American War Movies, a list by Adam McGready

8.0

/26017/

79

/611/

77

/291/

4.0

/19000/

96

/141/

93

/1006/

87

/36/

4.0

Using archival footage, cabinet conversation recordings, and an interview of the 85-year-old Robert McNamara, The Fog of War depicts his life, from working as a WWII whiz-kid military officer, to being the Ford Motor Company's president, to managing the Vietnam War as defense secretary for presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

85

7.9

/7983/

76

/256/

76

/180/

4.1

/10073/

93

/14/

89

/111/

4.0

A docudrama depicting a hypothetical nuclear attack on Britain. After backing the film's development, the BBC refused to air it, publicly stating "the effect of the film has been judged by the BBC to be too horrifying for the medium of broadcasting." It debuted in theaters in 1966 and went on to great acclaim, but remained unseen on British television until 1985.

85

7.8

/3845/

76

/123/

72

/47/

4.0

/5623/

100

/25/

90

/116/

88

/16/

4.0

On September 15, 1963, a bomb destroyed a black church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four young girls who were there for Sunday school. It was a crime that shocked the nation--and a defining moment in the history of the civil-rights movement. Spike Lee re-examines the full story of the bombing, including a revealing interview with former Alabama Governor George Wallace.

86

84

8.3

/3702/

84

/461/

84

/162/

4.4

/38000/

100

/6/

78

/38/

The second "visual album" (a collection of short films) by Beyoncé, this time around she takes a piercing look at racial issues and feminist concepts through a sexualized, satirical, and solemn tone.

83

7.9

/20243/

77

/516/

75

/243/

4.1

/20959/

100

/50/

94

/466/

83

/21/

3.0

age 14+

It's 1974. Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten years younger and the heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another, and when they accept, King has only to come up with the money. He finds a willing backer in Mobutu Sese Suko, the dictator of Zaire, and the "Rumble in the Jungle" is set, including a musical festival featuring some of America's top black performers, like James Brown and B.B. King.

83

7.7

/10629/

80

/1314/

81

/835/

3.8

/61825/

100

/9/

85

/387/

age 10+

Two years after bringing peace to the galaxy, Steven Universe sees his past come back to haunt him in the form of a deranged Gem who wants to destroy the Earth.

82

8.5

/9452/

81

/538/

76

/151/

4.2

/5643/

88

/75/

Comedian Dave Chappelle does what he does best in this outrageous and hilarious standup performance, which allows him to push the envelope far beyond what he does on his TV show. Taped in San Francisco at the famed Fillmore, Chappelle lets loose on such topics as black celebrities, what it's like to have raunchy fans of his TV show approach him while he's trying to enjoy Disneyland with his kids, Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant... and crackheads, of course. It's comedy Chappelle-style and, for what it's worth, no one is safe from his barbs. But you already knew that!

82

8.1

/24283/

79

/1999/

74

/441/

4.1

/81436/

90

/21/

85

/893/

age 4+

Join the Peanuts gang for a timeless adventure as Charlie Brown preps for a party, Snoopy sets his sights on the Red Baron, and Linus patiently awaits a pumpkin patch miracle.

84

82

8.3

/50137/

80

/3954/

76

/756/

4.3

/147511/

86

/21/

93

/34/

age 3+

When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees amongst everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but it is a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus' help to learn the meaning of Christmas.

83

82

8.5

/9320/

81

/596/

78

/171/

4.0

/4235/

95

/38/

Louis C.K. is back on HBO in an ALL-NEW hour of raw no-holds-barred stand-up comedy! The creator and star of the 2006 comedy series Lucky Louie, performs in front of a live audience in LA at the Henry Fonda Theater. Louis C.K. covers issues near and dear to his heart like marriage, lying to your spouse, having kids and losing your privacy, and obligatory sex among husbands and wives.

82

8.0

/42266/

77

/2963/

76

/846/

3.8

/40521/

95

/93/

90

/360/

80

/11/

3.5

age 13+

GOING CLEAR intimately profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, shining a light on how they attract true believers and the things they do in the name of religion.

