18 Films I've Pretended I've Watched, Just To Avoid The Embarrassment Of Having Not Seen Them

Don't act like you don't have any!

We all have one or two major films we haven't seen which we keep to ourselves, right? They're the ones that always come up in conversation, and when people learn you haven't seen them...they gasp with horror.

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I've learned to nod along whenever certain films I haven't seen come up in daily life. Here are 18 classic movies I've said I've watched, but have yet to actually see....

1. Any of the Star Wars movies (1977–)

20th Century Fox

Why it's a classic: Growing up in the early 2000s, these were tricky to avoid, and yet I somehow did. The sheer level of attention these films get and the countless spin-offs, sequels, prequels, and merchandise that has spawned from the originals definitely make these films important. 

My guilt level: Disclaimer – I once had my lunch while my housemate was watching The Last Jedi, and it did not draw me into the franchise. People are rather passionate about these films, so it has generally been easier just to smile and nod along whenever they come up. I'm probably never gonna watch these tbh – I'm too loyal to The Lord of the Rings and it feels like cheating!

2. The Breakfast Club (1985)

Universal Pictures

Why it's a classic: It seems to be a rather important film for the 'Brat Pack', but I'm only guessing it's a classic by the amount it comes up in cinema and TV.

Guilt level: Look, I know this is a cult film, and it plays a big part in a whole era of cinema or whatever, but I still have no idea what this film is about or even what it could be about! Is it an actual breakfast club? This film is referenced in a lot of other shows and every time it just goes straight over my head, but to be honest, I don't feel too fussed about it!

3. Citizen Kane (1941)

RKO Radio Pictures

Why it's a classic: I don't really need to explain why this is a classic, almost all lists of "greatest films of all time" includes Citizen Kane. 

Guilt level: There it is – I haven't seen the "greatest film of all time". Honestly, this is one I actually feel like I should watch, and feel kinda bad about not having seen it. 

4. Rocky (1976)

United Artists

Why it's a classic: Well, the Academy Awards for Best Film Editing, Best Director, and Best Picture certainly suggest that Rocky is a classic. Also, the amount this film has been referenced and referred to makes me think it's a film I should have watched by now.

Guilt level: What makes things worse about me not having seen Rocky is that I actually have seen Creed and I really enjoyed it. I definitely will watch it at some point, but for now, it remains a strong source of my film-barassment. 

5. Mamma Mia! (2008)

Universal Pictures

Why it's a classic: I'm less sure this counts as a 'classic', but it feels like it's a film that almost everyone has watched and has heard all of the songs of, so that just makes it an inconvenient film for me. 

Guilt level: I'll be honest, the reason I never saw Mamma Mia was because ABBA was essentially banned from our household. Since then, I've sort of adopted that rule as my own, so this is another one of those films that I think will stay unwatched. Love you tho, Meryl. 

6. The Notebook (2004)

New Line Cinema

Why it's a classic: I swear as a teen this film was all the rage, and people sort of either loved it or hated it? Either way, they had an opinion on it and I'd be there just keeping quiet.

Guilt level: I knew one thing about The Notebook before writing this, and that's the classic tale of the director not thinking Ryan Gosling was handsome, and that being the reason he got the part. During my search for a suitable gif, I determined that this film either involves Ryan and Rachel in a romantic storyline or them having an argument in the rain for 90 minutes. I'm not that guilty and don't have any real desire to watch this.

7. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

Focus Features

Why it's a classic: A lot of people I trust claim Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind to be one of their favourite films of all time. It also finds itself on quite a few "best 100 rated films" charts.

Guilt level: I feel quite guilty about not having seen this one. First of all, it gets talked about A LOT, and is in plenty "top films of the 21st-century" lists. The thing is, I only heard about this film for the first time a couple of years ago. I know right, how can that be?! I will get around to this one, I swear.

8. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Focus Features

Why it's a classic: Not only did it win three Oscars, but both leads were nominated, and it controversially lost Best Picture to Crash (which I also haven't seen, whoops). It's also noted for its importance for Hollywood, due to the non-stereotyped depiction of homosexuality, particularly between two American ranchers.

Guilt level: I genuinely thought that I had seen this film – you know how you can sort of implant a memory in your head sometimes? As it turns out, I had been lying to myself and others this whole time, because I cannot tell you what happens. I think the amount of times I've seen it referenced in other things has seeped into my head and made me think I've watched it. I feel pretty bad about not having seen it, and will try and rectify that ASAP. 

