26 Movies That Were Meant To Be Seen On The Big Screen — Plain And Simple

Maybe next year :/.

We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to share some movies that they believe people need to see on the big screen. Here are some of their responses:

🚨 Spoilers ahead! 🚨

1. 1917 (2019)

E1 Entertaibnment

"I don’t think I’ve ever had such a captivating experience while watching a movie as when I went to see 1917. That movie is so good and the atmosphere it creates while you're watching it on the big screen is something else."

—carmenbarrios28

2. Get Out (2017)

Universal Pictures

"There are so many plot twists and little clues to the ~big reveal~ in Get Out that you can 100% feel everyone else in the theater trying to make sense of what’s going on along with you. You can practically feel the suspense. The moment where it clicks and everyone kinda gasps in realization feels so much more rewarding and exciting in a room full of people."

—angelicaamartinez

3. A Quiet Place (2018)

Paramount Pictures

"A Quiet Place needs to be seen in theaters. You need it to be pitch black and totally silent to get the full magnitude of that movie. Without it being extremely quiet, you lose the main vibe of the movie...which is 'quiet.'"

—lamoreuxsamantha

4. Jaws (1975)

Universal Pictures

"I saw it in the theater as a kid in the '70s. I have watched several times as an adult, but it didn't have the same effect until I saw it in a restored theater a couple of years ago. The tension that the movie and music built was palpable. I actually caught myself holding my breath hoping he would shoot the canister. It was a very cool experience."

—purpletravelgrrl

5. Parasite (2019)

CJ Entertainment

"The movie has a theme of being entrapped (in various physical and metaphorical ways), so when you watch it in the theater, that message really sinks down to your core as you witness the wild ride unfold for two hours in a large dark room. It’s absolutely beautiful, and the big screen is the perfect medium to watch it."

—victoriagasparowicz

6. Mother! (2017)

Paramount Pictures

"I’m still not sure how I feel about this movie, but one thing is for sure: it builds tension like no other. I can only imagine that feeling of claustrophobic anxiety is even more intense in theaters."

—alisonm1

7. The Greatest Showman (2017)

20th Century Studios

"During the musical numbers, there is just so much happening. You need a big screen to take it all in!"

—cmegs20

8. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

"I saw it in IMAX and was blown away. I’ve seen the movie several times on DVD, but man, in the theaters it's a completely different experience. To this day, it's the best movie I’ve ever seen in IMAX."

—tiffanyalexandraw

9. Moonlight (2016)

A24

"Moonlight was groundbreaking in so many ways. It was the first all-Black cast and first LGBTQ film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. In addition, the thoughtful use of colors and intentional lighting added complexity and emotion to the intimate storytelling, and that deserves to be appreciated on the big screen."

—morgansloss1

10. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Lionsgate Films

"During the scene where Katniss is in the tube lifting up to the arena, in the movie theater you felt like you were in there with her."

—lightheart16

11. The Dark Knight (2008)

Warner Bros.

"The Dark Knight was amazing in cinemas. I've watched it many times since then, but the wide shots of Gotham and Hong Kong, the darkness during many scenes, the tension, and the fight choreography all benefit so much from the big screen."

—ams2308

12. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

20th Century Fox

"Bohemian Rhapsody...When I went to see it, every single person in that cinema knew Queen, knew their songs, and was singing and clapping along. It felt almost like an actual concert. It was beautiful!"

—pennyguide

13. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Warner Bros.

"Blade Runner 2049 in theaters and 3D was an amazing experience. I was the only person watching it, so I was able to sit right in the middle of the theater. It was so beautiful. After watching it, I honestly want a movie that is just aerial shots of cyberpunk landscapes with some thumping techno and synthwave."

—serrichardb

14. Inception (2010)

Warner Bros. Pictures

"I tried to watch this so many times at home but couldn't get into it. I went to a 10-year anniversary rewatch a few weeks ago and it was so good! Can't believe it took me all those years to watch it all the way through."

—lucyferrans

15. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Sony

"I regret that I didn't see Into the Spider-Verse on the big screen. If I had a do-over of any movie, that's the one I'd choose. The animation is too lush and epic to be properly captured on a TV, and so many perfect details are lost."

—perenti

16. Wait Until Dark (1967)

Warner Bros.

"It stars Audrey Hepburn as a blind woman trying to survive a home invasion. The climax plays out VERY effectively in a pitch-dark theater — just trust me on this."

—annakatherine001

17. Twister (1996)

Warner Bros.

"You really need theater-quality surround sound to appreciate all the sounds that a tornado makes. It's just not the same at home."

—yankee1982001

18. Bird Box (2020)

Netflix

"I know it’s a Netflix original, but it would look SO MUCH BETTER on a big screen, just so you can get the full experience of it."

—lovemarvey

19. Coco (2017)

Disney

"Not only is Coco a spectacular film, but seeing it in the movie theater makes it 100 times better (if that’s even possible?!). The movie is already emotional as is, but when you see all the subtle facial expressions and hear the trembles in the characters’ voices, it’s almost impossible not to cry while watching!"

—victoriagasparowicz

20. Dunkirk (2017)

Warner Bros.

"Basically all Christopher Nolan movies should be watched on a big screen, but there are so many moments in Dunkirk that are made to be seen in a theater..."

—alexp4d5b40cd4

21. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Disney

"The whole movie gives the same feeling of being on a roller coaster with the way it flows and the action scenes, so watching it on a TV or laptop screen does it no justice. It would be like watching a roller coaster instead of actually being on one."

—messyeggplant74

22. The Matrix (1999)

Warner Bros.

"The Matrix blew my frickin' preteen mind on the big screen when it came out. It set a new bar for special effects. It’s wild to catch parts of it on TV sometimes and realize how dated and clunky the style looks now."

—flanforever

23. Annihilation (2018)

Paramount Pictures

"It's a gorgeous film, and it needs to be seen in a theater to truly appreciate the visual effects."

—megan5912

24. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Warner Bros.

"I never actually got to see Fury Road in the theater, and I REALLY wish I had."

—eowynoakheart

25. Jurassic Park (1993)

Universal Pictures

"If you're going to get the amazing first shot of realistic dinosaurs, it had to be on the big screen. You have to SEE their hugeness and FEEL the rumbling thump of their steps in the theater. No large TV could have duplicated the thrill with the same level of goosebumps and awe."

—saltyspice75

26. And Titanic (1997)

Paramount Pictures

"You need it with those long, sweeping shots of the ship, and the sinking scenes. It's obviously not unwatchable on the small screen, but the scale of it can get a little lost."

—danieller4856e1619

Some submissions have been edited for grammar and/or clarity.