Like Rocky Balboa says, “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.”
While dusting off our fears, we started to consider . . .
What are the best films about underdogs?
No matter if you’re “5 foot nothin’, 100 and nothin’,” (Rudy), are a lonely butcher from the Bronx (Marty, showing for BMFI members only next month), or are a blonde with a heart of gold (Legally Blonde), you, too, can be a contender in this week’s Community Curated list!
Chime InWe ask, you answer! The BMFI community builds movie lists based on topics crafted by the expert BMFI staff. See all of the Community Curated lists voted on by BMFI fans. Help curate our next list by answering the Question of the Week, updated every Saturday.
It was the decade the US went to war, devised beloved movie musicals, and ushered in a new genre – film noir.
You guessed it, we want to know . . .
What are the best films of the 1940s?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
As we’ll be exploring in our series Hollywood Grows Up, the 1950s was a period of transition for the film industry, one that saw major changes in acting, content, and style. That got us thinking . . .
What are the best American movies of the 1950s?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
It was the decade of Camelot (and Camelot), free love, and a seismic shift in Hollywood. We're feeling a bit nostalgic, which got us wondering . . .
What are the best movies of the 1960s?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We’ve lost a number of luminaries from 1970s cinema recently, including Peter Bogdanovich, Yvette Mimieux, and Meat Loaf. This got us thinking . . .
What are the best movies of the 1970s?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We are traveling back in time for our next Community Curated list. We asked you, "What are the best ’80’s movies?" From Arnold and Sly to the Brat Pack and Cusack, BMFI patrons cast their net wide with this week's compilation.
Still not convinced that the '80s birthed great movies? Filmmaker Richard Linklater aims to prove all doubters wrong with Jewels in the Wasteland, a yearly program he curates for the Austin Film Society, celebrating great films of the decade still underrepresented in the film canon. Further enhance your '80s viewing with Linklater's Jewels in the Wasteland intro and discussion videos.
We asked you, "What are the most iconic movies from the 1990s?" The movies of the 1990s ran the gamut. From massive blockbusters (Jurassic Park), to legendary indie films (Reservoir Dogs), to teen-dream comedies (Clueless, duh!), to big-budget thrillers (Mission: Impossible), the '90s had it all. See the list of favorites, chosen by you.
Once you've made your way through the Community Curated selections, keep partying like it's 1999 with IndieWire's compilation of the decade's best movie posters, a video essay from No Film School on the cubicle movie, and a list of favorites from The Guardian's film critics.
What's that in the sky?
This past Friday, June 30, 2023, was International Asteroid Day. In excitement for Wes Anderson's new flick Asteroid City, we want to know . . .
What are the best films featuring an asteroid coming towards Earth?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Saturday, September 23, 2023, marks the autumnal equinox and officially kicks off the fall season. While waiting on a pumpkin spice latte, we started to wonder . . .
What are the best movies set during autumn?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
From debuting Jack Nicholson to distributing Ingmar Bergman films and mentoring Martin Scorsese, we have a lot to thank filmmaker Roger Corman for. His long career spawned many low-budget cult classics (aka “B movies”), and influenced iconic artists in their early days.
In honor of Corman's 97th birthday this week, we want to know . . .
What are your favorite B movies?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
December 4 is Bartender Appreciation Day. To mark the occasion, we pondered movies that feature barkeeps in their natural environments and wondered . . .
What movies have memorable scenes set in bars?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
He shoots, he scores! Even though March is over, we're still mad for basketball. While working on our free throw, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best basketball movies?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
I want to believe! Saturday, July 2, is World UFO Day, which remembers the famed incident at Roswell, NM. In anticipation for our August screening of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, we started wondering . . .
What are the best films about aliens or UFOs?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
In honor of National Anime Day on Friday, April 15th, we got to thinking . . .
What are the best anime feature films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
The weather may be fluctuating, but when it gets cold, there’s nothing better than a warm shower to get the blood pumping.
While shampooing, we began to ponder . . .
What are the best films to feature an iconic bathroom scene?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We’re loving all of the blockbuster biopics lighting up our screens right now. From the underdog tennis team in King Richard, to the semi-autobiographical Belfast, to the highly anticipated House of Gucci coming soon, we always enjoy a true story retold for the screen—with some artistic license for entertainment’s sake, of course. Which got us wondering . . .
What are the best biopics?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
According to Dr. Temple Grandin, "People are always going to like horses." Yay or neigh?
This past Tuesday, December 13, 2022, was National Horse Day. Whether you know them as mustangs, mares, or stallions, horses have left an indelible hoof mark on film history, which is why we want to know . . .
What are the best films about horses?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Martini—shaken, not stirred. Whether you imbibe or not, a drink order on screen can reveal much about a character or the story. While waiting at the bar, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best cocktails on screen?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Pass the potatoes! Hold the sass. While gossiping about the hostess, we got to thinking . . .
What are the best dinner-feud scenes on film?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Rawr! We're feeling a bit nostalgic for the pre-historic. Wednesday, June 1, is Dinosaur Day, which got us thinking . . .
What are your favorite films featuring dinosaurs?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Friday, April 15, 2022 commemorated the 110th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, which got us thinking . . .
What are the best disaster flicks?
You're gonna need a bigger boat with all these titles!
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo! This past Monday, December 5, 2022, was Walt Disney Day. With Mickey and Minnie on our mind, we want to know . . .
What are the best Disney movies?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Andy Warhol once said, "Art is anything you can get away with." This Saturday, August 6, 2022 would have been Andy's 94th birthday, which got us thinking . . .
What are the best experimental or avant-garde films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
A talking skeleton, a bio-exorcist, and a sharp barber walk into a bar. . . Tim Burton must be in town. This past Thursday, August 25, was the fantasy filmmaker's birthday, which got us wondering . . .
What are the best fantasy films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Adventure is worthwhile in itself." This past Sunday, July 24, 2022 would have been aviator Amelia Earhart's 125th birthday. Amelia’s legacy inspired us to ponder . . .
What are the best films about air travel?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Philadelphia native Ethel Barrymore once said, "The best time to make friends is before you need them." Saturday, July 30, is International Day of Friendship, which got us wondering . . .
What are the best films about friendship?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
On Monday, September 19, 2022, the United Kingdom bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II after an unprecedented reign of more than 70 years. Pondering her enduring legacy, we started to wonder . . .
What are the best films about royalty?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I put a spell on you, and now you're mine!" Friday, September 30, 2022, Disney released Hocus Pocus 2, nearly 30 years after the original film premiered. In anticipation for the Sanderson sisters’ return to the screen, we started wondering . . .
What are the best movies about witches?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I think debate is good. Everyone has an opinion, and it's definitely healthy to voice those."—Charli XCX
Wise words, Charli. Brat summer may be over, but election fall is upon us. No matter who you vote for, we all welcome free and fair debate on big issues. While planning for the presidential debate, we started to ponder . . .
What are the best films featuring debate?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Grammy, grandma, gramps, pop, or nonna . . . whatever they go by, grandparents can play a big role in the most heartwarming onscreen stories. This week we want to know . . .
What are the best films featuring grandparents?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know."—Louis Armstrong
Tuesday, April 30, 2024, was International Jazz Day. Grab the saxophone, because we want to know . . .
What are the best films featuring jazz?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
This past Thursday, November 9, 2023, was Go To An Art Museum Day.
While doing some art appreciation, we got to wondering . . .
What are the best films to feature an art museum?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? With February 26th being Letter to an Elder Day, we started thinking . . .
What are the best films that feature letter writing?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Sláinte! In honor of St. Patrick's Day weekend, we started wondering . . .
What are the best films to feature Ireland or the Irish?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Mangia! Monday, October 17, 2022, was National Pasta Day, which celebrates, you guessed it, pasta. With the good stuff on our mind, we’re thinking of Italy and Italian culture, which got us wondering . . .
What are the best Italian-language films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Dude, it's The Dude's birthday! This past Sunday, December 4, 2022, marked Academy Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges's birthday. With dreams of a white Russian on our mind, we want to know . . .
What are the best Jeff Bridges films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
May 22 is Harvey Milk Day, which celebrates the legacy of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person elected to California public office. We started wondering . . .
What are the best LGBTQIA+ films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Shhhh!
With Tuesday, December 10, 2024, being Dewey Decimal System Day (yes, it's a holiday), we want to know . . .
What are the best films featuring library scenes?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Get me some popcorn, STAT! In honor of Certified Nurses Day this past March 19th, we started wondering . . .
What are the best films to feature the medical field?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Read it and Streep! Next month marks the 45th anniversary of Meryl Streep's first onscreen performance in Fred Zinnemann's Julia (1977). With Meryl on our mind, we have one question to ask . . .
What are the best Meryl Streep movies?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." With the death of actors Ray Liotta, James Caan, and Tony Sirico over the past weeks, we've had our minds on films depicting organized crime. With that being said . . .
What are the best films to feature the mob or gangsters?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
The Fourth of July is known for many things—independence, cook outs, appliance sales—but the most visually stunning part of the day is definitely the fireworks. In honor of the special day, we asked you for movies with the best explosions. From historical (The Bridge on the River Kwai) to quotable (Apocalypse Now) to Force-guided (Star Wars), BMFI patrons share their recommendations.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
It's Liza with a Z! In honor of legendary musical film actress Liza Minnelli's birthday on March 12th, we started wondering . . .
