There is an insurmountable number of incredible movies across different genres, making it impossible to consume all the entertainment that’s readily available at our fingertips. However, there are some movies that are iconic classics and are so embedded into popular culture that it’s impossible to not know about them. While most people have gaps in their cinematic knowledge, there are some movies that are so popular that people can’t fathom that someone didn’t watch them.
Despite never watching these masterpieces, even I cannot deny the influence of certain scenes and the movie’s impact on cinema and storytelling. Frommind-bending sci-fi movieswhose filming techniques changed how stories are told to movies that redefine horror and what it means to be terrified, these are the movies that I’m afraid to admit I’ve never seen, despite the repeated suggestions from everyone around me.
10Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a massive superhero franchise that is only gaining in popularity and is truly unavoidable.Avengers: Endgamemarks the end of an era and was the direct sequel toAvengers: Infinity Wars,which ended on a massive cliffhanger where half of all life was erased by Thanos. The big-budget film was a record breaker and is the second highest-grossing film of all time, earning almost $2.8 billion internationally.
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Purely through social osmosis, I managed to learn about the entireplot and ending ofAvengers: Endgameand heard the words “I love you 3000” uttered more times than I could ever imagine, despite never watching the movie. As a non-Marvel fan who only watched the select movies I was intrigued by, I didn’t see the point of watchingAvengers: Endgame,especially since I hadn’t seenAvengers: Infinity Warseither. Now that four years have passed, it is far too late for me to join the discussion aboutAvengers: Endgame,meaning I might never watch the iconic movie.
9The Karate Kid (1984)
As a fan of martial arts movies, it is truly embarrassing that I have not seenThe Karate Kid,a movie often credited with helping popularize karate in the United States.In my defense, I watched the 2010 remake ofThe Karate Kid.The film follows the teenager Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Machio) after he and his mom move from New Jersey to Los Angeles. Daniel is instantly targeted by the arrogant bully Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). In an effort to end the bullying, Daniel trains with Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) and learns to find peace and balance while learning karate.
The Karate Kidis a cultural icon and is constantly referenced in other TV shows, including but not limited toCommunity, Psych,andHow I Met Your Mother.In addition, Macchio’s and Zabka’s appearances in comedy shows often include references to their characters inThe Karate Kid,making it impossible not to know about the beloved characters and the movie.
8The Mummy (1999)
The high-octane adventure movieThe Mummyis a popular remake of the 1932 film of the same name. StarringBrendan Fraser as treasure hunter Rick O’Connelland Rachel Weisz as librarian Evelyn Carnahan, the movie follows their expedition to the ancient city of Hamunaptra where they accidentally awaken a cursed mummy who wreaks havoc while trying to resurrect his love. Well-renowned for being an incredible blend of action, horror, comedy, and romance,The Mummyis an entertaining hit film perfect for the whole family and has only grown more popular over time.
While I know most of the plot through clips I’ve seen on social media and nods to Fraser’s and Weisz’s acting and chemistry every time they release a new film, it is truly mind-boggling that I haven’t seenThe Mummyyet. With the large cultural footprintThe Mummyleaves, with its practical effects still holding up in the CGI era, it’s officially time to moveThe Mummyhigher up on my watchlist.
7Jurassic Park (1993)
Jurassic Parkis an iconic staple of the 1990s, and the science fiction movie has an iconic cast and a compelling, if not terrifying premise.Jurassic Parkfollows a group of visitors at the titular wildlife park filled with cloned dinosaurs when an orchestrated sabotage results in a shutdown in the park, putting all of the visitors in danger as they struggle to survive in the dinosaur-filled park.
While I don’t have solid reasons despite time constraints for not watching the other popular films on this list, I know exactly why I haven’t seenJurassic Parkyet, and why I’m confident I never will. At a young age, I saw a clip ofaJurassic Parkcharacter being brutally killedand eaten by dinosaurs, and it scarred me for life. Since then, I’ve lost my aversion to horror, but I still refuse to watchJurassic Parkand each clip I’ve seen fills me with terror and apprehension.
6Oppenheimer (2023)
Christopher Nolan’s biographical drama movieOppenheimerfollows the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who helped develop the first nuclear weapons. Releasing on the same day asBarbie,the two drastically different films created a cultural phenomenon andrivalry between the movies known as Barbenheimer. With legendary filmmaker Nolan involved in the film and Barbenheimer propelling both films to further hype,Oppenheimer’spopularity and hype became unavoidable on both social media and real life prior to, during, and after its release in July 2023.
