The GASP List
This is the new, improved, always evolving GASP list – the list of movies that you should have seen if you want to work (produce, write, direct, act) in the entertainment industry. If you haven’t seen them – well, ergo the GASP. There are 150-odd titles on this list and counting.
Although it is simply not possible (or advisable) to have seen every movie ever made, the criteria for this list is that these are movies that have seminal, iconic or culturally significant performances, writing, direction or premises. These are the movies that set the bar, raised the standard or innovated something new and oft imitated.
Caveat: In order to keep this list manageable, foreign films and documentaries are not included. It would be fun to add an ancillary foreign film GASP list. The reason these are not included is that while many foreign films absolutely innovated the medium, I have only included AMELIE, a movie that received wide US distribution and was easily accessible to US audiences. Many foreign films are the domain of cinephiles and nerds (like me) because they are not as accessible to the general public. The movies on the GASP list are movies that Jesus-on-a-jet-pack come ON if you haven’t seen it. It’s available. It is on Netflix, it is televised from time to time, it is at every video store. Do you follow me? For example, BLEU, my favorite of the Kieslowski trilogy didn’t exactly play at the local cineplex. Either did BETTY BLUE. Or TOTO LES HEROES or JESUS OF MONTREAL or so many others that are near and dear to my heart. I also included LA DOLCE VITA because come on, I mean, seriously you’ve probably seen it. And if you haven’t – GASP – add it to the list on your fridge that you forget to take to the video store. If you go to the video store anymore.
If you have suggestions for the GASP list. I’d love to hear them in the comments section. How many on this list have you seen? What would you add?
40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
AIRPLANE
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
ADAM’S RIB
ADAPTATION
AFRICAN QUEEN
ALIEN
ALL ABOUT EVE
AMADEUS
AMELIE
AMERICAN BEAUTY
ANIMAL HOUSE
ANNIE HALL
APOCALYPSE NOW
ARTHUR
AVATAR
BACK TO THE FUTURE
BIG
BLADERUNNER
THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT
BLAZING SADDLES
BLUE VELVET
BORN YESTERDAY
THE BOURNE IDENTITY
BROADCAST NEWS
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S
THE BREAKFAST CLUB
BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI
BRINGING UP BABY
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
CASABLANCA
CHARIOTS OF FIRE
CHARLIE CHAPLIN (any or all)
CHINATOWN
CITIZEN KANE
CLEOPATRA
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
COOL HAND LUKE
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON
DELIVERANCE
DIE HARD
DIRTY HARRY
DOG DAY AFTERNOON
DO THE RIGHT THING
DOUBLE INDEMNITY
DR. STRANGELOVE
EASY RIDER
ERIN BROCKOVICH
ET
THE EXORCIST
FARGO
FATAL ATTRACTION
FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF
FIGHT CLUB
FINDING NEMO
FORREST GUMP
THE FRENCH CONNECTION
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES
GHOST
GLADIATOR
THE GODFATHER
GONE WITH THE WIND
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
GOODFELLAS
GOOD WILL HUNTING
GHOSTBUSTERS
THE GRADUATE
GRAND HOTEL
GREASE
GROUNDHOG DAY
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?
THE HANGOVER
HARVEY
HIGH NOON
HIS GIRL FRIDAY
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
JAMES BOND (any)
JAWS
JERRY MAGUIRE
JUNO
THE KARATE KID (the original)
THE KING AND I
L.A. CONFIDENTIAL
LA DOLCE VITA
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
LETHAL WEAPON
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
MALTESE FALCON
MARATHON MAN
THE MATRIX
MEMENTO
MICHAEL CLAYTON
MIDNIGHT COWBOY
MILDRED PIERCE
MONTY PYTHON (any)
MOONSTRUCK
MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON
NETWORK
AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
ON THE WATERFRONT
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST
ORDINARY PEOPLE
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
PLANET OF THE APES
PLATOON
THE PLAYER
PRETTY WOMAN
THE PRINCESS BRIDE
PSYCHO
PULP FICTION
RAGING BULL
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
RAMBO
REAR WINDOW
REBECCA
RED RIVER
RISKY BUSINESS
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
ROCKY
ROSEMARY’S BABY
SABRINA
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
SCARFACE
SCHINDLER’S LIST
SCREAM
SEVEN
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
THE SHINING
SHREK
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
SINGIN IN THE RAIN
THE SIXTH SENSE
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
SOME LIKE IT HOT
SOPHIE’S CHOICE
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
STAR WARS
SUNSET BOULEVARD
SUPERMAN
TAXI DRIVER
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
THE TERMINATOR
TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
THELMA AND LOUISE
TITANIC
TOP GUN
TOOTSIE
TOY STORY
TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
WALL STREET
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Podcasts
Julie in your town
Julie on Facebook
Julie on YouTube
Damn, I thought I was caught up, but have honestly never made it all the way through CLEOPATRA. I will try again for the sake of completeness. (And you probably want to add “the original” to BORN YESTERDAY and SABRINA.)
For comedies…”Life of Brian” is a must see.
Julie,
I’d add “A New Leaf” (1971) starring Elaine May and
Walter Matthau. A master class in comedic writing. Sadly, not available on DVD.
I’ve seen 65 or so on this list, and have many more on the DVD shelf I have yet to see. For a teenager it’s not too bad. At least, that’s what I tell myself.
I think Battleship Potemkin has to be added, just because it was so influential in early cinema.
Lots of great movies on this list. I’d add White Heat, James Cagney’s tour de force. I think some Shakespeare deserves to be here as well – any of Olivier’s adaptations. My nomination would be his Richard III because it’s so stylized. Also Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet. I’d also suggest Shakespeare in Love for the way the writing works on so many different levels.
Wow, I’ve seen all but four of those
the Hangover
High Noon
Mildred Pierce
Sabrina
My suggestions would be Lolita, and the Piano.
Whoops, missed the Monty Python(Any). Still happy to mention it though!!!!
I’ve seen most of these.
Agree that SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE belongs on the list.
I’d add THE ODD COUPLE, SHIRLEY VALENTINE, KRAMER V KRAMER, and one of the Batman movies. BATMAN BEGINS would be my choice, although most people think THE DARK KNIGHT is the best.
Of recent movies, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MAN and UP IN THE AIR are outstanding and belong here.
Looks like I missed seeing….GASP…24? I know what I’ll be doing this weekend. Netflix and popcorn.
I don’t really think Slumdog or Blair Witch really belong on this list but hey, it’s not my list and maybe just put all Disney and Pixiar animation together and say watch them all.
Some relevant (I think) movies that are missing;
Serpico
Dr. Zhivago
Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
The Wild One
Legends of the Fall
A River Runs Through It, Out of Africa, The Natural, The Sting (oh hell just put anything with Robert Redford.)
Romeo and Juliet both the 1968 version and the 96 Romeo + Juliet for comparison.
American Pie and Paranormal Activity (much better than Blair Witch even though BW started this type)
I also agree with Martin B about Kramer vs Kramer.