What are the best movie musicals?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
While Jennifer Hudson is the clear star of the 2021 Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect, we noticed some background sparkle that came close to stealing the scenes. The BMFI community responded with the best background wallflowers (and paisleys and damasks) for a list of the best movie wallpaper.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"See, it's okay. He saw it on the television."
- Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) in The Shining (1980)
Early experiments in television began in the late 1920s, but the small screen didn't reach popularity until after World War II. With this past Monday, November 21, 2022, being World Television Day, we want to know . . .
What are the best movies about television?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending."—Jim Henson
Not all stage acts translate well to the big screen, but puppetry has carved out a magical space in cinema history. Tuesday, March 21, 2023, was World Puppetry Day and we want to know . . .
What are the best films featuring puppets?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Bon Appétit! Saturday, January 22 is National Blondie Brownie Day, which is so specific a dessert that we started wondering . . .
What are the best movies to feature baking or desserts?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Was it Professor Plum in the library with a candlestick?
Jinkies! We’ve got a mystery to solve. October 14-16, 2022, was "Sherlock Holmes Weekend" to those who celebrate. With that being said . . .
What are your favorite mystery movies?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade!"
Actually, we wouldn't mind a rainy day—they're perfect for visiting your favorite cinema. With July 29 being Rain Day, we want to know . . .
What are the best rain scenes on film?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
With summer rapidly approaching, we’re looking forward to hitting the open road. Friday, May 27, is National Road Trip Day, which got us thinking . . .
What are the best road trip movies?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We’ve all heard it before, “When I was your age, I walked five miles to school in a snowstorm, barefoot!”
Wednesday, October 5, 2022 was National Walk and Bike to School Day. Now that class is back in session, we started wondering . . .
What are the best school flicks?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
It's all about adaptation, and we're not talking Charlie Kaufman. With February 12th being Charles Darwin's birthday, we started thinking . . .
What are the best films about a scientific discovery or scientific figure?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Friday, September 2, 2022 was Mexican-American actress and producer Salma Hayek's birthday. Hayek’s career has made her a global star, but some of her most celebrated films are en español. We started wondering . . .
What are the best Spanish language films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
No Time to Die opened at BMFI on Thursday, October 7, making it the 25th official Bond movie, and the final chapter in Daniel Craig's tenure as the iconic agent. This got us thinking . . .
What are the best spy movies?
BMFI patrons shared their favorites for this Community Curated List.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
An extraterrestrial, a poltergeist, and a genetically modified dinosaur walk onto a dock . . . looks like we’re gonna need a bigger boat.
Get to know the man behind the movies by checking out Steven Spielberg’s new, semi-autobiographical film, The Fabelmans, but in the meantime . . .
What are the best Steven Spielberg films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Thursday, April 28th, 2022 is National Superhero Day, which got us thinking . . .
What are the best superhero films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Does anyone have a tissue? In honor of the beautifully heartfelt Best Picture winner CODA, we started wondering . . .
What are the best tearjerker films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Watch out for that cliff! Who knew taking a shower could be this stressful? This week, we started wondering . . .
What are the best thrillers?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Oh garçon! There's a fly in my pea soup!
January is "Be Kind to Food Servers Month," which got us thinking . . .
What are the best scenes on film featuring waitstaff?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
The sun is out and the bike lane is open. While shifting into a lower gear, a thought hit us. Now that summer is around the corner, we want to know . . .
What are the best bicycle scenes on film?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Many people—especially the broadcast's producers—were shocked on April 25 when Chadwick Boseman didn't win a posthumous Academy Award for his performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, but it wasn't the first Oscar snub (and it won't be the last). From overlooked directors (Spike Lee for Do the Right Thing) to actors (Glenn Close for ANYTHING EVER) to pictures (Saving Private Ryan), BMFI patrons weigh in on the movies in which some member(s) of the cast or crew didn't get their due (award or nomination) from the Academy.
You can still catch some of this year's Oscar-winning films—Minari, Nomadland, and The Father—on the big screen at BMFI. See all of the films currently available at BrynMawrFilm.org.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
What’s black, white, and seen all over? In celebration of new films like The Tragedy of Macbeth, C'mon C'mon, and Belfast, we began wondering . . .
What are the best black and white movies?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I'm curious about what makes people do the things that they do . . ."
Feel the Dern! Sunday, June 4, 2023, was Oscar-nominated actor Bruce Dern's 87th birthday. In honor of Bruce's ongoing legacy, we want to know . . .
What are the best Bruce Dern films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We called on all buddies near and far! We asked, "What’s your favorite buddy movie?" Grab your quarantine buddy and watch your way through the full list curated by you. Below are a few selections from your buddies at BMFI.
Silver Streak, Sam Scott, Executive Director
The Other Guys, Andrew J. Douglas, Ph.D., Senior Director, Education and Administration
Shaun of the Dead, Charlie Grafman, Director of Development
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Gina Izzo, Director of Marketing
The Killer, Jacob Mazer, Special Programming Manager
The Blues Brothers, Michael McCracken, Director of Theater Operations
Midnight Run, Jan Prendergast, Director of Finance
E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, Heather Rosenfeldt, Art Director
Tin Men, Patricia Russo, Membership Manager
The Nice Guys, Zane Stalberg, Membership and Rentals Coordinator
The Trip, Jill Malcolm, Education Coordinator
See all of the Community Curated lists voted by BMFI fans. Help curate our next list by answering the Question of the Week, updated every Tuesday.
With a blatant nod to our year-end giving campaign, we have movies with casts of thousands on our minds. There’s nothing like seeing thousands of players weave an epic story on the big screen, which got us wondering . . .
What are the best movies with casts of thousands?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
In honor of Black History Month, which historian Carter G. Woodson founded 95 years ago as a week-long focus on African Americans' contributions to the advancement of civilization, we asked you for movies that further its mission.
From historical (Glory) to biographical (Straight Outta Compton) to documentary (Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child), BMFI patrons share their favorite films celebrating African American achievements.
If you're looking for a film to engage with this weekend, we recommend Garrett Bradley's Time, playing as part of the 2021 Strange Truth series. The online screening includes a conversation with the filmmaker on Saturday, February 20th at 7:00 PM. For further viewing, we compiled a list of anti-racism film resources, which includes an additional collection of critical Black stories told on screen.
"I did that film just so I could kiss Robert Redford."—Charlotte Rampling
And who could blame her? Monday, February 5, 2024, was Academy Award-nominated actress Charlotte Rampling's 78th birthday. From arthouse to courthouse (and everything in between), Rampling's bold career has left us wondering . . .
What are the best Charlotte Rampling films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Check the specs on those specs!
March is Save Your Vision Month, which brings awareness to eye health. Should we go tortoise shell or just get some contacts? Either way, we want to know . . .
What are the best movies to feature iconic glasses?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
After this winter's snow, we're still trying to warm up! With February 4th being National Sweater Day, we started wondering . . .
What are the best movies to feature iconic sweaters?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"We are all one—and if we don't know it, we will learn it the hard way.”—Bayard Rustin
Nominated for Best Actor at the 96th Academy Awards, Colman Domingo portrays civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. While examining Rustin's legacy, we want to know . . .
What are the best films about civil rights?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Dust bunnies and cobwebs and mildew . . . oh my!
This past Saturday, August 3, 2024, was Clean Your Floors Day. While snapping on some gloves, we started to think . . .
What are the best cleaning sequences?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Inspired by our Film Studies Online discussion of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg on February 8, we asked you for films that have brilliantly vibrant palettes. From quirky (The Grand Budapest Hotel) to international (Dreams) to comics-inspired (Dick Tracy), BMFI patrons share their favorite colorful movies.
If you missed Monday's discussion of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, you can catch the recording (and the video introduction) in our growing Film Studies Online library.
Guillermo del Toro’s three-time Oscar-winning Pan’s Labyrinth returned to at BMFI's screens in October in anticipation of the director’s newest film, Nightmare Alley, hitting theaters later in 2021. This spooky, genre-blending fantasy follows an eleven-year-old protagonist through a multitude of journeys. This got us thinking . . .
What are the best coming-of-age films?
BMFI patrons shared their favorites for this Community Curated List.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
What's in your pocket, on your desk, in your car, and on your tv stand?
Computers! They connect us all and play a big part in our day-to-day activities. With January being National Clean Up Your Computer Month, we want to know . . .
What are your favorite films about computers?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I fought the law and the law won."
We all love a courtroom scandal. Whether it's a case of divorce, civil rights, or losing half-a-day of skiing, the courtroom is a prime stage for drama to unfold. This week we want to know . . .
What are the best courtroom films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
After nearly 60 years in film and television , mustachioed, Emmy-winning actor Dabney Coleman passed away on May 16, 2024, at the age of 92. This got us thinking . . .
What are your favorite Dabney Coleman performances?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
It has been a year since the start of Theater 5, which got us thinking about other auspicious beginnings—like those of our favorite filmmakers. In other words . . . Which directors had the best feature debut?
From classic (Sidney Lumet's 12 Angry Men) to international (Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali), to current (Emerald Fennell's Promising Young Woman) BMFI patrons share their recommendations.