81

8.0

/13290/

76

/1322/

74

/209/

3.8

/13397/

88

/8/

96

/364/

Comedian Bill Burr talks male feminists, outrage culture, robot sex, and cultural appropriation in this standup comedy special shot in London.

81

7.8

/20590/

78

/845/

76

/416/

3.9

/31872/

93

/15/

87

/608/

During the trial of a man accused of his father's murder, a lone juror takes a stand against the guilty verdict handed down by the others as a result of their preconceptions and prejudices.

81

8.5

/11381/

82

/952/

78

/203/

4.0

/7602/

Profane, vulgar and obscenely funny, Louis C.K. insists on telling the truth, whether you like it or not! Join the Emmy Award-winning stand-up comic and TV star (Lucky Louie) as he shares his thoughts on the stuff everyone thinks about -- male bodily fluids, the joys of being white, the difference between women and girls -- but never has the nerve to say. It's Louis C.K. at his risk-taking best: fearless, honest and totally outrageous! Nominated for the 2009 Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special

80

7.4

/829/

77

/78/

77

/12/

3.4

/331/

100

/2/

3.5

With guidance from their mother, five siblings overcome humble beginnings to form the renowned gospel group the Clark Sisters.

80

8.0

/42109/

78

/3548/

73

/628/

3.6

/106218/

95

/21/

84

/3048/

age 3+

Sam the snowman tells us the story of a young red-nosed reindeer who, after being ousted from the reindeer games because of his glowing nose, teams up with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, the prospector. They run into the Abominable Snowman and find a whole island of misfit toys. Rudolph vows to see if he can get Santa to help the toys, and he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. But Santa's sleigh is fogged in. But when Santa looks over Rudolph, he gets a very bright idea...

80

8.0

/17306/

79

/474/

79

/289/

3.6

/8163/

93

/598/

age 15+

A dramatization of the relationship between heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas.

81

80

7.4

/7082/

74

/823/

73

/251/

3.7

/29782/

100

/22/

92

/38/

age 8+

ZIM discovers his almighty leaders never had any intention of coming to Earth and he loses confidence in himself for the first time in his life, which is the big break his human nemesis, Dib has been waiting for.

79

8.0

/19034/

82

/868/

80

/615/

3.7

/15736/

73

/15/

86

/309/

Bobby Griffith was his mother's favorite son, the perfect all-American boy growing up under deeply religious influences in Walnut Creek, California. Bobby was also gay. Struggling with a conflict no one knew of, much less understood, Bobby finally came out to his family.

79

7.3

/13978/

74

/1544/

73

/242/

3.5

/14964/

100

/14/

88

/113/

The ambitious friends come together during the holidays after a mystery assailant targets one of their own. A comedic thrill-ride follows, as the wild and unpredictable Psych team pursues the bad guys, justice … and, of course, food!

79

7.6

/6161/

72

/630/

70

/130/

3.8

/11852/

90

/20/

91

/215/

Adam Sandler takes his comical musical musings back out on the road, from comedy clubs to concert halls to one very unsuspecting subway station.

79

7.3

/2035/

71

/120/

73

/64/

3.7

/1356/

100

/49/

89

/29/

77

/20/

3.0

age 16+

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving November 2012, four boys in a red SUV pull into a gas station after spending time at the mall buying sneakers and talking to girls. With music blaring, one boy exits the car and enters the store, a quick stop for a soda and a pack of gum. A man and a woman pull up next to the boys in the station, making a stop for a bottle of wine. The woman enters the store and an argument breaks out when the driver of the second car asks the boys to turn the music down. 3½ minutes and ten bullets later, one of the boys is dead. 3½ MINUTES dissects the aftermath of this fatal encounter.

82

79

8.4

/4949/

79

/337/

77

/91/

4.0

/3796/

91

/39/

Legendary comic Carlin comes back to the Beacon theater to angrily rant about airport security, germs, cigars, angels, children and parents, men, names, religion, god, advertising, Bill Jeff and minorities.

79

8.4

/11342/

77

/722/

79

/288/

3.9

/17609/

Some of the boys from South Park Elementary find themselves on a balloon ride to an imaginary land. Upon their arrival they're faced with an unimaginable threat.

