Note: this recommendation list is a work in progress…

1) Classroom recommendations: In my lecture classes, students write ‘movie reports’ that connect suggested movies to the course content. Here are the suggested movies for some recent classes:

1a) ‘Psychology of Human Sexuality’ class (Psych 231):

  • American Beauty (1999).  Stars Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley.  Director Sam Mendes.  IMDB 8.4; Metacritic 86. Rated R. Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Boogie Nights (1997).  Drama about the rise of the pornography industry.  Stars Mark Wahlberg, Heather Graham, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly.  Director Paul Thomas Anderson, IMDB 7.9; Metacritic 85. Rated R. Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Carol (2015). Stars Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson. Director Todd Haynes. IMDB 7.2, Metacritic 95. Rated R. Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011). Stars Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore. Directors Gleen Ficarra and John Requa. IMDB 7.4; Metacritic 68. Rated R. Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Ex Machina (2015). Stars Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, and Oscar Isaac. Director Alex Garland. IMDB 7.7; Metacritic 78. Rated R. Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Her (2013). Stars Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson. Director Spike Jonze. IMDB 8.0; Metacritic 90. Rated R. Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Kinsey (2004).  Stars Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Chris O’Donnell, Peter Sarsgaard.  Director Bill Condon.  IMDB 7.1; Metacritic 79.  Rated R. Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Mean Girls (2004). Stars Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler. Director Mark Waters. IMDB 7.0; Metacritic 66. Rated PG-13. Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017). Stars Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall, Bella Heathcote. Director Angela Robinson. IMDB 7.2; Metacritic 68. Rated R. Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Sense & Sensibility (1995). Stars Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant. Director Ang Lee. IMDB 7.7, Metacritic 84. Rated PG. Trailer Buy@Amazon

1b) ‘Psychology of Effective Altruism’ class:

2) Personal recommendations: I’ve watched at least 8,000 movies in my life. Here are my favorite ones, which I’ve watched at least 2 or 3 times each. They’re organized by genre.

Science fiction

  • 2001 (1968)

  • A Quiet Place (2018)

  • Aliens (1986)

  • Annihilation (2018)

  • Blade Runner (1982)

  • Contact (1997)

  • Dark City (1998)

  • Demolition Man (1993)

  • Dune (1984) Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

  • Equilibrium (2002)

  • Ex Machina (2014)

  • Exiztenz (1999)

  • Gattaca (1997)

  • Her (2013)

  • I, Robot (2004)

  • Idiocracy (2006)

  • Interstellar (2014)

  • Limitless (2011)

  • Melancholia (2011)

  • Passengers (2016)

  • RoboCop (1987)

  • Stalker (1979) Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Starship Troopers (1997)

  • Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

  • The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

  • The Congress (2013)

  • The Fifth Element (1997)

  • The Martian (2015)

  • The Matrix (1999)

  • Watchmen (2009)

Historical

  • 300 ()

  • Apollo 13 (1995)

  • Braveheart (1995)

  • Dr. Strangelove (1964)

  • Elizabeth (1998)

  • Gladiator (2000)

  • Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

  • Master and Commander (2003)

  • O Brother, Where Art Thou (2000)

  • Shakespeare in Love (1998)

  • The Death of Stalin (2017)

  • The Patriot (2000)

  • The Right Stuff (1983)

  • Thirteen Days (2000)

  • Troy (2004)

  • United 93 (2006)

Action/adventure

  • Die Hard (1988)

  • Doctor Strange (2016)

  • Fight Club (1999) Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • Heat (1995)

  • Pulp Fiction (1994)

  • Snatch (2000)

  • The Usual Suspects (1995)

  • Warrior (2011)

  • The Prestige (2006)

War

  • Apocalypse Now (1979)

  • Enemy at the Gates (2001)

  • Gallipoli (1981)

Fantasy

  • Conan the Barbarian (1983)

  • El Topo (1970) Trailer Buy@Amazon

  • LOTR: The Return of the King (2003)

Finance

  • The Big Short (2015)

  • The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)