Once you've made your way through the Community Curated list, catch up on the following directorial debuts we've discussed together in our Film Studies Online library : Night of the Hunter, 12 Angry Men, and Eve's Bayou. If you're looking for a new release, we are currently screening Jessie Barr's critically-acclaimed directorial debut Sophie Jones over in Theater 5.
Inspired by our Wednesdays with Wiseman series, which features the groundbreaking work of one of the preeminent chroniclers of American institutions, we asked you for the best non-fiction films. From cinéma vérité (Grey Gardens), to concert (Stop Making Sense) to political (Fahrenheit 9/11) docs, BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
If this week's Community Curated list has inspired you to dive deeper into documentary film, DOC NYC, the country's largest documentary festival, returns November 11—19 in a virtual format. Looking for a local story? We recommend Philadelphia native Tommy Oliver's new MOVE documentary, 40 Years a Prisoner.
After the year that was 2020, we could all use some rest. So, we asked you for films that make the most of their characters' time asleep. From Hitchcockian (Spellbound) to action-packed (Inception) to "abiding" (The Big Lebowski), BMFI patrons share their favorite dream sequences. See the full list of movie recommendations, chosen by you.
Once you've made your way through the Community Curated list, take a look at this selection of dreamy films from Criterion.
"Some people say I'm an overachiever, but I think they're just jealous."—Tracy Flick in Election
With the presidential election being a few short weeks away, we started to consider . . .
What are the best films about elections?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
It’s time to shake, rattle, and roll! In anticipation for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, playing at BMFI starting Thursday, June 23, we started wondering . . .
What are the best Elvis films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
In honor of Tell a Fairy Tale Day on February 26, we asked you for some of cinema's most fanciful stories about imaginary creatures and places. From romantic (The Princess Bride) to eerie (Pan's Labyrinth) to animated (Spirited Away), BMFI patrons share their favorite fairy tale movies.
Topping this week's list is Guillermo del Toro's horror fantasy film Pan's Labyrinth. Del Toro sat down with Fresh Air's Terry Gross to discuss his interest in fairytales following the film's release in 2007. Catch the interview here.
If this week's list has inspired you to revisit past literary versions, Main Point Books offers BMFI members a 10% discount off your entire purchase. Make sure you bring your membership card – and your mask!
Everything Everywhere All at Once took home the top prize at the 95th Academy Awards. 95 films have garnered the coveted Best Picture title, which got us thinking . . .
What are your favorite Best Picture winners?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
In honor of beloved filmmaker Ivan Reitman, we want to know . . .
What are your favorite Hollywood movies made by foreign-born directors?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
They schedule, they organize, and they keep businesses running smoothly. This past Wednesday, April 26, 2023, was Administrative Professionals Day. In honor of all the administrators in our lives, we want to know . . .
What are the best movies to feature administrators?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
International Cat Day is August 8! To celebrate, BMFI patrons curated a list of films featuring the most fabulous felines. All genres are represented – dramas, comedies, animated films, documentaries – because cats have graced the big screen since the earliest days of cinema!
Discover even more film felines on the websites CatsonFilm.net and CinemaCats.com. If you missed this year's Quarantine Cat Film Festival, which features several cats from BMFI patrons, you can still cat-ch it with our friends at Row House Cinema, who produced the fest. Still not enough? Join the BMFI Cats Facebook group and share pics of your Theater 5 mew-vie buddies.
Inspired by April Fools' Day, we asked you for films that feature fools, jesters, or jokers. From classic (Calvero in Limelight) to horror (Pennywise in It) to international (Gelsomina in La Strada), BMFI patrons share their favorite movie clowns.
Two of this week's recommendations—The Court Jester and The King of Comedy—have been the subject of past Film Studies Online Discussions. Catch up on the video introductions and discussion recordings in our FSO Library.
To celebrate Father's Day, we asked you for movies that have truly memorable paternal figures. From intense (Vito Corleone in The Godfather) to farcical (H.I. McDunnough in Raising Arizona) to animated (Marlin in Finding Nemo), BMFI patrons share their favorite movie dads.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Inspired by Call Your Doctor Day on June 8, we asked you for films that have truly memorable physicians. From romantic (Doctor Zhivago) to horrific (the Mantle brothers in Dead Ringers) to schmaltzy (Patch Adams), BMFI patrons share their favorite movie doctors.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
In honor of Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 25, we asked you for some of the cinema's classic canines. From screwball (Mr. Smith in The Awful Truth) to horror (Cujo) to animated (Lady and the Tramp), BMFI patrons share their favorite movie dogs.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
In honor of International Day of Families on March 15, we asked you for films that have truly memorable kinship groups. From quirky (The Royal Tenenbaums) to crime (the Corleones in The Godfather) to heroic (the Wakandan royal family in Black Panther), BMFI patrons share their favorite movie families.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
In honor of National Love Your Pet Day on February 20, we asked you for cinema's most memorable animal friends. From favorite dog (Mr. Smith in The Awful Truth) to snake (Reggie in Raiders of the Lost Ark) to pig (the eponymous Babe), BMFI patrons share their recommendations.
Once you've made your way through the Community Curated list, continue the animal appreciation with our The Birds-inspired crossword puzzle. For those who are partial to cats, re-visit our film felines list here. If you have furry friends of your own, join us in the BMFI Cats Facebook group and share pics of your Theater 5 mew-vie buddies.
Inspired by National Siblings Day, we asked you for films that feature memorable sisters, brothers, and twins. From literary (Celie & Nettie in The Color Purple) to horror (the Grady twins in The Shining) to effects-created (the "Winklevi" in The Social Network), BMFI patrons share their favorite movie siblings.
One of your recommendations—The Darjeeling Limited—was this week's FSO discussion film. You can find BMFI instructor Lisa DeNight's video introduction, and a recording of Monday night's discussion, here.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Academy Award-nominated actress Piper Laurie died on October 14, 2023, at age 91.
Her role as Carrie's mom in Carrie cemented her spot as a movie villain. While feeling shivers down our spines, we got to wondering . . .
What are your favorite movie villains?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
They scurry, they screech, and unfortunately, they scat . . . we're talking rodents on the big screen this week to recognize Fancy Rat & Mouse Day on Saturday, November 12, 2022. We want to know . . .
What are your favorite movies to feature rodents?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We asked you for your favorite music documentaries, and you answered! As you assemble your playlist, consult this community-curated greatest hits list, along with a few house recommendations below:
BMFI recommends:
Stop Making Sense
1984 · d. Jonathan Demme
Last time we played Jonathan Demme's 1984 Talking Heads concert movie, it packed the theater. At the top of the film, David Byrne strolls on stage with an acoustic guitar and a boom box. Song by song, the ensemble and set expands, swelling into a blissful, unifying celebration. It's no wonder Stop Making Sense comes up in any discussion of the great concert films. This is rock and roll as a utopian act.
See where Stop Making Sense is streaming.
Sign ‘o’ the Times
1987 · d. Prince, Albert Magnoli
Prince's screen legacy will always rest on 1984's Purple Rain, but this little-seen 1987 concert film should give it a run for its money. The setlist, drawn mostly from the stupendous Sign ‘O' the Times album, is broken up with short narrative interludes, but Prince knows we're here for the music, and boy, does he deliver, cranking out one fiery number after the next. The Purple One was known to be at his best in a live setting, and once you see this film, you'll understand why.
See where Sign ‘o’ the Times is streaming.
Monterey Pop
1968 · d. D.A. Pennebaker
The 1967 Monterey Pop Festival brought together an extraordinary group of artists, including The Who, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Otis Redding, and many more. The magic is preserved thanks to D.A. Pennebaker's cinema verité documentary, which captured some of the era's most iconic musical moments, from a little-known Janis Joplin blowing the house down to Hendrix's sacrificial immolation of his instrument. After you've watch Monterey Pop, be sure to check out Pennebaker's short films Jimi Plays Monterey and Shake! Otis at Monterey, which capture Hendrix and Redding's sets in their entirety.
See where Monterey Pop is streaming.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Leonard Cohen
1965 · d. Donald Brittain, Don Owen
Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has been the subject of several documentaries, but this 1965 television special is a special treat. The 44-minute film follows 30-year-old Cohen around his native Montreal as he writes, performs, pontificates, and revels. At the time of filming, Cohen had not yet launched his musical career and was known chiefly as a poet and novelist. Does that mean this isn't a music documentary? Maybe, but then again, maybe not. Cohen's music was distinguished by its literary quality, and observing his writing practice gives one all the more insight and appreciation for the work that would follow.
See where Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Leonard Cohen is streaming.
"Fear is a pair of handcuffs on your soul."—Faye Dunaway
This past Sunday, January 14, 2024, was Academy Award-winning actress Faye Dunaway's 83rd birthday. Call her diva, divine, or overly dramatic, Dunaway has made an enduring impact on cinema. This week, we want to know . . .
What are the best Faye Dunaway flicks?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Inspired by our seminar on pioneering filmmaker Dorothy Arzner, we asked you for your favorite movies directed by women. From films noir to comedies to war pictures, BMFI patrons share their recommendations.
