Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch

Stills from Fun with Dick and Jane, We're the Millers, Life, Quills, and As Good as It Gets, five of the 17 Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch according to Loud And Clear Reviews

When you’re searching for something to get lost in, don’t let the choice overwhelm you! Here are 17 hand-picked movies to watch when you don’t know what to watch.


You know those days where you’re in the mood for a movie but don’t know which one(s) to watch because the choices are overwhelming? Don’t sweat it; I’ve got you covered. I could give you a list of a hundred titles based on what’s in my personal collection, but don’t worry. I’m not trying to add to the pressure. 

Here are 17 movies to watch, listed in alphabetical order, when you don’t know what to watch, and the list features something for everyone—except musicals and sappy stuff (*wink).


1. As Good as It Gets (1997)

Director: James L. Brooks
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Where to watch: YouTube TV premium subscription, or rent on Apple TV and Prime Video

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – As Good as It Gets (1997) (Sony Pictures)

One of my all-time favorite movies, As Good as It Gets is smart, funny, offensive, and just way too good not to like. It’s impossible not to feel great—hopeful—after watching it.

Jack Nicholson, of The Shining, stars as Melvin Udall, a cranky, bigoted, extremely successful romance novelist, who’s rude to every person he meets. He also deals with a hefty dose of obsessive-compulsive disorder. His life is turned upside down and his perfectly crafted world invaded when his gay artist neighbor, Simon (Greg Kinnear, of Smoke), suffers a home invasion and winds up in the hospital. As a result, Melvin gets stuck caring for his nemesis: Simon’s Brussels Griffon, Verdell.

As Good as It Gets is a meditation on looking past yourself and your own problems to see that other people exist and that coexistence is possible, often necessary. It’s a beautiful example of tolerance and acceptance littered with so much comedy, I recommend avoiding drinking anything. 

You never know when Nicholson is going to spit out a zinger that’ll you’ll be quoting for years to come.


2. Bad Words (2013)

Director: Jason Bateman
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch:
Netflix

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – Bad Words (2013) (Focus Features)

I love this movie so much! Bad Words is a subversive comedy gem from start to finish, and, in my opinion, it’s Jason Bateman’s best performance (though he was stellar in Horrible Bosses and you should watch it). How could it not be when he gets to hurl insults at kids all day?

Bateman stars as Guy Trilby, a 40-year-old misanthrope with a bitter grudge on his shoulder. Seeking to win The Golden Quill national spelling bee against 8th graders, he finds a loophole in the rules and is allowed to enter. Clearly, no one is happy about this, except Guy. As he hurls insults at kids at every turn, he advances to the national contest and inexplicably forms a bond with a young speller under enormous parental pressure to win.

As Bateman’s directorial debut, Bad Words is an endearingly clever, crude, foul-mouthed comedy that’ll boost your serotonin and leave you ready to watch it again. It’s that good. 


3. Clay Pigeons (1998)

Director: David Dobkin
Genre: Dark Comedy, Drama
Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV, YouTube

Clay Pigeons (1998), one of the 17 Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch according to Loud And Clear Reviews
Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – Clay Pigeons (1998) (Gramercy Pictures)

One of my favorite dark comedies, Clay Pigeons flew under my radar until the mid-2000s. If you’re as much a fan of Joaquin Phoenix, of Joker, as I am (and Vince Vaughn, of Bad Monkey), this little indie flick is a must-see thanks to its thrilling, unpredictable climax and performances.

Clay Pigeons follows small-town Montana gas station attendant Clay Birdwell (Phoenix), who keeps finding himself surrounded by dead bodies, making him the chief suspect of an FBI murder investigation.

First, his best friend kills himself during a hunting trip after learning Clay is having an affair with his wife, Amanda (Georgina Cates, of Everlasting). Filled with remorse, Clay finds comfort in a waitress, who is then killed by a vengeful Amanda. At the perfect moment, charming serial killer Lester Long (Vaughn) rolls into town and befriends him.

It’s sarcastic, it’s quirky, it’s hilarious, and it features Vince Vaughn in one of his best roles.


4. Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

Director: Jay Roach
Genre:
Comedy
Where to watch:
Hulu, Prime Video, YouTube

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – Dinner for Schmucks (2010) (Amblin)

Steve Carell, of Mountainhead, and Paul Rudd, of Friendship, are both outstanding comedic actors, and no movie showcases their abilities better than Dinner for Schmucks.

Rudd stars as Tim, a rising executive who works for the kind of boss who hosts a special monthly dinner … for idiots. Whoever brings the biggest idiot gets a career boost. Though he declines the invitation at first, Tim changes his mind after meeting Barry (Carell). Barry is a kind-hearted but completely oblivious nerd who spends his time building dioramas using stuffed mice.

The dinner scheme backfires when Barry’s blundering good intentions send Tim’s life into a downward spiral, threatening a major business deal and possibly ending Tim’s romantic relationship. Dinner for Shmucks features a memorable cast of characters and some of the silliest comedy you’ve seen. This one is all about finding yourself while being able to laugh at yourself just as much as you laugh at others.


5. Fight Club (1999)

Director: David Fincher
Genre: Action, Crime Drama
Where to watch: Hulu, HBO Max, AMC+, Disney+, Prime Video

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – Fight Club (1999) (20th Century Fox)

A depressed insomniac (Edward Norton, of A Complete Unknown) riddled with apathy over his job and lifestyle is forever changed after crossing paths with certain people. When his insomnia worsens, our unnamed narrator discovers that expressions of emotional vulnerability help him sleep. So, he joins multiple support groups for people facing serious issues, like cancer. When another imposter, Marla (Helena Bonham Carter, of Enola Holmes), invades his groups, his ability to present his fabricated struggles as genuine are thwarted, and his insomnia returns.

About this time, he meets an eccentric soap salesman named Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt, of F1) on a plane and the two befriend each other. Soon, the narrator finds himself living in squalor with Tyler, forming an underground fight club for men fed up with their mundane lives. The threat to their partnership? Marla.

Based on author Chuck Palahniuk’s novel of the same name, Fight Club is a staple watch when you don’t know what to watch. The shocking, gritty film serves as a tantalizing exploration of graphic violence and toxic masculinity, as well as a blatant critique of consumerism and societal norms.


6. Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)

Director: Dean Parisot
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Jim Carrey, Alec Baldwin, Téa Leoni, Richard Jenkins
Where to watch: Rent on YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video

Fun with Dick and Jane (2005), one of the 17 Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch according to Loud And Clear Reviews
Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) (Columbia Pictures)

Dick Harper (Jim Carrey) and his wife Jane (Téa Leoni, of Death of a Unicorn) have a perfect life: good jobs, big house, nice cars, and a cute kid to top it all off. When he gets promoted to Vice President of Communications for an Enron-type company, he convinces Jane to quit her job as a travel agent and be a stay-at-home mom. So, she does.

However, during a television interview on Dick’s first day, he learns the company CEO Jack McAllister (Alec Baldwin, of Rust) sold 80 percent of his shares in the company, which was just accused of “perverting the American dream” by presidential candidate Ralph Nader. Stocks drop to zero, the firm declares bankruptcy, and jobs and pensions are lost.

To cover their mounting debt, Dick and Jane resort to robbery in the most hilarious ways. They’re even pretty good at it but start having doubts when they’re reminded how crime can hurt innocent people. When they hear that McAllister actually swindled the company, they plot sweet revenge. Carrey and Leoni share golden comedic chemistry on screen; you won’t be able to stop giggling. Fun with Dick and Jane is one of the best feel-good comedies you’ll ever watch.


7. Hardcore Henry (2015)

Director: Ilya Naishuller
Genre: Science Fiction, Action
Where to watch: Prime Video, Paramount+, Hulu

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – Hardcore Henry (2015) (Rotten Tomatoes Trailers)

This is such a unique movie to watch if you haven’t seen it. Shot in the style of a first-person shooter video game, Hardcore Henry tracks a cyborg (Sharlto Copley, of Monkey Man) cyborg racing to save his wife from a villain with paranormal powers.

