Do people still flip through channels anymore? I know I do, but the way technology is always on-demand now, and some people bypass broadcast TV altogether, maybe the serendipitous nature of channel surfing has faded away. This got me thinking about the way some movies always seem to grab my attention, whether it’s a lazy Saturday afternoon on the couch or a commercial break in the middle of another show I happen to be watching.
Without fail, there are just some movies that I can’t pass by if I happen upon them. If I see a quick glimpse of any of the following movies, I’m hooked for the next hour or two:
- Any movie with a planet full of apes
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Die Hard
- Rocky IV
- The Terminator
- Tombstone
- Field of Dreams
- Red Dawn (the original, not the one with Thor)
- Saving Private Ryan
- Any Jason Statham movie
- Fast & the Furious (all of them, even Tokyo Drift)
- Any Vin Diesel movie (see #11)
- Honorable Mention: Any Michael Bay movie (the man is a genius)
I also usually stop on any of the Lord of the Rings movies, but then realize that the entire day will be gone before the movie is over, and have to bail after a half hour or so.
I’m sure there are plenty of other movies that will come to me as soon as I post this list, but these are probably the most obvious contenders. What’s a movie you can’t flip past on any given Sunday?
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This week, the League of Extraordinary Bloggers is discussing their “must watch” movies, so check them out!
Any of the OT Star Wars (sometime the prequels, too)
The Princess Bride
Blazing Saddles
The sad thing is, I do this even though I own all of them…
I actually find myself stopping on the Star Wars prequels more than the original trilogy, only because I haven’t seem them nearly as much.
As I was reading this I kept asking, “Is this list a joke?” Then I got to number thirteen and was like, “Yup, clearly a joke list.” You got me, Brian!
Now wait a minute, I stand by each of these selections. No joke! I am a man with very low standards and I’m not afraid to admit that I enjoy Michael Bay movies. 😉
Are you seeing the new Turtle’s movie? I’m still on the fence.
Nope, not interested at all. I’ll probably catch it during a channel surfing bout in 2019. 😉
If I’d known must-watch movies was going to be the catch all with movie, I’d have started listing a while ago!
Eclectic list!
I do think you’re on to something about channel surfing fading away. I was trying to think of the last time I genuinely flicked through the channels, and for the past 5 years or so I’d say it only ever happens in hotels in foreign countries – and even then I’m just as likely to get caught up in the commercials as the shows or movies!
Maybe channel surfing is evolving. I find myself scrolling through the listings on certain channels for the next week or so, and if something looks good, I’ll set it up to record on the DVR and maybe watch it someday. These are usually movies that I’ve never seen for one reason or another.
Good point! Replace DVR with a subscription service queue, and that does cover my “random” viewing habits as well.