What's the best movie in its genre?

Action - Anything with Steven Seagal (honestly, any movie, because watching that guy snap limbs is just... wow), but let's go with Under Siege.

Martial Arts - I thought about this one for a while and ended up giving the title to Van Damme (specifically Karate Tiger 3). Some people might cry for Enter The Dragon, though. 😛

War - Full Metal Jacket.

Drama - Forrest Gump.

Fairytale - E.T.

Sci-Fi - The Matrix.

Horror - The Exorcist.

Comedy - Dumb and Dumber. 😁

Animated - The Lion King (I mean the Disney version, obviously, even if the original was an anime).

Adult - Debbie Does Dallas.

Romance - I'll say Titanic, even if it leans pretty heavy into drama.

Thriller - The Pelican Brief (if anyone remembers that one, it’s seriously great).

And that's my list.

Some movies that deserve a mention regardless of genre are: Predator 1 and 2, Aliens, Midnight Express, and The Godfather (the trilogy). Sorry, but I just couldn't leave them out.

Action - Red Circle (Melville). This one is purely subjective, based entirely on my own personal tastes...

War - M.A.S.H. and Full Metal Jacket.

Comedy - Oh, Brother... (I honestly can't explain why I'm so obsessed with this one).

Drama - La Strada

Animation - Metropolis, obviously 😎

Sci-Fi - Well, 2001: A Space Odyssey, though I have a soft spot for Gattaca.

Regardless, I've left out more than half of my favorites since I wasn't sure where they'd fit (like the Jim Jarmusch collection)...

Action: Underworld Warriors
Thriller: Three Days of Condor
Comedy: Brian's Life
Drama: Dangerous Liaisons, The Diplomat (I suppose that counts as drama)
Western: Once Upon a Time in the Wild West (arguably the greatest film ever made)
Horror: Psycho, Predator, Witch Night
Sci-Fi: 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Matrix, Alien
Fantasy: Lord of the Rings
Historical: Braveheart

Mark Nelson17 said:Fantasy: Lord of the Rings

Well... it's a decent movie, I suppose.😁

All categories - Terminator 2😁

Action - Terminator 2

Thriller - Primal Fear / L.A. Confidential

Drama - The Shawshank Redemption / Scent of a Woman

War - The Thin Red Line

Comedy - Some Like It Hot

Sci-Fi - 12 Monkeys

Animation - The Lion King / The Emperor's New Groove / Ice Age

Historical - Braveheart

Horror - The Exorcist

Grace Mitchell22> Animated - The Lion King (I mean the Disney version, obviously, not some random anime rip-off)

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

restlessviper20> Animated - Metropolis, easy choice.

I guess there's more of us out there after all.
👍 👋

I’m typing this out without overthinking it—just a stream of consciousness. I’ll try my best not to parrot everyone else here, though I might have to repeat a few points if they’re absolutely essential.

Thriller - Bring in the suspects.

Comedy - Oh, Brother... (I honestly can't explain why I'm so obsessed with this one).

Maybe it’s because it’s one of those rare comedies with actual "sophisticated," intelligent humor? If you're going to put it in the same league as Monty Python's *Life of Brian* or *The Meaning of Life*, then I suppose I have to lump this drama in there too: Lars von Trier's *Breaking the Waves*.

Drama - *Breaking the Waves* is a straight-up masterpiece by Lars von Trier.

Mystery, modern noir, or just its own weird category—*Lost Highway*. It's easily one of my all-time favorites. Why? Because it sticks with you.

Anti-war - *Platoon*, *Full Metal Jacket*, *Apocalypse Now*...

Sci-fi, or perhaps just a category for the truly original—*2001: A Space Odyssey*.

Namche said:Comedy—specifically Bad Taste.

