Among the plethora of movies I have watched there have always been movies that I really wished (I mean really) I could watch for the first time once again. May it be because of an unexpected, well thought twist or just the way the movie makes you feel. Sadly there isn’t a ‘Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind’ machine that could erase our memory just so we could have the immense joy of watching these beautiful movies one more time as a fresh movie.
Through this CINELIST I wish to share these movies with you so that you can really cherish the experience of watching these movies for the first time. Discovering a gem on this list that resonates with you? I’m eager to hear all about it. Share your thoughts that made the movie memorable for you. Your feedback adds a new layer of appreciation to these films.
Feel like there’s a cinematic masterpiece missing from this collection? I’m always open to fresh recommendations! Drop your suggestions in the comments, and let’s keep the conversation going. The world of cinema is vast, and there’s always room for more discoveries.
So, let’s get to it!
Shutter Island
Director: Martin Scorsese
Where to Watch:
“Shutter Island,” directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 2010, is a psychological thriller set in 1954. U.S. Marshals Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are sent to Shutter Island, a remote mental institution, to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a patient named Rachel Solando. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a web of secrets and deception that lead to disturbing revelations.
The island’s staff, led by Dr. John Cawley (Ben Kingsley), is uncooperative, and Teddy’s own traumatic past begins to haunt him. He suspects a conspiracy and becomes increasingly paranoid about the hospital’s intentions. The narrative takes a surreal and mind-bending turn, blurring the lines between reality and delusion.
Shutter Island has one of the most cinematic and meaningful last line cinema has seen. The first time I saw the movie, it had me scratching my head for a long time. But it is fascinating how that one line so subtly changes everything. Sure, it is a movie to be watched multiple times, but there is something about the first time.
The Prestige
Director: Christopher Nolan
Where to Watch:
“The Prestige,” directed by Christopher Nolan and released in 2006, is a complex and gripping mystery-thriller set in the world of late 19th-century stage magic. The film follows the intense rivalry between two magicians, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale).
The story is framed as a series of diaries, revealing the deeply personal and professional conflicts between the two illusionists. Each is driven by an obsession to outdo the other in creating the ultimate magic trick.
Central to the story is the mysterious and seemingly supernatural trick known as “The Transported Man,” which becomes the ultimate challenge for both magicians. Each of them becomes consumed by discovering the other’s secret, and their relentless pursuit of the truth takes a toll on their personal lives and leads to a series of shocking revelations.
The Godfather
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Where to Watch:
The famous “The Godfather” follows the Corleone family, led by patriarch Vito Corleone, as they navigate the complex world of organized crime in post-World War II America. Vito Corleone’s desire to transition the family business into legitimate enterprises creates tension within the Mafia community. As Vito faces an assassination attempt, his son Michael, initially reluctant to join the family business, is drawn into the world of crime to protect his loved ones.
The Godfather without a doubt has one of the best character transitions cinema has seen. On top of my mind, I’ve got so many scenes I just wish I could watch again. The Godfather is one of those movies which makes you part of it all. May it be the wedding, assassinations, intimate dialogues or secrets. It is like booking your entire evening for this masterpiece!
The Usual Suspects
Director: Bryan Singer
Where to Watch:
The Usual Suspects is one of my very favourite movies. It is filled with memorable dialogues and I love to quote them anytime I get a chance. Whenever I discuss this film with others or even watch some scenes again, I get as excited as a little kid.
The movie begins on a ship docked in San Pedro Bay where we see Dean Keaton sitting on one end of the ship lighting his cigar and trying to light up the ship through the inflammable fuel on it when a shadowy figure stops him from doing so. In a very calm manner, he twists his gun and kills him. Before getting off the boat this person, whose name is Keyser Soze, as we understand from Dean Keaton, throws his cigarette, and the ship blasts in flames.
The next day the police find 27 dead bodies with only two survivors. One is a Hungarian mobster who is hospitalized because of his severe burns and the other is a con artist named Verbal Kint who is under interrogation by the LAPD. Kint recounts the events leading up to the disastrous drug deal, which involved a group of criminals with code names: Dean Keaton, Michael McManus, Fred Fenster, and Keyser Söze, a shadowy and mythic figure.
As Kint’s narrative unfolds, Kujan becomes increasingly intrigued by the legend of Keyser Söze, a ruthless and enigmatic criminal mastermind. The film’s plot is a complex puzzle with numerous twists and turns (especially the last one).