Looking to sink your teeth into more female-directed work? Filmmaker and critic Mark Cousins's Women Make Film, a 14-hour epic divided into 40 chapters and featuring the works of 183 directors, is currently being broadcast on TCM as an episodic series through December. You can listen to Cousins discuss his new road movie through cinema with Sight & Sound. Cousins also released a 200-minute visual talk in March, 40 Days to Learn Film, that showcases some of the work he highlights in Women Make Film.
If you're looking for more hidden histories of women in film, learn about the role women played in the editing room with Edited By, survey of 139 female film editors who invented, developed, fine-tuned and revolutionized the art of film editing.
The last few weeks have seen some seriously enviable outfits dress up the big screen. Marion's white dress in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ilsa's iconic traveling suit in Casablanca, and literally anything Aretha dons in Respect, have us rethinking our wardrobes. The BMFI community responded with their favorite fashionable films for this week's Community Curated list.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Not to get too mushy, but we all like a good movie romance from time to time. Whether it’s Bogart and Bacall or Kermit and Miss Piggy, we love to see love on the big screen. With romance on the brain, we want to know . . .
What are the best film romances?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Order in the court! With Friday, November 1, 2024, being Love Your Lawyer Day (yes, it's a holiday), we began to consider . . .
What are the best films about attorneys?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I write to discover what I know."—Flannery O'Connor
While putting pen to paper, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best films about authors?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
5, 6, 7, 8!
Prepare your monologues, curtain calls, and jazz hands! This week, we're hitting the stage to better understand . . .
What are the best films about live theater?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
5, 6, 7, 8!
Prepare your monologues, curtain calls, and jazz hands! This week, we're hitting the stage to better understand . . .
What are the best films about live theater?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"My painting does not come from the easel."—Jackson Pollock
Be it acrylic, oil, or watercolor, paint has allowed us to depict our world and beyond for millennia. While cleaning our brushes, we started wondering . . .
What are the best films about painters?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
“Those schoolgirl days of telling tales and biting nails are gone . . .”
As summer comes to a close, kids are heading back to school. While sharpening our pencils and packing our lunch, we got to wondering . . .
What are the best films about teachers?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—"
Monday, October 7, 2024, marked the 175th anniversary of the legendary author Edgar Allan Poe's death. With Poe's enduring legacy haunting our dreams, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best films based on short stories or poetry?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
First attributed to 19th-century poet Lord Byron, the aphorism, "truth is stranger than fiction," still applies today, perhaps more than ever. Many of the most beloved films began with real people and actual events. We're wondering . . .
What are the best films based on true stories?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Strike a pose. Vogue!" This past Tuesday, August 16, was pop icon Madonna's birthday, which got us thinking . . .
What are your favorite films to feature a singer-turned-actor?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Don't stress, take care, and look your best! Did you know August is National Wellness Month? While putting some cucumber slices on our eyes, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best films featuring beauty regimens?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Grab the lantern, roll out your sleeping bag, and prepare some ghost stories. While heading for the great outdoors, we began to ponder . . .
What are your favorite films featuring camping?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I gotta go, Julia. We got cows."
On Thursday, July 18, 2024, the much-anticipated Twisters starts playing at BMFI. While driving by the 'ol farm, we began to ponder . . .
What are the best films featuring cows or cattle?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Whether you like it or not, we're having weather!
With the temperature hitting 100°F this past week, we're sweating to find out . . .
What are the best movies featuring extreme weather?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
On a long car journey, a trip through the drive-through is the only thing that can satiate the pangs of hunger. While pulling up to the next window, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best films featuring fast food?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Get in loser, we're going shopping."
Thursday, October 3, 2024, was Mean Girls day. Even decades after its release, we're still rewatching the endlessly quotable film. While trying to make fetch happen, we started to wonder . . .
What are the best films featuring mean girls?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"On the radio . . . Whoa, oh, oh!"
Tuesday, August 20, 2024, was National Radio Day. While tuning to our favorite station, the static ushered us to ponder . . .
What are the best films featuring radio?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Across the pond, tennis pros from throughout the world are vying for the championship at Wimbledon.
While working on our serve, we got to wondering . . .
What are the best tennis movies?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Whether you think about the Roman Empire constantly (or never), it's been fodder for many a film adaptation or inspiration for a new story.
With Francis Ford Coppola's long-awaited Megalopolis in theaters, we began to ponder . . .
What are the best films inspired by Ancient Rome?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We were in need of noir, and you delivered! Film noir has cast a long shadow (see what we did there?) across eras and genres. Seedy underbellies, darkened streets, femme fatales, and other genre tropes can be found in films from Body Heat to Who Framed Roger Rabbit to The Big Lebowski to Inherent Vice and beyond. Here are your favorite films noir. They’re the stuff that (Community Curated) lists are made of.
Take a deeper dive into your second most popular noir, Out of the Past, in the BMFI Film Studies Online Library, available now for free!
We asked you: what is a movie that has made a lasting impact on you? It may have opened your eyes to a new perspective, shown you a part of the world you’d never seen before, shed light on an historical moment unknown to you, or was just so unique that you never forgot your first time watching it.
See the list of films that moved you, changed the conversation, or transformed your way of thinking, all chosen by you.
We've been thinking about the impact of film a lot here at BMFI. Here are two lists we've compiled of anti-racism film resources and films confronting injustice, to help us all continue learning in this time of change.
We ordered the best food movies, and you delivered! Check out the full list of food-centric films, voted by you. Some films might not be to your taste, but this eclectic buffet has something for everyone to enjoy.
Make one of these delicious films the side dish at your barbecue! BMFI's Director of Marketing, Gina Izzo, gives some tips for setting up your backyard movie experience in a recent article in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Inspired by United Nations French Language Day on March 20, we asked you for films in which le français is spoken. From Canadian (The Barbarian Invasions) to Ivorian (Night of the Kings) to French (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), BMFI patrons share their favorite French-language movies.
Once you've made your way through the Community Curated list, make sure to catch Theater 5's current French-language offerings: Night of the King, Mafia Inc, Keep an Eye Out, and Perfumes. If you missed our recent discussion on this week's number two pick The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, you can find the recording in our Film Studies Online library.
For fans of Godard, BMFI's Senior Director of Education Andrew Douglas discussed the influence of Breathless in his weekly video series Ask Andrew. If you have any film-related questions, you can drop Andrew a line through the Ask Andrew form.
"Life's better with company. Everybody needs a co-pilot."—George Clooney
Monday, May 6, 2024, was Academy Award-winning actor and filmmaker George Clooney's 63rd birthday, which got us thinking . . .
What are the best George Clooney films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Willkommen! Besides bratwurst and beer, film is one of Germany's most celebrated exports. While putting on our lederhosen, we started to wonder . . .
What are the best German-language films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Boo! Did we scare you? While sitting around the Ouija board, we started to conjure . . .
What are the best ghost stories in film?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Time to zip up that gown and don that tasseled cap. It's graduation season and in celebration of the class of 2023, we want to know . . .
What are the best films centered around graduation?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We asked you, "What movie is your guilty pleasure? You might be embarrassed to admit how much you love it, but tell us anyway."
At BMFI, we don't exactly feel "guilty" about our "guilty pleasure" movies. "Guilty pleasures" don't have to be "bad". They can be comforting. They can be restorative. They can be a familiar friend or a reset button at the end of a stressful day. We've been there, watched that, and keep coming back. They may or may not have racked up awards, but that doesn't mean they bring any less joy to our lives.
Here are a couple of picks from some members of the BMFI Board of Directors. See the full list on Letterboxd. We're not embarrassed by our guilty pleasures. Sorry, not sorry.
Lady Jane, Anmiryam Budner
Dodgeball and Legally Blonde, Jane Corrigan
The Man with Two Brains, Francie Ingersoll
Out of Sight and Something's Gotta Give, Marsha Perelman
Carnal Knowledge and Easy Rider, David Pudlin
Finding the perfect costume can be tricky, but some of the best themes come from the world of cinema. Maybe it’s because of the fantastical characters created in the imaginations of artists. Maybe it’s because productions employ entire costume departments. Either way, movie-themed Halloween costumes are always winners. In honor of Halloween 2021, we asked you . . .
What movies inspire the best Halloween costumes?
You gave us your best source material in this week's Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Bobby thumbed a diesel down, just before it rained. That rode us all the way in to New Orleans."
Listen, we're not condoning hitchhiking, but it does have a long tradition in American history and culture. So, while packing our knapsack, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best movies featuring hitchhiking?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Since it's "the most wonderful time of the year," we asked you for movies that have depicted it memorably. From definitive (It's a Wonderful Life) to animated (The Polar Express) to cynical (The Ref), BMFI patrons share their favorite holiday movies. See the full list of recommendations, chosen by you.
Although the annual debate over its holiday ranking rages on, Die Hard took the top slot in this week's Community Curated list. If you're still doubtful, director John McTiernan may have settled the dispute once and for all.
Once you've re-watched Die Hard for the umpteenth time, Andrew has shared some more Christmas-themed thrillers in this week's episode of Ask Andrew. If you have any film-related questions you'd like ask, Andrew may have the answer! Let us know in the Ask Andrew Form.
See more than 100 modern horror films selected by BMFI patrons! From groundbreaking (The Exorcist) to tongue-in-cheek (Scream) to allegorical (Get Out), BMFI patrons built this list of top horror films made since 1970. After viewing these contemporary horrors, throw it back to the Community Curated list of pre-1970s films.
