10 Movies That Will Permanently Change The Way You Think About The World

Movies have the remarkable ability to stay with us–not only on our dusty DVD shelves, but in our hearts and minds. Here are a few that tend to stick around:

1. The Truman Show (1998)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYj2m1yVpGU&w=584&h=390]

“We accept the reality with which we’re presented.”

But what if that reality is a sham? The Truman Show, starring a very quality Jim Carrey, explores the life of a man unknowingly owned by a television corporation. The Truman Show is actual reality television.

2. Taxi Driver (1976)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e9CkhBb18E&w=584&h=390]

Before anti-heroes like Tony Soprano and Walter White, we had Travis Bickle. Among other things, this Scorcese classic shows us the very thin, oftentimes amorphous line between good and evil.

3. Network (1976)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQUBbpvXk2A&w=584&h=390]

An outrageously satirical, yet equally poignant take on the nature of mass media, that doesn’t seem to have any trouble staying relevant–as one YouTube commenter astutely noted, this essentially “foretold the rise reality and tabloid TV.”

4. American Beauty (1999)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q3ltyPJJMQ&w=584&h=390]

How would you act if you had nothing to lose? American Beauty explores this idea in provocative fashion, uncovering both the wonderful and more haunting sides of humanity.

5. Fruitvale Station (2013)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceVVVils8z4&w=584&h=390]

First time director Ryan Coogler tells the tragic story of Oscar Grant. It’s too moving, and underscores the fact that life, at it’s core, is inherently unfair; we can only strive to make the best of each and every day.

6. The Matrix (1999)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8e-FF8MsqU&w=584&h=390]

If I was a commenter on here, I’d be all like “how could you not include The Matrix?” So here, we have The Matrix.

7. Spring Breakers (2013)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7n3gF7j2V4&w=584&h=390]

‘This is the fuckin’ American dream. This is my fuckin’ dream, y’all! All this sheeyit! Look at my sheeyit! I got… I got SHORTS! Every fuckin’ color. I got designer T-shirts! I got gold bullets. Motherfuckin’ VAM-pires. I got Scarface. On repeat. SCARFACE ON REPEAT. Constant, y’all! I got Escape! Calvin Klein Escape!”

Say what you want about Spring Breakers, but Harmony Korine and Mr. James Franco makes some gripping arguments about what it means to truly make the most of life. Mildly apocalyptic, deeply provoking.

8. Memento (2000)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vS0E9bBSL0&w=584&h=390]

Your quintessential “mindfuck”, Memento is a very interesting take on the greater purpose of human motivation.

9. Lost In Translation (2003)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU0oZsqeG_s&w=584&h=390]

Two people that are technically supposed to be happy but are actually sorta miserable is certainly not the most original movie premise. But Lost In Translation does a remarkable job in showing that deep human connection can sometimes be found in the most unlikely of scenarios. Always keep your eyes open.

10. Crash (2005)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-iyxIincCI&w=584&h=390]

A lot of people hate on this Best Picture winner, arguing that it robbed candidates like Brokeback Mountain and Munich of the award. Regardless, Crash is a gripping look at post 9-11 Los Angeles, encapsulating the daily struggles faced by all walks of humanity.

Above all, Crash will make you realize that you have no idea what a stranger may be going through at any gjven time, so it’s best to not be a self-important dick. Ninth grade english was right–a simple act of kindness can change someone’s life.