The hype surrounding Nolan’s writing and directing inOppenheimercombined with the stellar cast’s performances took over social media for months after the film’s release. The film’s long run time of over three hours did not put off the viewers as audience reviews and critics raved about the movie. However, more than a year after its release, I’ve definitely missed the best way to experienceOppenheimerin IMAXtheaters.
5Fight Club (1999)
The first rule aboutFight Clubis easy for me, since I’ve never seen the movie and cannot talk about it. The movie is a cult classic following an unnamed Narrator (Edward Norton) disillusioned with his life and his job as he meets Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), a soap sales agent, and the duo form an underground fight club. Critics and fans alike praiseFight Clubfor its depiction and critiques of masculinity and consumerism, cementing its status as an action film filled with important themes and messages.
DespiteFight Club’spopularity and its cultural significance in entertainment media, most references toFight Clubhappen to be the iconic line about the fight club’s rules, “The first rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club.“The fascination with the iconicFight Clubline has somehow overpowered all referencing potential, making it easier to avoid hearing details about the movie’s plot andFight Club’s notoriously shocking plot twist ending.
4The Godfather (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola’sThe Godfather,based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Mario Puzo, defines the gangster film genre. Starring an ensemble cast featuring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton, the film follows a crime family based in New York City. The dark and gritty movie revolves around the crime family activities under their patriarch Vito Corleone (Brando) and his young son Michael’s (Pacino) journey from an outsider to a mafia boss.
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The critically acclaimed award-winning filmThe Godfatherisn’t just a groundbreaking gangster film, it is ranked by the American Film Institute as the second-greatest movie in American cinema.The Godfather’sexploration of family, loyalty, and the American Dream against the backdrop of a corrupt and crime-ridden New York, makes it a compelling film filled with action and drama. Despite its popularity and influence on pop culture and cinema, I’ve never sat down and dedicated time to watch the beloved trilogy.
3Back To The Future (1985)
Back to the Futureand the classic and easily recognizable DeLorean quickly became cultural icons in the world of pop culture and movies. The science-fiction adventure movie follows Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) after he is accidentally sent back in time in the time-traveling DeLorean built by the eccentric Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). Ripped away from the familiarity of 1985 and thrust into 1955,Marty McFly deals with a time travel paradoxafter he inadvertently stops his parents from falling in love and faces the threat of his existence being erased.
Most time travel conundrums in media mentionBack to the Futureand the time-traveling DeLorean at least once. Despite only witnessing the dynamic between Marty and Doc Brown, along with Doc’s kooky nature as an inventor from clips and references, it’s clear to see whyBack to the Futurewon over the hearts of audiences. Even after almost40 years since the release ofBack to the Future,itremains deeply embedded in the sci-fi genre and pop culture as a whole, and with each passing year, it gets harder to justify not watching the film.
2The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix’sartful imagery, concepts, and filming techniques are deeply embedded into the minds of every familiar with cinema. The sci-fi action film is set in a dystopian future where humans are trapped inside the Matrix, a simulated reality.The Matrixfollows Neo (Keanu Reeves) after he discovers the bleak truth and joins a rebellion to take down the machines that imprisoned humanity.
The Matrix’sinfamous and iconic scenes, like Neo dodging bullets, popularized the “bullet time” visual effect, and the effect is now synonymous with the iconic scene. In addition, the brilliant usage of the red and blue pill inThe Matrixand its representation of embracing unsettling truths versus settling for content and ordinary life that isn’t real is constantly referenced and memed to this day. The popularity ofThe Matrix’svisually pleasing imagery and action scenes ensures that discussions of the film don’t delve too deeply into the details of the plot, making it possible for me to enjoy the film, years too late.
1Alien (1979)
It is truly shameful that I still haven’t seen the sci-fi horror filmAlienand the franchiseit sparked. Starring Sigourney Weaver as the brilliant and badass Ellen Ripley, the movie is a cultural icon in both science fiction and horror. Ripley is one of American cinema’s most revolutionary and influential protagonists, and Weaver’s portrayal of the character propelled her to further stardom. In addition, the beloved and well-known tagline “In space, no one can hear you scream” is enough to make any horror fan intrigued.
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These sci-fi movies completely changed the genre, and their influence can be seen in the many visual and narrative references in other sci-fi movies.
Despite initially receiving mixed reviews, the award-winning movie received critical acclaim years later and is now considered one of the greatest sci-fi and horror films.Alien’siconic chestburster scene remains horrifying and chilling to this day, even without the context of the film’s plot. In spite of the repeated endorsements from friends and family, I am afraid to admit that I haven’t watchedAlien.In my defense,I am planning on watchingAliensoon,as it’s never too late.