When Henry (Copley) wakes up in a Moscow laboratory, he learns he’s been brought back from the dead as a half-human, half-robot hybrid. He has no memory of his former life, and a woman claiming to be his wife tells him his name is Henry. However, before she can activate his voice, she’s kidnapped.

As he works to understand his new abilities, he embarks on a bloody rampage through the city to save her from a psychopath who plans to destroy the world.

Hardcore Henry is unlike anything you’ve ever seen—a fantastic sci-fi movie watch full of insane creativity, camera work, stunts, and action. Keep in mind, the entire movie is in first-person perspective, so don’t expect more than what’s offered. Just sit back and enjoy Copley in action as a robot-human hybrid; he is outstanding.


8. The Ip Man Series (2008 – 2019)

Directors: Yuen Woo-ping, Wilson Yip
Genre: Action, Sport
Where to watch: Prime Video, Peacock, YouTube

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – IP Man Trailer (Well Go USA)

Ip Man is a series of Hong Kong martial arts films loosely based on the life events of the Wing Chun grandmaster of the same name. He is most famous for being the first person to teach the Chinese martial art publicly, and for being Bruce Lee’s teacher. Lee credited Wing Chun as the influence for Jeet Kune Do.

The progenitor of the film series was Ip Man, which was followed by three sequels: Ip Man 2, Ip Man 3, and Ip Man 4: The Finale, as well as the spinoff Master Z: Ip Man Legacy. Martial arts actor and legend Donnie Yen appears in all but Master Z.

Ip Man is crucial because it redefined cinematic combat. Donnie Yen is a phenomenal martial artist who doesn’t just fight: He dominates with elegance. He is art in motion. From chaotic beatdowns to bone-breaking precision, Ip Man moved with grace, speed, and raw devastation.

The Ip Man series is engaging from start to finish in storytelling, historical dramatic depiction, and blend of astounding martial arts action. It is, indeed, collection worthy.


9. King Arthur (2004)

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Genre: Historical Adventure, Action
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+

King Arthur (2004), one of the 17 Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch according to Loud And Clear Reviews
Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – King Arthur (2004) (Touchstone Pictures)

Antoine Fuqua’s King Arthur is my absolute favorite interpretation of the classic Roman legend. His version is so unique due to his mystical focus on the landscape and its indigenous peoples as well as his intimate focus on the brotherhood of the knights (as opposed to, you know, the whole love triangle between Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot—yawn).

Arthur (Clive Owen, of Cleaner) is a cavalry officer in the Roman army defending Hadrian’s Wall against rebellious Native Britons. He and his troops are expecting to be relieved but are instead sent on a risky mission to rescue the Roman family of Marius Honorius, who proves himself to be a despicable torturer of pagans.

There’s no time to waste as Arthur frees a captive, Guinevere (Keira Knightley, of Black Doves), who, in turn, brokers a truce between Arthur and the Britons so they can stand together and fight against the hastily invading, impenetrable Saxon army.

Featuring breathtaking scenery, outstanding fight choreography and costumes, compelling storylines, and epic battle sequences, King Arthur is your chance to experience not just the legend and the lands but also the unbreakable brotherhood existing between Arthur and his knights.


10. Life (2017)

Director: Daniel Espinosa
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror
Where to watch: Rent it on Prime video, Apple TV, YouTube

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – Life (2017) (Sony Pictures)

There are a handful of great sci-fi/horror movies floating around, and Life is among the best of them. I can say with confidence, this movie terrified the snot out of me. Just how easy is it for extraterrestrial life to wind up on Earth? Easier than you’d think.

Jake Gyllenhaal, of The Covenant, Rebecca Ferguson, of the Mission Impossible franchise, Ryan Reynolds, of Deadpool & Wolverine, and Hiroyuki Sanada, of Shōgun, are astronauts aboard the International Space Station, on the cutting edge of one of the most important discoveries in human history: the first evidence of extraterrestrial life on Mars in the form of a single-celled organism.

