I intentionally left out a lot of my favorite movies because I either a) watched them to death, to the point where I don’t feel like watching them as much any more or b) because they make me too sad and are therefore not that helpful with getting out of a bad mood or c) in the case of eternal sunshine because they’re so sacred to me that I only watch them on very special occasions.

1. Mean Girls (2004)
   A cult classic for good reason. Probably the most quotable movie of all time. I first watched it when I was a kid when it first came out and have probably watched it 20 or so times since, enough times to know most of the lines by heart.
   Pure comfort! Thank you, Tina Fey!
2. High Fidelity (2000)
   The first movie my family owned on DVD and a very formative movie (and book) for me. This and Gilmore Girls are probably the main reasons I have encyclopedic pop culture/media knowledge autism and not an obsession with trains or some shit. I know every sentence and feel a need to quote along while watching the movie, which makes it pretty obnoxious to watch it with me. Sorry not sorry.
   
3. Rushmore (1998)
   Formerly one of my top 3 or so movies when I was a teen. I get why people dislike the protagonist, Max (and also Rob from High Fidelity btw) and I would too probably if I hadn’t first seen it as a teen, deeply related to it then and instantly fell in love with Max’ eccentric over the top genius douche bag persona.
   The “O R they?” line will forever be one of my favorite lines of any movie even though no one I know but me finds it very funny.
   
4. Silence of the Lambs (1991)
   I love Jodie Foster and Clarice Starling. Probably the best thriller of all time in my opinion. Every shot is perfect, every line is memorable and quotable. I get so much joy out of watching this, it would probably seem kind of creepy to people who don’t know me.
   
5. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
   I also watched this a lot as a kid and always felt a bit ashamed of how much I loved it and how much I swooned for Darcy’s proclamations of love and the romance of it all.
   I have reclaimed all that in recent years and am proud to say that I stand by being a silly little romantic who giggles and grins every time Darcy flexes his hand because it touched Elizabeth for a second. My feelings about this movie are still what they were last April. My affections and wishes are unchanged.
   
6. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
   If I could leave this world and enter the Jane Austen universe permanently (as a protagonist who will always end up happy and in love of course) I definitely would do so.
   
7. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
   One of the greatest movies of all time imo. I love the drama and extraness of Norma Desmond. And how the story manages to be both funny and entertaining and deeply tragic at the same time. I could probably watch this once a week because of how perfect it is.
   
8. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
   Peek improvisational comedy. I love most of the early Christopher Guest movies but this is by far my favorite.
   I love theatre kids and I especially love Corky St. Claire.
   Also I desperately want that Dinner with Andre action figure set.
   
9. Good Will Hunting (1997)
   One of my favorite movies of all time. I love Robin Williams, especially in sad/”serious” movies and the authenticity he brought to his character and the whole movie via his improvisations. I love the Elliott Smith songs featured in it.
   I love the “Do you know how easy this is for me?” monologue (very autistic coded). I love the “You’re not perfect.” monologue. So many deeply touching and true scenes in this one. Very relatable and comforting to me.
   
10. Almost Famous (2000)
    This is such a love letter to music and basically made for music nerds to enjoy.
    It sucks you in and won’t let you go until the end.
    Also great depiction of the different kinds of assholes men can be. Both the blatant philandering, selfish ones and the “nice guy” incel-ish types.
    Lots of great scenes and quotes.
    There’s something very well rounded about this movie and it feels very satisfying to me because of that.
    

Honorable Mentions:

My Best Friends Wedding (1997)
Sabrina (1954)
The Apartment (1960)
Best in Show (2000)
American Beauty (1999)
Any John Mulaney Special