100 Movies You Need to See Before You Die

There's a countless number of films that everyone loves, even cherishes. Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia. David Fincher's Fight Club. Mike Nichols' The Graduate. Those are just a few examples of classic motion pictures that critics adore, filmmakers routinely cite as artistic influences, and audiences will continually discover for years to come. And none of them made this list.

That's because, in recommending 100 Movies to See Before You Die, the criteria needs to be very strict and weighted in historical context. Some films will live on forever, but, upon their initial releases, did said flicks change the course of cinema? Without their respective existences, would entire movie genres be what they are today? When it comes to the irreplaceable, medium-shifting works included in the following list, the answer to both questions is, simply put, "Yes."

Any self-respecting fan of movies owes it to his or herself to watch all of these at least once before it's time to infuriatingly wait in line at multiplex concession stand in the sky. You know the sluggish service won't improve beyond the pearly gates.

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Written by Tara Aquino (@t_akino), Matt Barone (@MBarone), Jason Serafino (@serafinoj1), Ross Scarano (@RossScarano), Greg Topscher (@gtopscher), and Jennifer M. Wood (@j_m_wood)

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