Just realised I am a film philistine - dire need of suggestions!

[salamithumbs]

It's only just dawned on me... some friends were talking about favourite films and I had seen barely any of the ones mentioned! Not sure how this happened.. we rented videos regularly when I was a child but the rental place closed down when I was around 10 and from then on I mainly just watched tv series. But now I've reached the ripe old age of 29 and realised I've seen hardly any films that are not musicals or children's films 😳
Any suggestions? They don't need to be the best films of all time, just anything you enjoyed. When I google 'best films to watch' the lists are very highbrow... it's not that I don't want to watch anything serious, it's just I want to watch it because it's enjoyable/moving rather than because it was groundbreaking at the time iyswim. Obvious suggestions welcome as there's a high chance I won't have seen it. Only recently saw Titanic for the first time 😬

I have watched and really enjoyed:
Billy Elliot, Stand by Me, Brassed Off, Knives Out, Brooklyn, East is East, Devil Wears Prada, Saving Mr Banks, Mean Girls, Shutter Island, Bridget Jones, Father of the Bride, Planes trains and automobiles, Schindler's List, The Pianist..
..and not a whole lot else!

Shawshank Redemption is another film based on a Stephen King novella.

thanks funbags, will definitely watch!

Baby driver.

Great film with great music which is in time with the action on the screen.

Very clever.

Classics, but not too highbrow or violent/ heavy going that I enjoyed are:

Shawshank Redemption
Thelma & Louise
A Star is Born
4 Weddings and A Funeral
Forest Gump
Castaway
Top Gun (both old and new)
Something About Mary
Muriel’s Wedding
Dumb and Dumber
Knocked-up
American Pie
Love Actually

I would say Grease / Dirty Dancing / Pretty Woman, but surely you’ve seen them????

Have a look at Timeout's 100 best movies of all time. There are some awesome suggestions on there.

thanks moveoverdarlin, haven't seen any of your suggestions except Love Actually which I did enjoy! Will give them a try.
And.. yes I have seen and loved Grease -I'd say I've seen most musicals- but never seen Dirty Dancing or Pretty Woman 😬(hides in shame)

@SkiingIsHeaven thanks, that sounds like something I'd enjoy! Love a bit of atmospheric music

@funbags3 thanks, I'll take a look!

I really like Gattaca it's about a future where DNA sequencing means there are genetically superior people and people with defects and it causes a two tier society. One man with a heart defect wants to be an astronaut and assumes someone else's identity.

If you liked Bridget Jones and want similar there's Two Weeks Notice or Miss Congeniality.

Some rom com films I like are Hitch, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Failure to Launch.

Something off piste that i liked was The Gentleman with Hugh Grant, Matthew Mcconaughey(sp?) And others.

The Shining is a classic Horror, I liked Cabin in the woods, also the excorcist, and paranormal activity.

Jurassic Park is a classic, Patrick is a feel good film about a dog. Where as the art of racing in the rain marley and me are more tear jerking dog films

The hunger games trilogy is good based on YA fiction and a new ones just about to be released in the cinema.

Parasite is many peoples first foray into foreign film and I though it was interesting enough.

I'd say Avatar but whilst it looks great on TV ( one of the main things that made it so popular) it pales in comparison to seeing it in the cinema as the story can be bland.

Knocked up - a film about an accidentally pregnant Katherine Heigl and oath like Seth Rogan.

Teenage coming of age films Superbad ( boy version) booksmart ( girl version).

You said you've seen musicals but there's Sweeny Todd.

Gone Girl is a great film.

