A few weeks ago I made the mistake of leaving the TV on while I finished a blog post and some e-mail. Mark was working and Annalyn was in bed, so it was just me and the cable TV.
I flipped around and just as I was about to turn it off for the night, I landed on the beginning credits of Three Men & a Baby.
It had been years since I’d seen that! But even though it may have actually been a decade or more since I’d watched Tom Selleck, Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg run around in circles when a baby lands in their laps, I still knew every scene and most lines by heart.
That night, I started thinking about the movies I’ve seen so many times – mostly ones I watched over and over with my family – that they’re imprinted on my mind. And once I started thinking about it, I couldn’t stop until I got up, turned on the light and scribbled down all my thoughts.
[Does anyone else do that? I just had to get it out of my head.]
In no particular order – although, now that I think of it, chronological order would have been nice – here are the top 10 movies I have watched so many times I pretty much have them memorized.
Top 10 Movies I’ve Seen Too Many Times
- The Wizard of Oz: I watched this over and over with my family but really came to love it my senior year of high school – when I played Glinda the Good Witch in our school’s spring musical. I didn’t necessarily LOVE my part (or my costume) but I loved watching my friends turn into lions and tigers and bears. [Go ahead and say it. You know you want to. OH MY!]
- Mary Poppins: How could I not love a movie that features both dancing penguins and a song called, “It’s a Jolly Holiday with Mary”? And don’t forget, “What’s the name of his other leg?”
- City Slickers: My dad is a quiet, laidback guy. So seeing him laugh so hard I thought he might fall out of his recliner? Priceless. And this movie never fails to make that happen. So we watched it a lot. (Although, as I scrolled through the quotes on IMDB, I realized we watched the heavily edited version!)
- Secret of My Success: You may know Michael J. Fox from Family Ties or Back to the Future – and so do I. But I also know him from this little movie. It seems like most people haven’t watched it, but my family – for some reason – loved it. As a matter of fact, I even owned the soundtrack. Copied from my cousin’s tape, of course.
- Big: This is a movie where I may not have memorized a lot of lines, but certain images and scenes – like dancing on a keyboard and a creepy carnival psychic machine thing – seem to be stuck with me forever.
- Back to the Future: Speaking of Michael J. Fox, this is a classic, am I right? Now, we need to settle a friendly dispute I had with my friend, Josh. He says that the second Back to the Future is the best, apparently all due to the wonder of the hoverboard. I, on the other hand, believe the first is the best and the third is a close second. Follow me? And, more importantly, agree with me?
- Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade: One of the first two Indiana Jones is gross (I think Temple of Doom), while the other one is just fine. But the last one is by far my favorite. “Don’t call me Junior!”
- Grease: I’ll admit it. Like most of these movies, the more adult themes went right over my head when I watched them many years ago. I didn’t understand why our drama teacher said we couldn’t do Grease as our annual musical. Until I did. And, yeah, she was right. But still. How can you resist the innocence of Olivia Newton John, the smirk of John Travolta and unforgettable lines like, “Tell me ‘bout it, stud.”
- Dirty Dancing: I’m pretty sure I’ve covered this one. But during our conversation last night about classic – or, at least, often-watched – movies, my friend Brittany admitted that she’s never seen this movie. I see a viewing in our very near future…
- Ferris Bueller / Breakfast Club: The music, the lines, the small rebellion that seemed so big at the time. Both of these movies are classics, and I love them both. The end.
What movies have you watched a million times? And which Back to the Future is your favorite?
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My movies would be “Notting Hill,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I had never seen “It’s a Wonderful Life” before I met my husband, but I’ve probably watched it 25 times since we met. I always tell him that he IS George Bailey, and I love him for it.