79

7.4

/15071/

75

/1284/

71

/589/

3.7

/87525/

100

/6/

81

/108/

age 5+

Phineas and Ferb get trapped in an alternate dimension where the evil Doofenshmirtz rules the tri-state area. They must find a way back home with the help of their pet platypus named Perry, who they discover is a secret agent.

79

7.6

/85218/

74

/2256/

74

/1999/

3.8

/116334/

89

/47/

84

/1872/

81

/15/

Traveling businessman David Mann angers the driver of a rusty tanker while crossing the California desert. A simple trip turns deadly, as Mann struggles to stay on the road while the tanker plays cat and mouse with his life.

78

7.8

/13631/

75

/2047/

76

/255/

3.4

/25456/

96

/148/

Cartman's deeply disturbing dreams portend the end of the life he knows and loves. Meanwhile, the adults in South Park are wrestling with their own life decisions, as the advent of AI is turning their world upside down.

78

7.7

/13399/

76

/847/

71

/194/

3.7

/36798/

90

/21/

83

/222/

age 4+

Feeling forgotten by the children of the world, old St. Nick decides to skip his gift-giving journey and take a vacation. Mrs. Claus and two spunky little elves, Jingle and Jangle, set out to see to where all the season's cheer has disappeared. Aided by a magical snowfall, they reawaken the spirit of Christmas in children's hearts and put Santa back in action.

80

78

7.4

/4009/

75

/356/

76

/193/

3.4

/6983/

100

/8/

90

/64/

age 7+

When their trip to San Lorenzo takes a turn for the worst, Arnold and his classmate’s only hope of getting home is retracing the dangerous path that led to Arnold's parents' disappearance.

78

7.2

/2561/

73

/167/

65

/48/

3.7

/1279/

86

/7/

81

/70/

4.0

One of comedian Richard Pryor's later stand-up performances. As foul-mouthed as ever, Pryor touches on most of the same topics as in his previous live shows. Filmed at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.

79

78

7.8

/4438/

74

/416/

68

/84/

3.8

/2679/

100

The aim: to select the ideal mode of transport for each leg of a pilgrimage from Venice, Italy to Pau in France – home to a legendary street circuit and the origins of Grand Prix racing. On the way we prepare by taking to the track at Monza – the home of Italian Formula One. We try to get noticed on the road course in Monaco in a Bugatti, a Lamborghini and a Model T Ford. After cruising the canals in Venice we take to the tarmac and things look good - thanks to the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and Mercedes SLS Black. Throw in a Pagani Huayra, Porsche Cayman S and a GT3 as well as the Aston Martin Vanquish centenary edition, Bentley V8 convertible, Rolls Royce Phantom coupe and the face-bending BAC Mono all seems pretty perfect to us.

78

7.7

/20068/

76

/1003/

70

/243/

3.6

/37351/

93

/14/

82

/491/

A postman, S.D. Kluger, decides to answer some of the most common questions about Santa Claus, and tells us about a baby named Kris who is raised by a family of elf toymakers named Kringle. When Kris grows up, he wants to deliver toys to the children of Sombertown. But its Mayor is too mean to let that happen. And to make things worse, the Winter Warlock lives between the Kringles and Sombertown.

78

77

8.2

/5197/

77

/416/

74

/101/

4.0

/2949/

Carlin returns to the stage in his 13th live comedy stand-up special, performed at the Beacon Theatre in New York City for HBO®. His spot-on observations on the deterioration of human behavior include Americans’ obsession with their two favorite addictions - shopping and eating; his creative idea for The All-Suicide Channel, a new reality TV network; and the glorious rebirth of the planet to its original pristine condition - once the fires and floods destroy life as we know it.

83

77

8.5

/8939/

79

/233/

78

/118/

4.2

/5671/

88

/241/

An on-the-scene documentary following the events of September 11, 2001 from an insider's view, through the lens of two French filmmakers who simply set out to make a movie about a rookie NYC fireman and ended up filming the tragic event that changed our lives forever.

84

76

7.9

/9609/

76

/1266/

79

/236/

4.2

/62349/

100

/20/

91

/14/

John Mulaney relays stories from his childhood and "SNL," eviscerates the value of college and laments getting older in this electric comedy special.

