20 films you must own

We've all been there — nothing on TV, bored and the bad weather is keeping you inside. What you need then is to put your feet up and enjoy a good DVD… But what to watch?
Here are 20 ideas that cater for many moods and situations, from silly comedies to classic dramas.

Star Wars

We of course mean the original trilogy. Seriously, no DVD collection is complete without George Lucas' glorious space opera romp.

It has everything — '70s fashion, earth-shattering revelations, lightsabers and the coolest damn character ever. Ah, Han Solo, you're such a rascal. Hell, even the Ewoks aren't as bad as everyone says.

Perfect for: When you want to relive your childhood.

Anchorman

We'd say arguably the screwiest and funniest American comedy since 'The Jerk' (except, anyone who would argue against that point clearly doesn't know what they're talking about). 'Anchorman' is pure comedy brilliance, packed with some of the most quotable lines heard since the likes of 'Airplane' - such as Ron referring to Brian's cologne: "Brian, I'm gonna be honest with you, that smells like pure gasoline."

Also, make sure you plump for the 'Anchorman'/'Wake Up, Ron Burgundy' set. Comprising of assembled deleted scenes, they've managed to make a whole new Ron Burgundy adventure. Sadly, it will probably be the closest thing we'll ever get to a sequel.

Perfect for: When you need a good chuckle.

Die Hard
Forget 'Wizard of Oz' or 'It's A Wonderful Life', the best Christmas movie is 'Die Hard'. Nothing says festive fuzziness more than John McClane tackling terrorists/bank robbers with a wisecrack and a shot of his pistol.

Quite simply the greatest action film ever made, and, with Alan Rickman redefining the baddie role, featuring possibly the greatest screen villain ever.

Perfect for: Times when you need a little lift in life. If you think you've got it bad, at least you're not stuck at a Christmas office party with a hammy British actor and his group of machine gun-toting buddies.

Rear Window
It's impossible to pick one Hitchcock film, and with the incredibly cheap 'Alfred Hitchcock Collection' (you can normally pick it up for around £20), you don't need to. While it features the Master's most iconic films, including 'Psycho' and 'Vertigo', we'll still always plump for Hitchcock's economical, stylish and oh-so-thrilling suspense classic about Jimmy Stewart's bed-ridden photographer who's convinced he's witnessed a murder.

Perfect for: A lazy Sunday afternoon.

The Exorcist
William Friedkin's scarefest is all the more chilling as it barely features any music or low-rent jumps. What it does have is slow-burning tension. Lots of it.
The hype and the fact that so many other horror films have referenced it has diluted its impact somewhat, but if you're home alone and have the lights turned out, put it on and see if you are not nervously looking around you by the end (or more likely near the beginning).

Perfect for: Reminding you that horror films can be high art as well.

Jaws
Steven Spielberg's first big screen success made a whole generation scared to dip their toes in the sea. Using just a rubber shark, a nerve-shredding score by John Williams, a fine cast and a restrained cinematic hand, Spielberg made one of the finest chillers of all time.
The 30th Anniversary Special Edition is the one you should buy, considering its wealth of excellent extras.

Perfect for: Watching after you've had a trip to sunnier climates. Never before!

Metropolis
Even if you only know 'Metropolis' because it was used in a Queen video, it's an essential purchase. The most influential sci-fi film of all time, Fritz Lang's breathtaking vision of a dystopian future is a timeless masterpiece.

The special edition comes with a restored print as well as an exhaustive 'making of' doc.

Perfect for: Just having around to make you look like the true movie expert.

The Matrix
Its sequels were bloated and, quite frankly, wholly unnecessary, but the first film still has the power to captivate and thrill. While the cinema world was waiting in anticipation for 'The Phantom Menace', the film took everyone by surprise with its cyberpunk energy and 'Alice in Wonderland' references. Add in some retro wire fight scenes and the revolutionary bullet time special effects, and you have a glorious adrenaline-filled spectacle.

Perfect for: When you want a blockbuster that makes you think.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd and a host of wonderful supporting actors lend a manic energy to this classic film — only to be topped by the most manic of all manic actors. Jack Nicholson is at his very best in this oddly touching and oddly comic drama. Men and women alike, get your tissues ready.

Perfect for: A nice night to chill out with an old favourite.

Grosse Pointe Blank
Forget 'The Wedding Singer' and 'Hot Tub Time Machine': If you want a trip back to the '80s then John Cusack's charming assassin comedy is the right film for you.

Cusack's hit man character having to attend his high school reunion is a plot ripe with comic potential. While the laughs aren't something they skirt around, it focuses as much energy on extracting the less obvious pathos. Superb soundtrack to boot.

