1. Silence of the Lambs
Silence of the Lambs is based on the 1988 novel of the same name. This nail-biting film centers around FBI agent Clarice hunting down a serial killer and enlisting the help of Hannibal Lecter, a cannibalistic serial killer and former psychologist who is currently in jail for his crimes.
The movie gradually gained notoriety and success, making it a sleeper hit, and became the third film to win Academy Awards in all top five categories. It was nominated for seven Oscars in total, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay.
It even spawned a television show which isn’t quite as gripping as the movie itself, but what movie can claim it went on and became a television series?
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark
Oh, young Harrison Ford, how we love thee. Directed by Steven Spielberg with a story by George Lucas and a score from John Williams, how could this movie be anything other than magical? Released in 1981, the first in the Indiana Jones trilogy (nope, the Shia LaBeouf one doesn’t count), Raiders of the Lost Ark contains a sexy adventuring professor, the answer to why you should never bring a knife to a gunfight, and melting Nazis.
Fun Fact: According to a Reddit Ask Me Anything answer from Ford himself, originally the iconic sword and gun scene was supposed to be much longer, but Ford had dysentery at the time and had to take frequent (very frequent) filming breaks. Because of this, he and Spielberg decided that it would be better if he just shot the guy. We agree; it was better.