Thanks so much for your suggestions @Mouldyfoodhelp , I like a mix of things so I really appreciate the ideas for different genres. I've seen paranormal activity and liked it so will definitely try more horror! Foreign language is a great shout, your post reminded me that I used to watch French and Italian films back when I was learning the languages and really enjoyed films like Les Choristes, Io non ho paura and La Vita e Bella so will google some foreign language lists. I remember watching a French psychological thriller called A la folie, pas du tout and loving it, must rewatch!
Jurassic park is on the list, I've seen a bit of it when it's been on around Christmas but not the whole thing... and yes I've seen Sweeney Tood ;)

'Everything Everywhere, All at Once' is an amazing film that manages to be highbrow and huge fun at the same time. Really innovative but also extremely enjoyable.

Sliding doors
Marley and Me
As Good as it gets
The Young Lions
On the Waterfront
A streetcar named desire
Witchfinder General
the usual suspects

if you like French psychological thrillers then Cache is old but good.

Lots of people making great suggestions! Some foreign language films I've enjoyed:

The lives of others
Mon Oncle
Playtime
Amelie
The triplets of belleville
Les visiteurs
Cinema Paradiso
The Wave (Die Welle)
Run Lola Run
Goodbye Lenin
The Third Man
Burnt by the sun (Russian film)
In the heat of the sun (chinese film with a very similar name)
Raise the red lantern
Farewell my concubine
Black coal, thin ice
Rashomon
Yojimbo
Kwaidan (japanese ghost stories, not too scary or gory)

Some fun lightweight classics that make you think about life:

About Time (Richard Curtis's best movie imo)
Groundhog Day
It's a Wonderful Life
Pursuit of Happyness

Some serious, great classics:
The Lives of Others (best movie ever imo) – German with subtitles but don't be put off.
Rear Window
Cinema Paradiso (Italian with subtitles)

Black and White classics

Kind Hearts and Coronets
Some Like it Hot
Les Enfants du Paradis
Rashomon

Little Miss Sunshine

Thanks @haribosmarties , just watched the trailer and it looks great! I would watch anything with Jamie Lee Curtis ;)

I have been meaning to watch The Usual Suspects since the mum's obsession with it on Derry Girls, thanks @GonnaGetGoingReturns ! Also always meant to watch Sliding Doors since people always talk about a 'sliding doors moment'.. I know the vague premise but never seen it, will definitely watch. Caché sounds like something I would love!

Thanks so much @Xiaoxiong , I've seen Cinema Paradiso and loved it but not the others! That's quite a list to go through 🤗

I'll have to watch The Lives of Others asap if it's the best film ever @TotalOverhaul ! Will definitely give the others a try- Rear Window is a good shout, I've been meaning to watch more Hitchcock as I really liked Psycho. I did see About Time and really enjoyed! Thank you x

I've seen that @saltnpepper2000 but not for ages, had forgotten about it! Must rewatch, Abigail Breslin was brilliant

On BBC iPlayer now:

Alien
Apocalypse Now
Citizen Kane
Don't Look Now
The Eichmann Show
Gravity
The Omen
Poltergeist
Selma
The Shining
Twelve Monkeys

On ITVX now:

Dr Strangelove
District 9
The Blues Brothers
Educating Rita
Amistad
Oranges and Sunshine
Fried Green Tomatoes
Still Life
Leviathan
Son of Saul
Capricorn One
Sophie's Choice
Black Narcissus

On All4 Now:

Animal Farm
Midsommar
Minority Report

The green mile
Shawshank redemption
Forrest Gump
Castaway
Grease
Alien
Aliens
Pride & Prejudice
The breakfast club
The Blair witch project
Sliding doors
Dog soldiers
Lock stock and two smoking barrels

Thank you so much @PencilsInSpace , it's great to know where I can access them! I've only seen Educating Rita and Sophie's Choice of your suggestions but they were great so I'll definitely explore the others! Might have seen The Omen years ago but I may be mixing it up with another child horror film... I'm now picturing Damian from Only Fools and Horses 😂

More Stephen King is definitely a good call, thanks @wildwestpioneer since I loved Stand by Me and liked Carrie! Will try the others!

If you like "Billy Elliot" and "Brassed Off", then you will probably like "The Full Monty". Similar environment and themes.