The martial arts-infused Wachowskis film where you take the blue pill or the red pill, especially when entering the AI construct of reality.
The Matrix is a 1999 film directed by the then Wachowksi brothers, now known as the Wachowskis. There is no spoon!
The Tolkien-inspired film series featuring Frodo and some magical jewelry.
The Lord of the Rings is the classic Tolkien tale directed by Peter Jackson. The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) started the three-part series.
The Tina Fey-written teen comedy about a homeschooled who goes to high school for the first time, and meets a group of "It Gals" who aren't so nice.
Mean Girls is a 2004 movie produced by SNL producer Lorne Michaels. Rachel McAdams' villain character in the film made a mark that impacted Lindsay Lohan's protagonist character -- at least in the minds of millennials.
This "tale as old as time" was an animated classic of a pretty gal and a hideous creature, with some singing cutlery thrown in.
The Disney animated classic Beauty and the Beast charmed millennials back in the '90s. They were equally charmed with its 2017 live-action version, we're sure.
The first of the magical film series that centered on a boy with a lightning scar on his forehead, and a school of witchcraft and wizardry.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was the 2001 film that catapulted Daniel Radcliffe to fame. Millennials also grew up along with him in the subsequent films in this series, as adapted from the books by JK Rowling.
The first rule of this association is, never discuss this pugilistic-inspired association to anyone.
Fight Club is the 1999 film adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's 1996 novel. Director David Fincher delivers an unforgettable film with an equally unforgettable plot twist at the end concerning Brad Pitt's and Edward Norton's characters.
The one about the huge ship that sank, where Jack and Rose first met.
Titanic was a huge 1997 box office hit by director James Cameron. Decades later, Cameron appears in TV documentary specials about revisiting the Titanic wreckage and filming such expeditions.
The one about high school cheerleading squads and their squabbles.
Bring It On is a 2000 teen flick. The comedy was brought to life by its female stars Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, and Gabrielle Union.
An undercover cop infiltrates the world of illegal car racing, in the first of this film series.
The Fast and the Furious came out in 2001. But up to this day, the film franchise has been churning out film after film -- even after the death of one of its stars, Paul Walker, who lost his life in a car accident.
Peter Parker's superhero alter ego comes alive in this 2002 film by director Sam Raimi.
Spider-Man's 2002 version put the spotlight on this conflicted teen hero. Many reboots later, this original starring Tobey Maguire still has a special place in the hearts of millennials.
This film is as American as eating a certain pastry and losing one's virginity -- if you're a teen boy pressured by prom night shenanigans.
American Pie is a sex-themed teen comedy film that came out in 1999. It remains as a goofball classic to this day.
Its teen protagonist named Cher used to say "As if!"
Clueless is the 1995 teen comedy film that truly defined a generation. It starred Alicia Silverstone under the direction of Amy Heckerling, which is actually an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Emma.
A film about a very socially awkward Idaho teen, his Mexican best friend Pedro, and their daily high school life, in between daydreaming.
Napoleon Dynamite is a very small independent film that has gained a cult following. It debuted in 2004 and was picked up at the Sundance Film Festival.
This Episode I film of the cinematic space opera saga introduced The Force to millennials back in 1999.
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released in 1999 as the first of the prequel films of the original 3-part Star Wars saga that Gen Xers grew up with. So the prequel films were for the millennials.
This independent mock-documentary-fiction film scared the bejeezus out of millennials who watched teens shoot a video project gone awry.
The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 film that somehow reignited the "video-record myself" style of presenting story narratives utilized sparsely by filmmakers beforehand. It has since gained a cult following and has been spoofed several times as well.
Millennials sang along "The Circle of Life" when Simba was presented to their pack in this animated Disney classic.
The Lion King is a 1994 animated hit from Disney. It has since become a popular stage musical on Broadway as well.
Eminem entered the rap arena and followed it with this movie debut somewhat based on his early life.
8 Mile is a 2002 film starring rapper Eminem and Kim Basinger as his mom. It chronicled his life as a "trailer park" kid who rose to fame because of his music.
The film about a teenage girl and an unplanned pregnancy at 16.
