#1 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) & Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)
This satirical comedy is all about the male-dominated newsrooms of the 1970s. Ron Burgundy, played by Will Ferrell, is the charismatic and egotistical lead anchor for his News team, and his network is very successful. One day, the station hires a female news anchor, Veronica Corningstone, and Ron struggles immensely to accept her in the newsroom, and an ultra-competitive rivalry is formed. Anchorman and its sequel, Anchorman 2, are known for their over-the-top humor, hilarious one-liners, and the improvisational comedic style of their casts.
#2 Couples Retreat (2009)
This romantic comedy has a stacked cast—Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, and Kristen Bell are just a few of the main characters—and is actually really funny. The film follows four couples who attend a tropical island resort called Eden in order to work on each of their individual struggles as couples. Through various therapy sessions and group activities, the couples learn more about each of their relationships and if they're going to last in the long run.
#3 Field of Dreams (1989)
This classic sports film follows Ray Kinsella, who, thanks to mysterious voices, decides to built a baseball diamond from a portion of his cornfield. To his surprise, it attracts the spirits of legendary baseball players, including "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Ray continues to follow the directions of the mysterious voice, and as the story unravels, it explores themes of faith, second chances, and the love of baseball. Field of Dreams is critically acclaimed for its emotional depth and is known as a classic in the genre of sports films.
#4 Friends With Benefits (2011)
A romantic comedy starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, Friends With Benefits is a story about two friends who decide to embark on a casual, no-string-attached physical relationship, both believing that traditional romantic relationships just don't work out. That is, until they start developing feelings for one another...A funny, lighthearted movie, Friends With Benefits is a great option for a girls' movie night, or even a good option to watch with your significant other.
#5 Gladiator (2000)
Gladiator is a classic action movie that takes place during the Roman Empire. It follows the life of Maximus, a loyal general whose family is executed by corrupt forces. He escapes and becomes a gladiator and rises up through the ranks in order to exact revenge on the evil people that killed his family. The film won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2001, among many other Academy Awards, and is considered a classic in the historical epic genre.
#6 Love Actually (2003)
You can't call yourself a lover of rom-coms if you haven't seen Love Actually. Love Actually follows multiple interconnected love stories taking place in the weeks leading up to Christmas in London. But, it's not just about romantic love: there are stories of familial love, friendship, and love at different stages. The movie is known for it's feel-good qualities and is perfect to watching during this Christmas season!
#7 The Social Network (2010)
The Social Network is a documentary all about the founding and the rise of Facebook. The film mostly focuses on Mark Zuckerberg and how he created Facebook while in college at Harvard. As it gains popularity, Zuckerberg is hit with many legal battles who claim he stole their ideas. Thus, the film is presented through multiple legal depositions and flashbacks, and explores themes of ambition, friendship, betrayal, and the impact of social media on interpersonal relationships.
#8 The Karate Kid (1984)
This classic film follows Daniel LaRusso, a teenager who finds himself the target of a group of bullies from the Cobra Kai karate dojo, that is, until he meets Mr. Miyagi, the maintenance man at his apartment complex. Mr. Miyagi turns out to be a wise and skilled martial artist, and he takes Daniel under his wing, teaching him fundamental karate techniques in a rather untraditional manner. As the story continues, Daniel gains confidence and becomes quite skilled in karate. The film is widely celebrated for its themes of mentorship, discipline, and perseverance, and is considered a classic in both the coming-of-age genre and the martial arts genre.
#9 Mission: Impossible I, II, & III (1996) (2000) (2006)
Mission: Impossible is a spy thriller and has been so widely successful that there are seven films in the franchise with an eighth coming in 2025. It stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, a skilled operative working for the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), a government group that is tasked with seemingly impossible, top secret missions all over the world. The franchise is wildly successful and the films are widely considered classics in the action and spy movie genres.