As the crew members conduct their research, the life form rapidly evolves and proves far more intelligent and terrifying than any of them could have ever imagined.

Life’s intense atmosphere is enhanced by the claustrophobic nature of the space station, impressive special effects in its depiction of this Martian life form, and its tense editing techniques. It is gripping to the max.


11. Misery (1990)

Director: Rob Reiner
Genre: Psychological Horror, Thriller
Where to watch: Rent it on Apple TV, Prime Video

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – Misery (1990) (Amazon MGM)

Welcome to an insane holiday season, folks. This is Kathy Bates like you’ve never seen her before, in a role that branded her as a legend, and forever as Annie Wilkes.

Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, Misery follows successful romance writer Paul Sheldon (James Caan, of Fast Charlie) as he completes the manuscript he hopes will launch his post-Misery career. On his way out of town, he gets caught in a terrible snowstorm and veers off the road.

Luckily, former nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates, of Matlock) happens to find and rescue him. Not only is he her favorite novelist, but she’s also his biggest fan. After she gets him to her remote cabin and patches him up, her obsession takes a dark turn when she learns Sheldon is killing off Misery, her favorite character from his novels.

As Annie becomes more controlling, Paul devises an escape plan, but his opportunity is lost when she grows violent. After the most cringeworthy ankle-breaking scene you’ll ever see, she forces him to shape his writing to suit her own twisted fantasies.

It’s one of the best Stephen King adaptations.


12. Orange County

Director: Jake Kasden
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: Paramount+, Hulu Premium

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – Orange County (Rotten Tomatoes Trailers)

Jack Black, of Minecraft, has a slew of movies under his belt that I’d classify as favorites, but Orange County stands out as one of his best (School of Rock and Jumanji do as well).

Colin Hanks, of A Friend of the Family, stars as Shaun, a smart high school student with his heart set on going to Stanford to study under the writer who changed his life, Professor Marcus Skinner (Kevin Kline, of Disclaimer). However, his chances are shot when his high school guidance counselor mistakenly sends the transcripts of an under-achieving classmate, also named Shaun, and Stanford takes a pass.

With no support from his emotionally fragile, hysterical, alcoholic mother (Catherine O’Hara, of Schitt’s Creek) and his dim-witted, stoner brother Lance (Jack Black), Shaun turns to his wealthy father, Bud (John Lithgow, of Dexter: Resurrection) for help. When he refuses, Shaun, his girlfriend, and Lance decide to drive to Stanford and convince Admissions he deserves to be let in. With Lance being a hot mess, a fire gets started and the dean is mistakenly given MDMA.

For a good time, this is your movie to watch when you don’t know what to watch.


13. Quills (2000)

Director: Philip Kaufman
Genre: Historical Drama
Where to watch: Rent it on Apple TV, Prime Video, YouTube

Quills, one of the 17 Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch according to Loud And Clear Reviews
Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – Quills (2000) (Fox Searchlight)

As a huge fan of historical dramas, I could not pull myself away from this movie. If you know anything of the famed Marquis de Sade, Quills is a must-watch movie.

Scandalous, literate, erotic, and shocking, Quills is a fictional tale reconstructing the unknown fate of Donatien Alphonse François, also known as the Marquis de Sade (Geoffrey Rush, of Genius). He was a French writer, libertine, and political activist best known for his novels, imprisonment for sex crimes, blasphemy, and pornography.

The film follows the sexual deviant as he’s imprisoned for the last decade of his life in a Napoleonic era insane asylum, where he engages in a battle of wills against the tyrannically prudish doctor, The Abbe du Coulmier (Joaquin Phoenix, of Joker), which is fascinating and utterly perverted.

Rush and Phoenix give critically acclaimed, unforgettable performances that must be seen to be appreciated, as well as Kate Winslet, of Lee.


14. That Thing You Do (1996)

Director: Tom Hanks
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Where to watch: Rent it on Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – That Thing You Do (1996) (20th Century Fox)

Set in 1960s rock-and-roll culture, That Thing You Do chronicles the rise and fall of a fictional one-hit wonder pop band.