I'm with you on that one. It’s a brutal movie. 😁

THRILLER - The Usual Suspects, LA Confidential, The Departed, Vertigo, Psycho

HORROR - Rosemary's Baby, Don't Look Now, Angel Heart

ACTION - Heat, Terminator 1 & 2, Die Hard

FILM NOIR - Double Indemnity

SUSPENSE - Fargo, Rope

MYSTERY - Memento, Fight Club, Eyes Wide Shut

SCI-FI - A Clockwork Orange, Back to the Future trilogy, Empire Strikes Back

HISTORICAL - Schindler's List, Braveheart

WESTERNS - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (definitely the best), Once Upon a Time in the West, Shane, High Plains Drifter

DRAMA - The Shawshank Redemption, The Deer Hunter

WAR - Platoon, Apocalypse Now

COMEDY - The Big Lebowski, The Sting, Matchstick Men

CRIME - Godfather 1 & 2, Once Upon a Time in America, Reservoir Dogs

CULT CLASSICS - Pulp Fiction, Snatch, Trainspotting, Fight Club, Taxi Driver

Not quite sure where Citizen Kane fits in here.

Thriller - Se7en, Zodiac, Bone Collector

Comedy - Ice Age, Aquarius, and maybe some old school slapstick like some of those classic parody flicks if you can even call them that

Horror - Halloween. Honestly, the original is still the absolute gold standard

Action - Rock, The Heat

Drama - The Pursuit of Happyness

Animation - Ice Age 1 and 2

Richard Howard2 said:Oof, this list looks like it was put together by a ten-year-old...

I'm with you on that one.....
Honestly, I can't find a single thing to agree with in this whole thread.

Mark Nelson17 said:The Diplomat (pretty sure it counts as drama)

🤣 😂 🙏

Honestly, I don't think I'd get along with anyone here, lol. Especially regarding comedies. In my opinion, all the ones mentioned suck.
When it comes to that genre, you just can't beat the French.
After them, maybe some American films, especially when they mix in tragedy.

Anyway, I’m big on movies that don't fit into one neat little box—you know, those weird genre mashups.
If a movie is just a textbook example of one specific genre, it feels formulaic and lacks originality, and that's just not my thing.

Maybe we should consider a screening of Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
I suppose one could call *Me, Myself & Irene* a comedy, though I suspect that label might be a bit generous given how much it relies on sheer absurdity.
I suppose one could argue that the concept of a simulated reality is somewhat more compelling when viewed through the lens of science fiction, though perhaps that's just wishful thinking on my part.
I suppose one might consider *Gladiator* to be a historical epic, though I suspect that label is perhaps a bit generous given the creative liberties taken.
I suppose one might find some level of tension in *Schindler's List*, though I suspect the heavy-handedness of the drama might feel a bit much for certain audiences, perhaps. It’s an intense watch, I guess.
I suppose one could argue that *Saving Private Ryan* remains a somewhat definitive piece of American cinema, if you're into that sort of thing. It’s perhaps a bit much for some, I guess.

Action Live Free or Die Hard

Thriller The Departed

Comedy Next Friday

Drama Sideways

Horror Wrong Turn

Science Fiction Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Animation The Incredibles

Well, here is my list (I suppose I just have a weakness for making lists) 😁

Action: Matrix / Grindhouse
Comedy: Taxi Driver / Four Rooms
Biography: Edith Piaf
History: Iwo Jima / Apocalypto / Harrison's Flowers
Documentary: Crocodile Hunter
Comedy: Mars Attacks / Four Rooms
Crime: Reservoir Dogs / Man on Fire
Drama: The Lives of Others / Brick / Fried Green Tomatoes
Horror: The Shining / Carrie
Musical: Chicago / Blues Brothers
Romance: Amélie / Breakfast at Tiffany's
Thriller: Crash / Babel
Animation: Nightmare Before Christmas, I guess
And the absolute dumbest: Snakes on a Plane
🙂

action: Terminator 2
comedy: The Return of the Pink Panther
historical: The Bridge on the River Kwai
crime: Se7en
drama: Chasing Amy
horror: The Exorcist
thriller: Silence of the Lambs
sci-fi/fantasy: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Action: Face Off // Four Brothers
Comedy: Rush Hour (honestly, it’s absolute trash)
Historical: King Arthur
Crime: Reservoir Dogs
Drama: Stand By Me // Good Will Hunting
Horror: Saw // Amityville Horror
Thriller: The Departed // Time To Kill (pretty sure that counts as a thriller, anyway)
Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Alien // Blade // Underworld
Sports: Remember The Titans // Any Given Sunday
Romance: The Notebook