The Blues Brothers (1980):

By far the best movie to come out of SNL, the Blues Brothers blends humor, action, and soul music (I’m talking cameos from James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles… the list goes on) into an unforgettable film. After Jake Blues (John Belushi) is released from jail and reunites with his foster brother, Elwood (Dan Aykroyd), the two decide embark on a “mission from god” to reunite their old band. Hijinks ensue.

Fargo (1996):

In the mood for a dark thriller that involves kidnapping and Minnesotan accents? If so, this Coen Brothers film that inspired the critically acclaimed television series is for you. Car salesman Jerry Lundegaard is so desperate for money that he decides to do the unthinkable. The perpetual suspense in this film is palpable and the plot twists are quite intense.

Before Trilogy: Before Sunrise (1995), Before Sunset (2004), Before Midnight (2013)

The Before Trilogy, a series of romantic movies, follows the romance between a pretentious American, Jesse, and a worldly Frenchwoman, Céline. What makes this series unique is that writer and director Richard Linklater leaves a gap of nine years between the release of each film. This interesting stylistic choice allows the series to explore how life and time impact the human psyche and the role of love, communication, and expectations in one’s life.

 Rushmore (1998):

You may know Wes Anderson from Moonrise Kingdom or The Grand Budapest Hotel, but this magnificent Writer/Director has been working for a while. In Rushmore, pretentious and grandiose high schooler Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) lives life to the full. A member of 20+ clubs and a serial activist, Max can’t help but reach for the stars. So it’s no surprise that when Max is put on academic probation, he invests his time and energy into wooing the unattainable: a teacher at his school (Olivia Williams). This movie, also starring Bill Murray, embodies the perfect balance between childhood nostalgia and seasoned cynicism.