Tom Hanks stars as Mr. White, a wily band manager who helps a small-town band achieve big-time success when they release a Beatles-style pop song in 1964. Pennsylvania garage band “The Oneders” (pronounced one-ders but everyone calls them the on-eders) become an overnight sensation when their drummer breaks his arm and is replaced by insanely talented jazz drumming enthusiast Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott, of The Summer I Turned Pretty).

That Thing You Do doesn’t just follow the band on tour and their ins-and-outs with the record label; it also follows each member and their personal developments, struggles, and quests while on tour. It’s also full of catchy tunes that’ll stick in your head for days and more subtle comedy than you can shake a stick at.

This movie is one you’ll want to watch every single time you don’t know what to watch. It’s that good, and it makes you feel good.


15. The Change-Up (2011)

Director: David Dobkin
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: Rent it on Apple TV, Google Play, Prime Video, Fandango

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – The Change-Up (2011) (Universal)

I won’t lie: The Change-Up features some of the crudest comedy, but it is oh-so-funny.

The film follows once inseparable pals, Dave (Jason Bateman) and Mitch (Ryan Reynolds), who have drifted apart over the years due to, well, life. Dave is an overworked lawyer and busy family man. Mitch is an “actor” who prefers to stay home, smoke weed, and live life on his own terms.

Each is envious of the other’s life, and following a drunken binge, the two find themselves in a Freaky Friday situation, which will have your face hurting from laughing so hard. As they struggle to adapt to each other’s routines, they soon learn things aren’t always greener across the fence.

Before they find a way to return to their bodies and normal lives, they commit to mastering their place in each other’s world.

If you’re fans of Bateman and Reynolds, this movie is a must-watch when you don’t know what to watch.


16. The Station Agent (2003)

Director: Tom McCarthy
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Where to watch: Rent it on Apple TV, Prime Video, YouTube

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – The Station Agent (2003) (Rotten Tomatoes Trailers)

The Station Agent is your chance to see Peter Dinklage, of Dexter: Resurrection, early in his career, in a gem of a role that has made the film a cult classic.

Peter Dinklage is Finbar “Finn” McBride, a train aficionado and downcast little person. When his boss and only friend dies, his life takes an unexpected turn when he is appointed sole caretaker of an abandoned railroad depot in rural New Jersey.

After relocating to the small town and making the depot his home, he’s befriended by Joe (Bobby Cannavale, of The Watcher), an incessantly talkative food vendor who always sets up shop outside of the depot. Unhappy wife Olivia Harris (Patricia Clarkson, of Sharp Objects) frequently stops by, and as the trio’s interactions deepen, quirky conversations and insightful outcomes ensue.

With its quiet charm, emotionally stellar performances, and mindful exploration of themes of loneliness, friendship, and acceptance, The Station Agent is full of relatability and understated humor. It will leave you with all the feels and is a perfect indie movie to watch if you haven’t seen it.


17. We’re the Millers (2013)

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch:
Hulu, Prime Video, YouTube TV, Sling TV

Movies to Watch When You Don’t Know What to Watch – We’re the Millers (2013) (Warner Bros. Pictures)

This fake Miller family features the perfect cast of characters, who will each have you relating to them and their lives in their own special ways, and who will each have you laughing from start to finish.

Jason Sudeikis, of Fool’s Paradise, is David, a small-time pot dealer who learns the hard way that no good deed goes unpunished. While trying to help some teenagers being bullied, he is jumped by thugs and loses his cash and his stash, thanks to his teenaged neighbor, Kenny (Will Poulter, of The Bear).

Now that David is indebted to his supplier, he must find a way to fix the situation and make things right. Turns out, the only option his supplier will accept is for David to go to Mexico and drive his shipment back to the States. So, David devises a plan: Pack a fake family into a large RV for one wildly entertaining weekend full of wit, weed, shenanigans, and some gut-bursting comedic action.

We’re the Millers also features memorable performances from Jennifer Aniston, of The Morning Show, and Emma Roberts, of American Horror Story.

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