A Silent Voice
Director: Naoko Yamada
Where to Watch:
A Silent Voice’ was the first anime I watched and it just blew me away. The power it possesses to touch the viewers’ emotions through the animation is phenomenal.
The story follows Shoya Ishida, a high school student seeking redemption after bullying a deaf classmate, Shoko Nishimiya, in elementary school. Faced with isolation and guilt, Shoya attempts to reconnect with Shoko, who has since transferred schools. The film explores forgiveness, empathy, and self-discovery as Shoya and Shoko navigate the complexities of communication and friendship.
The way Shoya’s awkwardness or alienation is shown with the help of blue crosses on the face of others is nothing less than extraordinary. When I watched it during the movie, I just wrote “genius” in my notebook. The makers have really stepped into the perspective of a boy like Shoya. Some scenes are so tender and sweet and others so difficult to watch. I got teary, smiled and was even shook at times. I’ll just say my heart hasn’t been this heavy after I have watched a movie. The movie’s score, an intense cheerful piano track by composer Kensuke Ushio adds to its effect.
‘A Silent Voice’ in a way is a deeper and riskier project. I am really not sure if everyone is going to get it. But if you do, I will assure you that it is gonna stay with you for a long time. It has for me.
Her
Director: Spike Jonze
Where to Watch:
Spike Jonze’s ‘Her’ truly takes your step back into considering having a relationship with an Artificial Intelligence operating system (If it would have been possible today). Theodore Twombly is a lonely, introverted person who works in a company called BeautifulHandwrittenLetters.com where he writes intimate letters for people who are unable to write them to their better halves. He takes the leap to acquire the groundbreaking OS1, marketed as the world’s pioneering artificially intelligent operating system, one that boasts, “It’s not merely an operating system; it’s consciousness itself.” With Samantha, the voice and personality behind his OS1, Theodore becomes irresistibly captivated.
As their interactions become more frequent, Theodore and Samantha’s bond deepens, evolving into an unexpected love. This affection for an operating system, however, ushers Theodore into a realm of emotions marked by both exhilaration and uncertainty.
“Sometimes I think I have felt everything I’m ever gonna feel. And from here on out, I’m not gonna feel anything new. Just lesser versions of what I’ve already felt.”
American History X
Director: Tony Kaye
Where to Watch:
“American History X” is a gripping drama that revolves around Derek Vinyard, a former neo-Nazi leader, as he tries to prevent his younger brother Danny from following the same path of hate and violence. The narrative unfolds through a series of flashbacks and present-day events, revealing the roots of Derek’s racism and the consequences of his actions.
The hatred, discrimination, and racist behaviour shock you in the beginning, and from then on you cannot take your eyes off the film till the end. The movie is powerful. In the sense of Nortan’s performance and even the message, it wants to spread. When I first saw this movie, I was at a loss for words. It was just too overwhelming for me. Also, I have to admit that I did not expect it to be this good.
A Beautiful Mind
Director: Ron Howard
Where to Watch:
“A Beautiful Mind” is a biographical drama based on the life of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician, and Nobel laureate. One of the few reasons why I enjoyed the experience of watching this movie was because of the less knowledge I had about it. The less you know the more you are going to question things and that becomes one of the crucial points the movie stands on.
If you are planning to watch this one, just don’t read anything about John Nash (if you don’t know already). The movie is inspirational and has such good chemistry between Jennifer Connelly and Russel Crowe and even keeps you on the edge of the seat sometimes. That’s it, I won’t say anything more 😊.
The Sixth Sense
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Where to Watch:
“The Sixth Sense” is a supernatural thriller film directed by M. Night Shyamalan, released in 1999. The film revolves around Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist played by Bruce Willis, who becomes determined to help a young boy named Cole Sear, portrayed by Haley Joel Osment. Cole possesses a troubling secret: he can see and communicate with the dead.
Malcolm initially struggles to connect with Cole, as he himself is grappling with the trauma of a former patient who he believes he failed. Cole’s ability to see ghosts both terrifies and isolates him from others, including his mother. As Malcolm delves deeper into Cole’s experiences, he becomes a mentor and protector, guiding the young boy in using his gift to help the troubled spirits he encounters. And as we go through this journey we come across some great twists.
