Decider Lists

The 100 Most Basic Movies: #100-81

If there’s one buzzword that has come out of our current cultural obsession with all things pumpkin flavored, it’s “basic.” Typically, it’s a term used to describe a group of people (primarily white women) who appear to fully embrace an obsession with the lowest-common dominator of aesthetics and tastes. Like other words like “hipster” or “bro,” “basic” is the kind of word that mostly white people use to describe other white people who seemingly embody a banal lifestyle that isn’t endlessly curated. It basically says more about the person who says it than it does the person it supposedly describes.

Having said all of that, I figured it’d still be fun to figure out an exhaustive, completely objective, and absolutely definitive ranking of the most basic movies ever made. Does your favorite movie make you basic?

100. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Not since Scarface has a movie that tells of the emotionally destructive nature of capitalism and greed gone over the heads of so many people who thought that what they were seeing was, like, so bad-ass. [Where to stream The Wolf of Wall Street]

99. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1992)

Every day, at least four stoned college freshmen tell their suitemates that this is definitive proof that sequels don’t suck. [Where to stream Terminator 2: Judgment Day]

98. High Fidelity (2000)

Breaking up is hard to do, but at least you have some bitchin’ tunes to get you through it, man. [Where to stream High Fidelity]

97. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Foreign movies are usually so boring, right? But this one is pretty cool because it has magic and scary make-up, but it’s not like some weird sci-fi movie, because it’s foreign and artful. [Where to stream Pan’s Labyrinth]

96. Black Swan (2010)

If you find the sloppiness of Brian De Palma’s oeuvre too off-putting, or you need a dash of lesbianism with your psychosexual thrillers, then this movie is for you. It really makes you think about how hard it is to be a ballet dancer, huh? [Where to stream Black Swan]

95. Psycho (1960)

A movie is basic for many reasons, one of them being its accessibility. Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic is arguably his most famous and most accessible — the entry-level Hitchcock film, if you will, which spawned tons of imitations, parodies, and at least one shot-for-shot remake. [Where to stream Psycho]

94. American Hustle (2013)

This movie was a Halloween costume. I’ve never seen so many straight people get so excited about wigs. [Where to stream American Hustle]

93. Footloose (1984)

Ain’t nothin’ more American than a small town in which the teenagers are so repressed by their parents and their God that the only natural way to express that desperate frustration is by dancing to Kenny Loggins. [Where to stream Footloose]

92. Spring Breakers (2012)

I do not want to live in a world in which St. Petersburg and a Britney Spears slow-jam are considered transgressive. [Where to stream Spring Breakers]

91. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

When is a cult classic no longer a cult classic? Probably when you catch this movie on VH1; most definitely when you hear one of your parents whistling the tune to “Sweet Transvestite.” [Where to stream The Rocky Horror Picture Show]

90. Frozen (2013)

Oh hey, I really loved your cover of “Let It Go” on YouTube. You really brought your own creative spin on it! Also, your Adele Dazeem jokes were definitely the funniest I saw all year. [Where to stream Frozen]

89. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

It’s kind of weird how a one-woman comedy show in Chicago turned into such a basic movie that proves how, despite all of our differences, families are SO CRAZY! But then again, one-person shows are pretty much the most basic forms of theater. [Where to stream My Big Fat Greek Wedding]

88. A Christmas Story (1983)

You can probably blame TBS for this one (what TV channel, by the way, is more basic: TBS or TNT?), which made a little-seen irreverent family comedy turn into a double-dose of obsessive nostalgia for both the early ’80s and the ’50s. (If you’re looking for a gag gift this Christmas, by the way, I’m sure the Spencer’s in the old mall still sells replicas of the leg lamp.) [Where to stream A Christmas Story]

87. A League of Their Own (1992)

This movie has everything: Tom Hanks, sibling rivalry, the tolerable comedic chemistry between Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell; it even has something brief to say about illiteracy! This is the kind of chick flick that guys can appreciate, and it offers a cinematic safe space for them to show their feelings when Betty Spaghetti’s husband dies. [Where to stream A League of Their Own]

86. Big (1988)

Is Tom Hanks the world’s most basic actor? That’s an argument for another day. But Penny Marshall’s cute little fantasy movie about a kid who turns into a grown-man in a wacky Freaky Friday sort of way (only without the body swapping)? Pretttty basic. [Where to stream Big]

85. Thelma & Louise (1991)

Thelma and Louise made female friendship and casually humorous misandry super fun decades before it became a Twitter trope. Also, look at that selfie! [Where to stream Thelma & Louise]

84. American Pie (1999)

If you ever giggled while repeating a quote from this movie that begins with “One time, at band camp…” then you are the human equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte. [Where to stream American Pie]

83. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

I’ve heard people describe this as a romantic comedy, which is tantamount to picking “I Will Always Love You” as your wedding song. [Where to stream Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]

82. Wedding Crashers (2005)

When you have John McCain and Will Ferrell giving highly publicized, uncredited cameos in a movie, you’re really setting some sort of cinematic standard — that bar remains pretty low, though, with an anti-romantic comedy about two wild and crazy guys who fall in love based on a lie. [Where to stream Wedding Crashers]

81. Rudy (1993)

This is the kind of  movie that was made for people who don’t even like sports, but who would still get choked up by the idea of a runty little guy like the titular character overcoming all of the odds and obstacles in order to achieve his dream of playing in a Notre Dame football game. (It’s also another movie for dudes who need a good cry.)

[Where to stream Rudy]

Continue reading our list of the most basic movies here:

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Photos: Everett Collection