense, Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder]
Solaris [alien / drama / nonlinear / sci-fi / suspense, dir. Andrei Tarkovsky]
Taxi Driver [drama / suspense, Robert De Niro]
1976 near misses:
Boss Nigger [action / blaxploitation / crime / western, Fred Williamson]
Death Race 2000 [action / adventure / cult / dystopia / road / sci-fi, David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone, Simone Griffeth]
Dolemite [action / blaxploitation / crime, Rudy Ray Moore]
Jaws [action / adventure / buddy / horror / monster / suspense, dir. Steven Spielberg]
The Rocky Horror Picture Show [comedy / cult / Frankenstein / horror / mad scientist / musical, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon]
1975 near misses:
Black Belt Jones [action / blaxploitation / comedy / martial arts, Jim Kelly, Gloria Hendry]
Blazing Saddles [buddy / comedy / crime / spoof / western, Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens , Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, dir. Mel Brooks]
Chinatown [crime / film-noir / suspense, Jack Nicholson]
Dark Star [alien / comedy / sci-fi / space / suspense]
Death Wish [action / crime / drama / revenge, Charles Bronson]
Foxy Brown [action / blaxploitation / comedy / crime / revenge, Pam Grier]
The Godfather: Part II [drama / crime / gangster, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, dir. Martin Scorsese]
Monty Python and the Holy Grail [action / adventure / comedy / cult / fantasy / monster / spoof / sword-and-sorcery / wizardry, dir. Terry Gilliam]
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre [horror / slasher / suspense]
Truck Turner [action / blaxploitation / crime / suspense, Isaac Hayes]
Young Frankenstein [comedy / Frankenstein / mad scientist / monster / spoof, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, dir. Mel Brooks]
1974 near misses:
Black Caesar [action / blaxploitation / crime / drama, Fred Williamson]
Cleopatra Jones [action / blaxploitation / crime / spy, Pam Grier]
Coffy [action / blaxploitation / crime / suspense, Pam Grier]
Enter the Dragon [action / adventure / martial arts / revenge / sport / spy, Bruce Lee]
The Exorcist [demon / fantasy / horror]
Fantastic Planet [action / adventure / animation / alien / sci-fi / surreal]
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad [action / adventure / epic / fantasy / monster / stop-motion, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
High Plains Drifter [action / drama / western, Clint Eastwood]
The Mack [action / blaxploitation / crime / drama, Max Julien, Don Gordon, Richard Pryor]
Mean Streets [drama / crime, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, dir. Martin Scorsese]
Scream, Blacula, Scream [blaxploitation / horror / monster / vampire, William Marshall, Pam Grier]
Sleeper [comedy / dystopia / robot / sci-fi, Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, dir. Woody Allen]
Soylent Green [drama / dystopia / sci-fi / suspense, Charlton Heston]
Westworld [action / adventure / robot / sci-fi / suspense / western, Yul Brynner]
1973 near misses:
Blacula [blaxploitation / horror / monster / suspense / vampire, William Marshall]
Deliverance [action / adventure / drama / suspense, Burt Reynolds]
Fist of Fury [a.k.a. The Chinese Connection, action / adventure / martial arts, Bruce Lee]
The Godfather [drama / crime / gangster, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, dir. Martin Scorsese]
The Harder They Come [action / blaxploitation / cult / drama / musical, Jimmy Cliff]
Shaft's Big Score! [action / blaxploitation / crime, Richard Roundtree]
Silent Running [adventure / drama / post-apocalyptic / robot / sci-fi / space / suspense, Bruce Dern]
Super Fly [action / blaxploitation / crime / drama / gangster, Ron O'Neal]
Trouble Man [action / blaxploitation / crime / drama, Robert Hooks]
The Way of the Dragon [a.k.a. Return of the Dragon, action / adventure / martial arts, Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris]
1972 near misses:
The Big Boss [a.k.a. Fists of Fury, action / adventure / martial arts, Bruce Lee]
A Clockwork Orange [crime / cult / drama / sci-fi, dir. Stanley Kubrick]
Dirty Harry [action / crime, Clint Eastwood]
The French Connection [crime / drama / film-noir / suspense, Gene Hackman]
Shaft [action / blaxploitation / crime, Richard Roundtree]
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song [action / blaxploitation / crime / drama / suspense, Mario Van Peebles, dir. Mario Van Peebles]
Vanishing Point [action / adventure / cult / road]