Juno is a 2007 film directed by Jason Reitman. It was written by first-time screenwriter Diablo Cody, who first became popular by blogging about her earlier years as a stripper.
This Michel Gondry classic features a couple who undergoes a special procedure where they could erase the memories of each other in their brains.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2000 film directed by Michel Gondry. It starred Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.
A reimagined Batman stars in this second of three superhero films by director Christopher Nolan.
The Dark Knight is a 2008 film directed by Christopher Nolan. It came after Batman Begins and before The Dark Knight Rises.
A supernatural horror story filmed in CCTV style.
Paranormal Activity is a 2007 horror film. It's about a couple who are haunted in their house, so they set up some cameras, CCTV style, to document the strange activity.
A story of disconnection and reconnection between a middle-aged American movie star and a college grad American woman who both found themselves in Japan.
Lost in Translation is a 2003 film directed by Hollywood royalty, Sofia Coppola. It starred Scarlet Johansson and Bill Murray and was shot largely in Tokyo.
An 8-year old kid gets left behind their huge house when his family flies away on Christmas vacation -- and he ends up protecting the house from burglars.
Home Alone is a 1990 film directed by Chris Columbus. Millennials count this as a must-see film every Christmas season.
Seemingly shallow high schooler Elle Woods aspires to make it to Harvard Law School so she can woo her high school sweetheart back into her arms.
Legally Blonde is a 2001 hit comedy starring Reese Witherspoon as the blonde with a great aptitude for law. It has since spawned a sequel and got translated into a stage musical to boot.
The Pixar 3D animated classic where playthings come to life when humans aren't around.
Toy Story revolutionized 3D animation back in the '90s and helped popularize this technique today. This 1995 classic spawned some sequels and, of course, toy merchandise.
A quirky comedy about a woman named after a season, and this guy who narrates why their relationship failed.
500 Days of Summer is a 2009 sleeper hit of a film. It starred Zooey Deschanel as Summer and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the guy who fell for her.
A horror film about two men forced to kill each other, as orchestrated by the Jigsaw Killer.
Saw is a 2004 film by Australian filmmaker-writer duo James Wan and Leigh Whannell. It has since gained a cult following, and has spawned other films in the franchise.
The vampire film series focusing on teenage girl Bella and the sparkling apple of her eye, Edward Cullen.
Twilight is a 2008 film adaptation of the popular novel by Stephenie Meyer. The whole book series was turned into films after this.
Two gruff-looking cowboys fall tenderly in love amidst wide fields where they worked one summer tending sheep.
Brokeback Mountain is the 2005 film directed by Ang Lee, an adaptation of Annie Proulx's short story. The film contributed to the slow acceptance of LGBT portrayals in mainstream Hollywood fare.
A group of bachelors wakes up the day after a night of heavy partying, only to find the groom friend (their friend) missing, and they can't remember what happened the night before.
The Hangover is a 2009 goofball film. But lo and behold, it became a trilogy!
A corporate thief tries to implant an idea in the mind of a CEO by using dream technology where they infiltrate people's minds through different levels of their subconscious while sleeping.
Inception is the mind-boggling 2010 sci-fi hit directed by Christopher Nolan. The ensemble cast included Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Ken Watanabe, Tom Berenger, Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy, and Michael Caine.
A laidback homeboy stoner comedy that takes place on a specific day of the week.
Rapper Ice Cube and comedian Chris Tucker star in this laidback 1995 film called Friday. It was also penned by the rapper.
A Nicholas Sparks novel adaptation about an elderly couple retelling their love story through the help of dutiful personal recordings.
The Notebook is a 2004 film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as the younger version of the elderly couple in the narrative. It's a social class-themed Romeo and Juliet storyline, actually, with the notebook twist at the end.
This Disney Channel Original Movie focused on two teens from rival cliques vying for the same lead role in their school's musical production.
High School Musical is a 2006 film that was intended for release on the Disney channel only. However, it proved to be very popular and a second film was produced, for the channel only again, and the third had a theatrical release.
A film about how Facebook allegedly began -- in the not-so-respectful halls of Harvard.
The 2010 David Fincher-directed film The Social Network is a must-see for millennials who are now very actively using Facebook. The screenplay by Aaron Sorkin is such a gem.
