Have you ever sat and wondered what movies you need to see? Well, if you have then good for you. If you haven’t then I’ll save you time and tell them to you. This list is made up of movies and movie series.

10. La La Land

This film is about Sebastian and Mia, two young adults living in Los Angeles. The movie follows them as they follow their dreams. While on the other hand, they try to maintain a relationship.

The movie won six academy awards: Best Director, Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Original Song (“City Of Stars”), and Best Cinematography. The critics score on Rotten Tomatoes is 91.

9. Jaws 1

This movie is based on Amity Island, New England. A woman gets eaten by a shark. So, she dies. Her remains are found washed ashore. A local fisher catches a shark and claims it was the one that killed the woman. The mayor deems the beaches safe, but they’re not. The chief of police, Brody, a scientist named Hooper, and Quint, the local shark hunter go on a boat searching for the shark. 

Jaws was a summer blockbuster. It was the highest grossing movie of all time until 1977 when Star Wars came on top. Jaws won the academy awards for Best Original Music Score, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Picture. The critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes is 97 percent.

8. Lord Of The Rings

LOTR is a trilogy. It is comprised of three films: Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers, and Return of the king. The trilogy is based in a fictional land, Middle Earth. When the main character, Frodo, discovers an evil ring that belonged to an evil lord, Sauron, Frodo, and his three friends, Sam, Pippin, and Merry, go on an adventure to destroy the ring. They team up with a wizard, Gandalf, and three warriors: Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. The fellowship travels to Mordor to destroy the ring and banish evil from Middle Earth.

Altogether the LOTR trilogy is the most awarded film series in cinematic history. The highest critic rated LOTR movie on Rotten Tomatoes is Two Towers with 95 percent.

7. Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones is a four-part film series. It includes Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Temple Of Doom, The Last Crusade, and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. Indiana Jones is about an archaeology college professor who finds valuable artifacts.

In total, the franchise has won seven academy awards. Its highest rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes is Raiders Of The Lost Ark with 95 percent.

6. Drive

Drive is a movie starring Ryan Gosling, Bryan Cranston, Oscar Isaac, and Carey Mulligan. The movie is about a stunt-driver and getaway driver for hire, played by Ryan Gosling, whose jobs are managed by the auto shop owner, Shannon. The driver meets his neighbor, Irene, and her son, causing them to grow closer. Their relationship is cut off when her husband, Standard, is released from Prison. Standard owes protection money and in return, a gangster beats him up. The driver finds Standard and offers to be the getaway driver in a robbery of a pawnshop so Standard, Irene, and their son can be safe.

Drive was nominated for Best Sound Editing. Drive’s score on Rotten Tomatoes is 93 percent.

5. Sing Street

Sing Street is a hidden gem; it was great but wasn’t nominated for an Oscar. It is a musical about Conor, a teenager living in Dublin during the ’80s. His parents are going through a divorce and to save money, decide to send him to a Christian boys school, Sing Street. Conor meets a girl and to woo her, he starts a band.

The movie first appeared at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016. Sing Street’s critic percentage on Rotten Tomatoes is 95.

4. Inception

Inception is a film that leaves one mesmerized. The movie is about Cobb and Arthur who are “extractors.” They perform espionage by infiltrating the subconsciousness of their targets.

The movie won the academy awards for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Music Score, and Best Production Design.

3. Star Wars

Star Wars is a sci-fi movie series. The movies include: The Phantom Menace, Attack Of The Clones, Revenge Of The Sith, Solo, Rogue One, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi, The Force Awakens, and The Last Jedi. The series is set in a galaxy far far away and revolves around Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Darth Vader.

The highest rated Star Wars movie on Rotten Tomatoes is The Empire Strikes Back with 95 percent.

2. Shawshank Redemption

Shawshank Redemption is a film based in Maine. Andy Dufresne (do-fray-n) is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He is sentenced to two life sentences at the Shawshank State Penitentiary. He spends a good amount of time in prison and meets a friend, Red.

Shawshank Redemption won the academy awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (Morgan Freeman), Best Writing An Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Music Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.

1. Schindler’s List

Schindler’s List is a drama based during Holocaust Germany. A man, Oskar Schindler, comes to the city hoping to become rich. When he comes he finds that Jews are crowded into a ghetto. He acquires an enamelware factory at the expense of bribing SS officials. Schindler hires a Jewish man, Itzhak, to help him with the business.

Schindler’s List won 12 academy awards for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Best Director (Steven Spielberg), Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Music Score (John Williams), Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (Liam Neeson), and Best Makeup. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a score of 97 percent. The whole movie was shot in black and white despite the fact they could’ve filmed in color.

I encourage you to watch all of these movies. Movies help us feel empathy, connect with others, and have a good time. Movies are writing come to life. They’re so much more than they seem.