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory [adventure / fantasy / kids / musical / spoof, Gene Wilder]
1971 near misses:
Colossus: The Forbin Project [robot / sci-fi]
War of the Gargantuas [a.k.a. Frankenstein's Monsters: Sanda vs. Gaira, action / adventure / Frankenstein / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
1970 near misses:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid [action / adventure / buddy / crime / western, Paul Newman, Robert Redford]
Easy Rider [buddy / drama / road / stoner, Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, dir. Dennis Hopper]
The Valley of Gwangi [action / adventure / dinosaur / monster / stop-motion / western, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
The Wild Bunch [action / adventure / western, William Holden]
1969 near misses:
Barbarella [alien / comedy / cult / sci-fi / sexploitation / spoof, Jane Fonda]
Bullitt [action / crime, Steve McQueen]
Destroy All Monsters [action / adventure / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
Night of the Living Dead [horror / invasion / zombie, dir. George A. Romero]
Once Upon a Time in the West [action / adventure / western, dir. Sergio Leone]
Planet of the Apes [action / adventure / post-apocalyptic / sci-fi / time-travel, Charlton Heston]
The Producers [comedy / musical / Nazi / spoof, Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, dir. Mel Brooks]
2001: A Space Odyssey [alien / drama / robot / sci-fi / space, dir. Stanley Kubrick]
Yellow Submarine [advenutre / animation / fantasy / musical / surreal, The Beatles]
1968 near misses:
Bonnie and Clyde [action / crime / drama / film-noir, Warren Beatty, Faye Dunnaway]
Cool Hand Luke [comedy / crime / drama, Paul Newman]
The Dirty Dozen [action / adventure / Nazi / war, Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine]
The Jungle Book [adventure / animation / jungle / musical, Walt Disney Company]
Point Blank [action / crime / revenge / suspense, Lee Marvin]
You Only Live Twice [action / adventure / spy, Sean Connery as James Bond]
1967 near misses:
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly [action / adventure / western, Clint Eastwood, dir. Sergio Leone]
One Million Years B.C. [action / adventure / dinosaur / monster / stop-motion, Raquel Welch, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
The Plague of the Zombies [action / cult / horror / invasion / monster / zombie]
1966 near misses:
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! [action / adventure / comedy / cult / drama / sexploitation]
For a Few Dollars More [action / adventure / western, Clint Eastwood, dir. Sergio Leone]
Thunderball [action / adventure / spy, Sean Connery as James Bond]
1965 near misses:
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb [comedy / cult / mad scientist / Nazi / spoof, Peter Sellers]
First Men in the Moon [action / adventure / sci-fi / steampunk / stop-motion, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
A Fistful of Dollars [action / adventure / western, Clint Eastwood, dir. Sergio Leone]
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster [action / adventure / alien / dragon / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
Goldfinger [action / adventure / spy, Sean Connery as James Bond]
Mothra vs. Godzilla [action / adventure / bug / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
1964 near misses:
From Russia with Love [action / adventure / spy, Sean Connery as James Bond]
The Great Escape [action / adventure / drama / Nazi / war, Steve McQueen]
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World [action / comedy / road, Spencer Tracy]
Jason and the Argonauts [action / adventure / fantasy / monster / stop-motion, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
The Pink Panther [comedy / crime, Peter Sellers]
The Raven [comedy / fantasy / horror / wizardry, Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff]
1963 near misses:
Dr. No [action / adventure / spy, Sean Connery as James Bond]
How the West Was Won [action / adventure / drama / western, John Wayne]
Mothra [action / adventure / bug / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
Mysterious Island [action / adventure / bug / jungle / kaiju / monster / stop-motion, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
One Hundred and One Dalmations [adventure / animal / animation / suspense, prod. Walt Disney Comapny]
Yojimbo [action / adventure / samurai, dir. Akira Kurosawa]
The Magnificent Seven [action / adventure / western, Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen]
