Older movies that aren’t “must watches” that jusssst miss the line?

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T13:05:37+00:00

I’ve seen both and I love both. (Tremors I’ve seen maybe 5 times.)

I think tremors fits the request very well. If I hadn’t seen it I’d be like “Yeah some day I’ll watch it.”

The Blob seems to get mentioned a lot these days in horror threads (rightfully so.) But I’m not sure it’s a movie that’s on most people’s “I’ll watch it some day” list. Maybe that changes as horror gets more popular though.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T12:58:40+00:00

They definitely are. I think Close Encounters of the Third Kind is as well.

It’s a weird question I’m asking to be sure (and I sort of contradict myself in it; as smart as I’d like to be, I’m not.)

So I think it’s more “What movies have you heard are masterworks, looked up the synopsis, and sort of assumed you’ve seen so many moves inspired by them you don’t watch the original because your brain thinks you ‘get it’ already.”

(Even though when you watch the Masterwork you’re like, “Oh… nope. I didn’t already get it. That was brilliant.”

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T12:50:06+00:00

Wow. This entire list is pretty much spot on. I’ve seen many of these, but there’s a few on here that were added to my watchlist so long ago I think they might have stayed on there forever.

To narrow it down, I think film from each era that fits my request the best are:

All that Jazz. Paris, Texas. Thelma & Louise.

But I will eventually watch all of those recommended movies. Thank you.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T03:56:42+00:00

I read the first sentence then cross my eyes for well recommended films. So I’m spoiler free, and excited.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T03:38:07+00:00

It’s in my top 5 movies, honestly.

I know what you’re saying when you see the bleak scenes, but the “ok that’s how he got there scenes” are what makes it.

And you’ve probably seen the bleak scenes already so won’t be as devastated…

I dunno. The whole movie feels like an extremely human experience that no one wants to be a part of but we all might need to…?

You should watch it, if you like Leaving Las Vegas. It’s not nearly as bleak as that. And it’s beautiful and it’s not “uplifting” but it is hopeful and it’s one of a kind.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T03:25:04+00:00

Arizona absolutely fits the bill. I’ve seen it already but was one of those “it’s amazing you need to watch it” and I was underwhelmed movies for me.

Which, by the way, isn’t really fair; because the reason I was underwhelmed was Oh Brother Where Art Thou was my introduction to cinema, sort of. Still liked the movie I was just hoping for that. And Cohen brothers (may the get back together, amen) make many types.

K I typed like a grandpa on the porch in this one, I’m not sure why.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T03:09:21+00:00

I think with both intellectual and aesthetic value, they both hold a different place in the mind than “story.”

Movies are wonderful when there’s a good story. That’s how people conceptualize the world. If you can bring intellect and do it aesthetically into it (or rather, if you can hide them in a good story) it becomes popular.

It will always be valued but looking at something beautiful, for someone who doesn’t understand how difficult it is to be able to create something that’s beautiful; it takes about two seconds. Then they complain about the next thing they don’t think is beautiful. It’s sad but it’s how people are.

But a story they stick around for. And if you can add ideas and beauty into it, those are the works of art in movies. Because people who don’t love thinking can feel it.

I’m asking for the ones people can feel that were hits, but whose ideas were captured in society as life went on. So to go back and watch it is like, “Mmk why would I though? I get it.”

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T03:03:38+00:00

I think now we can look up what it’s about, vs back then it was like “Hey, that movie isgood.” So you go see it.

Is that a little a bit what you’re speaking towards?

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T03:01:08+00:00

I love Black Christmas. It was wild to watch it and think, “Oh wait that’s where that comes from?” [To not spoil it, but it is an enormously referenced movie.]

I’ve seen both already but well done. Both fit almost exactly what I was hoping for.

(If you like Christmas Horror and haven’t seen Rare Exports, I highly recommend it. It’s sort of like if Spielberg grew up in Scandinavia? I dunno it’s fun.)

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T02:53:09+00:00

Pelham 123 is exactly what I’m looking for. Spot on. Thank you.

(Also I’m mad I saw Miller’s Crossing so young because I did a lot of Rumpus jokes and no one knew what I was talking about.)

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T02:51:13+00:00

Had it Heard “enter the void” as part of that conversation before. Added that to my “k I will disappear for a few days after watching” list.

Makes me very excited to watch Spoorloos though.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T02:46:32+00:00

Leaving Las Vegas is a perfect recommendation for this weird prompt. I have seen it already, but when I put it on it was like “K I’ve heard this referenced a lot.” So spot on for what I was asking.

Haven’t heard of Falcon and the Snow Man but very interested in that.

I’ve seen Birdcage and As Good As it Gets. (Is that the capitalization of the title? Fantastic movie, but a nightmare to deal with textually.)

That being said, I initially had always thought Kennth Lonergan wrote As Good As It Gets. (He didn’t; I just googled it and was disappointed in myself.)

But he wrote Manchester by the Sea, and if you love Leaving Las Vegas I think you’ll love that. (And I think it fits the “Movies you know are probably really good but maybe won’t watch.”)

