SABRINA RECOMMENDS: Movies

I’ve always been fascinated by the magic of cinema and the way it can touch our hearts and minds. Movies uniquely transport us to different worlds, evoke deep emotions, and spark our imagination.

The last time I counted, I estimated that I had seen over 2,500 films, many of which I still have the ticket stubs for. While some people collect stamps, comic books, and vinyl records, I collect movie stubs for films I’ve seen in theatres. The movies have always been a cathedral of storytelling and escapism for me, and for my parents, a cheap alternative to a babysitter in my younger days.

As a lover of films, I have a passion for movies, and I wanted to share my favourite films with you. Here are some of my all-time favourites, along with trailers to help you consider watching them tonight.

Sabrina’s Top 25 Films

1. “Lost in Translation” (2003) [Official Trailer]
2. “Heat” (1995) [Official Trailer]
3. “The Dark Knight” (2008) [Official Trailer]
4. “Interstellar” (2014) [Official Trailer]
5. “Good Will Hunting” (1998) [Official Trailer]
6. “Into The Wild” (2007) [Official Trailer]
7. “Schindler’s List” (1993) [Official Trailer]
8. “Magnolia” (1999) [Official Trailer]
9. “The Matrix” (1999) [Official Trailer]
10. “Tombstone” (1993) [Official Trailer]
11. “What Dreams May Come” (1998) [Official Trailer]
12. “Vanilla Sky” (2002) [Official Trailer]
13. “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994) [Official Trailer]
14. “Arrival” (2016) [Official Trailer]
15. “American History X” (1998) [Official Trailer]
16. “Parasite” [KOR] (2019) [Official Trailer]
17. “12 Monkeys” (1995) [Official Trailer]
18. “The Town” (2010) [Official Trailer]
19. “There Will Be Blood” (2007) [Official Trailer]
20. “The Throne” [KOR] (2015) [Official Trailer]
21. “Inside Out” (2015) [Official Trailer]
22. “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) [Official Trailer]
23. “The 25th Hour” (2002) [Official Trailer]
24. “Riceboy Sleeps” (2022) [KOR/ENG] [Official Trailer]
25. “Paddleton” (2019) [Official Trailer]

I’m still looking to fill two more spots. This list is always a work-in-progress, though rarely is anything pulled from the list, rather a new title might get added and a the ranking might shift around a bit.

(Lots of) Notable Films (No particular order)

1. “Away We Go” (2009) [Official Trailer]
2. “One Week” [CAN] (2008) [Official Trailer]
3. “The Station Agent” (2003) [Official Trailer]
4. “Castaway on the Moon” [KOR] (2009) [Official Trailer]
5. “Cloud Atlas” (2012) [Official Trailer]
6. “Last Night” [CAN] (1998) [Official Trailer]
7. “Poetry” [KOR] (2010) [Official Trailer]
8. “A Taxi Driver” [KOR] (2017) [Official Trailer]
9. “Lars and the Real Girl” (2007) [Official Trailer]
10. “This is Where I Leave You” (2014)
11. “Public Enemies” (2009) [Official Trailer]
12. “Miami Vice” (2006) / “Collateral” (2004)
13. “Meet Joe Black” (1998)
14. “Hachiko: A Dog’s Story” [USA Version] (2009)
15. “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” (2012) [Official Trailer]
16. “Thomas Crown Affair” (2000)
17. “Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (2013)
18. “The Hollars” (2016)
19. “Moon” (2009)
20. “The Way” (2010) [Official Trailer]
21. “Punch Drunk Love” (2002)
22. “Railways” [JAPAN] (2010)
23. “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) [Official Trailer]
24. “American Beauty” (1999) [Official Trailer]
25. “Inception” (2010)
26. “Fight Club” (1999)
27. “Terminator 2” (1991)
28. “Garden State” (2004)
29. “The Starling” (2021)
30. “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999)
31. “Equilibrium” (2002)
32. “Broken Flowers” (2005)
33. “Past Lives” [KOR/US] (2023)
34. “The Road” (2009)
35. “Seven Pounds” (2008)
36. “Lion” [AUS] (2016)
37. “Suncoast” (2024)

Top 25 Films About Friendship 

One of the most moving themes in a film, whether it be overt or subtly touches upon, is friendship. Friendship is very important to me and I love seeing this important aspect of human experience represented in film.