When my brother and I went to the Kris Allen concert this summer, we were trying to name the songs he sang on American Idol that we hoped he’d play that night. James was trying to think of one and couldn’t remember it – or any lyrics or anything about it, really – until later that night. When he said he’d been thinking of Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers (which Kris Allen did NOT sing but I wish he did), I said, “Why didn’t you just say “the song that’s in Notting Hill when Hugh Grant is walking around and the seasons are changing”?” So. I’ve seen that one a few times, too. :)
I like all those you mentioned and have seen them many times, except for “Secrets of My Success”. And you are entirely right, the FIRST “Back to the Future” was the best.
When I was a teenager, the movie that was like a cult classic with my family was “The Burbs” with Tom Hanks. If you haven’t seen it, check it out!
Of course, I love “It’s A Wonderful Life”, too. I’m not Mary Bailey for nothing!
Yes, of course you’d have to mention It’s a Wonderful Life! :)
I agree with many on your list, but would have to add “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” as a family favorite.
As for the “Back to the Future” question, I’m with you 100% — the first one was the best, the third one was darn good, and the second one was…well…not nearly as good as the others. Even my kids have seen this series a million times by now. A true classic.
It’s so interesting how many people are listing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! I’m not sure I’ve even SEEN it!
I’ve got to agree with Shelly – “You’ve Got Mail,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” are in our top 10, but we’ve got to add “Sabrina” – both versions. I loved Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a child, but the we love Hunt for Red October. I’ve never seen “Grease”, but that’s okay – too many others to re-watch.
I’ve never seen the original Sabrina, but I did really like the remake.
Oh goodness.. Ok.. here goes:
1. Dirty Dancing
2. The Notebook
3. The Departed
4. 50 first dates
5. A Christmas Story
6. Remember the Titans
7. Nemo (not by choice)
8. Twilight
ok.. I’m done for now…
As for Back to the Future.. the first one is my fav…
Wait – you QUOTE Twilight? Oh my. ;)
The Princess Bride is CONSTANTLY quoted in my home. Between my husband and I? The Rock. (take great pleasure in guttin you, boy). Nemo also gets quoted by my kids a lot! ;) as does Lion King. The Grinch (original version thank you) and White Christmas. Sappy? … Jerry McGwire, Sleepless in Seattle.
And if you count Vegetales, every line before and after the pirate song, “We don’t do anything”
Haha! I quoted Lion King just the other day. :)
Oh my gosh! My friend’s all give me a hard time for quoting movies in our everyday conversations. Definitely the most quoted are Remember the Titans, My Best Friends Wedding, or Coyote Ugly. You’d be surprised how often those three movies can incorporated into conversations.
Huh. I have to say that I don’t think I’ve ever quoted those movies. I’ve seen them and like them, but I’m not sure I know any lines. (Now I have to look it up, you know…!)
I’m all about the Sound of Music. But then there are other movies that I don’t know every detail to, but if they are on cable, I’ll be pulled in instantly. Those would be The Shawshank Redemption, You’ve Got Mail (mentioned above), and Step Mom.
It’s funny you put it that way. My next movie list will be movies that I’ll watch on cable Every Single Time!
And I love Sound of Music, too.
I’ve seen Dead Poets Society so many times, I literally have it memorized. Others I know pretty darn well are: Deep Impact, Ever After, Practical Magic, Mansfield Park and thanks to my son, ALL the Disney/Pixar films.
No question, the best Back to the Future is the original. 2 and 3 sucked.
And I totally agree with you about Grease–most of the plot went completely over my head. :-)
Dead Poets Society! I haven’t seen that in forever! But it’s like Big to me: that scene with Robin Williams standing on the desk and the one where he whispers, “Carpe diem” are forever branded on my brain!
My list: Ferris Buehler, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Princess Bride, Jerry McGuire, Zoolander, Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, While You Were Sleeping, Reality Bites, When Harry Met Sally, various Jane Austen adaptations. And probably a few more.
My friends and I LOVE quoting movies to each other. It is the soundtrack of our lives.
As far as BTTF, I think #2 was my favorite because of all the overlaps between past, present, and future.
