For years now men have had to suffer in silence when taking their girlfriend or wife to the cinema. How often do you get to see that new Jackie Chan movie? And how often does she get to watch the latest 18th century drama epic? I’m guessing the epic gets the nod over the guy movie every single time! Fear not my poorly treated comrade, help is here.
Men know that violence beats sex (marginally) and war beats peace! We turn our noses up to movies that are too serious or sensitive. When we stick a DVD on we want to hear explosions, laugh our ass off or bask in the beauty of gratuitous nudity! In addition to that, we want – no, better still, we NEED – movies that allow us to recite the dialogue from memory days later (”Heeeerrrresss JOHNNY!”). This behaviour will no doubt attract disturbing looks from women and children, but recite a line to another guy and you’ll see him nod in silent appreciation.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 100 great movies that every guy MUST see. Take your masculinity back, and start watching.
1. Casino Royale (or any other James Bond movie for that matter)
Fast cars, sexy women, sharp suits and high stakes poker. All very manly things which, when combined with the presence of Daniel Craig, make a really great movie.
Best line in the movie: “Now the whole world’s gonna know that you died scratching my balls!”
2. Terminator
Originally offered the leading human role in this movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger decided that playing a bad ass robot sent from the future to kill was his destiny. And so he swapped swimming trunks, body lotion and homoerotic poses for a leather jacket, a gun and some black shades.
Best line in the movie: “I’ll be back.”
3. Die hard
Nothing says hardcore like a hero running around on broken glass in bare feet and smashing through windows on a firehose. Bruce Willis literally wrote the book when it comes to action (we’ll forgive his mild indiscretion for playing a dead guy in the Sixth Sense).
Best line in the movie: “Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!”
4. The Last Boy Scout
When a movie has murder, strippers, sports, crooked politicians and stars Bruce Willis as a washed-up cop – you know it’s going to be good! This movie doesn’t disappoint. Trust me.
Best line in the movie: “Bad guy: You think you are so fucking cool, don’t you? You think you are so fucking cool. But just once, I would like to hear you scream in pain…” Bruce: “Play some rap music. “
5. Top Gun
When the lead character has a butch name like Maverick, it doesn’t matter that he’s being portrayed by short-arse Tom Cruise. This movie will make you feel the need, the need for speed. Guy’s love planes. In particular, planes than can shoot other planes right out of the sky!
Best line in the movie: “And if you screw up just this much, you’ll be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong!”
6. The Matrix
How many computer hacker nerds wish that they were Neo? Living inside a computer program and able to remake the code anyway they like. With bullet dodging, kung-fu and Trinity in tight leather pants – this movie caters to all tastes!
Best line in the movie: “Do not try and bend the spoon. That’s impossible. Instead… only try to realize the truth.”
7. Back To The Future
If a time traveling Delorean doesn’t get you into a frenzy, then I don’t know what will. The BTTF Trilogy still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up to this day – if only for the amazing soundtrack by Alan Silvestri.
Best line in the movie: “Great Scott!!”
8. Scarface
When a Cuban refugee falls for a drug kingpin’s girl, you know you have all the hallmarks of an epic gangster flick. If you get attacked by a chainsaw and still live to tell the tale, then you’re alright in my book!
Best line in the movie: “Say hello to my leetle friend!”
9. The Godfather
Quite possibly the ultimate bloke film ever made. Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece is an indispensable guide to surviving with honour in a dog eat dog world.
Best line in the movie: “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
10. Platoon
A gritty and emotional (I know I said men don’t like it too serious but this is a war film, so it’s allowed) look at the lives of an American platoon of soldiers as they patrol, fight and die in jungles of Vietnam – seen through the eyes of a rookie recruit.
Best line in the movie: “Free your mind, your ass will follow.”
11. Universal Soldier
Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren kill each other in battle, only to brought back as reanimated, near perfect, soldiers. Luc Devreux (Van Damme) starts having flashbacks from his former life and brutal conflict ensues. The only acceptable time for you to turn away while this movie is playing is for the gratuitous Van Damme butt shot (unless you like that kind of thing)!
Best line in the movie: “You’re discharged… sarge.”
12. The Shining
In a nutshell – recovering alcoholic with a volatile temper gets cabin fever and tries to kill his family. To say the film is ‘a bit weird’ would be the understatement of the century. That said, the movie is a masterpiece and a must see – if only for the iconic horror movie quote:
Best line in the movie: “Heeeere’s JOHNNY!”
13. Fight Club
After seeing this film, a million men declared they wanted to change their name to Tyler Durden and go kick the shit out of someone. Anyone! On the surface, the movie is about proving your manliness by punching the other guys lights out, but really it’s all about knowing yourself and not relying on personal possessions. I think.
Best line in the movie: “I want you to hit me as hard as you can.”
14. Dirty Harry
A cop with no regard for the rules (but who always gets the job done) takes on a serial killer targeting random victims. It’s very serious stuff folks. Oh, and he has a big gun too.
Best line in the movie: “You’ve got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?”
15. Rocky
The Italian Stallion, Rocky Balboa, is a southpaw fighter out of Philadelphia looking to make it big by taking on the world champ Apollo Creed. The training montages and music are enough to make you wanna lose that beer belly – almost!
Best line in the movie: “ADRIAN!”
16. Full Metal Jacket
If you ever wondered what it was like to be a U.S Marine – then wonder no more! This movie has more memorable quotes than any other, thanks mostly to the enigmatic Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.
Best line in the movie: “Bullshit. I bet you could suck a golfball through a garden hose.”
17. Bullitt
This is the story of an all guts, no glory cop determined to find the underworld kingpin that killed the witness in his protection.
Best line in the movie: “Look, you work your side of the street, and I’ll work mine.”
18. Enter The Dragon
Martial arts messiah Bruce Lee spies on a reclusive crime lord using his invitation to a tournament there as cover. Fight scenes galore and the unmistakable Bruce Lee ‘fight sound’ is just fantastic.
Best line in the movie: “Why doesn’t somebody pull out a .45 and, bang, settle it?”
Buy Enter The Dragon Now
19. 48 Hours
Eddie Murphy is the wise-cracking criminal paired with a hard-nosed cop while they try to track down a criminal! All Eddie Murphy has to do is laugh and I’m sold!
Best line in the movie: “I’ve been in prison for three years. My dick gets hard if the wind blows.”
20. Blade
Vampires, techno music and Wesley Snipes slicing people up with a sword. This movie has all the hallmarks of a guy classic – and it doesn’t fail to deliver.
Best line in the movie: “Fuck me? No, you fuck this!”
January 1st, 2010 at 2:15 pm
the dark knight
January 7th, 2010 at 2:21 am
Full metal jacket for sure, It has a special place in my heart because it was filmed at my old army training camp ‘ATR Bassingbourne’ The block where you see the infamous scene where SGT Hartman rips into the recruits isn’t there anymore, it’s all new and modernised now.
January 8th, 2010 at 7:53 am
How could you leave off Boondock Saints???!!
January 12th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Ok…I’m a girl I’ve seen almost all of these…heck, I don’t even think my boyfriend has seen as many manly movies as I have! Hooligan should be in here…Not all of us girls are into crap like hair and nails
January 14th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Tombstone!!
January 15th, 2010 at 10:46 am
dude boondock saints!
January 16th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
likee, i’m a girl and i have seen 97 of these movies, and almost every guy i know has not even seen 50 of them XD
January 18th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
dude ur missing some really good movies.. lik the tournament n the code. plus blow should be in the top 10! n yeah wtf happened to boondock saints. sucha good one!!
January 19th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Where is we were soliders one of the best war films ever but yes die hard is great i would say better than 3rd
January 19th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Congrats on that intro. You managed to completely stereotype men as dumb, primitive animals lacking the cognition to understand or appreciate anything beyond sex and violence. Good job.
January 21st, 2010 at 9:08 pm
I agree with most. Need to add Casablanca, 12 Angry Men, 12 Monkeys, Stripes, Caddyshack, Big Lebowski, Serenity, Deathproof (2nd half of Grindhouse), Blues Brothers, Office Space, Tombstone, just off the top of my head. I might consider Hunt for Red October, and perhaps Good Will Hunting. BTW, in this list the movie listed as “51st State” was released in the US as “Formula 51.” All in all, though, a generally good list for enjoying the good fortune of a Y chromosome.
January 25th, 2010 at 3:58 am
Boondock Saints is one of my favorite movies… it should’ve been on the TOP of this list along with The Replacement Killers ! And c’mon, VanDamme movies??? ugh.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Some good ones, but a lot fail on this list. There’s more on here that do not belong than do.
Lazy list, imo.
January 25th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
A few more: The Departed, Pumping Iron, Rudy, Reservoir Dogs, Top Gun, Risky Business, Rounders, Thankyou For Smoking, Boiler Room, and finally the most important one:
Glengarry Glenross, it is by far the manliest movie ever made. What line is memorable? All of it.
Hell just look at the cast:
Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin
January 26th, 2010 at 3:19 am
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, A Fistfull of dollors, Meckennas Gold, Young Guns II, Guns of Navarone, The Dirty Dozon, The Great Escape, Where Eagels dare – just to name a few
January 29th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
I agree, Glengarry GlenRoss is def a must see. – And just in case these other titles have not been given their honorable mention check out – The Usual Suspects, Boiler Room, The Departed, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, Casino, Fallen, Hero, Fearless, House of Flying Daggers, and V for Vendetta.
January 30th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Yea you missed out on a bunch of man movies bro.
We need a new list this one cutts too many out and several
shouldnt even be on there or down on the list at least.
February 7th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Why don?t you be a nice person and get the REAL one?
February 8th, 2010 at 6:18 am
Carlito’s Way, The Usual Suspects, The Motorcycle Diaries, The Basketball Diaries, The Beach, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Momento, The Last King of Scotland, Zeitgeist the documentary… some of you may have other quality movies in mind to add to this list, do so.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:52 am
TO “K” saying: “Congrats on that intro. You managed to completely stereotype men as dumb, primitive animals lacking the cognition to understand or appreciate anything beyond sex and violence. Good job.”
Come on … This all topic is just fun, and your girlfriend will probably never check it out so… No need to pretend! Take a big breath, look at the movie list and enjoy you boring moralist prick.
And believe it or not, you can be fan of Leaving las Vegas and Predator, cry for Wall -e , watch Felon, Le mepris and the dark night… All at the same time.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:54 am
ONG BAK!