76

7.2

/16035/

73

/1077/

67

/304/

3.5

/8564/

85

/47/

82

/119/

3.5

Lyndon B. Johnson's amazing 11-month journey from taking office after JFK's assassination, through the fight to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act and his own presidential campaign, culminating on the night LBJ is actually elected to the office – no longer the 'accidental President.'

75

7.4

/11743/

76

/472/

68

/181/

3.7

/4716/

84

/536/

age 10+

It's the night before Hogswatch, usually a time of joy on Discworld, but there are suspicious going-on and the criminal underworld is abuzz. The beloved Hogfather - the jolly bearer of glee and pork-related gifts for children everywhere - has vanished. Suddenly, Discworld's entire mythical system is under threat. The fate of this magical time rests in the hands of a very motley group: A band of wizards headed up by a mystical university president named Mustrum Ridcully (Joss Ackland), a loyal manservant called Albert (David Jason), a level-headed governess called Susan Sto Heilt (Michelle Dockery), and her grandfather, who happens to be - Death (Marnix van den Broeke).

75

8.0

/8906/

76

/643/

72

/263/

3.6

/10313/

A series of 30 sketches, following the hilarious antics of various characters from a galaxy, far, far away.

77

75

8.1

/5307/

78

/364/

69

/109/

3.9

/11880/

81

/650/

age 3+

Fozzie Bear surprises his mother on Christmas Eve by bringing the entire Muppet gang to her farm to celebrate the holidays. Doc and his dog Sprocket, who had planned a quiet Christmas, end up joining the Muppets in their holiday activities and preparations. The Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock regulars join the festivities, but to Kermit's dismay, the only one missing is Miss Piggy, who has been caught in a snowstorm.

75

7.1

/13758/

72

/1200/

66

/252/

3.5

/29365/

90

/21/

75

/35/

3.5

A mockumentary that chronicles the prevalence of doping in the world of professional cycling.

83

75

8.1

/4595/

82

/179/

79

/84/

4.0

/5188/

94

/153/

Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. "Measuring their lives in love," these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic.

75

7.8

/5797/

73

/191/

71

/88/

3.7

/5059/

79

/20/

3.0

Featuring never-before-seen footage, this documentary delivers a startling new look at the Peoples Temple, headed by preacher Jim Jones who, in 1978, led more than 900 members to Guyana, where he orchestrated a mass suicide via tainted punch.

78

75

7.7

/18508/

75

/306/

69

/143/

3.6

/7723/

86

/28/

90

/742/

In 1961, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees. One, Mantle, was universally loved, while the other, Maris, was universally hated. Both men started off with a bang, and both were nearing Babe Ruth's 60 home run record. Which man would reach it?

75

7.5

/31730/

72

/667/

70

/421/

3.5

/10412/

83

/24/

83

/587/

age 15+

Controversy and legal problems follow Dr. Jack Kevorkian as he advocates assisted suicide.

75

7.6

/25057/

75

/1491/

71

/442/

3.5

/4480/

83

/864/

The history and adventures of the Battlestar Pegasus, from shortly before the Cylon invasion to shortly after Lee Adama is made commander. The story is told through the eyes of and largely focuses on one particular member of Pegasus's crew, Kendra Shaw.

74

7.7

/13929/

76

/1349/

73

/286/

3.9

/48427/

67

/9/

76

/787/

age 3+

Turkey, cranberries, pumpkin pie... and the Peanuts gang to share them with. This is going to be the greatest Thanksgiving ever! The fun begins when Peppermint Patty invites herself and her pals to Charlie Brown's house for a REALLY big turkey party. Good grief! All our hero can cook is cold cereal and maybe toast. Is Charlie Brown doomed? Not when Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock chip in to save the (Thanksgiving) Day. With such good friends, Charlie Brown - and all of us - have so many reasons to be thankful.

78

74

7.6

/11169/

73

/1210/

72

/270/

3.8

/13505/

95

/21/

76

/24/

Louis C.K. muses on religion, eternal love, giving dogs drugs, email fights, teachers and more in a live performance from Washington, D.C.

74

6.9

/6287/

72

/468/

68

/219/

2.7

/15344/

100

/6/