115 Films That Raised Me

Some people keep journals. Some people turn to prayer. Some scream into the abyss when no one else is listening.

I also do these, but I also press play and get thrown into a whole different universe for about an hour or two.

Movies have always been a way for me to escape. I watch them for fun, but they’ve also served as unofficial therapy. Reflection. Nostalgia. A reminder that we aren’t the only ones in this world going through it.

Below are my all-time favorite films. Each one has left something behind, whether a lesson, a laugh, or a difficult truth. The themes across them hit on race, religion, culture, comedy, brotherhood, masculinity, class, purpose, and even a little horror. Every one of these movies has served a role in my life. So here’s my list, 115 films I always come back to time and time again. If you’re in a slump, in your head, or just want to feel something again.

Pick any one of these and let it take you somewhere:

1. Dazed & Confused (1993)

2. Animal House (1978)

3. That Awkward Moment (2014)

4. Everybody Wants Some (2016)

5. Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)

6. The Truman Show (1998)

7. Class (1983)

8. Trading Paces (1983)

9. Old School (2003)

10. Don’t Be a Menace (1996)

11. Superbad (2007)

12. Baby Boy (2001)

13. This is the End (2013)

14. Pulp Fiction (1994)

15. Abduction (2011)

16. Project X (2012)

17. One Night in Miami (2020)

18. Caddyshack (1980)

19. Menace II Society (1993)

20. Hall Pass (2011)

21. Sorry to Bother You (2018)

22. Black Panther (2018)

23. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)

24. St Elmo’s Fire (1985)

25. BlacKkKlansmen (2018)

26. They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

27. Pineapple Express (2008)

28. Remember the Titans (2000)

29. Big Daddy (1999)

30. Total Frat Movie (2016)

31. Billy Madison (1995)

32. Juice (1992)

33. Grown Ups (2010)

34. Django (2012)

35. Benchwarmers (2006)

36. Burning Sands (2017)

37. White Chicks (2004)

38. Grown Ups 2 (2013)

39. 21 & Over (2013)

40. GOAT (2016)

41. Do The Right Thing (1989)

42. Stepbrothers (2008)

43. Spiderman 3( 2007)

44. The Dark Knight (2008)

45. Horrible Bosses (2011)

46. Poetic Justice (1993)

47. Boys in the Hood (1991)

48. Waves (2019)

49. Mean Girls (2004)

50. The Wood (1999)

51. Friday (1995)

52. The Great Gatsby (2013)

53. House Party (1990)

54. Frat Star (2017)

55. House Party 2 (1991)

56. Dear White People (2014)

57. The Breakfast Club (1985)

58. American Psycho (2000)

59. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

60. The Help (2011)

61. Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

62. Queen & Slim (2019)

63. Norbit (2007)

64. Dead Poets Society (1989)

65. School Ties (1992)

66. 42 (2013)

67. Entourage Movie (2015)

68. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

69. Bridesmaids (2011)

70. Pretty In Pink (1986)

71. Soul Man (1986)

72. The Social Network (2010)

73. Race (2016)

74. We’re the Millers (2013)

75. Ted 2 (2015)

76. 21 Jump Street (2012)

77. The Riot Club (2014)

78. Love Don’t Cost a Thing (2003)

79. Life (1999)

80. Love & Basketball (2000)

81. The Best Man (1999)

82. Wedding Crashers (2005)

83. 22 Jump Street (2014)

84. American Pie (1999)

85. American Pie 2 (2001)

86. American Wedding (2003)

87. American Pie Reunion (2012)

88. Neighbors (2014)

89. West Side Story (1961)

90. Cat In The Hat (2003)

91. Shrek (2001)

92. Shrek 2 (2004)

93. School Daze (1988)

94. Shark Tale (2004)

95. Mid90s (2018)

96. Entergalactic (2022)

97. Where’s The Money (2017)

98. Blue Mountain State Movie (2016)

99. The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

100. Evan Almighty (2007)

101. Bruce Almighty (2003)

102. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)

103. Why Him? (2016)

104. Get Out (2017)

105. Us (2019)

106. Insidious (2010)

107. Annabelle (2014)

108. The Conjuring (2013)

109. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

110. Candyman (1992)

111. Candyman (2021)

112. The Purge (2013)

113. The Shining (1980)

114. Scary Movie 3 (2003)

115. North By Northwest (1959)