By a landslide, The Shining took home the top spot of this week’s Community Curated list. Once you’ve exhausted your scary movie kick, revisit Kubrick’s body of work with a video essay from Kogonada and a documentary about Leon Vitali, Kubrick’s devoted right-hand man of more than two decades.
Back in April, Andrew answered your question about the legitimacy of horror film. Chime in if you have a new question for Andrew!
Love strikes when we least expect it. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Monday, September 16, 2024, was Sit with a Stranger Day, so we began to ask ourselves . . .
What are the most iconic meet cutes in film?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Toot toot. Hey. Beep beep!
This past Monday, October 2, 2023, was National Name Your Car Day. While in traffic, we began to ponder . . .
What are the most iconic vehicles on-screen?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Surf's up!
Grab your mousepad and let's ride the web wave. With Thursday, August 1, 2024, being World Wide Web Day, we're dialing up to ask . . .
What are the best films about the Internet?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Jack Nicholson—actor, New Jersey native, and the man who launched a thousand bad impressions—turned 84 on April 22, so we asked you for the films in which Jack gave his strongest performances, chewed the most scenery, or scolded others for their aversion to veracity. From noir (Chinatown) to Oscar-winning (Terms of Endearment), to counterculture (Easy Rider), BMFI patrons share their favorite Jack Nicholson movies.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
She's an activist, a fitness icon, Hollywood royalty and a two-time Academy Award-winning actress. There's only one. We're talking Fonda - Jane Fonda.
Wednesday, December 21, 2022, marked Jane Fonda's 85th birthday. With her enduring legacy on our mind, we're wondering . . .
What are your favorite Jane Fonda films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"It's not where you take things from—it's where you take them to." French-Swiss auteur and critic Jean-Luc Godard has died at age 91. His influence as an innovator of style and craft continues to reverberate in filmmakers far past the French New Wave. We're wondering . . .
What are your favorite Godard films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I'm a risk taker. I like to test myself."
She's acted multiple personalities, played an actress-turned-striptease artist, and set the pace for Paul Newman on many occasions. This week, we're talking Joanne Woodward.
February 27, 2023, was Joanne Woodward's 93rd birthday. With her film legacy on our mind, we're wondering . . .
What are the best Joanne Woodward films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from."
Sunday, November 19, 2023, marked actress and filmmaker Jodie Foster's 60th birthday. Starting out as a child actor, Foster has been witness to the last 50 years of Hollywood filmmaking.
While pondering her enduring legacy, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best Jodie Foster films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Forget your troubles, c’mon get happy! On Friday, June 10, 2022, we celebrated Judy Garland’s 100th birthday. Somewhere over the rainbow, we started wondering . . .
What are your favorite Judy Garland films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"The calla lilies are in bloom again." May 12, 2022, marks Katharine Hepburn’s 115th birthday, which got us thinking . . .
What are your favorite Katharine Hepburn films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Here's a list for the kiddos, decided by you! Find something new that the whole family can watch. We know there's at least one movie on constant repeat in your house. Spice it up with selects from your neighbors.
Looking for more? Our friend Chris Collier, Executive Director of Renew Theaters, which includes The Ambler Theater, The County Theater, The Hiway Theater, and Princeton Garden Theater, recommends some family-friendly films with his son Zachary.
Not sure if a movie is right for your child? Common Sense Media provides age-based reviews for movies, books, and games, so you can decide what content is right for your family.
See all of the lists curated by you on Letterboxd.
World Kindness Week started on November 7, 2021, culminating in World Kindness Day on Saturday, November 13. To source inspiration for friendship and compassion, we asked BMFI patrons . . .
What movies portray acts of kindness?
See the films that capture kindness on screen in this Community Curated list.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
In honor of Global Belly Laugh Day on January 24th, we asked you for the best (belly) laugh-out-loud movies. From old-school (Duck Soup) to British (A Fish Called Wanda) to unintentional (The Room), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
One of this week's recommendations, Some Like It Hot, was our Film Studies Online discussion pick back in June. If you missed the conversation, you can watch the recording (and introduction) here.
Oscar-nominee Laurence Fishburne—who's had the coolest character names (Mr. Clean, Furious Styles, and Morpheus, to name a few)—turned 60 on July 30. To mark the birthday of a truly exceptional actor, we asked you for the best Laurence Fishburne movies.
From coming-of-age (Cornbread, Earl and Me) to crime (King of New York) to family (Searching for Bobby Fischer), BMFI patrons share their recommendations.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We asked you for the best literary adaptations you've seen on screen. Now we have a lot of reading (and watching) to catch up on! See the full Community Curated list on Letterboxd.
If our adaptations roundup is making your to-read list longer, shop locally with Main Point Books. Cathy Fiebach and Anmiryam Budner of Main Point Books have shared their favorite big-screen adaptations with us:
Cathy: The Harry Potter series, The Princess Bride, Call Me By Your Name, Little Women, Julie and Julia, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Anmiryam: Rebecca, Jane Eyre, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Prestige
Main Point Books offers BMFI members a 10% discount off your entire purchase. Make sure you bring your membership card - and your mask!
"The little black dress is the true friend."—Diane von Furstenberg
From parties to funerals (and everything in between), a black dress can take you far in life. With Sunday, September 1, 2024, being Little Black Dress Day, we started to wonder . . .
What are the most iconic little black dress moments in film?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
[On acting] "I love it, I'm privileged to do it and I don't know where I'd be without it."—Maggie Smith
Thursday, December 28, 2023, marked Academy Award-winning acting legend Maggie Smith’s 88th birthday. To celebrate, we asked . . .
What are the best Maggie Smith flicks?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Once you commit to something, you've got to commit the whole way. Try and make the best of it."
Tuesday, June 13, 2023, was actor Malcolm McDowell's 80th birthday. Remembering his iconic and intense roles, we want to know . . .
What are the best Malcolm McDowell films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
April 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of two-time Academy Award-winning actor Marlon Brando's birth. While pondering his enduring legacy, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best Brando performances?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Martial arts is just practice."—Michelle Yeoh
That's easy for her to say. Since the 1920s, martial arts films have brought dynamic, thrilling action to the big screen. While practicing our karate, we started wondering . . .
What are the best martial arts films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Mamma Mia! Sunday, May 8th, 2022 is Mother's Day, which got us thinking . . .
What films remind us most of mom or a maternal figure?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We asked you, "What are some movies with memorable dance scenes?" Movie musicals may own the lion’s share of high-profile choreography, and definitely deserve to make the cut, but noteworthy dance sequences are found in all genres of films. See the list of favorites, chosen by you.
Once you've made you way through the Community Curated selections, keep the dance floor warm with video essays on the history of dance in film, the evolution of the movie musical, and the emotive powers of dance (published by MUBI, who is offering BMFI patrons three months of free access to their streaming service.)
Actor Michael Keaton, who turned 70 on September 5, is best known for his early comedies and collaborations with Tim Burton in the 1980s, but has had a bit of a renaissance in recent years, both at the multiplex and on BMFI's screens, as well. This made us wonder . . .
What are the best Michael Keaton Movies?
From parodic (Johnny Dangerously) to dramatic (Spotlight) to animated (Toy Story 3), BMFI patrons share their movie recommendations.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore!
With this past Tuesday, August 15, 2023, being Chant at the Moon Day, we want to know . . .
What are the best movies featuring the moon?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
“A designer is only as good as the star who wears her clothes.”
October 2023 will mark legendary costume designer Edith Head’s 126th birthday. As we break out our fall clothes, we want to know . . .
What are the films with the most memorable costumes?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Pucker up, buttercup. This past Wednesday, June 22, was National Kissing Day. While applying our Chapstick, we started wondering . . .
What are the films with the most memorable onscreen kisses?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Our fall 2021 special programming slate touts some classics we know by heart, and we never get tired of experiencing our favorites. To create the definitive list, we asked BMFI patrons . . .
What are the most quotable movies?
See the best supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (Mary Poppins), inconceivable (The Princess Bride), or fetch (Mean Girls) quotable films in this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
July 24th is National Day of the Cowboy, and there's no better place to find a rebellious ranch hand, a colorful cowpoke, or a wandering westerner than the big screen. So, we asked you for the best movie cowboys and cowgirls.
From classic (Ringo Kid in Stagecoach) to contemporary (Ennis in Brokeback Mountain) to urban (Harp in Concrete Cowboy), BMFI patrons share their recommendations.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
English tycoon Richard Branson went into space (technically) on July 11. This got us thinking about the bevy of wealthy eccentrics found in films.
For this week's Community Curated list, we asked you for the most memorable movie millionaires. From literary (The Great Gatsby) to historical (Marie Antoinette) to comedy (Coming to America), BMFI patrons share their recommendations.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
In honor of Mother's Day, we asked you for movies that have truly memorable maternal figures. From melodramatic (Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest) to yuppie (J. C. Wiatt in Baby Boom) to heroic (Elastigirl in The Incredibles), BMFI patrons share their favorite movie mothers.