1. “Lost in Translation” (2003)
2. “Paddleton” (2019) [Official Trailer]
3. “Plains, Trains, and Automobiles” (1987)
4. “Hachiko: A Dog’s Story” [USA Version] (2009)
5. “Good Will Hunting” (1997)
6. “The Skeleton Twins” (2014)
7. “Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
8. “The Peanut Butter Falcon” (2019)
9. “Stand By Me” (1986)
10. “The Station Agent” (2003)
11. “Our Friend” (2019)
12. “The Upside” (2017)
13. “Fundamentals of Caring” (2016)
14. “The Way” (2010)
15. “50/50” (2011)
16. “Papillon” (2017)
17. “Tombstone” (1993)
18. “25th Hour” (2002)
19. “Stan and Ollie” (2018)
20. “Inside Out” (2015)
21. “A Taxi Driver” [KOR] (2017)
22. “Jungle” (2017)
23. “Scent of a Woman” (1992)
24. “The Bucket List” (2007)
25. “As Good As It Gets” (1997)

Notable 2SLGBTQQIA+ Films (No particular order)

This section was inspired by a conversation with several people on my Facebook page this past Pride Month. Thank you for the suggestion to add this to my site and I will add to this list as new movies (or recent discoveries inspire me).

• “Boy Meets Girls” (2014) [IMDb]
• “Palmer” (2021) [IMDb]
• “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) [IMDb]
• “The Danish Girl” (2015) [IMDb]
• “Dallas Buyers Club” (2013) [IMDb]
• “The Beautiful Summer” (2023) [IMDb]

Check out this list of IMDb’s list of some of the best trans, gay, and queer friendly films. I will be using this list to explore new stories.

Tragically Underrated Films

These are some films that don’t get as much love as they deserve. There might be some overlap between my Top 25-list and this list, because my Top 25 are the best of the best, regardless of commercial success. These films below are underrated but great watches, regardless of more modest commercial success.

1. “The Postman” (1997) / “Waterworld” (1995)
2. “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (2013)
3. “Lars and the Real Girl” (2007)
4. “Cloud Atlas” (2012)
5. “Gattaca” (1997)
6. “Public Enemies” (2009)
7. “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” (2012)
8. “21 Grams” (2003)
9. “Equilibrium” (2002)
10. “End of Watch” (2012)
11. “Office Space” (1999)
12. “Talk Radio” (1988)
13. “Grosse Point Blank” (1997)
14. “Flashback” (1990)
15. “Moon” (2009)
16. “The Monster Squad” (1987)
17. “Millennium” (1989)
18. “National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon” (1993)
19. “Bicentennial Man” (1999)

Tactically Proficient and Seriously Epic Action Films

This list showcases films that stand out for their exceptional attention to tactical realism and authentic firearms handling. The directors, technical advisors, and actors behind these productions demonstrate a rare dedication to accuracy—portraying offensive and defensive maneuvers, room clearing, and positional holds with true-to-life precision.

Whether you’re interested in professional tactics, military realism, or just appreciate when Hollywood gets it right, these films deliver. I highly recommend watching them in full—or at least checking out the standout scenes I’ve highlighted for their technical mastery and realism under fire.

1. “Heat” [1995] (Epic Scene)
2. “Sicario” [2015] (Epic Scene)
3. “The Town” [2010] (Epic Scene)

If you have any recommendations for films, I’d love to here it. Drop me a note and I’ll add it to my watch list.

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