My Most Watched Movies

The other day, Facebook had a 44 favorite’s list. I took on an impossible task of listing my “favorite” movie, so I just picked on. It’s been bugging me ever since. I love SO many movies that I thought I’d make a list of movies that I have watched at least a dozen times or more. Movies that I never get tired of. Movies that I could quote many of their lines. Many that my kids grew up on. A few that are newer. Musicals, comedies, dramas, westerns…. How do you ever pick just one? So in no particular order, here we go!

1. The Sand Lot – I have seen this with my kids at least a hundred times! I LOVE this movie. If you have young ones and haven’t seen it yet, get it! Classic! (Of course, when we first took the kids to the theater to see it, they put in the WRONG movie, and some gory shoot ‘em up started and every parent and child started running and screaming out of the theater! Good times!)
2. The Princess Bride – Same story. We have loved and quoted this movie for as long as I can remember. Josh bought me the book that Cary Elwes wrote on the making of the movie. I soaked up every word!
3. Pretty Woman – While you’d think the story line might be a bit tawdry, it is still the basic redeeming love type story. This is one for the ages. I watch it almost every time I see it scroll by. “Big mistake. Big. Huge!” We ALL use that line!!
4. First Knight – It’s a good thing that I like King Arthur stuff since my son writes about it!! ☺ But I have always loved this movie…for many of the same reasons. It’s has it all…friendship, love, honor, combat, relationship woes, love of country, honor, devotion, tension, beauty, sensuality, duty, sadness, resolution.
5. The Sword and the Stone – the animated version ☺
6. The Jerk – This is probably my and my kids all time favorite comedy. Another frequently quoted movie. “Now I AM somebody!” “He hates those cans!” I could go on, but “this is all I need…this and the dog.”
7. Father of the Bride – This one won’t really hit you until your little girl becomes a teenager and is actually getting relatively, realistically close to this reality. You must hire Martin Short for your wedding planner! Hysterical! I cried the entire time!
8. Murphy’s Romance – I have loved this movie since the first time I saw it. Sally Field and James Garner. She was a girl determined to make it on her own after having been married to a down and outer. James was older, wiser, and became her friend, confident, and eventually her forever after.
9. The Sound of Music – From the time I was a little girl and was mesmerized by this in the theater in the ‘60’s, this timeless musical has become a personal and a family favorite.
10. Gone with the Wind – I read the book before I saw the movie during my freshman year at Texas A&M. I was transported! Any time that I am sick for a while and have to stay put, or if we have a long bout of bad weather, I pull out my cherished set, curl up, and go back in time. “After all, tomorrow is another day!”
11. The Cowboys – Probably one of my favorite John Wayne movies. But running a tight race with…
12. The Quiet Man – Totally a different type of John Wayne movie, but I love it. I love Maureen O’Hara. She’s spunky. And they work it out.
13. Tombstone – I love the history, the story, the acting, the camaraderie. I loved Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday and Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp. Then of course, there’s Sam Elliott! The cast was just superb. I could watch it over and over. And I have.
14. The Wizard of Oz – I could follow the yellow brick road and these lovable characters along with Dorothy on their adventure to Oz any day of the week. So happy that she always realizes that there’s “no place like home!”
15. It’s a Wonderful Life – Christmas isn’t Christmas without George Bailey and realizing what’s really important.
16. Miracle on 34th Street (old and new) – Kris Kringle can make just about anybody believe!
17. A Christmas Carol – Whether it’s George C. Scott, Alistair Finney, or the Muppets, I love this story. We have even found much older versions, some musical, some not. Another, simply titled, Scrooge, is a worthy watch. The Christmas season is full of this movie telling the story of how one can be changed by the power of love…and maybe a little bit of the fear of hell!
18. The Santa Clause – They did an awesome job with these movies! They’re fun. They’re today. They still make a point. And I like Tim Allen.
19. White Christmas – Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney….Dancing, singing, pretty ladies, love, soldiers, snow, mix-ups, make-ups, happy ending!
20. Renaissance Man – Yes, Danny DeVito. If you haven’t seen this, it is a classic! He took a group of misfit recruits who didn’t care and turned them into disciplined soldiers through the power of classic literature.
21. Dead Poets Society – and almost everything else Robin did. Another movie where the teacher motivates his students to think outside the literary box. “Captain, our Captain.”
22. Rocky…all except #5 - I am a HUGE Rocky fan. Must I explain?
23. Rob Roy - with Liam Neeson. He has been called the “Scottish Robin Hood.” The love that he and his wife share is rare and beautiful. This is a difficult movie to watch, but I find myself coming back to it over and over.
24. Forrest Gump – Who does not love Forrest Gump? It’s like our entire history along with a love story mixed with “it can never be” story all wrapped into one. (I love ALL things Tom Hanks! This is a whole other category)
25. Sleepless in Seattle – best chick flick ever that guys will watch.
26. You’ve Got Mail – second best
27. BIG – this was just pure genius
28. When Harry Met Sally – “I’ll have what’s she’s having!” Any questions?!?!
29. Saving Private Ryan – very real.
30. A League of Their Own – this is another movie that we watched dozens and dozens of times and never grew tired of it. I could pop it in today and smile a heart full of smiles all over again. Timeless.
31. All the animated movies like…Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Lady and the Tramp, Cars, Toy Story, plus the classics I grew up with and I’m sure there are many more that I just can’t think of right now.


There are many other movies that I really enjoy, but they haven’t made the dozen + mark yet. I like The Princess Diaries; Ms. Congeniality; You, Me, and Dupree; The Blind Side; Braveheart; The Patriot; What Women Want; Taken; Mrs. Doubtfire; Homeward Bound; Cast Away; The Green Mile; The Money Pit; My Big Fat Greek Wedding; Mama Mia; Eight Below; and more than I can continue to count. Here’s to the movies!