Fight Club
Director: David Fincher
Where to Watch:
Fight Club is the type of movie- you either love it or hate it. Fight Club is directed by David Fincher and is based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. The film starts with the unnamed narrator (Edward Norton) telling us about his dully life of empty fondness for material things. “I flipped through catalogs and wondered: What kind of dining set defines me as a person” he says. He has been driven to the edge of sanity by his white-collar job and is suffering from insomnia. “When you have insomnia, you’re never really asleep and you’re never really awake”. The only relief he finds is in attending meetings of different self-help-groups for problems he does not have. May it be alcoholism or testicular cancer. He goes there just to cry and let go of his emotions, for people start to be more attentive when their time on the planet is known to them.
He encounters a charismatic and anarchistic figure named Tyler Durden, and the two form an underground fight club as a means of rebelling against societal norms and seeking purpose. One of the comments by a critic which best describes the movie states,” The movie is a telling point about the bestial nature of man and what can happen when the numbing effects of day-to-day drudgery cause people to go a little crazy.” Along with the movie being high testosterone-fueled, it turns out to be much deeper and in a way life-changing. Watching fight club for the first time is a totally different and unique experience.
American Beauty
Director: Sam Mendes
Where to Watch:
American Beauty is one of my favourite movies. It is named after a type of rose that is gorgeous in its appearance but tends to rot beneath the roots. “Look closer,” tells viewers to look past the appealing facade of suburban life to the dark side of its root.
Lester Burnham (hero of the film played by Kevin Spacey) is a 42 years old magazine executive who hates his job and is in an unhappy marriage with Carolyn, an ambitious real estate broker. Lester Burnham is tired of living his monotonous life. “In less than a year I’ll be dead,” he tells us about his perception of life “And in a way, I am dead already”.
Both Carolyn and his daughter Jane think Lester is a loser and is almost inexistent to them (for their own reasons). But Lester’s life absolutely changes when he meets his daughter’s friend, his divine love- Angela at a school event where he is taken despite his disinterest. She is stimulus enough for him to wake up from a marriage-long coma and consider life’s livelier possibilities. He gets this freedom that he had never experienced in his life. But beyond all this American Beauty is much deeper and is a movie that has changed the way I look at life.
Minority Report
Director: Steven Spielberg
Where to Watch:
“Minority Report” is a sci-fi thriller set in a future where a specialized police department called PreCrime uses advanced technology to predict and prevent crimes before they occur. The story follows Chief John Anderton, a PreCrime officer, who becomes the target of the very system he helped create when it predicts he will commit a murder. Forced to go on the run, Anderton seeks to unravel the mysteries behind the predictions and the flaws within the PreCrime system.
As he delves deeper, he questions the morality and accuracy of the technology, challenging the concept of free will. Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on a story by Philip K. Dick, the film explores themes of surveillance, ethics, and the consequences of relying on technology to dictate human behavior.
Se7en
Director: David Fincher
Where to Watch:
“Se7en” is a psychological crime thriller that follows Detectives David Mills and William Somerset as they investigate a series of gruesome murders in a bleak and rain-soaked city. Each murder corresponds to one of the seven deadly sins. The detectives, faced with a relentless and methodical serial killer, delve into a dark and disturbing world to solve the case. The film’s atmospheric cinematography and intense performances contribute to its reputation as a riveting and thought-provoking thriller.
Oh I really wish I could watch that last scene once I again as if it was not known to me. One of the toughest tasks for the viewers is to avoid getting any spoiler for Se7en. That is has become really damn hard now.
3 Idiots
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Where to Watch:
“3 Idiots” is a Bollywood film directed by Rajkumar Hirani. The story revolves around three friends – Rancho (Aamir Khan), Farhan (R. Madhavan), and Raju (Sharman Joshi) – studying engineering at an elite Indian institute. Rancho often challenges the conventional education and encourages a pursuit of passion over societal expectations. The narrative alternates between their college days and the present, as Farhan and Raju embark on a journey to find the elusive Rancho. The film addresses the pressures of academic expectations, the importance of pursuing one’s true calling, and the flaws in the education system.
3 Idiots celebrates friendship and the quest of knowledge along with being absolutely hilarious. It might be one of my most-watched movies. I can start it from anywhere and still enjoy it so much. Still, I wish I could watch it for the first time once again!!
The Departed
Director: Martin Scorsese
Where to Watch:
“The Departed” is a 2006 crime thriller directed by Martin Scorsese. Set in Boston, the film revolves around the covert infiltration of the Massachusetts State Police by two moles—one a young police officer, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), who goes undercover to infiltrate the Irish-American gang led by Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), and the other, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), who works within the police force as a mole for Costello.
