A Fun, Infuriating New Way To Name Your Favorite Movies
Get ready to agonize over your choices.
What if you could only own one film from each decade?
Start in the 1930s or 1940s. Go all the way to the 2010s. That’s a mere 8 or 9 movies on your shelf. So, what’s on your shelf?
Don’t give explanations for your picks. Don’t give shoutouts to movies you almost chose. This is your barebones, brutally simple list of movie titles.
It will be a struggle. In certain decades, you’ll have trouble picking just one movie. When that happens, observe the following:
Tiebreaker rules
- Bragging rights matter. What movie would you be happiest to introduce to a friend?
- Replay value matters. What movie do you most want to watch again right now?
- Listen to your heart. Forget about whether or not your list makes you look cool. Which movie do you love?
I’m pretty sure I heard our creative director crying while making his list. Our videographer walked the halls of the office like a zombie, muttering movie titles to himself.
Basically, it was a great success. I urge you to think about and create your own list.
For now, here’s ours.
Ken Ball, Copywriter
1940s: Casablanca
1950s: Around The World In 80 Days
1960s: The Great Escape
1970s: Star Wars
1980s: The Blues Brothers
1990s: Galaxy Quest
2000s: Casino Royale
2010s: The Imitation Game
Steph Behrens, Account Supervisor
1930s: The Wizard of Oz
1950s: Peter Pan
1960s: Breakfast At Tiffany’s
1970s: Grease
1980s: Terminator
1990s: Simon Birch
2000s: The Dark Knight
2010s: Argo
Keith Booton, El Presidente
1940s: Citizen Kane
1950s: Rashomon
1960s: Goldfinger
1970s: Star Wars
1980s: Road House
1990s: Fight Club
2000s: The Departed
2010s: Road House*
Susan Booton, Project Manager
1930s: The Wizard Of Oz
1950s: The African Queen
1960s: Dr. Strangelove
1970s: Rocky
1980s: When Harry Met Sally
1990s: The American President
2000s: Juno
2010s: The Big Short
Doug Carter, Creative Director
1940s: It’s A Wonderful Life
1950s: North By Northwest
1960s: Yojimbo
1970s: American Graffiti
1980s: The Abyss
1990s: Fight Club
2000s: The Bourne Identity
2010s: How To Train Your Dragon
Jon Collette, Designer
1930s: Reefer Madness
1940s: Rope
1950s: Some Like It Hot
1960s: The Haunting
1970s: Chinatown
1980s: Back to the Future II
1990s: Dark City
2000s: Burn After Reading
2010s: Birdman
Alex Donnelly, Videographer
1930s: Duck Soup
1940s: It’s A Wonderful Life
1950s: The Quiet Man
1960s: The Graduate
1970s: Monty Python And The Holy Grail
1980s: Real Genius
1990s: Tommy Boy
2000s: Into The Wild
2010s: Drinking Buddies
Stuart Hotwagner, Videographer
1940s: Casablanca
1950s: Singin’ In The Rain
1960s: The Graduate
1970s: Apocalypse Now
1980s: The Empire Strikes Back
1990s: Goodfellas
2000s: The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
2010s: Max Max: Fury Road
Alex Laniosz, Designer
1930s: Modern Times
1940s: Bambi
1950s: Lady And The Tramp
1960s: A Charlie Brown Christmas
1970s: Annie Hall
1980s: The Purple Rose Of Cairo
1990s: The Nightmare Before Christmas
2000s: I’m Not There
2010s: Midnight In Paris
Meredith Matson, Intern
1940s: The Philadelphia Story
1950s: Rear Window
1960s: 101 Dalmations
1970s: Grease
1980s: Raiders Of The Lost Ark
1990s: The Parent Trap
2000s: Catch Me If You Can
2010s: The Help
Liz Strauchen, Account Supervisor
1940s: Casablanca
1950s: South Pacific
1960s: Mary Poppins
1970s: Escape From Alcatraz
1980s: The Princess Bride
1990s: Goodfellas
2000s: Castaway
2010s: Moneyball
Luke Trayser, Copywriter
1940s: Casablanca
1950s: Singin’ In The Rain
1960s: The Sound Of Music
1970s: Jaws
1980s: Die Hard
1990s: The Iron Giant
2000s: No Country For Old Men
2010s: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Takeaways and CTAs
- In the decades before we were born, most of us have only seen the classics. But as we got into the 70s, 80s and 90s, some unique picks showed up. Nostalgia and childhood is a powerful combination.
- Working with restrictions and limitations is a fantastic way to build your creative prowess. It’s like lifting weights. Purposely hamstringing yourself in the short term makes you stronger in the long term.
- Your turn. We’re dying to know what movies are on your shelf.
*The not-yet-released remake with Ronda Rousey. Keith is pretty sure it will be one of the finest films ever made.