Perfect for: A nostalgia trip.

Rocky
You don't even have to stop at the first film. Buy the box set, and throw the fifth one away. As for the rest, just enjoy a superb first film (the champion underdog movie), a very decent second, a gloriously goofy third, a montage-heavy but hugely enjoyable (if unbelievably stupid) fourth film, before finishing with the better-than-everyone-thought-it-would-be 'Rocky Balboa' - the sixth and final entry.

Perfect for: When you need a pick-me-up. Nothing stirs the emotion more than when Rocky's cantankerous trainer Mickey implores Rocky to stay down after yet more pummelling by the world champion, Apollo Creed, only for Rocky to stagger back up, to the equally battle-weary Creed's exasperation.

Goodfellas
Martin Scorsese has made many classic films. But none have struck more of a mainstream chord than 'Goodfellas', not even his later bigger budget studio efforts. It's easy to see why. Hugely re-watchable, Scorsese's vibrant take on Mafia life is packed with virtuoso set-pieces, memorable characters and equally memorable dialogue. Who wouldn't want to enter a restaurant like Henry Hill does?

Perfect for: Watching with a tomato-based pasta dish.

Shaun of the Dead
The film took most people by surprise. As good as cult TV show 'Spaced' was, no one expected the stars and director to craft such a charming (and gory) British version of a zombie attack. Played for laughs that come complete with a beating heart, this is British comedy at its finest.
No matter how many times you watch it, 'Shaun of the Dead' is becoming as comfortable as a well-worn pair of slippers.

Perfect for: When your friends are around.

The Terminator
While James Cameron is best known for his big-budget spectaculars like 'Titanic' and 'Avatar', his proper big screen debut (he was fired during his first effort, the sequel to low-budget hit 'Piranha') still packs a punch.

This sci-fi classic latched onto the pure power of Arnold Schwarzenegger's physique and, coupled with an inventive time travel storyline and wonderful synth score, ensured an '80s classic was born.

Perfect for: Seeing that James Cameron could once make a film that didn't cost more than the national debt.

The Goonies
Richard Donner's adventurous tale of a group of young treasure hunters is destined to thrill generations of kids. Its secret: Not talking down to children — instead, allowing them to have a distinct personality, with each one integral at one point or another to succeed in their journey.

The music is '80s at its most nostalgic, while Chris Colombus' (with a little helping hand from Steven Spielberg) script still sparkles.

The DVD comes with a visual commentary track, allowing you to see what the Goonies look like now. Yup, Chunk is now a svelte lawyer.

Perfect for: When you have children around. You'll still enjoy it though.

This Is Spinal Tap
No matter how many times you watch it, 'This Is Spinal Tap' just never becomes boring.
When you add in the fact that the DVD Collectors Edition is packed with extras just as funny (even the menu raises a titter) how can this not be an essential purchase?

Perfect for: When music takes itself too seriously.

The Thing
As dependable and snug as a winter coat, every film lover should have 'The Thing' in their DVD collection. It's just a great, solid thriller, unfairly labelled as an 'Alien' rip-off upon its release.
Kurt Russell is at his gripping best, while John Carpenter racks up the tension admirably. The scene where they are trying to find out which ones have been infected still excites.

Perfect for: Moments when you need a bearded Kurt Russell in your life.

The Third Man
Obviously Orson Welles' best film is 'Citizen Kane'. But we recommend renting that one (you'll very rarely watch it again) and plumping for Carol Reed's hugely atmospheric Vienna thriller instead. The jaunty soundtrack and delightful visuals are no match for Welles' iconic performance, stealing the show with his 'cuckoo clock' monologue.

Perfect for: A night in by yourself.

Clerks
Kevin Smith's low-fi slacker comedy is as impressive as the story behind it, which is lovingly detailed amongst the anniversary edition's huge amount of extras — the best of which are the commentary tracks.
Smith's character Silent Bob may not be the most talkative, but there are no such problems in real life. His ramblings ensure that his commentaries are some of the best around.

Perfect for: When you're in the mood for a little offbeat humour.

Alien Quadrilogy
Two classics, a flawed effort and a ghastly fourth. So why should you buy the box set? Quite simply, as good as the first two movies are, the real selling point is the inclusion of lengthy documentaries about each film.

Packed with warts-and-all tales of what it was like to make the movies, you get anecdotes like James Cameron ranting about his British crew members' obsession with afternoon tea while he's trying to set up a shot, and a brilliantly in-depth look at the infamous alternative 'wooden planet' storyline that was meant for 'Alien 3'. What if, eh?

Perfect for: Learning everything there is to know about the enduring series.

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