As both moles rise through the ranks, tension and suspense build as they race to uncover each other’s true identities. The Departed has a stellar cast which give some really memorable performances turning this movie into one of Scorsese’s best.
Your Name.
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Where to Watch:
I still remember the day when I first watched ‘Your Name’. I was excited to watch it the whole day and, in the night, it was magical. It still is one of the most beautiful moments of my life. I do not understand the lyrics, but the Radwimps songs still starts in my mind sometimes, unexpectedly, and remind me of that beautiful night.
The story revolves around Taki and Mitsuha, two teenagers who mysteriously swap bodies and lives, experiencing each other’s challenges and joys. As they navigate this surreal connection, they strive to uncover the cosmic forces at play.
To say that “Your Name” is visually striking would be a huge understatement. Shinkai has both an eye for detail and music. The atmosphere “Your Name” creates somehow feel both lived-in and magical at the same time. It has fantastic beauty but is grounded at the same time.
There is just so much to adore in the movie- the plot, the music, the characters, or the world it portrays. The movie made me smile and got me teary many times. And that satisfying ending, I did cry but it was because I was just so happy.
Psycho
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
For Fans of : Mystery, Thriller
Where to Watch:
It has been 63 years since Psycho was released in the theatres. Every year, new thrillers kept releasing and yet Psycho has remained on top of them even after all these years. This should give you an idea of- What a great piece of art it is!
This is without a doubt one of Hitchcock’s best films. Also probably one of his scariest one which gets scarier the second time you watch it. At that time, the film was indeed the most shocking one ever witnessed by its original audience members.
The movie begins with Marion Crane filling up her lunch hours with her boyfriend Sam Loomis who she is unable to marry because of his alimony debts. As she returns to work, she is given 40,000 dollars which is to be deposited by her in the bank. Upon asking her boss, she makes the decision to head back home after going to the bank due to her alleged headache, which, after a brief period, turns out to be nonexistent. This leads to one of Hitchcock’s mold of an innocent person performing a crime based on some impulsive bad decisions. As anybody would have guessed, Marion steals the money and leaves immediately without telling anyone, on her way to Sam’s hometown- Fairvale. Marion drives closer to Fairvale but is slowed down by a violent rainstorm. That is when she pulls into Bates Motel where her small association with Norman Bates takes place. Telling anything more would lead to spoiling it for the first-time viewers.
Memento
Director: Christopher Nolan
Where to Watch:
Memento is about Leonard, played with great finesse by Guy Pierce, who suffers from anterograde amnesia which is short-term memory loss. He is not able to make any new memories. “What’s the last thing you remember?” asks a bartender. “My wife,” he says “dying”. He remembers everything that happened before his wife was raped and murdered. But after that, no new memory. He will remember what he is talking about for a short period and in a few minutes will wonder how the hell he got there. All he wants now is ‘revenge’. He is organized in living with his “condition”. He has polaroids of his car, where he is living and the people, he must remember to take his revenge, each containing a cryptic message to give him an idea of the life he was living before his most recent short-term memory loss. “Don’t trust his lies” is the message below Teddy- a guy who seems to be trying to help him. Along with this, he has tattoos of the important things he must remember- the facts about his wife’s killer. There is a lot in the plot that can be discussed, but one of the integral parts of watching it is discovering things as the movie reveals itself step by step.
It is a movie that is as perfectly executed as it must have been planned. Really it is one thing to decide the screenplay (still difficult thought) and another thing to actually do it. This is a movie that has been thought about intricately and even leaves a lot to be discussed with film lovers like any other Nolan movie. Memento is not just a movie. It gives the audience a unique conceptual experience that is different than anything you’ve seen.
La La Land
Director: Damien Chazelle
Where to Watch:
“La La Land” is a romantic musical that follows the lives of aspiring actress Mia and jazz musician Sebastian in the vibrant city of Los Angeles. Both facing the challenges of pursuing their dreams, they meet and embark on a colorful journey through the highs and lows of love and artistic ambition. The film pays homage to the golden age of Hollywood musicals while adding a contemporary twist. Believe me, it is much much more than just a love story.
La La land is one of the few movies whose ending is so powerful that it changes your entire perspective of looking at the movie. The beautiful music adds to the everlasting bitter, sombre feeling that la la land leaves us with. I mean Mia and Sebastian’s Theme (chef’s kiss), if there is a track that suits the movie perfectly it is this one.
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