Psycho [horror / slasher / suspense, dir. Alfred Hitchcock]
Spartacus [action / adventure / epic / drama, Kirk Douglas]
The Time Machine [action / adventure / sci-fi / steampunk / time-travel, prod. George Pal]
Hercules Unchained [action / adventure / cult / epic / fantasy, Steve Reeves]
North by Northwest [action / adventure / spy / suspense, dir. Alfred Hitchcock]
Plan 9 from Outer Space [alien / cult / sci-fi, dir. Ed Wood]
Rio Bravo [action / adventure / western, John Wayne, Dean Martin, dir. Howard Hawks]
Sleeping Beauty [action / adventure / animation / fantasy / kids / musical / romance, Walt Disney Company]
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman [action / adventure / cult / horror / kaiju / monster / revenge / sci-fi]
The Blob [alien / cult / horror / monster / sci-fi, Steve McQueen]
The Hidden Fortress [action / adventure / samurai, dir. Akira Kurasawa]
Dracula [a.k.a. Horror of Dracula, horror / monster / vampire, Christopher Lee]
Hercules [a.k.a. The Labors of Hercules, action / adventure / cult / epic / fantasy, Steve Reeves]
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad [action / adventure / fantasy / monster / stop-motion, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
Touch of Evil [crime / film-noir / suspense, Charlton Heston, Orson Welles, Janet Leigh, dir. Orson Welles]
20 Million Miles to Earth [action / adventure / monster / sci-fi / stop-motion, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
Vertigo [crime / romance / suspense, dir. Alfred Hitchcock]
1957
Attack of the Crab Monsters [action / adventure / cult / monster / sci-fi, dir. Roger Corman]
Curse of the Demon [demon / horror / monster, dir. Jacques Tourneur]
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers [action / adventure / monster / sci-fi / stop-motion, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
Forbidden Planet [action / adventure / alien / cult / robot / sci-fi]
Invasion of the Body Snatchers [alien / horror / monster / sci-fi / suspense]
The Killing [crime / film-noir / suspense, dir. Stanley Kubrick]
Rodan [action / adventure / dinosaur / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
The Searchers [action / adventure / western, John Wayne, dir. John Ford]
The Ten Commandments [action / adventure / epic / drama / fantasy, Charlton Heston]
Diabolique [crime / film-noir / horror, suspense, Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, dir. H.G. Clouzot]
It Came from Beneath the Sea [action / adventure / kaiju / monster / sci-fi / stop-motion, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
Rififi [crime / drama / film-noir, dir. Jules Dassin]
The Night of the Hunter [crime / film-noir / suspense, Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, dir. Charles Laughton]
1955 near misses:
Creature from the Black Lagoon [a.k.a. The Gill Man, horror / jungle / monster]
Godzilla [action / adventure / kaiju / monster / sci-fi]
Seven Samurai [action / adventure / samurai, dir. Akira Kurosawa]
Them! [action / adventure / bug / kaiju / monster]
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea [action / adventure / monster / sci-fi / steampunk, Kirk Douglas, Walt Disney Company]
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms [action / adventure / dinosaur / kaiju / monster / sci-fi / stop-motion, f/x Ray Harryhausen]
The Big Heat [crime / film-noir, Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame]
Peter Pan [action / adventure / animation / comedy / fantasy / kids / musical / pirate / swashbuckler, Walt Disney Company]
Shane [action / drama / western, Alan Ladd]
The War of the Worlds [action / adventure / alien / invasion / monster / sci-fi, prod. George Pal]
The Crimson Pirate [action / adventure / pirate / swashbuckler, Burt Lancaster]
High Noon [action / drama / western, Gary Cooper]
Ivanhoe [action / adventure / drama / swashbuckler, Robert Taylor]
Scaramouche [action / adventure / swashbuckler, Stewart Granger]
Alice in Wonderland [adventure / animal / comedy / fantasy / kids / musical / surreal, Walt Disney Company]
The Day the Earth Stood Still [alien / drama / robot / sci-fi]
Strangers on a Train [crime / film-noir / suspense, dir. Alfred Hitchcock]
The Thing from Another World [alien / horror / monster / sci-fi / suspense]
1951 near misses:
The Asphalt Jungle [crime / film-noir / suspense, dir. John Huston]
Destination Moon [geek / sci-fi, prod. George Pal]
In a Lonely Place [drama / film-noir / suspense, Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame, dir. Nicholas Ray]
1949
