Introduction:
I love movies. There are movies I can watch again and again. When a new film comes out in theaters, I’m there. Going out to the movies is one of my favorite pass times as well as watching movies online. Consider this my most favorite movie series from 1 being best to 10 being least favorite, but still on my list of favorites! Hopefully you can take these recommendations and check them out!
Lord of the Rings
This is easily my most favorite trilogy of all time. This Peter Jackson film is a classic with iconic lines, heartwarming monologues and truly epic moments that leave you at the edge of your seats. There are so many details into this cinematic masterpiece that I find a new way to appreciate the film every time I watch it. I remember being a kid when I first watched these movies. My father was a movie theater employee at the time, so I got the perk of watching Two Towers for free almost every day it was in theaters! I remember loving the final film so much, I didn’t want it to end. So I was glad that it had a half hour long epilogue. This film trilogy is based on novels written by J.R.R Tolkien, who wrote these novels during World War Two. When you pay close attention, you can see the themes that could certainly apply to those living during that time. To be honest, these films are timeless, and the lessons learned in these movies can apply to anyone living through hard times. If you like fantasy and medieval warfare, this is certainly the film trilogy for you! In fact, these stories are pretty much the godfather of all fantasy! And although The Hobbit trilogy and Rings of Power series are unfaithful to Tolkien’s novels, I still enjoy watching them. And it looks like the Middle Earth franchise is starting to expand with two movies coming out, War of the Rohirrim and Hunt of Gollum! And I’m all here for it.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Stan Lee was a giant among writers and has inspired people from all backgrounds to feel like heroes in their own stories. There’s a superhero for everyone to feel represented, and so this franchise has a special place in all our hearts! White a few movies have gotten negative reviews, I’m one of the few who still enjoys re-watching this franchise; the good and the bad. This series really has a way of making you care deeply for the characters. The scores in the films are beautifully composed, and many of the characters have excellent story arcs that really tug at our heart strings. Like Captain America’s displacement in the modern world and being torn away from the love of his life, and Iron Man’s fear for humanity after being exposed to the many dangers in the universe. I hope this series never dies and I’ll always be the first to arrive at every new theater release! This franchise has gotten so big, every actor you can think of ends up in one of these films!
Harry Potter
Say what you will about J.K Rowling and the bad reputation she’s earned for herself; her work is a masterpiece. I grew up on these films and therefore, quite literally, grew up with Harry Potter. This movie has many great lessons and is a heartwarming series about the power of friendship, family and perseverance during tough times. My personal favorite quote in the whole series is, “It does not do someone well do dwell on dreams and forget to live.” This series is timeless and brings you into another world, and makes attending school look like so much fun! Harry’s story arch is a wild ride from being thrust into the magical world to accepting who he is and saving the world because of it. If you have kids of your own, I recommend you show them a movie once a year starting at age 11 so they can get the same feel as I did, growing up on this series!
The Matrix
This trilogy from the 90’s is a psych thriller that makes you question your reality. If you like thought provoking films, this is certainly the one. This inspired the Matrix Theory, that we live in a simulation and none of the world we live in is real. It’s also inspired the phrase “Glitch in the Matrix” which is an event that takes place that you can’t explain. This classic trilogy has amazing fight scenes from guns to kung-fu duels to superhero battles. The overall theme in this trilogy is that anything is possible.
Star Wars
Surprisingly, Star Wars wasn’t very popular when it first came out; but over time, it became a timeless classic. Especially for the original trilogy, everything is so well directed that you can watch it forty years later at any age and still enjoy it. This franchise has now stretched to a great number of movies, TV shows, video games and more! If you like themes of destiny, comradery, friendship and faith, this is certainly the franchise for you. This series is full of iconic characters and timeless lines like, “No, Luke. I am your father.” I grew up on these films as well and even owned a toy lightsaber to play imaginary with. I highly recommend watching the entirety of this franchise. There are new series coming out every year and Star Wars is ever-expanding!
Jurassic Park
I mean both the classics and the modern film. The classics are thought provoking with themes of the consequences of playing God and showcasing humanity’s inability to control dinosaurs. It really puts into perspective of why we should consider it a good thing that dinosaurs became extinct before our time. Our lives would’ve become a constant struggle for survival and a never ending nightmare. The new films are just fun to watch with these throwdowns between titans, roaring and biting with really long teeth! The scores in these films are iconic and timeless, and for any dinosaur fans like myself, seeing them come to life on the big screen is quite an experience.
Ip Man
I’ve become a big fan of Donny Yen after watching this series. His style of martial arts is so fun to watch. This series is a biography of Bruce Lee’s sensei and his story. A lot of it is overdramatized and there are written stories added on, but it’s an experience watching Ip Man overcome his adversaries with the most epic fighting duels at the climax of each film. If you’re a fan of boxing and wrestling, you’ll see some familiar faces as well as they like to have guest appearances in this film.
Transformers
The first transformers movie came out when I was in middle school. Which teenage boy would ever say no to giant robots punching each other and shooting massive bullets that create explosions?? This sci-fi action thriller is fun to watch with intense battle scenes that will have you at the edge of your seat! Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are fan favorites and it’s a pleasure to see their character arcs and learn their history. The addition of human history tying into transformer lore makes the films compelling to watch with fascinating storytelling, like the knights of the round table or the moon landing. I’m here for every film release and I highly recommend this series!
John Wick
This film has become iconic ever since its release. You truly see Keanu Reeves at his deadliest in this film series. His character is a man of few words, but more-so a man of action. And his actions speak louder than his words. This series takes you into an entire world, or, underworld, with its own culture and even their own currency for the job of hitmen. John Wick is retired from this line of work, but he ends up being forced to pick up his mantle again as he goes on these quests for vengeance for the horrible things this organization does to him. This gunshot thriller has excellent fighting sequences where you get to see John Wick kill so quickly and efficiently; he’s smooth like water. When you watch some of the fight sequences, you understand just how terrifying of an enemy John Wick is. The theme of this series is the power of determination. What makes John Wick so dangerous and feared by his enemies is his will to never give up. No matter what you throw at him, he always gets back up and triumphs in the end. With this attitude, he’s gained the respect of many people who end up helping him in his endeavors and saving him at the last moment whenever he’s in a bind. This series is overall great and I highly recommend watching it.
Fast and Furious
Guns, cars, hot babes; what else could a man ask for in a movie? Despite the high stake action sequences and spy thriller concepts in these films, it hits you out of nowhere with heartwarming themes of family built from friendships. Paul Walker was an iconic character and the series does an excellent job at honoring the actor who passed away. Dominic Torreto is a lovable character who is an unstoppable force when it comes to protecting those he cares about. Each crew member in the series is iconic in their own right from Han all the way to Hobbs. You could even compare this series to the MCU in the sense that you get appearances from all kinds of celebrities from Jason Mamoa to Cardi B. This series is ever-expanding and I’m here for every new film that comes out.