Interesting. Josh will be glad to know that someone took his side about Back to the Future!
For me it was Mary Poppins and Dirty Dancing…quite the contrast, huh?!
Yes – but diversity is good. Right? ;)
OK, for once this is too hard to narrow it down to 10! ;) This brings back such memories. My family watched waaay too many movies when I was growing up. I actually remember RENTING a VCR back in the day!! Wow, that dates me…
I’ve seen a lot of the ones you mentioned, including Secret of My Success — I think of it when I hear the “boom chigga chigga” song (or whatever:), which is oh, so often, you know. ;) Three Men and a Baby, Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller, Back to the Future (all 3, but the first is best, followed by #3:), Mary Poppins, Big, City Slickers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and White Christmas are all ones I saw a lot, and then there’s also Return of the Jedi, Uncle Buck, Home Alone, Speed, Terminator 2, Can’t Buy Me Love, Pretty Woman, The Cutting Edge, Overboard, Look Who’s Talking, Christmas Vacation, Groundhog Day, Weekend at Bernie’s, Kindergarten Cop, and Spaceballs, and there are so many more that I can’t think of right now. But the one I probably quote the most is Clueless. :) Possibly my all-time favorite movie, and I have no idea why — I don’t know if I’d even like it if I saw it for the first time now!
I think of Secret of My Success when I hear that song, too. I feel like most people think of Ferris Bueller, but as much as I love that one, I associate it w/SOMS!
I love that other people quote movies too! Also I wonder does everybody cry like when you saw the movie the first time? I do every single time.
My top three are:
French Kiss
You’ve Got Mail
Pride & Prejudice (Keira Knightley adaption)
Other favs:
Last Holiday
Ground Hogs Day (which we watch every year on Ground Hogs Day)
Grease
Never Been Kissed
All 3 Jason Bourne movies
My Fair Lady
You’ve Got Mail is another one that I’ve got memorized. And not just the lines, but the inflection of their voices and their facial expressions. Yep, this is on my list of movies I’ve seen too many times!
(I love the Jason Bourne movies, too!)
Where do I even begin!!? I guess I shall also provide a Top Ten List.
1. Xanadu
2. Sixteen Candles
3. Some Kind of Wonderful
4. I’m With Lucy
5. The Princess Bride
6. Sense and Sensibility
7. Grease
8. Shag
9. The Goonies
10. Twilight
Oh yeah, Princess Bride is definitely one of the most quotable movies!
Oh oh oh! Yes! The Princess Bride is quoted quite frequently around here too!
[after Westley rescues her from the lightning quicksand]
Buttercup: We’ll never succeed. We may as well die here.
Westley: No, no. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurt – no problem. There’s a popping sound preceding each; we can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand, which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too.
Buttercup: Westley, what about the R.O.U.S.’s?
Westley: Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don’t think they exist.
[Immediately, an R.O.U.S. attacks him]
I love, love, love Sixteen Candles. I can watch this movie over and over. I have that and the Breakfast Club on DVD and watch them at least once a month.
hahaha.. ONLY because they play it over and over again on TV and usually during naptime.. so I end up having it on while I’m doing stuff and it burns into my brain.. LOL.. The other day it was on and I was watching it and crocheting a baby blanket for a friend of mine.. I posted on facebook “I’m sitting here watching Twilight and crocheting a baby blanket.. I can’t decide if I’m 13 or 80 yrs old”..
Oh my… those movies sure do bring back memories. The only other ones that I can think of adding to that list would be Parent Trap, Sound of Music and Girls Just Want to Have Fun… I even had a few movie night with my 3 daughters a few years back and we sat down to watch several of the movies you mentioned. It was so much fun.
I also stopped by to let you know that I have enjoyed coming back to your blog several times. So I gave you the Versatile Award and put your link on my post. You can visit my blog and see it.
Have fun at your Veggie Tales Party…
Thank you so much for the award, Anne! :)