Celebrating “Cinema A – Z” In 2024!

I’ve done this before, but I’m back it: every week in 2024, I will be sharing my favorite movies beginning with a letter of the alphabet!

Ten Great Films That Begin With the letter “A”!

These collections will will cross generations and will be a mix of classic cinema and cult gems – so here we go – ten of my favorite movies that begin with the letter “A”!

10 – Animal House! 

Yes, it is official “National Lampoon’s Animal House” but since this is arguably the funniest film ever made, I am going to go with the shortened title that everyone uses.

Check out the vintage trailer:

John Belushi showed that he could command the big screen, and togas were never funnier than in this hilariously profane look at college life…I suggest watching it as a double bill with “Old School” – here’s a bunch of fun trivia about both movies and the trailer for “Old School” as well:

From comedy to horror, this is also arguably the greatest film of its genre:

9 – Alien

The most shocking sci-fi horror film of all – with the greatest poster as well! So many reasons to love this movie, and this scene is certainly iconic, isn’t it?

What a way to introduce a new cast member! None of the subsequent films can measure up to the shocks in this one – remember, the brilliant sequel “Aliens” is an action film even more than horror – and that shocking introduction of the “Alien” will never be topped!

Now onto one of the most interesting psychological biographies about Hollywood I’ve ever seen:

8 – Auto Focus

Greg Kinnear is mesmerizing as Bob Crane, who shot to fame as the star of “Hogan’s Heroes” – but he was a, shall we say, FAN OF WOMEN?

Check out the trailer – a blend of Hollywood bio-pic and sleazy exploitation:

Bob Crane loved to film himself having sex with female fans, and sleazy sidekick Willem Dafoe had no problem being his cameraman! A fascinating character study directed by Paul Schrader, who wrote “Taxi Driver.”

This is based on a true story, while our next film is a fictionalized version of a true story as well…written and directed by Cameron Crowe – who wrote the classic memoir “Fast Times At Ridgemont High” – this is a marginally fictionalized story of his teenage years – writing for Rolling Stone!

7 – Almost Famous 

It is his story growing up – the youngest writer ever for a rock magazine, assigned to cover a band on tour…it’s a fictionalized version of The eagles by way of The Allman Brothers Band…hilariously funny and insightful:

Patrick Fugit plays Crowe, and Kate Hudson was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as “Penny Lane”, the band’s lead groupie and muse…Crowe released a director’s cut of this great film – with more funny scenes, context and music – a classic movie about rock’n’roll!

This is a great example of how a longer cut can bring much more texture and life to a film…worth seeing!

Now, here’s a movie that has one of cinema’s more iconic lines:

“No, YOU’RE Out Of Order!”

6 – “And Justice For All”

Al Pacino shows that he’s got a set of lungs and he’s not afraid to use them in this late 70’s courtroom drama.

Check out the trailer:

Pacino was at the top of his game acting wise at that time…a 70’s classic.

Next up is one of my all-time favorite films: a masterpiece about the horror of war – and working with Marlon Brando:

5 – “Apocalypse Now”

“The Godfather” Director Francis Ford Coppola went into the jungle and came back with this anti-war masterpiece. 

Here is the trailer for one of the greatest films ever made:

Yes, Brando was a nightmare to work with, but the ending of the film has even been parodied on “Seinfeld”, and Coppola’s wife even made a documentary about how the experience almost destroyed their lives:

What a great double bill!

Next on the “A” list is a Best Picture winner from 1977- yes, it beat “Star Wars” – Woody Allen’s masterpiece:

4 – “Annie Hall”

Diane Keaton won Best Actress for her portrayal of the title character – a film full of humor, insight, and of course, a small bit with Christopher Walken that is classic:

“Annie Hall” is an example of a film that is perfection: every scene works. A more recent comedy also balanced serious and funny – thanks to a “career best” performance by Hugh Grant:

3 – “About A Boy”

The Actor said that this film was the closest to who he was as a real person…and this was his answer to someone who said to him in the movie:

“You could end up childless and alone!”

His quick reply?

“Well, fingers crossed, YES.”

Check out the trailer:

Hugh Grant plays a guy who simply doesn’t want to connect with anyone for any length of time – until “a boy” enters his life in the best way…Chris Weitz directed this, and its a terrific film – funny, emotional, and inspiring.

Now, one of the greatest “growing up” films of all time – directed by a guy who went on to make an “outer space movie”:

2 – “American Graffiti”

The end of innocence in small town America at the beginning of the 60’s – as the film’s tagline asks:

“Where Were You In ’62?”

The trailer asks this simple question – check it out:

One night in central California, as a group of high school graduates try to determine their future – a classic “coming of age” film with a great cast, expertly directed by George Lucas, who used this success to convince 20th Century Fox to let him make his passion film next – a little cult movie called “Star Wars”….

Finally, a brilliant movie that is as topical today for reasons we all know:

1 – “All The President’s Men”

The story of the downfall of President Richard Nixon – Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman are terrific as the Reporters who won’t let the Watergate story fade away – even with overwhelming odds against them…a history lesson worth watching:

It’s one of a number of great political films, check out more of them by clicking on my story here:

There you have it, ten great films that begin with the letter “A”!

Yes, so many left off: from “Anti-Christ” to “Anchorman”, “Airplane!” to “Anvil!”, but I had to choose a list – so let me know what yours are!

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Leave me a comment and let me know your favorite “A” movie – and every week the next letter of the alphabet will appear…if you like this, please share on social media!

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