Continue celebrating moms with a BMFI crossword puzzle full of actresses who took home Oscars for playing good, bad, and sometimes downright nasty, mothers. Solve each clue for the actress who played the "mom" and took home the gold. Solve online or print the PDF.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Ahoy, mateys! September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and there's no better place to see colorful characters exclaiming "Cleave him to the brisket!", "Shiver me timbers!", and, of course, "Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!" than the big screen. So, we'd like to know . . .
Who are the best movie pirates?
BMFI patrons shared their favorite classic (Peter Blood in Captain Blood), real (Abduwali Muse in Captain Phillips), animated (Captain Hook in Peter Pan), or delusional (Steve Cowan in Dodgeball) selections for this Community Curated List.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
August 15 is a surprisingly auspicious date for the launch of all-time great movies. On that date in 1939, The Wizard of Oz had its Hollywood premiere, and Apocalypse Now was released exactly 40 years later. The two movies have a fair amount in common: both were inspired by novels, both were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and both are about dangerous journeys in pursuit of an all-powerful being.
To mark this milestone in movie history, BMFI patrons shared their favorite movie quests.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We asked you for the movies with the best soundtracks. We're making new playlists with the more than 100 films you suggested! See the full Community Curated soundtrack list on Letterboxd.
Looking for even more movie music? Check out the American Film Institute's 100 Years . . . 100 Songs official list.
"I’m singin’ in the rain, just singin’ in the rain . . ."
Title tracks—they're the earworms that stick with us days after the credits roll. This week, we want to know . . .
What are the movies with the most memorable title songs?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Though it was a bit different this year, Thanksgiving is typically a time for friends and relatives to get together. That's why we asked you for the best movies about "family" gatherings. From quirky (The Royal Tenenbaums) to suspenseful (Knives Out) to "boomer" (The Big Chill) selections, BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
While we wish we could ring in the holiday weekend together on Lancaster Ave., we're grateful for our gatherings in Theater 5 and Film Studies Online. Catch up on old FSO discussions, new releases, and movie-themed puzzles.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 18, we asked you for the best films about fighting for a cause. From documentaries (She's Beautiful When She's Angry) to films based on a true story (Selma), or not so much (Sorry to Bother You), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
One of this week's recommendations, Do the Right Thing, was our Film Studies Online discussion pick this Monday. If you missed the conversation, you can watch the recording (and introduction) here. If you're looking for a new release documenting an urgent fight for justice, head over to Theater 5 and check out Belly of the Beast.
Many of us look forward to Memorial Day as the unofficial start of summer (especially this year), but we sometimes forget it is a somber holiday intended to honor those who died while serving in the U.S. military. To mark it, we asked you for films that focus on people in the armed forces of the United States. From classic (The Best Years of Our Lives) to comedic (Private Benjamin) to satirical (M*A*S*H), BMFI patrons share their favorite movies about American service members.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."
This past Tuesday, April 18, 2023, marked the 68th anniversary of Albert Einstein's death. Einstein's groundbreaking contributions to physics forever made "Einstein" synonymous with "genius." Instead of doing our physics homework, we want to know . . .
What are the best movies about geniuses?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
April 17 is National Ellis Island Family History Day because that date in 1907 was the single busiest day in the facility’s history, with 11,747 individuals entering the U.S. So, we asked you for films that feature individuals or families that are new to America. From literary (The Pawnbroker) to animated (An American Tail), to comedy (Moscow on the Hudson), BMFI patrons share their favorite movies about immigrants to the U.S.
One of your recommendations—Minari—is playing on the big screen at BMFI just in time for the Oscars. See all of the films currently available at BrynMawrFilm.org.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
60 Minutes, the granddaddy of American television news magazines, premiered on September 24, 1968. This mainstay of broadcast journalism brought Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, and an enormous stopwatch into our homes week after week, and was at the center of an Oscar-nominated film. This got us thinking . . .
What are the best movies about journalists?
BMFI patrons shared their favorite comedic (His Girl Friday), conspiratorial (The Parallax View), coming-of-age (Almost Famous), or cult-classic (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) selections for our next Community Curated List.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan turned 80 on May 24, so we asked you for films that focus on, yes, singers and songwriters, but also pianists, guitarists, and drummers, as well. From classical (Amadeus) to rap (Straight Outta Compton), to barroom (The Fabulous Baker Boys), BMFI patrons share their favorite movies about musicians.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
In case you haven't heard, there is an election coming up, so we've asked you for the best movies about politics. From idealistic (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) to cynical (Wag the Dog) to bonkers (The Death of Stalin), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
Have questions about where and how to cast your vote? Visit VotesPA.com for comprehensive details about voting in Pennsylvania. If you'd like to get involved with the election, CASA is still looking for voter guardians to volunteer at key polling locations throughout the state on November 3rd.
After you mail in your ballot (or before you head to the polls), reflect on elections past with these political campaign documentaries.
In support of Small Business Saturday and the local stores we all love, we asked you for the best movies about small shops and businesses. From romantic (The Shop Around the Corner) to indie (Clerks) to comedic (Ghostbusters), or, um, illicit (Pineapple Express), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
Shop and support local this holiday season with your BMFI membership. See which businesses and attractions offer benefits to members through our retail discount program.
Inspired by our discussion of The Right Stuff, we asked you for movies set among—or about the quest to reach—the stars. From metaphysical (Solaris) to action-packed (Armageddon) to documentary (For All Mankind), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
Continue exploring space in film with our recorded FSO discussions of Forbidden Planet and The Right Stuff.
We asked you for the best movies about the movies. From silent (Sherlock Jr.) to farcical (Bowfinger) or, ahem, adult (Boogie Nights), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
Once you've made your way through this week's Community Curated selections, deepen your silver-screen knowledge with You Must Remember This, a podcast exploring the secret and/or forgotten histories of Hollywood's first century. Previous seasons of the series include Charles Manson's Hollywood, Polly Platt: The Invisible Woman, Fake News: Fact Checking Hollywood Babylon, Jean and Jane, Six Degrees of Joan Crawford, The Blacklist, and MGM Stories.
From satirical (American Beauty), to dramatic (Revolutionary Road), or even ridiculous (um, The 'Burbs), here are your favorite movies about the 'burbs.
Landing in the second-place slot this week is David Lynch's 1985 neo-noir Blue Velvet. Lynch discussed his body of work and Philadelphia roots when he paid a visit to BMFI in 2014. Dive deeper into the realm of dark suburbia with Wired's Geek's Guide to the Galaxy podcast episode on the role suburbs often play in horror film.
If you missed the FSO discussion about our 'burbs movie selection, The Swimmer, you can catch up in the BMFI Film Studies Online Library, available now for free!
Kasi Lemmons, the writer/director of our Film Studies Online discussion film, Eve's Bayou, began her career in front of the camera in such movies as School Daze and The Silence of the Lambs. This got us thinking . . . What are the best movies directed by actors?
From Peele (Get Out) to Lupino (The Hitch-Hiker) to Redford (Quiz Show), BMFI patrons share their recommendations.
Once you've made your way through the Community Curated, dive deeper with these Film at Lincoln Center talks featuring actors/directors Elaine May, Greta Gerwig, Julie Delpy, and Jodie Foster.
Wait? You don't have a bunker that will survive an apocalyptic event? At the risk of sounding a bit bonkers, we want to know . . .
What are the best films featuring a doomsday bunker?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
It comes and goes. As summer winds down and the kiddos head back to school, there is just enough time for one more beach day. While picking up a hoagie, we started to ponder . . .
What are the best movies featuring beaches?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Holiday season is officially here. After you store the leftovers and brew the coffee, it’s time to break out a game. This week, we want to know . . .
What are your favorite movies inspired by or featuring a board game?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Trapeze, tightropes, and clowns, oh my! In celebration of Guillermo del Toro’s new neo-noir masterpiece Nightmare Alley, we started wondering . . .
What are the best movies to feature circuses or carnivals?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Don't be a drag, just be a queen! From Shakespeare to Rocky Horror, drag has been a celebrated form of expression for centuries. With its enduring impact on our minds, we want to know . . .
What are the best movies to feature drag?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Farmers are essential to our way of life. They keep us fed and inspire us to learn more about our Earth. With Saturday, June 24, 2023, being Farmer Day, we want to know . . .
What are the best films featuring farmers or farming?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Friday, December 17, 2021, marked the 118th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. To commemorate, we thoughts of films that depict air travel, which got us wondering . . .
What are the best films to feature flight?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Saturday, January 15 is National Hat Day! It made us realize how many iconic hats steal the show in films. We began wondering . . .
What are the best movies to feature iconic hats?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Sorry to bug you! Tuesday, June 6, 2023, was World Pest Day. The pesky insects that infiltrate our lives have landed in quite a few of our favorite films. So, we’re wondering . . .
What are your favorite movies featuring insects?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
I predict you'll meet a tall, dark stranger.
Sunday, August 6, 2023, was Psychic Day. While double checking our tarot, we got to wondering . . .
What are the best films featuring psychics, mediums, or fortunetellers?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We’ve made our list and checked it twice. While anxiously waiting to see what Santa will bring, we started wondering . . .