The Third Man [film-noir / suspense, Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, dir. Carol Reed]
White Heat [crime / film-noir / gangster, James Cagney]
The Adventures of Don Juan [action / adventure / swashbuckler, Errol Flynn]
Key Largo [crime / drama / film-noir, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall]
Raw Deal [crime / drama / film-noir, Dennis O'Keefe]
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre [action / adventure / drama, Humphrey Bogart]
1947
Out of the Past [crime / film-noir / suspense, Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, dir. Jacques Tourneur]
Beauty and the Beast [drama / fantasy / monster / romance]
The Big Sleep [crime / drama / film-noir / suspense, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, dir. Howard Hawks]
The Killers [crime / film-noir, Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, dir. Robert Siodmak]
Notorious [film-noir / romance / suspense, Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, dir. Alfred Hitchcock]
1945
Arsenic and Old Lace [comedy / crime / suspense / spoof, Carey Grant]
Double Indemnity [crime / film-noir / suspense, Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, dir. Billy Wilder]
House of Frankenstein [Frankenstein / horror / mad scientist / monster / vampire / werewolf, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr.]
Laura [crime / film-noir / suspense, Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews]
To Have and Have Not [adventure / romance / suspense, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall]
1943
I Walked with a Zombie [fantasy / horror / suspense / zombie, dir. Jacques Tourneur]
Shadow of a Doubt [crime / film-noir / suspense, Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten, dir. Alfred Hitchcock]
The Black Swan [action / adventure / pirate / swashbuckler, Tyrone Power]
Casablanca [adventure / drama / romance / Nazi / war, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman]
Cat People [fantasy / horror / suspense / werewolf, dir. Jacques Tourneur]
1941
High Sierra [crime / film-noir, Humphrey Bogart, Ida Lupino]
The Maltese Falcon [crime / drama / film-noir / suspense, Humphrey Bogart]
The Wolf Man [horror / monster / werewolf, Lon Chaney Jr.]
Fantasia [animation / animal / demon / dinosaur / fantasy / kids / musical / wizardry, Walt Disney Company]
The Mark of Zorro [action / adventure / swashbuckler, Tyrone Power]
Pinocchio [adventure / animal / animation / fantasy / kids / musical, Walt Disney Company]
The Sea Hawk [action / adventure / pirate / swashbuckler, Errol Flynn]
The Thief of Bagdad [action / adventure / fantasy]
1939
The Wizard of Oz [adventure / animal / fantasy / kids / musical / wizardry, Judy Garland]
1938
The Adventures of Robin Hood [action / adventure / swashbuckler, Errol Flynn]
The Prisoner of Zenda [action / adventure / swashbuckler]
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [animation / fantasy / kids / musical, Walt Disney Company]
Way Out West [comedy / western, Laurel & Hardy]
1936
Modern Times [comedy, Charlie Chaplin]
Bride of Frankenstein [Frankenstein / horror / mad scientist / monster, Boris Karloff]
Captain Blood [action / adventure / pirate / swashbuckler, Errol Flynn]
A Night at the Opera [comedy, Marx Brothers]
1934
Tarzan and His Mate [action / adventure / animal / jungle, Johnny Weissmuller]
Duck Soup [comedy / musical, Marx Brothers]
The Invisible Man [horror / mad scientist / monster, Claude Rains]
King Kong [action / adventure / animal / dinosaur / jungle / kaiju / monster / stop-motion, Fay Raye, prod. David O. Selznick]
Sons of the Desert [adventure / comedy / desert, Laurel & Hardy]
Horse Feathers [comedy / sport, Marx Brothers]
The Island of Lost Souls [adventure / horror / mad scientist / monster / mutation / sci-fi]
The Mummy [fantasy / horror / monster, Boris Karloff]
The Music Box [comedy / short, Laurel & Hardy]
Scarface [crime / film-noir / gangster, Paul Muni, dir. Howard Hawks / Richard Rosson]
Tarzan the Ape Man [action / adventure / animal / jungle, Johnny Weissmuller]
City Lights [comedy / silent, Charlie Chaplin]
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [horror / mad scientist / monster, Fredric March]
Dracula [horror / monster / vampire, Bela Lugosi]
Frankenstein [Frankenstein / horror / mad scientist / monster, Boris Karloff]
M [crime / drama / film-noir / suspense, dir. Fritz Lang]
The Public Enemy [crime / drama / gangster, James Cagney]
Vampyr [horror / monster / vampire, dir. Carl Theodor Dreyer]
1929
The Iron Mask [action / adventure / silent / swashbuckler, Douglas Fairbanks Sr.]
