1. The Prince of Egypt (1998)
The Prince of Egypt has just about everything that I look for in a movie, not to mention that it’s been in the Smith family movie rotation for essentially my entire life, be it DVD or streaming. With superb animation (and some show-stopping visuals of insane scale), a great story with complex, fully developed lead characters, committed vocal performances from actors and singers alike, and one of the best soundtrack-score combinations in film history, I can’t imagine how I convinced myself for so long that The Prince of Egypt wasn’t my favorite movie. I’m now living my truth!
“I won’t rehash many of my praises since they are very well-documented, but I appreciate this movie more every time I watch it…I’m a sucker for musicals, and when they’re this powerful and respectful of their audiences as these are, they stick with me for a long time.”
2. La La Land (2016)
I remember going to see La La Land in the theater back in 2016. I was convinced that “Another Day of Sun” was some well-choreographed and composed Coca-Cola ad or something, but when that title card hit, my brain chemistry was forever altered. This film is (at least partly) responsible for my love of movie musicals, Ryan Gosling, and Damien Chazelle and Justin Hurwitz. I feel only a little bad that, in the most recent shaking-up of my rankings, La La Land stayed in second place after Inside Out was ousted by The Prince of Egypt.
“[La La Land]’s got the perfect mix of engaging, dynamic storytelling and lovable, complicated characters, and Gosling and Stone were the perfect choices for Mia and Sebastian. I think I’m equally in love with the both of them in this movie, just as much as they’re in love with each other…I’ve said that my favorite movies will always exude magic above all, and that’s exactly what La La Land does for me. Every. Single. Time.”
3. The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King may be the best example of a movie that I loved as a kid, yet as I get older, I get more and more out of with each rewatch. It’s always been a stunning movie and certainly a childhood favorite for the music and humor, but my more recent viewings really unlocked the magic of this film, from Simba’s story of identity and redemption to some insanely spiritual vibes and visuals (I will semi-confidently say here that the “Remember Who You Are” sequence is my favorite in any movie, ever). I still love the music and humor, of course, but now that I feel like I’m actually getting the full picture when I watch this film, there’s so much more to appreciate.
“The pure love and passion poured into this film is enough to make a grown man cry (or, in my case, get very near it) every time. The animation was amazing, the score was amazing, the story was amazing, the voice acting was amazing, the comedy was amazing, and The Lion King steadfastly remains one of my favorite (and objectively one of the best) films of all time.”
4. Inside Out (2015)
I think it was around the end of high school when I unofficially dethroned The Princess Bride as my favorite movie with Inside Out. Even though that time has now come to an end, this film still has a special place in my heart. This is another one I remember seeing in the theater, too (right after my crush of three years had moved to another state; middle school drama, I know, riveting); I was both in awe and crushed. Inside Out is Pixar at its finest; layered and accessible for all ages, very funny and musically rich, and there’s always more to find. There may be other Pixar movies that I’ve loved for longer, but none as much as Inside Out.
“As is usually the case with Pixar, the layered story of Joy, Sadness, and Riley hit exceptionally hard, and I think its impact on me grows as I get older—teaching hundreds of Rileys this year and as I’m getting closer and closer to becoming a parent…Such a deep dive into the emotional makeup of a kid, as someone who loves children, is an obvious hit for me, and the music puts it over the top.”
Nate At The Movies 