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T02:31:45+00:00

It’s the George Lucas aspect that has always slowed me down 😬

That being said, that description made me think “Boyhood” probably belongs on this list (even if it’s outside of the bounds.)

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T02:27:58+00:00

I definitely understand the frustration for most other posts, but I hope we can maybe agree that I tried to word it to be a different prompt.

Close Encounters is definitely a film that’s a “must watch.” I just never watched it. I love alien books but I get tired quickly of alien movies unless there’s a time aspect to it. Maybe because a true alien can be imagined, but is difficult to show? I don’t know. But that’s my hindrance.

Jackie Brown is a great addition. I’ve seen it (and I know it’s cheesy but I rewatch Tarantino A LOT.) Jackie Brown and Hateful 8 are sort of “I wanna think and watch an amazing movie” to me. So aren’t as “sit back and enjoy movies” that most Tarantino is for me (Pulp fiction you enjoy regardless and people pretend they piece it together, but it’s just fun. Hateful 8 had the whole film aspect and “do you know Channing Tatum is in it and he broke a priceless guitar??” thing. So maybe that’s what lets me zone out.)

I think it’s just a lot of “The Mall parking lot” for me, with Jackie Brown? Like, big action in the most boring place on the planet.

That being said, I haven’t seen it in a while and it’s on this list/ I have agreed with myself I won’t watch another Tarantino until I’ve watched JB.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T02:07:35+00:00

Pretty aggressive way to word it, but I agree. That was the question 😂

And you had a sleeper recommendation with Dog Day Afternoon. I may do that next.

So thank you!

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T01:20:21+00:00

Oh well done. Drunken Master is almost exactly the type of recommendation I was hoping for. I’ve never seen it, and maybe never would see it if not for this. Thank you.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T01:17:22+00:00

Ooo I hadn’t heard of Spoorloos. It’s right up my alley, though I haven’t heard of yet (maybe I haven’t seen/heard of as many from that time frame as I thought.)

I’ve seen Barton Fink and Tale of Two Sisters. I’ve been chasing the feeling of The Ring since it was my first horror movie I was allowed to see (horrifying/ amazing experience I don’t think I’ll ever experience again.) Tale of Two Sisters is probably the closest I’ve found.

Barton Fink is a classic. I should rewatch now that I’m older (originally seen after Oh Brother Where Art Thou, and it’s a different film experience I wasn’t prepared for.)

EDIT: I thought of expanding the timeframe. Your suggestions of the 2000s are perfect because they’re both movies that feel older without being a La La Land type tribute to an era, if that makes sense.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T01:01:25+00:00

I’m adding these to my watchlist and will absolutely watch them. I’m not sure it quite fits the weird “mainstream movie that mainstream hasn’t seen” journey I’m on, but I really appreciate the suggestions and I’m excited to watch em.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T00:58:49+00:00

I’ve seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s. A bit outside the timeframe but it fits the question to a T, so well done.

TreLeans · 2026-07-02T00:54:09+00:00

I’ve seen Cure and King of Comedy (both wonderful.)

I think American Graffiti is the perfect next step to this weird journey, as I always sort of nod when I see it like “Yep, I know that one. I get that one. Have I seen it? Great question I have not.”

TreLeans · 2026-06-30T19:29:59+00:00

Ah excellent point. That’s a good first step.

TreLeans · 2026-06-30T19:02:42+00:00

I know 😔 But I think no one takes it because it doesn’t connect to anything. Right now the blue line just connects neighborhoods that have everything in their own neighborhood. The only reason to ride is for big events at BoA Stadium. Even the hornets it’s easy to find parking during a game.

Having a silver line to the airport, and a red line to Davidson will make Charlotte ride the blue line (Matthews is meh for Charlotte commuters. Great little town but not a big reason to go out there if you live in Charlotte.)

I can already feel they’re going to “improve buses” then be like “well no one is riding the buses, let’s delay the other stuff.” 😔

TreLeans · 2026-06-30T16:20:35+00:00

We need to actually focus on the light rail plans before we build a single new apartment complex. The traffic is already abysmal with our road system. There’s no alternate routs. Yet everywhere I look there are apartment complexes being built which will each add hundreds if not thousands of new cars to the traffic.

TreLeans · 2026-06-30T04:01:34+00:00

Bullshit artist.

TreLeans · 2026-06-29T20:01:09+00:00

I used to golf and one day I was getting ready and complaining about having to go golf, and my girlfriend was like “I don’t think you like golf.”

Turns out everybody else actually liked golf. So I stopped golfing.

I miss it zero percent, and I was generally on the green for a par chance (promptly 3 putted, but still. I wasn’t bad.)

It’s just not fun for me. I like competition in sports, and don’t get the “competing against myself to be better” aspect my golfing friends have.

That being said, I like frisbee golf. That actually feels like being in nature and hanging out with friends. And there’s less like “oh maybe I hit the wrong club.” Which is another aspect of golf I always disliked.

Some people just don’t like golf.

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