What are the best movies that feature toys?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Last week, we asked you for the best movies made more than once. From “the third time’s the charm” (John Huston's The Maltese Falcon) to unnecessary (Gus Van Sant's Psycho) to genre-changing (Throw Momma from the Train), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. Explore the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
See what Andrew J. Douglas, Ph.D., BMFI’s Senior Director of Education and Administration, has to say about remakes in last week's episode of Ask Andrew. If you have any film-related questions you'd like ask, Andrew may have the answer! Let us know in the Ask Andrew Form.
Oscar-nominee Sting—born Gordon Sumner—turned 70 on Saturday, October 2, 2021. While rightly acknowledged by the Academy, the Kennedy Center, and countless other institutions for his skills as a singer/songwriter, the former Police front man has also ventured into acting (Dune, The Bride). This got us wondering . . .
What are the best movies starring musicians?
BMFI patrons shared their favorite movies starring musicians for this Community Curated List.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Cleopatra was released on June 12, 1963, and while it's best known for its enormous budget, the movie also began the romance between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, which would span 15 years, 10 films, and two marriages. This got us thinking about movies starring real-life couples. From noir (Bogie and Bacall in The Big Sleep) to comedy (Goldie and Kurt in Overboard) to bizarre (Cruise and Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut), BMFI patrons share their recommendations.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
With Edgar Wright's throwback thriller, Last Night in Soho, and classic monster movie, Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D on 35mm, coming to BMFI in time for Halloween 2021, we're feeling nostalgic for terrifying cinema experiences. We wanted to know . . .
What are the movies that traumatized you as a child?
BMFI patrons delivered with a lengthy list of traumatizing cinema!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Inspired by Groundhog Day—or rather, Groundhog Day — we asked you for movies that tell a story in a roundabout way (or a round-and-round-and-roundabout way). From international (Rashomon) to film noir (Sunset Boulevard) to sci-fi (Edge of Tomorrow), BMFI patrons shared their favorite films with non-linear narratives.
Filmmaker David Lynch has spoken about two of this week's recommendations - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me and Mulholland Drive - while in conversation with critic Carrie Rickey at BMFI. Revisit the recorded discussion here.
Academy Award-nominated character actor Burt Young died in October 2023 at age 83.
He had notable supporting turns in a number of movies, including Chinatown, Once Upon a Time in America, The Pope of Greenwich Village, and Rocky. This got us thinking . . .
What movies have the best small-but-memorable performances?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
“Never be ashamed to write a melody that people remember.” –Burt Bacharach
Oscar-winning composer and songwriter Burt Bacharach passed away on February 8, 2023, and his greatest film legacy will be the many memorable scenes—in movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and the Austin Powers series—that featured his songs. With scene-specific songs on the mind, we’re wondering . . .
What movies (that aren’t musicals) have the best song-centered scenes?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Warner Bros. released Don Juan, the first feature film to have a synchronized musical score, on August 6, 1926, forever changing the sound of cinema. In honor of this milestone, we asked you for the best musical scores. From zither (The Third Man) to electronic (Forbidden Planet) to classical (2001: A Space Odyssey), BMFI patrons share their movie recommendations.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
C'mon. It is the Garden State after all!
This past week was "Be Nice to New Jersey Week," which is a holiday we didn't know existed. But still, it got us thinking . . .
What are the best films set in New Jersey?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Since we all agreed that 2020 couldn't be over quickly enough, we asked you for the best movies that mark the end of the year. From disaster (The Poseidon Adventure) to rom-com (When Harry Met Sally...) to sci-fi (Strange Days), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
In a year with many challenges, these Community Curated lists have given us reason to smile. Thank you for your wonderful recommendations these last eight months. Catch up on any lists you missed here.
He’s played an ex-convict, an incensed baker, and a historian out to steal the Declaration of Independence. There’s only one Nicolas Cage.
In excitement for his newest film, Dream Scenario, we want to know . . .
What are the best Nicolas Cage films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
She's played a deadly news broadcaster, the author Virginia Woolf, two witches, a headmistress wracked by the Civil War . . . and that's only a handful of the chameleonic roles that actress/producer Nicole Kidman has portrayed.
To celebrate Kidman's 57th birthday on Thursday, June 20, 2024, we want to know . . .
What are the best Nicole Kidman performances?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Never give nor take an excuse." —Florence Nightingale
Flo meant business! Nurses aid, comfort, and give care through some of the best and worst experiences in our lives. We owe them a great deal. With this past Friday, May 12, 2023, being International Nurses Day, we want to know . . .
What are the most memorable nurse performances on screen?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
June 8 is World Ocean Day, which encourages collective action for a healthy ocean and stable climate.
While taking a dip in the big blue, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best films set on or in the ocean?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We asked you, "What movies have the best opening-credits sequences?" Sometimes the titles are just as creative and engaging as the movie itself, if not more so! See the list of favorites, chosen by you.
Hooked on title sequences after sifting through this week's Community Curated selections? Art of the Title is the definitive industry publication for title-sequence design, covering the film, television, conference, and video game industries.
Boo! Did we scare you?
Whether you have a Ouija board or steer clear of spirits, we've all seen some memorable paranormal films. In honor of spooky season, we're wondering . . .
What are the best paranormal films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"The embarrassing thing is that the salad dressing is out-grossing my films."
This week we're talking Newman — Paul Newman. Thursday, January 26, 2023, would have been Paul's 98th birthday. With those cool blue eyes on our mind, we want to know . . .
What are your favorite Paul Newman films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"He was headin' for Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie." —"(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays"
The holidays are here. Whether you're traveling this week or staying put, there is something special about Pennsylvania during the holidays. While trussing the turkey, we started to ponder . . .
What are the best films set in Pennsylvania?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We asked you: What is the best movie set in Philadelphia? The Main Line and Philly burbs count!
See the ranked list, decided by you, on Letterboxd.
We're so lucky to be a part of a rich film scene in the Greater Philadelphia area. Check out some of our film friends for even more ways to engage with area movie-lovers.
Connect with local media makers in our Open Screen Monday Facebook group. We have a feeling the Philadelphia movie list will grow to include works from our amazing Open Screen Monday filmmakers.
We asked for your top horror films made before 1970. From groundbreaking (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) to timeless (The Mummy) to literary (The Haunting), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
Now that spooky season's upon us, catch up on BMFI's favorite horror classics with recorded Film Studies Online discussions about Cat People (1942) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). Gear up for Halloween with Kanopy's slate of essential horror (you can access up to four films/month for free with your library card).
P.S. It wouldn't be a pre-1970s horror list without a Karloff-Lugosi face off. Dracula edged out Frankenstein by a hair's breadth in this week's Community Curated list.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States . . ."
In honor of Presidents' Day, we want to know . . .
What are the best presidential performances on screen?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become." - Carl Jung
Monday, September 25, 2023, was National Psychotherapy Day. While scheduling our next appointment, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best films featuring psychotherapy?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We asked you: You’re in quarantine for a month. You can watch one movie. One movie. All month. No cheating. What would your quarantine movie be?
Our staff answers here, and see the full community-curated list on Letterboxd!
The Princess Bride, Hannah Cluver, Theater Staff
The Social Network, Andrew J. Douglas, Ph.D., Senior Director, Education and Administration
Kill Bill, Julia Holeman, Theater Staff
Grey Gardens, Gina Izzo, Director of Marketing
The Royal Tenenbaums, Abby Lenhard, Theater Staff
A Brighter Summer Day, Jacob Mazer, Special Programming Manager
Lady Bird, Jess McGinty, Theater Staff
The Shawshank Redemption, Jan Prendergast, Director of Finance
The Big Lebowski, Heather Rosenfeldt, Art Director
Hannah and Her Sisters, Patricia Russo, Membership Manager
Goodfellas, Jon Seidman, Theater Manager
Before Sunset, Victoria Stern, Sales and Marketing Associate
There Will Be Blood, Zane Stalberg, Membership and Rentals Coordinator
The sun is out, birds are chirping, and blossoms hang in the trees. Tuesday, March 19, 2024, marked the First Day of Spring. While hopping around the yard, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best movies featuring rabbits?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
It's Ralph like Rafe, not Ralph like Ralph. Make sense?
In honor of Conclave, starring Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes, we're wondering . . .
What are the best Ralph Fiennes films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Many of us still enjoy the whir of the projector and the flicker of the light as it shines through the celluloid and projects onto the screen. In recognition of Reel Film Day on March 5 (3/5, get it?), we’d like to know . . .
What movie made your favorite 35mm memory?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Liberté, égalité, fraternité!
Friday, July 14, 2023, was Bastille Day, France’s national holiday. While practicing our Français, we started wondering . . .
What are the best films featuring a revolution?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Last week, we asked you for movie recommendations starring Robin Williams. From funny (Mrs. Doubtfire), to dramatic (Dead Poets Society), or even schmaltzy (Patch Adams, anyone?), here are your favorite Robin Williams movies.
Continue to celebrate the life and legacy of the beloved, one-of-a-kind artist with BMFI's Theater 5 new release Robin's Wish. Anchored by his widow, Susan Schneider Williams, this intimate documentary pays tribute to the actor and recounts his struggles with a then-undiagnosed degenerative disease, Lewy body dementia. For further reading: Robin Williams biographer and veteran culture reporter Dave Itskoff reflects on writing about the actor in death and life.
