Top 10 Movies You Need to Watch in the Theater
Even in the age of streaming, some films just deserve the big screen treatment. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the top 10 movies you need to watch in the theater. For this list, we're looking at movies that are best viewed on a towering screen in a large auditorium, preferably with a big crowd.
Special thanks to our users Jesse Polowin for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Top 10 Movies You Need to Watch in the Theater
Even in the age of streaming, some films just deserve the big screen treatment. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 movies you need to watch in the theater. For this list, we’re looking at movies that are best viewed on a towering screen in a large auditorium, preferably with a big crowd. This might be because they have amazing effects, gorgeous cinematography, or an atmosphere primarily suited for big screens.
#10: “Saving Private Ryan” (1998)
War is hell, and there are few better cinematic examples of that than this masterpiece from Steven Spielberg. The majesty and horror of this World War II film is best expressed in its prolonged opening sequence, an intense recreation of the invasion of Omaha Beach on D-Day, which many veterans call the most realistic war sequence ever portrayed in a film. What follows is no less extraordinary, following Tom Hanks and company’s harrowing mission to rescue one soldier from war-torn Europe, an experience well worth the almost three hours you’ll be sitting in the theater.
#9: “Avatar” (2009)
Top 10 Things You Missed in Avatar: The Way of Water
Chances are many of you saw “Avatar” in theaters, considering it’s one of the highest-grossing films of all time. And it’s a good thing youdid, since James Cameron’s sci-fi epic is an absolutely unforgettable experience. The world of Pandora, with its exotic animals, floating islands, and of course, the Na’vi, truly come to life on the big screen, and are made even more immersive with the groundbreaking 3D that would be impossible to recreate on even the best TVs. While Cameron is no stranger to lavish epics, even “Titanic” can’t hold a candle tothe spectacle and wonder of watching “Avatar” in the theater.
#8: “Gravity” (2013)
Top 10 Gravity Bending Movie Scenes
Another mind-blowing 3D space epic, “Gravity” won filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Director. It’s not hard to see why when you watch it, as the unbelievable effects allow you to feel the same terror and isolation that Dr. Ryan Stone feels when she’s stranded in the vacuum of space after an accident. In fact, we don’t even know how you would watch this on a small screen. This is the kind of film that movie theaters and 3D exist for, giving you a once in a lifetime feeling of drifting through an endless abyss.
#7: “Interstellar” (2014)
Here’s yet another mind-blowing space epic– hey, don’t blame us, these things are just made for cinemas. This piece of hard sci-fi from Christopher Nolan is a HUGE film, from the performances, to the special effects, to the concept itself. “Interstellar” is best suited for viewing on a large screen, as it was shot on 70mm IMAX film. The story about astronauts sent to save mankind by making use of wormholes may be perplexing at times, but it will undeniably leave you exhilarated, with its impeccable outer space effects and epic landscapes. Besides, who doesn’t wanna see big screen close-ups of Matthew McConaughey in a spacesuit?
#6: “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)
Top 20 Incredible Movies You'll Probably Never Watch Again
If you’d told us that a feature length car chase would be one of the greatest cinematic experiences of our lifetime, we probably would’ve hooked you to the front of our car and driven through a sandstorm. But George Miller’s action masterpiece was that and more, and it demanded to be watched in a theater with its vibrant colors, wild cinematography, and emphasis on expertly executed practical effects, thelikes of which are rarely seen or perfected. After taking a drive with Max and Furiosa on the Fury Road, all other action movies just look… well, you say it Joe: [Mediocre! soundbite]
#5: “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian to Return in Star Wars: Episode IX – The CineFiles Ep.80
How do you top the most popular film of all time? Make everything bigger and better. The second installment of George Lucas’s space opera upped the ante in every way, especially in the set piece department, ensuring that you need to watch this one in a theater. Watching Luke, Han, and Leia’s second adventure on the big screen lets you properly soak in all the atmosphere “Empire” has to offer, from the Battle of Hoth, to training in the foggy swamps of Dagobah, to the carbon freezing chamber. You’d have to be a nerf herder to not watch this on thebig screen.
#4: “Jurassic Park” (1993)
The Jurassic Park and World Timeline Explained
There’s still no better way to watch the film that revolutionized special effects and caused a new dinosaur craze than on a screen the size of a T. Rex. Another entry from the visual wizard that is Steven Spielberg, this science gone wrong parable combines animatronics and CGI torecreate the largest creatures ever to walk the earth to terrifying effect. That, combined with the one of a kind tropical atmosphere of Isla Nublar that only Spielberg could create, makes this a walk in the park you’d be more than willing to see in theaters.
#3: “The Revenant” (2015)
Top 10 Movies We Love to Hate Watch
Gorgeous American frontier landscapes, breathtaking cinematography, and a two and a half hour runtime? Better bring some popcorn for this one. Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s epic tale of revenge is every bit as mesmerizing and visually sublime as it is brutal and uncompromising. Hugh Glass’s journey is best viewed on a 50 ft screen, so viewers can take in every last bit of cinematic splendor and each disturbing physical ailment, making them feel like they’re going through Glass’s battle with the elements, too. We mean, come on. It’s the film that won Leonardo DiCaprio his Oscar! You owe it to him to see this one the way it was meant to be viewed.
#2: “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962)
Top 10 Jennifer Lawrence Movie Moments
Speaking of epics, who’s up for a nearly four-hour trek through the desert? The life of T.E. Lawrence, played by Peter O’Toole, is so massive that watching it on a small screen should be considered a crime. Taking home the Best Picture Academy Award in 1963, this film depicts epic battle scenes, larger than life themes and characters, and an atmosphere that’s best projected onto a huge movie screen. It’s one of cinemas ultimate epics, and proof that looking at sand for hours on end is actually much more fascinating than it sounds. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a couple honorable mentions: “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991) “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952) “Inception” (2010) “The Lord of the Rings” franchise (2001-03) “Apocalypse Now” (1979) “Blade Runner” (1982)
#1: “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)
Sometimes, a theater is necessary. Sometimes, you need a huge screen to take in every visual cue. Sometimes, you need a massive auditorium to fully absorb the scope of what a film is trying to accomplish. Stanley Kubrick’s magnum opus fits all of those criteria. Its revolutionary special effects are reason enough to see it in a theater, but “2001” has a lot more on its mind than visual wonder. This is a film that will wow you, confuse you, exhilarate you, scare you, but more than anything else, it will entertain you. If you watch it at home, you’re missing out. Do you agree with our list? What movies do you think are best meant for the theater? For more great top 10 posted every day, be sure tosubscribe to WatchMojo.com.
