Unlike the previous MRFH Institute of Film Stuff lists, this is not a rating of which is better. We simply wanted to share some of our most memorable movie moments and scenes with you. Number one is no better than number 17... unless you really like the number 17. In which case, you should use it as a lottery number.
1. Jaws
The scene in Jaws where Alex Kintner gets eaten. The build-up is great. Very "Odessa Steps" esque. [Andie]
2. Major League
When Wild Thing comes into the stadium to pitch, and they blast up his theme song. Charlie Sheen's greatest hour. [Justin]
3. Bloodsport
Frank Dux takes the blinding powder in the eyes, proceeds on a two minute slow mo moaning fest. [PoolMan]
4. American Pie
Jim has “relations” with an apple pie. – Suddenly everyone out of high school realizes they don’t really miss it like we thought they did. [Kyle]
5. The Professional
Leon lets Mathilda in. [Clare]
6. American Beauty
The part where Wes Bentley goes, "If I had to leave tonight, would you come
with me?" and Thora Birch processes what he has asked her and then says, "Yes."
in American Beauty. She's so sure of herself, it makes me cry. [Andie]
7. Ghostbusters
Seeing the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, 40 stories tall, rampaging across downtown Manhatten. Never was such a cute and lovable mascot rendered a hilarious and destructive monstrosity. [Justin]
8. Ghostbusters
Venkman mocking Stantz's plan to catch a ghost, which consisted of "Get 'er!". [PoolMan]
9. Die Hard
John McClane jumps off an exploding roof. – Sure we saw it in the preview, but it’s still breathtaking and I don’t see Jackass trying this one. [Kyle]
10. Swingers
Mike Peters leaves message after message. [Clare]
11. Psycho
The shower sequence. The music, the quick editing cuts, the horrible death where we don't actually see anything but we swear it was totally gruesome. Amazing cinematic moment. [Andie]
12. Return of the Jedi
Even though current computer effects are well beyond this era, seeing the Rebel fleet lurch into hyperspace is consistently thrilling and rewatchable. [Justin]
13. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
The fight between Obi Wan, Qui Gon, and Maul is probably the high point of all Star Wars lightsaber battles. [PoolMan]
14. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris explains the rules for faking illness to us. Us! – Suddenly school is a little more bearable. [Kyle]
15. Life is Beautiful
Guido Orefice translates concentration camp instructions for his son. [Clare]
16. Schindler's List
The "Girl in the little red coat" sequence in Schindler's List. This whole movie is amazing, but this part always freaks me out the most. And the fact that the whole movie is black and white and her coat is colored in red is fantastic. [Andie]
17. There's Something About Mary
The zipper scene. You know of which I speak. In any other movie it would've been a quick joke, but here the filmmakers used to build a crescendo of laughs that had me literally rolling in the aisles. [Justin]
18. When Harry Met Sally
Harry's big rant at the end about why he loves Sally (it's all the little things) is fantastic. [PoolMan]
19. Fletch
“Yes, it’s me, Doctor Rosenpenis.” – Even without the directory of doctors visual joke, this is the funniest hospital gag ever. [Kyle]
20. Dirty Dancing
Baby and Johnny take their shirts off and finally get down to business. [Clare]
21. Sherlock Jr.
The scene where Buster Keaton's character is playing pool with his "enemy" and he doesn't know that if he hits a certain ball it will explode, but we know it. So he runs the whole table without ever hitting this certain ball. It's one of many amazing scenes in Sherlock Jr. Buster Keaton is an amazing man. [Andie]
22. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
In a movie about a character who has immense charisma and cojones, Ferris tops it all by throwing himself into -- and becoming the focus of -- a massive parade where he sings "Twist and Shout" and causes the entire city to dance. [Justin]
23. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
Yoda making Dooku look like he's moving in slow mo. [PoolMan]
24. Ghostbusters
Dr. Peter Venkman punishes a potential male psychic to impress a visibly hot chick. – Kyle’s ultimate career goal is suddenly defined. [Kyle]
25. Evil Dead 2
Ash Williams tells the cellar hag to "swallow this". [Clare]
26. Raiders of the Lost Ark
The scene where Indy can't get to his whip, so he just takes out his gun and shoots the bad guy in Raiders of the Lost Ark. One of the funniest moments of cinema. [Andie]
27. The Usual Suspects
Out of the many films that have trick endings, The Usual Suspects plays its ending out superbly, the on-screen slow motion and muted sounds an echo of our heads when we first realized how we were hoodwinked. [Justin] The sequence at the end when the police detective figures out who Keyser Soze is in The Usual Suspects. I felt so duped and yet so excited at the same time. [Andie] Keyser Soze is revealed. [Clare]
28. Halloween
Filled with six bullets, Michael Myers somehow wanders off into sequel-mania while Dr. Loomis’ eyes nearly pop out. – Now that’s a good horror film ending! [Kyle]
29. The Princess Bride
Inigo Montoya wants his father back, you son of a bitch. [Clare]
30. Scream
The opening 15 minutes of Scream. A total guilty pleasure sequence, but I love it. I thought it was so well done, one of the finest horror movie sequences. [Andie]
31. Jaws
Nothing shouts "buddy movie" more than the scene where the three men in the boat bond over drinks, horrific tales of sunken WWII battleships, and singing slurred tunes. [Justin]
32. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Knights Who Say Ni demand King Arthur cut down the mightiest tree in the woods with a herring. Arthur refuses. "Oh please?" [PoolMan]
33. Jaws
