50 Most Loved Movies

Aliens (1986)

The Movie: Ridley Scott - one alien, slow-burn horror. James Cameron - hundreds of the buggers, fighting gung-ho space marines.

Why It Was Loved: Arguably, the original is more admired than loved, but the irrepressible momentum of the sequel - driven by its wisecracking soldiers and a never-better Sigourney Weaver - makes it more cherished in the mainstream.

Typical Online Review: "The film exists on at least a half dozen levels simultaneously: first rate action flick, Vietnam war parable, visionary sci-fi epic, old-school special effects bonanza, horror movie and redemptive tale while all the while churning toward its primary thesis about the transcendent power of family." Chris, nonstop80s

Scarface (1983)

The Movie: First you get Pacino, then you get De Palma, then you get a foul-mouthed, ultra-violent, OTT carnival of a gangster movie.

Why It Was Loved: For wannabe gangstas everywhere, this is the Bible.

Typical Online Review: "our traditian on thanksgiving, is eating and watching scarface, started when i was around 12, im 36 now....people come over like "this is weird" but its normal in my dads house and mine lol...love us some Tony baby!!" Jennifer Davis, Facebook

Some Like It Hot (1959)

The Movie: Billy Wilder's high-heeled screwball comedy puts on-the-run musos Jack and Tony in drag...and then gives them Marilyn to fight over.

Why It Was Loved: It's the Hollywood comedy with something for everyone: razor-sharp dialogue, tranny smut and dark laughs courtesy of a plot that hinges on a massacre.

Typical Online Review: "this is by far and away my most favorite movie. the humor in it is still relevant today.. probably because it was ahead of its time back then. i promise it's funny!" Alexis N, Rotten Tomatoes

The Jungle Book (1967)

The Movie: Mowgli learns the Bare Necessities from Baloo, but still wants to be like you-ooh-ooh.

Why It Was Loved: It's the Disney that everybody has a soft spot for - a snazzy, jazzy blast of pure joie de vivre.

Typical Online Review: "I love The Jungle Book for three main reasons: it’s sweet and uplifting, it looks great and the songs are amazing." Matthew Dorey, mattischro.me

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

The Movie: The definitive mockumentary, as American comedians nail the pompous tomfoolery of an English heavy metal band.

Why It Was Loved: Because they make bridging the gap between surreal gags and realistic style look so effortless.

Typical Online Review: "The band dancing round their 11 inch version of Stonehenge never fails to bring tears to the eyes - as does the 'pod' that finally releases the trapped band member on the last riff of their 'headline' number." nicoma, Lovefilm

Singin' In The Rain (1952)

The Movie: Before The Artist , there was Gene Kelly's toe-tapping satire about the coming of sound to Hollywood - the lightest, and breeziest of Golden Age musicals.

Why It Was Loved: The customary panache of MGM's musical department - witty lyrics, muscular choreography, eye-popping colours - allied to a buffet of movie in-jokes for film geeks.

Typical Online Review: "Super duper dopeness. The cat's meow, the poor man's humility, THE bomb, Singin' in the Rain is one of the finest pinnacles of American cinema." Kevin C, Rotten Tomatoes

Die Hard (1988)

The Movie: Yippee-kay-ey. Bruce Willis strips to his dirty vest to take out a Nakatomi Plaza's worth of hostage-taking crooks.

Why It Was Loved: It's the perfect action movie, thanks to its claustrophobic setting, steely set-pieces and villains as quotable as the heroes. Better still, it's a bona-fide Christmas movie.

Typical Online Review: "In December there are few things I like more than curling up on the couch and enjoying the smell of terrorists roasting on an open fire as I watch Die Hard." Protoclown, i-mockery.com

Dirty Dancing (1987)

The Movie: Patrick Swayze rescues Jennifer Grey from the corner, and girls everywhere suddenly hit puberty.

Why It Was Loved: Remember the book in American Pie that gets passed down from year to year? Dirty Dancing is what girls have instead.

Typical Online Review: "For as far back as I can remember I have loved this film. I use to watch my parents copy of the film and even though back then I didn't understand some of the things I got the basic 'forbidden love' theme. I thought it was so beautiful how love came through in the end." Randomdriftwood, Experience Project

Jaws (1975)

The Movie: Steven Spielberg lays down the template for blockbusters ever since, although most have only a fraction of its buccaneering spirit and extraordinary suspense.

Why It Was Loved: The first horror story most of us ever saw, but not so much traumatising as exhilarating , ensuring we all wanted to watch it again.

Typical Online Review: "My absolute favorite movie... I have 3 copies, just in case, LOL! Way to go, Steven S! Would not have been nearly as good or as scary if we saw more of Bruce!" Sunny Nestler, Facebook

Rocky (1976)

The Movie: An underdog off-screen and on-, Sylvester Stallone punches above his weight to secure Italian pride and Oscar glory.

Why It Was Loved: This urban fairytale is a proper 'punch the air' entertainment, although paradoxically its appeal lies in the fact that it avoids a fairytale ending.

Typical Online Review: "If you think Rocky is about a boxing match, you are sorely mistaken. In the movie, you find that it’s a story about a guy’s journey that culminates in a boxing match that is the perfect metaphor for his life." Michael Kelley, Threads Media