Steamboat Bill, Jr. [action / adventure / comedy / silent, Buster Keaton]
1927
The General [action / adventure / comedy / silent, Buster Keaton]
Metropolis [adventure / mad scientist / robot / sci-fi / silent / steampunk, dir. Fritz Lang]
1926
The Adventure of Prince Achmed [action / adventure / animation / demon / desert / fantasy / wizardry]
Beloved Rogue [action / adventure / drama / silent / swashbuckler, John Barrymore]
The Freshman (College Days) [comedy / silent / sports / teen, Harold Lloyd]
The Gold Rush [comedy / silent, Charlie Chaplin]
The Lost World [action / adventure / dinosaur / fantasy / jungle / monster / sci-fi / silent / stop-motion]
The Phantom of the Opera [horror / monster / silent, Lon Chaney]
Seven Chances [comedy / silent, Buster Keaton]
The Navigator [comedy / silent, Buster Keaton]
Sherlock, Jr. [comedy / nonlinear / silent, Buster Keaton]
The Thief of Bagdad [action / adventure / silent / swashbuckler, Douglas Fairbanks Sr.]
1923
The Hunchback of Notre Dame [drama / horror / monster / silent, Lon Chaney]
Our Hospitality [comedy / silent, Buster Keaton]
Cops [comedy / crime / short / silent, Buster Keaton]
Nosferatu [horror / monster / silent / vampire]
Robin Hood [action / adventure / silent / swashbuckler, Douglas Fairbanks Sr.]
1921
The Three Musketeers [action / adventure / silent / swashbuckler, Douglas Fairbanks Sr.]
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari [horror / mad scientist / silent / suspense, dir. Robert Wiene]
The Golem [Frankenstein / horror / monster / silent]
The Mark of Zorro [action / adventure / silent / swashbuckler, Douglas Fairbanks Sr.]
1918
Tarzan of the Apes [action / adventure / animal / jungle / silent, Elmo Lincoln]
1917
The Adventurer [action / adventure / comedy / short / silent, Charlie Chaplin]
1913
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [horror / mad scientist / monster / silent, Lon Chaney]
1904
An Impossible Voyage [adventure / comedy / fantasy / sci-fi / short / silent]
The Grat Train Robbery [action / crime / short / silent / western]
1902
A Trip to the Moon [action / adventure / alien / sci-fi / short / silent / steampunk]
Atom Man vs. Superman [action / adventure / kids / sci-fi / serial / superhero, 1950]
Batman and Robin [action / adventure / kids / sci-fi / serial / superhero, 1949]
Superman [action / adventure / kids / sci-fi / serial / superhero, 1948]
The Crimson Ghost [action / adventure / sci-fi / serial, 1946]
Jungle Queen [action / adventure / jungle / serial, 1945]
Manhunt of Mystery Island [action / adventure / jungle / sci-fi / serial, 1945]
The Purple Monster Strikes [action / adventure / sci-fi / serial, 1945]
Captain America [a.k.a. The Return of Captain America, action / adventure / kids / serial / superhero, 1944]
Batman [action / adventure / kids / sci-fi / serial / superhero, 1943]
Daredevils of the West [action / adventure / serial / western, 1943]
The Phantom [action / adventure / jungle / kids / serial / superhero, 1943]
Captain Midnight [action / adventure / serial, 1942]
The Perils of Nyoka [action / adventure / jungle / serial, Kay Aldridge, 1942]
Adventures of Captain Marvel [action / adventure / fantasy / kids / serial / superhero, 1941]
Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. [action / adventure / crime / kids / serial, 1941]
Jungle Girl [action / adventure / jungle / serial, 1941]
Spy Smasher [action / adventure / kids / serial / superhero, 1941]
Adventures of Red Ryder [action / adventure / kids / serial / western, 1940]
Drums of Fu Manchu [action / adventure / serial, 1940]
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe [action / adventure / alien / kids / sci-fi / serial, 1940]