Chief Brody hits the luckiest shot ever and gets a blood shower in return. – Not only was this cool, but let’s face it: we were all kind of rooting for the shark. [Kyle]
34. Reservoir Dogs
Mr. Blonde cuts off Marvin Nash's ear out of frame. [Clare]
35. Citizen Kane
The scene where the camera winds around through the storage to finally
reveal what Rosebud really is in Citizen Kane. This whole movie is amazing, but
I have a particular affinity for the ending. [Andie]
36. Army of Darkness
While movie lore has the entire end "S-Mart" scene thrown together in an attempt to redo the depressing original ending, it turned out to be a bold move. Ash tempts us to think that the whole movie was just a story, then ends up fighting the undead in the aisles, and finishes the movie by ripping off his shirt, quipping an awesome line, and kissing the girl. That's how every film should end. [Justin]
37. The Matrix
The Oracle forgives Neo for breaking the vase, which he then goes and does. The line that follows is priceless. [PoolMan]
38. PCU
Droz shakes his head to the “music” he’s imprisoning the President’s party with. – And suddenly Jeremy Piven enters Film God status. [Kyle]
39. Caddyshack
Carl Spackler recounts caddying for the Dali Lama. [Clare]
40. Rudy
The scene where all the other players come to the coach and give up their
spot on the team so Rudy can dress for one game in Rudy. [Andie]
41. Aliens
The survivors huddle in a room and discover that welded doors haven't stopped the alien advance -- as Hicks finds out when he lifts the ceiling grate and shines his flashlight about. [Justin] The marines barely discover in time what it means when the motion detector shows an impossibly close reading... [PoolMan]
42. 2001: A Space Odyssey
The apes figure out how to use the bones of the dead as weapons. [PoolMan]
43. Rocky Horror Picture Show
Dr. Frank N Furter introduces him/herself to Brad and Janet, complete with musical accompaniment. – And gender issues have never made sense again. [Kyle]
44. The Royal Tenenbaums
Richie Tenebaum tries to kill himself. [Clare]
45. The Labyrinth
The M.C. Escher-esque sequence at the end of The Labyrinth. Creepy and yet strangely intriguing. [Andie]
46. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
It's a toss-up between the Black Knight scene and the bunny rabbit, but I'm going with the deadly bunny rabbit due to its sheer outrageousness and the line, "I soiled my armor I was so scared!" [Justin]
47. Batman
Batman dangles the crook off the roof, and informs him, "I'm Batman". [PoolMan]
48. Raiders of the Lost Ark
Nazis melt thanks to God. – nice assist, big guy! [Kyle]
49. The Breakfast Club
Claire applies lipstick with her cleavage. [Clare]
50. Mystic Pizza
The pool game where Julia Roberts runs the table and makes the final shot without looking in Mystic Pizza. This is a guilty pleasure moment, but I just love it. Love it love it love it. [Andie]
51. PCU
The meat-tossing scene; a great blow against political correctness everywhere. [Justin]
52. Dude, Where's My Car?
And theeeeeeeeeen? I dunno, this gag just works for me. [PoolMan]
53. Spider-Man
Spidey goes for one last swing around NYC before twhipping into greatness. – And as the credits roll, comic book geeks enjoy an ultra-rare, non-collectible feeling of joy. [Kyle]
54. L.A. Confidential
Bud White thinks Lynn Braken looks better than Veronica Lake. [Clare]
55. Animal House
The part where Tom Hulce leaves the girl in her underwear on her porch in a shopping cart, rings the doorbell and runs for his life in Animal House. Hilarious! [Andie]
56. Fellowship of the Ring
Few on-screen battles have been as exhilerating and furious as the final desparate struggle between the broken Fellowship and the Uruk-hai, with the good guys dispatching baddies left and right with fine-tuned skill, and Boromir's last stand. [Justin]
57. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
NO TICKET. [PoolMan]
58. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Captain Kirk screams “Khan!” and a pop culture landmark is born. – There is the alpha, there is the omega, and there is the Shatner. [Kyle]
59. Carrie
The entire ending 15 minutes of Carrie. The way she freaks out is so powerful and the very, very ending of the movie has one of the best scares in all of cinema. [Andie]
60. The Matrix
It wouldn't be a list of the best movie moments without mention of the classic lobby shootout scene, a beautiful array of destruction and gunfire. [Justin]
61. Star Wars: A New Hope
Luke standing on the dune, looking into the twin sunsets, as the music swells like only John Williams can make it. [PoolMan]
62. Animal House
Bluto drinks down an entire bottle and is still hungry for more. – According to research, before this, students actually studied! [Kyle]
63. Strangers On A Train
The tennis match scene in Strangers on a Train. One of the greatest visual gags in movies. Everyone's head swivels back and forth watching the match except Bruno's. Creepy. [Andie]
64. Dead Poets Society
Nothing chokes me up faster than seeing Todd stand up on the desk and shout out, "O Captain My Captain!" [Justin]
65. Return of the Jedi
The final duel between Luke and Vader, all silhouetted out. [PoolMan]
66. Return of the Jedi
Darth Vader has to choose between the Emperor and his slightly-crispy son Luke. – One of the few scenes guys are allowed to cry at. [Kyle]
67. East of Eden
Cal and Abra kissing on the ferris wheel. [Clare]
68. Say Anything
Lloyd's wordless declaration of love, as he stands in front of his girl's house with a boombox over his head playing their song. [Justin] Lloyd Dobler and his boom box tell it like it is. [Clare]
69. Monsters Inc.
Right at the end, when Boo says "Kitty?". [PoolMan]
70. Airplane!
Ted Stryker first manifests his “drinking problem.” – A party faux pas becomes a legitimate movie reference! [Kyle]
71. American Beauty
Ricky Fitts shows Jane Burnham his dancing bag film. [Clare]