9. Almost Famous (2000)

Dreamworks Pictures

Why it's a classic: this is one of the films I have been recommended to watch the most on this list. Taking home the Academy Award for best writing, Almost Famous was clearly very well received.

Guilt level: I feel super out of the loop with this one, so that brings a fair amount of guilt. It's not at the top of my list to watch, but it's on there.

10. Inside Out (2015)

Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures

Why it's a classic: It was acknowledged by BAFTA and the Academy as the best animated film of 2015, and everyone who I've talked to about it has definitely backed that up.

Guilt level: I pride myself on being up to date with the best Pixar has to offer, and yet for some reason, I have never gotten around to seeing this apparently wonderful film. Shame, shame, shame!

11. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Pathé Distribution

Why it's a classic: Oops, another Oscar Best Picture winner added to the list! This film actually won an outstanding eight Academy Awards, that says it all really. 

Guilt level: I vividly recall this coming out, and I even had it on DVD – remember those? – yet I still haven't seen it after all these years! I feel really bad about not having seen Slumdog Millionaire, especially because it was literally at my fingertips for so long (I know the whole internet exists so everything is at our fingertips, but still). 

12. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

Columbia Pictures

Why it's a classic: I'm not a huge rom-com person anyway, but perhaps that's because I haven't seen the greatest of all time? When Harry Met Sally... is widely considered to be one of the best of its genre. 

Guilt level: I sit firmly on the fence here – I should probably watch it, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it, but it's not keeping me up at night with shame. 

13. Either of the Paddington movies (2014–2017)

StudioCanal

Why it's a classic: I've been reliably informed that the first one is great, and the second one is even better. The constant praise of Paddington 2 on Brett Goldstein's podcast Films To Be Buried With gives these films the seal of approval. 

Guilt level: I think a childhood related fear of marmalade sandwiches is partially why I have stayed away from the Paddington franchise. Perhaps I'll end up watching these films, but I won't seek them out.

14. Lady Bird (2017)

Universal Pictures, Focus Features

Why it's a classic: By all accounts, this film is excellent and I specifically remember it getting a lot of great reviews by friends and critics when it was released. The stack of Oscar and BAFTA nominations also seem to suggest that it's a must-watch. 

Guilt level: Lady Bird just feels like a film I should've seen by now (I know, I know, a lot of these do). Honestly this is quite high up the guilt list, so I will get around to it, but I've said that before...

15. Apocalypse Now (1979)

United Artists

Why it's a classic: Where to begin... Almost all 'top films of all time' lists include Apocolypse Now, from the BFI to IMBD. But the main reason is that almost everyone I've spoken to (and trust) is shocked that I haven't seen this film, and they all recommend it feverishly. 

Guilt level: Of everything on this list, this is the one I feel the worst about. I've literally misquoted this film endless times. I have no idea if I love the smell of Napalm in the morning... Seriously, what have I been doing all this time?

16. 28 Days Later (2002)

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Why it's a classic: Perhaps it's the Saturn Award that it won, or maybe it's just because Cylian Murphy and Danny Boyle sound like a pretty great combination?

Guilt level: This one actually causes me a lot of problems and reveals two more famous films I haven't seen. I always get mixed up between this one, 127 Hours (only just realised this was also Danny Boyle), and 500 Days of summer because I haven't seen ANY of them. I don't know why I get them mixed up – they're apparently all distinctly different, but how would I know?! I'm not guilty per se, but I think I'll watch this before too long.

17. Jaws (1975)

Universal Pictures

Why it's a classic: A hat-trick of Academy Awards for this Spielberg-directed film that earned the status of the first-ever summer blockbuster, enough said? 

Guilt level: Da-na, da-na, da-na – why haven't I seen one of the biggest movies by one of the biggest directors ever? This film probably contributed to the bad reputation of these finned-fishies, even though there is a greater chance of being killed by a champagne cork than a shark! I feel guilty because I'm trying to get more into horror (yes, this is considered a horror), and this is an epic. 

18. Boyhood (2014)

Universal Pictures

Why it's a classic: Other than Patricia Arquette's Oscar, this film is a classic for the whole process behind it. Filmed in real-time over 11 years, this coming-of-age movie charts the childhood and adolescence of Mason Evans Jr., but also the actor playing him, Ellar Coltrane. 

Guilt level: If they can take 12 years to film this, surely I can take two hours and 45 minutes to watch it (which actually, is fairly long). A movie this unique certainly deserves my attention! 

Which ones should I get to right away, and which ones can stay unwatched? Let me know in the comments below!