The Green Hornet [action / adventure / crime / kids / serial / superhero, 1940]
The Green Hornet Strikes Again [action / adventure / crime / kids / serial / superhero, 1940]
Mysterious Doctor Satan [action / adventure / mad scientist / robot / serial, 1940]
The Shadow [action / adventure / crime / serial / superhero, 1940]
Buck Rogers [action / adventure / kids / sci-fi / serial, 1939]
Dick Tracy’s G-Men [action / adventure / crime / kids / serial, 1939]
The Phantom Creeps [action / adventure / sci-fi / serial, 1939]
Zorro’s Fighting Legion [action / adventure / serial / swashbuckler, 1939]
Dick Tracy Returns [action / adventure / crime / kids / serial, 1938]
The Fighting Devil Dogs [action / adventure / sci-fi / serial, 1938]
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars [action / adventure / alien / kids / sci-fi / serial, 1938]
The Lone Ranger [action / adventure / kids / serial / western, 1938]
The Spider’s Web [action / adventure / crime / serial, 1938]
Dick Tracy [action / adventure / crime / kids / serial, 1937]
Jungle Menace [action / adventure / jungle / serial, 1937]
Zorro Rides Again [action / adventure / serial / swashbuckler, 1937]
The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand [action / adventure / crime / serial, 1936]
Darkest Africa [action / adventure / jungle / serial, 1936]
Flash Gordon [action / adventure / alien / kids / sci-fi / serial, 1936]
The Undersea Kingdom [action / adventure / sci-fi / serial, 1936]
The Vigilantes Are Coming [action / adventure / serial / western, 1936]
The Lost City [action / adventure / jungle / sci-fi / serial, 1935]
The Miracle Rider [action / adventure / serial / western, 1935]
The New Adventures of Tarzan [action / adventure / animal / jungle / kids / serial, 1935]
The Phantom Empire [action / adventure / musical / robot / sci-fi / serial / western, Gene Autry, 1935]
The Three Musketeers [action / adventure / serial, John Wayne, 1933]
The Phantom of the Air [action / adventure / sci-fi / serial, 1932]
The Return of Chandu [action / adventure / fantasy / serial, Bela Lugosi, 1933]
Tarzan the Fearless [action / adventure / animal / jungle / kids / serial, 1933]
Judex [action / crime / serial / silent, 1918]
Les Vampires [action / crime / serial / silent, 1915]
The Exploits of Elaine [action / adventure / crime / serial / silent, Pearl White, 1914]
The Perils of Pauline [action / adventure / serial / silent, Pearl White, 1914]
Fantômas [action / crime / serial / silent, 1913]
Pixar Shorts [animal / animation / comedy / kids / short, 1984–present]
Wallace and Gromit [animal / animation / buddy / comedy / kids / short / stop-motion, 1989-2008]
Roger Rabbit [animal / animation / comedy / kids / short, 1989–1993]
Pink Panther [animal / animation / comedy / kids / short, 1964–1980]
Mighty Mouse [a.k.a. Super Mouse, action / adventure / animal / animation / comedy / kids / short / superhero, 1942-1961]
Merrie Melodies [animal / animation / comedy / kids / short, 1931–1969]
Loony Tunes [animal / animation / comedy / kids / short, 1930-1969]
Tom and Jerry [animal / animation / comedy / kids / short, 1940–1967]
The Three Stooges [comedy / short, 1933-1958]
Popeye the Sailor [animation / comedy / kids / short, 1933–1957]
Superman [action / adventure / animation / kids / sci-fi / short / superhero, 1941–1943]
In case you haven't noticed lately, the geeks have taken over Hollywood. (And the rest of you should be thanking us.)
Spy Smasher [action / adventure / kids / serial / superhero, 1941]
Jungle Menace [action / adventure / jungle / serial, 1937]
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