Hello everyone. For those of you who know me, you may understand why I write this column, but for those of you who don’t, allow me to explain. I have had an addiction to films (the safest to have) for as long as I can remember. I love to sit down and talk (and occasionally argue) with people about which films are the best. This list contains what I believe are the most important films of the 10 genres listed. Your list may be different from mine, but that’s okay…Let’s talk about it sometime.

Bio-Pic: The Social Network At first glance, this film appears to be about Facebook, but this David Fincher powerhouse is about more than the creation of a social media website. You’ll find that you can’t root for anybody in this film, and that’s what makes it so real.

Comedy: Monty Python and the Holy Grail “It’s just a flesh wound,” is just one of the many memorable lines spoken in this 1975 British comedy. The second film from comedy group Monty Python, the story revolves around King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table and their quest for the Holy Grail. With big laughs and even bigger characters (metaphorically and literally), this film has everything a great comedy needs.

Horror: Psycho After making thrilling masterpieces such as Rear Window and North by Northwest in the 1950s, Alfred Hitchcock broke into 1960 with this terrifying masterpiece that inspired many a director to enter the world of horror.

Western: True Grit In this 1969 film that won John Wayne his only Oscar for Best Actor, a young girl enlists an old U.S. marshal (portrayed by Wayne) and a Texas Ranger (portrayed by country music legend Glen Campbell) to find her father’s murderer in Indian Territory. It’s no wonder this seemingly simple western became a classic.

Romantic Comedy: When Harry Met Sally… What if you discovered you were in love with your best friend? That is the premise of this Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men, The Princess Bride) film starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. By the end of this film, you will be simultaneously laughing and crying.

Sci-Fi: Blade Runner In the year 2019, genetically engineered clones are considered outlaws. Cops (blade runners) hunt them down and “retire” them. Harrison Ford stars in this sci-fi thriller from Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator) that leaves you questioning what reality truly is. This is classic science fiction.

Action/Adventure: Raiders of the Lost Ark If you’ve seen this movie, seeing the title made theme music pops into your head. That just goes to show how timeless this film about a college professor/archaeologist searching for the Ark of the Covenant is. Today considered one of Steven Spielberg’s best films, this is personally my favorite of his work.

Thriller: Seven Going back to David Fincher, this chilling piece of brilliance stars Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in the roles of two New York cops searching for John Doe, a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as a basis for his murders. You’re getting goose bumps already, aren’t you? That’s why it’s on this list.

Sports: Draft Day This sports drama takes an honest look at what goes on behind the scenes of the NFL draft, with Kevin Costner as the Cleveland Browns’ general manager. Although there is quite a bit of sports jargon to dig through, it is still a great film with heart.

Musical: The Sound of Music This is the story of young Maria, who becomes a governess to the seven children of a retired naval officer and ends up falling for and marrying her boss, all the while trying to survive the loss of the homeland they all came to love… oh, and there’s great music. What’s not to love?

If you haven’t seen some of these quintessential films, I encourage you to rent, stream or buy them. They are worth it.