I’m back with another list. Turns out when you start making movie lists, it’s very hard to stop. I’m pretty sure this is how addiction starts. I didn’t realize how carried away I’d get doing these. They’re all done, but no one needs that much in their face at once. No one.

Today’s genre: Drama. Probably my least favorite genre after horror. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like any of them. I had a period from the end of high school through mid-college where I watched a bunch (which is probably indicative based on the years most of these came out), but lately I’ve avoided them. The world is serious enough right now. Levity is appreciated.

Here you go.

1. Forrest Gump
2. Inside Man
3. American History X
4. Dead Poet’s Society
5. Good Will Hunting
6. Training Day
7. A Beautiful Mind
8. The Prestige
9. 12 Years a Slave
10. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Here are some brief bits of rationale:

Forrest Gump

I don’t know how many times I’ve had an idea about connecting many different events and then am like, oh, that’s Forrest Gump. There are so many quotable lines, which doesn’t happen too often outside the comedy genre. Between Bubba and Lieutenant Dan and Jenny and, of course, Forrest, there are more perfect characters than should exist in a single movie.

Inside Man

One of the smartest heist movies ever made, and one that somehow still feels grounded. I went into this thinking Spike Lee. This was not typical Spike Lee. It’s a different kind of brilliant. Clive Owen is cool, Denzel is cooler, and the layers in this movie reward every rewatch. Also, I love a story where the win condition isn’t what you think it is.

American History X

This is just… heavy. I think why it resonated so much was that it was one of the first movies I watched that seemed like it could be real. Like there was a way to capture the hate that exists outside of documentaries. I only watched it once. I don’t know that I can ever watch it again.

Dead Poet’s Society

Robin Williams brought life and energy to everything he did, but this was something special, even for him. Maybe it was the latent teacher in me, but the way he connected and inspired the kids… it was what all those “inspiring teacher” movies wanted to be. None could ever hold a candle to this.

Good Will Hunting

“It’s not your fault.” That’s it. That’s the rationale. This movie is about intelligence, trauma, friendship, and the terrifying vulnerability of letting someone actually know you. Robin is back, Matt and Ben are showing the world who they are, and Minnie makes everything that much more watchable. How do you like them apples?

Training Day

Denzel Washington is terrifying in this. The slow realization of what’s happening over the course of the day is brilliant. It’s a masterclass in tension and character, and one of those performances that makes you forget you’re watching an actor. He might be the actor who shows up the most across these lists.

A Beautiful Mind

I watched this in high school. I’d gotten it in my head I was going to be a legit movie buff and decided to watch all the award darlings that year. I think it was the first non-animated movie I’d seen in the theater. Blew my freaking mind. Ed Harris is a special kind of creepy, and Russell Crowe made me believe in magical floating numbers.

The Prestige

This movie is about obsession, sacrifice, and the cost of greatness. It’s one of the most perfectly structured films I’ve ever seen. You think you know what’s happening and then you’re wrong. Repeatedly. Every time you watch it, you see something new. One of those movies that makes you stop what you’re doing and watch it whenever it happens to be on.

12 Years a Slave

I first saw Chiwetel Ejiofor in Serenity (on a different list) and shortly thereafter in Inside Man (on this list), and then Children of Men (definitely on a list). I knew he was special. Then came this. The brutality is the point. McQueen forces you to confront a reality that is often softened or skipped over. It’s not entertainment. It’s remembrance.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

This might be the most hopeful movie on this list. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone, choosing adventure, and realizing your life can be bigger than your fears. I watched the original with Jimmy Stewart when I was a kid, and was expecting that. This was so much more. Also, the soundtrack alone could convince me to quit my job and travel the world. (I will not do this. I like summers off too much.)

Any movies you’d swap in? Any you can’t believe I left out? Let me know. I’m always happy to defend my choices with the stubborn confidence of someone who has thought about movies far too much.