I tried to make a Top Ten list. Really, I did. But once I hit nine, I had four films all clamoring for that last spot — all too good, too personal, or too meaningful to cut. So, here we are with a Top Twelve… technically a Top Nine plus a three-way tie for tenth. These are the movies I come back to again and again, the ones that shaped me as a person, a teacher, a writer, and a lover of stories.
10 (tie). The Princess Bride (1987)
I saw this with a girlfriend back in 1987, and I loved the story so much that I went and bought the book. That’s when I discovered that S. Morgenstern wasn’t a real author at all — it was William Goldman having fun at our expense, creating a whole fake history to go along with his story. That kind of cleverness, mixed with wit and heart, is exactly why this movie is timeless. It’s a fairy tale, a satire, a comedy, and a love story all rolled into one. Not loving it is, well… inconceivable.
10 (tie). Back to the Future (1985)
This came out the summer after I graduated high school, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’m a fountain of trivia about this movie, and I never tire of watching it. Marty McFly is one of my all-time favorite characters, and the story — even with its logical lapses — resonates with me. It’s one of the smartest, funniest, most perfectly constructed scripts ever, and it has that extra nostalgic glow that makes it special in my life.
10 (tie). Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Pure enjoyment. Indy is one of cinema’s greatest characters, and this film is a throwback to the serials of the 1950s, all adventure and energy from start to finish. The sequels (other than The Last Crusade) never quite measured up, but Indy himself is iconic. From the opening boulder chase to the Ark’s finale, it’s as much fun as movies get.
9. Field of Dreams (1989)
Baseball, fathers and sons, faith, and the kind of dream you chase even when it makes no sense — this movie hits me right in the heart every time. “Hey Dad… want to have a catch?” gets me every single time. When we saw it in the theatre, my stepmother leaned over and said it was one of the worst movies she had ever seen. Meanwhile, I couldn’t get enough of it. To this day, if it’s on, I’ll watch.
8. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
I grew up in the Star Wars era, and while the original broke the mold, Empire is the better movie. It’s darker, deeper, more mature, and it gave us one of cinema’s most shocking reveals. Every time Han is frozen in carbonite, I still feel the heartache. It remains the gold standard for sequels.
7. Blazing Saddles (1974)
Yes, it’s absurd. Yes, it’s offensive. But the offense has a purpose. Mel Brooks made one of the sharpest satires ever, skewering racism and cultural hypocrisy while making audiences laugh until they cried. It’s fearless comedy, and decades later, it still lands.
6. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
One of the best books ever written became one of the best films ever made. Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch is justice, decency, and quiet strength personified. I teach this story every year, and it still inspires me — and my students — with its humanity and moral clarity.
5. Spartacus (1960)
This movie came into my life by accident. In a college film class, I swapped out another Kubrick film I didn’t want to watch for this one, and I fell in love with it. It’s epic in scope, but it’s also deeply human. Kirk Douglas as Spartacus embodies freedom, sacrifice, and leadership, and the story still stirs me today.
4. Rear Window (1954)
Hitchcock at his best. The suspense is flawless, the storytelling is tight, and the whole film is a masterclass in building tension. But it’s also about something bigger: when does watching become responsibility? Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly bring humanity and elegance to a film that is as close to perfect as cinema gets.
3. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
I first saw this in college during a film class, and it changed the way I looked at it. It’s not just a holiday classic; it’s a great movie, period. Jimmy Stewart gives one of the best performances of his career, and the story of redemption and community never fails to move me. Critics hated it when it came out, but time has revealed it as the masterpiece it truly is.
2. Citizen Kane (1941)
I first saw this in college, too, and as a journalism major, I was blown away. The story of Charles Foster Kane — brilliant and deeply flawed — mirrors Orson Welles himself. The innovations in this film are still mind-blowing, and I now teach it every year in my journalism class. It’s not just important, it’s riveting.
1. Arthur (1981)
This one will always be my favorite. My dad took me to see it in the theatre, and that memory alone makes it special. He would pick me up from home after school and take me to movies, and since we were friends with the theatre owners, it was like our second home. But beyond the memory, Arthur as a character just clicks with me. I can quote the movie all day. It’s hilarious, it’s sharp, and it’s surprisingly touching. Dudley Moore’s performance is a gem, and for me, no other movie will ever top it.
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt
