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 30th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Hey Christian,
First of all, great post! I enjoyed looking through your list to see what kind of movies you like
If you want “man movies”, you do miss some erotic action… But otherwise, I think you got covered pretty good.
Alex
January 30th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Cheers, Alex.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that I didn’t put this in any kind of order. They just appear in whatever order I thought them up in!
Christian
January 31st, 2008 at 4:40 am
Great post. I like “Black Hawk Down”, my all time favorite.
“Ladder 49″ is great too but it is not in the list.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Great list. Fantastic quotes. I will refer back to it. No classics? On The Water Front? Mad Max?
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:30 am
How about “The Usual Suspects”?
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Good list. I would add Cool Hand Luke, Boon dock Saints, caddy shack is a must, and apocalypse now. There’s nothing like the smell of gasoline in the morning….it smells like…..victory.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:54 am
In your Picks you posted some great movies and some absolutely shitty movies. Please the Fast and the Furious sucked my sweaty balls. I took shits they contributed more to society than that movie,at least my shits had enough sense to stink.That movie had the exact same plot as Point Break.( The only difference is CARS NOT SURFERS and Vin Diesel and no Keanue Reeves…DUDE! Either way the Fast and the Furious SUCKS! Come on all those “Rice Burners” are considered cool cars. Give me a 1960’s to early 1970’s American Muscle cars and I will show a car with some Fucking balls!and will blow all those cars out of the water. There is no comparison. I do like Point Break, a great movie for it’s time. I do hate, how Hollywood will put out basically the same movies over and over again change the plot and expect us to take a bite of the shit pile they put out yearly. However, You did miss one of the best movies Ever! and best guy movies of all time THE GOOD THE BAD THE UGLY.(Stars include Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cliff, and Eli Wallach)
Either you have never seen it or it would be it your top ten! Everybody check it out
February 5th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Boondock Saints is a MUST for this list
otherwise Great job!
February 6th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
No Animal House?
February 6th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
you should really add BOONDOCK SAINTS to this list…
February 6th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Overall a good list….but I have a couple of suggestions:
Remove:
Top Gun (it’s only a “manly movie” if you’re into buggery….not that there’s anthing wrong with that
Cocktail (come on man, it’s a pure Love Story….women LOVE that movie)
Fight Club (it’s not about fighting….at all….we’re men, we don’t like to be mentally and emotionally challenged when we watch a movie)
Add:
Christine (it’s about a car….that kills people. And if that’s not enough, then it’s also….wait, there is nothing else…IT’S A FUCKING CAR THAT FUCKING KILLS PEOPLE…it doesn’t get more manly than that)
The Departed (how can you go wrong with a movie that contains the line “I’m the guy who does his job, you must be The Other Guy”)
Army Of Darkness (once again, how can you go wrong with a movie that contains the line “Good? Bad? I’m the guy with the gun”)
February 7th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Way too much Bruce Willis, but if you must then 5th Element is the one. Totally agree about 300. Makes me proud to be a guy (consider the alternative).
February 7th, 2008 at 7:24 am
city of god, pulp fiction, and the warriors
February 7th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Good Job! Needs Outlaw Josey Wales! “Don’t piss down my back Senetor, and tell me it’s raining!”
February 7th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Casino Royale??
Worst James Bond EVER!!!
But the other 100 are really great
So could you please place Casion Royale behind the submit button xD
February 7th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
ooww goodd
February 7th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
where is LEON????????
February 7th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
the ocean’s series must be in 10
February 8th, 2008 at 1:57 am
great list, really thank you.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Some of my favourite manly movies that aren’t included:
The Warriors
Escape from New York
Robocop
The Thing
Alien/Aliens
Trainspotting
The Departed
Reservoir Dogs
The Running Man
28 Days Later
Equilibrium
Starship Troopers
Goodfellas
This is Spinal Tap
The Fly
February 8th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
How about Harlem Nights and Fast Times At Ridgemont High?
February 8th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Yeah, pretty good list. Although Christian Bale was in American Psycho. Also I can’t believe you posted The Matrix trilogy and not Equilibrium it is a way better movie.
February 8th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Cheers for all the great comments and additions guys. I knew I was going to miss off a crap-load of manly movies – and I did!
I’ll probably do another follow up post to this in the coming weeks to include all the films that weren’t in this one. In a few cases I’ll actually have to watch them as a few were suggested that I haven’t even seen yet. I know, I know – it’s shameful!
Christian
February 8th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Sorry, but anything with Tom Cruise is a chick flick. Seriously, count how many times he is crying in movies. (No Thanks)
February 8th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I can’t believe that The Big Lebowski wasn’t on this list. It’s a top 100 in my books!
February 8th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Yank ‘Payback’ and replace it with the original: ‘Point Blank’. Lee Marvin in his most bad-ass, animalistic finest!
3:10 To Yuma (the recent remake) is a great one, too.
Jackie’s Chan’s Drunken Master II (re-released as ‘Legend of Drunken Master with some minor edits) is another must-see guy movie. Makes ‘getting drunk in order to fight’ take on a whole new meaning.
February 8th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
the proffesional only one missing.
February 8th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Fight Club is a great movie. The more times you see it, the funnier it gets.
February 8th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Hey, #67 should be,
“NO Cupholders?”
“No this is $100,000 car and it’s the fastest production car made.”
“NAW, this a shiny black dick and we two balls draggin’ the fuck along behind”
February 8th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
One word: Goodfellas
February 8th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Chinatown!
February 9th, 2008 at 2:02 am
number 77 is not 51st state it is called “formula 51″
February 9th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I’m surprised A Clockwork Orange isn’t on the list.
I mean, come on…Little Alex, The Old In & Out, Ultraviolence.
Ahhh, bliss…
February 9th, 2008 at 8:58 am
i wonder why Lord of The rings wasn’t there
February 9th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Great List
just 2 to add:
“Heat”
“Detroit Rock City”
February 9th, 2008 at 9:58 am
p.s.
i thought “Casino Royale” was one of the best Bonds ever!! you gotta watch it more than once to catch everything
February 9th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Troy and Minority Report
February 9th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
thanks for this great post
I really enjoyed reading it and it will be my watching guide for months
February 10th, 2008 at 2:56 am
What about Tombstone? No one likes “Shoot-em-ups” anymore?
February 10th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
i think you have watch schindler’s list.
February 11th, 2008 at 3:02 am
Yeah, also you can’t mention Blow without Donnie Brasco…
Best. Jonny Depp Performance. Ever.
I’d believe 100 movies just ain’t enough to watch.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
The title should be 100 Great Movies Every GUNLOVER MUST See.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:18 am
Not nearly enough Westerns. You don’t have any of Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name trilogy. You didn’t get Tombstone. And I know its old, but High Noon is still friggin awesome. The Wild Bunch.
And say what you will about Costner’s career afterwards, he held it down in The Untouchables.
You also forgot the Dirty Dozen and the Great Escape.
And the French Connection.
Yet Cocktail and Knight’s Tale made the list. I’m surprised Brokeback Mountain didn’t get a spot.
Jokes aside, its a good list.
February 13th, 2008 at 6:56 am
You missed a whole genre “THE LONGEST YARD”(original remake sucked ass), “THE PROGRAM,” “WATERBOY,” and how could you miss “RUDY”!!! Just to name a few.
Constantine also horrable
February 13th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Oh and not to mention Adam Sandler movies(excluding those shitty ass dramas of course). And how about some Chris Farley movies. And a few more Will Ferrell.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:08 am
“Scent of a Woman” WHOOOAAAAA!!!!!
February 17th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
No Death Wish movies, WTF? Didn’t see any Peckinpah either, for shame.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
whatever happened to layer cake or snatch, great choices otherwise tho
February 18th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
@Callum – Snatch was number 42 on the list. Layer Cake was alright but I personally didn’t enjoy it as much as Snatch or Lock Stock.
February 19th, 2008 at 5:25 am
I’m sorry.. but where the fuck is ONG Bak on this list??