Inspired by what would've been Elvis Presley's 86th birthday on January 8, we asked you for the best films about rock music and the people who make it. From fictional (Almost Famous) to documentary (20 Feet from Stardom) to biographical (La Bamba), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
In honor of this week's top movie recommendation, here's a video of director and rock journalist Cameron Crowe re-visiting the old materials and memories that inspired Almost Famous.
We asked you, "What are the best romantic comedies?" From big-budget classics to under-the-radar indies, BMFI patrons share their top moments of love and laughter on screen. See the list of favorites, chosen by you.
Once you've made your way through the Community Curated selections, sink your teeth (and heart) into last week's Ask Andrew video on the genre's current popularity and ability to adapt. Relive the charm of When Harry Met Sally with Lesson's From the Screenplay's video essay. For further viewing, check out Elizabeth Sankey's 2019 essay film Romantic Comedy.
In memory of Sir Sean Connery, who passed away on October 31 at the age of 90, we asked you for Sean Connery's best non-Bond movies. From historical (The Man Who Would Be King) to action-packed (The Rock) to quirky (Time Bandits), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
Celebrate the life and work of Connery with TCM's tribute program next Wednesday, November 25, featuring Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Marnie, The Hill and The Man Who Would Be King.
This past Tuesday, February 21, 2023, was Mardi Gras. Turn up the jazz, grab a beignet, and catch some beads! This week, we want to know . . .
What are the best films set in New Orleans?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Beware the Ides of March."
At least someone gave Caesar a warning! With Friday, March 15, 2024, being the Ides of March, we began to consider how our favorite bard from Stratford-upon-Avon has impacted cinema.
This week, we want to know . . .
What are the best Shakespeare adaptations on screen?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
They're polishing the golden men, vacuuming the red carpet, and double-checking the envelopes. The 96th Academy Awards were Sunday, March 10, 2024.
While printing out our ballots, we began to wonder . . .
What are the most shocking Oscar wins?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Whether natural or artificial, a little snow means one thing—time to hit the slopes, man!
While waiting for the lift, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best films to feature snowsports?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
On Thursday, November 7, 2024, BMFI screened Marinette, which chronicles the true story of French soccer sensation Marinette Pichon.
While working on our dribble, we began to ponder . . .
What are the best soccer (or football for our friends across the pond) films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Last week, we asked for your top stage-to-screen adaptations. From singable (The Sound of Music) to quotable (A Few Good Men) or even campy (Cats), BMFI patrons share their recommendations. See the full list of favorites, chosen by you.
If this week's Community Curated selections has you longing for a return to the stage, head over to our ever-growing Stage on (Your) Screen resources page, a curated list of live-arts recordings we've been updating regularly since March.
Summer is the time for blockbusters! We asked you, "what are some big, loud, action-packed movies that are perfect for summertime watching?" See what your neighbors are streaming this summer in the Community Curated list.
Need a bigger list? Check out this article from USA Today that names the highest-grossing blockbuster each summer since 1975.
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"Don't leave me hanging on the telephone . . ."
Telephone scenes possess a unique power to reveal or hide a character's motives. With this past Tuesday, September 5, 2023, being Telephone Tuesday, we want to know . . .
What are the best telephone scenes on film?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Inspired by the start of daylight saving time on March 14, we asked you for films that manipulate the space-time continuum. From romantic (Somewhere in Time) to sci-fi (12 Monkeys) to comedy (Groundhog Day), BMFI patrons share their favorite time travel movies.
Beloved actor Tom Hanks—widely thought to be the nicest guy in Hollywood—turned 65 on July 9. To mark this milestone, we asked you for the best Tom Hanks movies.
From rom-com (You've Got Mail) to historical (The Post) to dark (The 'Burbs), BMFI patrons share their recommendations.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We asked you: What are the top sports movies of all time?
Check out the BMFI selects below, and view the full list voted by you on Letterboxd.
A League of Their Own
1992 · d. Penny Marshall
In 1943, a pair of baseball-loving sisters (Geena Davis and Lori Petty) join the newly formed All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Managed by a has-been former pro (Tom Hanks), the sisters and their teammates (including Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell) share laughs and dramas—on and off the field—en route to their league’s World Series. Remember, there's no crying in baseball!
Remember the Titans
2000 · d. Boaz Yakin
Denzel Washington stars as Coach Herman Boone, who must unite his high school's newly integrated football team and guide them to victory. This inspiring true story will sack you right in the heartstrings!
The Set-Up
1949 · d. Robert Wise
Before he made The Sound of Music, Robert Wise directed this underrated sports noir. Unfolding in real time, the film follows a washed-up club boxer (Robert Ryan) who believes his next match will end his long losing streak—not knowing that his crooked manager has arranged for him to take a dive.
Pumping Iron II: The Women
1985 · d. George Butler
The original Pumping Iron documentary, featuring Mr. Universe-era Arnold Schwarzenegger at his most buff (and most arrogant), is a camp classic. Who'd have expected that its sequel would be quite thoughtful? The documentary tracks a group of female bodybuilders during the run-up to the 1983 Caesars World Cup. Australian powerlifter Bev Francis is by far the most muscular of the bunch, yet she’s met with bafflement and hostility by the (mostly male) judges, who deem her physique not sufficiently “feminine.” It is a look into a unique subculture that offers a broader commentary on body image and gender stereotypes.
Think you're seeing double? No need to put down the eggnog. December 18 was National Twin Day, and to celebrate, we want to know . . .
What are the best films to feature twins?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
They're two cowboys in 1960s Wyoming. He's a lonely writer and she's an A.I. assistant. She's a popular girl and he has scissors for hands. In honor of Valentine's Day, we want to know . . .
What are the best films featuring unlikely romances?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
We asked you, if you could take a real-life vacation in any movie locale, what movie would that be? Some settings you picked are beautiful and ripe for relaxing. Some scenarios are not for the faint of heart! See the list of dream destinations, chosen by you.
Looking for more escape-worthy locales? The Smithsonian Channel's Aerial America series, which features high-flying looks at the American landscape, is streaming for free.
Vacation, all I ever wanted. Vacation, had to get away!
The hotel is booked, our bags are packed, and we're ready to officially chill. While considering in-flight entertainment, we wanted to ask . . .
What are the best movies about vacation?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
“I am a very committed wife. And I should be committed, too–for being married so many times.” –Elizabeth Taylor
The flowers, the flamboyancy, the family–weddings can be tricky events to pull off, which means they’re the perfect setting for a great film. With nuptials on the mind, we’re wondering . . .
What are the best wedding movies?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I dream my painting and I paint my dream"—Vincent van Gogh
Saturday, March 30, 2024, marked the 171st anniversary of Vincent van Gogh's birth. While arranging some sunflowers under the starry night sky, we began to wonder . . .
What are the weirdest ears in film history?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Ah-hoo, werewolves of London! Ah-hoo . . .
Whether you're across the pond, or in your own backyard, a full moon + Halloween = werewolves. With the next full moon arriving on Saturday, October 28, 2023, we got to wondering . . .
What are the best werewolf flicks?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars, which popularized the Spaghetti Western and launched Clint Eastwood to nearly sixty years of big-screen stardom, premiered in Italy on September 12, 1964.
This western shot in Spain with an Italian crew revitalized the most American of genres, which got us thinking . . .
What are the best westerns from outside the U.S.?
BMFI patrons shared their favorite foreign westerns for this Community Curated List.
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite."—Buddy the Elf
Sunday, July 16, 2023, was actor Will Ferrell's birthday. Whether he's trying to go Semi-Pro or win Eurovision, Mr. Ferrell always finds a way to leave us laughing. This week, we want to know . . .
What are the best Will Ferrell flicks?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"You have to lose yourself to find yourself."
Monday, July 22, 2024, was actor Willem Dafoe's 69th birthday. Dafoe's long legacy of mysterious, all-consuming, and fascinating roles has led us to start wondering . . .
What are the best Willem Dafoe films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
"We're gonna need you to go ahead and fill out this Question of the Week."
From comedic (Office Space) to dramatic (Norma Rae), or even musical (How to Succeed in Business...), BMFI patrons share their favorite workplace movies for our next community curated list.
In a landslide vote, 9 to 5 claimed this week's first place slot. We last screened the film in 2018 as part of the series, A Girl’s Best Friend: Female Friendship on Film. We miss gathering for movies and drinks on Lancaster Avenue, but at least we have Theater 5 and our 9 to 5 mugs to hold us over.
Get en pointe! Wednesday, November 2, 2022, was World Ballet Day. While working on the perfect plié, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best films to feature ballet?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
Get en pointe! Wednesday, November 2, 2022, was World Ballet Day. While working on the perfect plié, we began to wonder . . .
What are the best films to feature ballet?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
WrestleMania returned to Philadelphia for its 40th anniversary.
While donning a singlet and hopping in the ring, we got to wondering . . .
What are the best wrestling films?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
I heard people are dying to get in there.
Sunday, October 30, 2022 was Visit a Cemetery Day. Whether we’re remembering loved ones or watching a zombie flick, cemeteries play an important role in the human experience. And during Halloween season, cemeteries can sure give us a fright! We started wondering . . .
What are your favorite zombie movies?
BMFI patrons chimed in with their picks for this Community Curated List!
See all of the lists curated by you in the Community Curated archive.
