Are you planning to have some me time and spend it watching some films? On the other hand, maybe you are planning a movie night with the guys?
Well, whichever it is, we believe our list of the 20 best movies for men would be able to help. Without further delay, let us get the reel rolling!
1. The Godfather (1972)
English 2h 55m IMDb
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
For our first film, we will be borrowing a line from it, as we will make you an offer you cannot refuse. Let us talk about The Godfather.
The basis for this film is a book that bears the same name. The story revolves around the Corleone family with a focus on its patriarch, Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone, his youngest son. If you want your film with some guns, organized crimes, and tons of betrayal and plot twists, this one is a movie to consider.
2. Fight Club (1999)
English 2h 19m IMDb
Director: David Fincher
Stars: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Meat Loaf
Who knew a soap salesperson could do so much dirty work? Well, allow Brad Pitt to show you just that.
Fight Club takes inspiration from a book by Chuck Palahniuk. It focuses on an unnamed narrator and a soap salesman. While the two start off as comrades forming the Fight Club, they later find themselves on opposing sides as one decides to build Project Mayhem, an organization set on spreading mischief and mayhem.
If you are all in for mind-blowing plot twists, this film is one to check out.
3. 300 (2006)
English 1h 57m IMDb
Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham
Do you like epics and historical dramas? Let us go back to 480 B.C. and witness the events in the Battle of Thermopylae then.
Our next film is a fictional dramatization of the battle. It follows Leonidas I and his 300 Spartans against Xerxes I and his army that is more than ten times the size of the Spartans. If you like your history with some action, well, this is a type of history lesson that will likely keep you awake!
4. Gladiator (2000)
English 2h 35m IMDb
Director: Ridley Scott
Stars: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
If you like films centering on ancient Greece and Rome, Gladiator is a film you seriously want to consider. After all, it is considered to have revived interest in media portraying happenings during these times.
The film centers on General Maximus Decimus Meridius, his unjust fall, and his rise to vengeance. Pushing off a great man rising to power into slavery is not the wisest thing to do. Here, Maximus will show Commodus and the viewers just that.
5. Braveheart (1995)
English 2h 58m IMDb
Director: Mel Gibson
Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan
Did you like the last two films we showed you? Well, we have another one right here. This one was directed and starred in by the amazing Mel Gibson. Let us talk about Braveheart.
This film centers on William Wallace and his rebellion, along with his people, to free their lands from the cruelty of King Edward I.
If you like your history films with tons of action and served with a good helping of drama, this film is one you might want to consider.
6. Die Hard (1988)
English 2h 12m IMDb
Director: John McTiernan
Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia
You might be familiar with the term die hard or have at least heard of it once or twice. Well, let us take a look at the film believed to have popularized the phrase. Let us talk about Die Hard.
The film centers on an NYPD detective caught up in a large-scale robbery by terrorists in his attempt to communicate with his old wife. If you like your leads overcoming overwhelming odds and your films filled with combat and undertakings, this one might be the one for you.
7. Goodfellas (1990)
English 2h 25m IMDb
Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci
Good men and women, we have Goodfellas to talk about next. This film might be an old one, but it is gold.
The film follows Henry Hill and his rise and fall in life. It tells the story of how he became a mobster, his life as one, and how he became an informant.
If you are interested in Mafias and mobsters and want a glimpse of the life in this lane, this film is one to check out.
8. Pacific Rim (2013)
English 2h 11m IMDb
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Stars: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi
Our next one is for all the techy guys and sci-fi fans. Let us talk about Pacific Rim.
This film tells of a world where humans are up against monsters of the sea. As a defense, humans have made robots that have been dubbed Jaegers. The story follows the attempt to close off a portal where the alien monsters come out.
While this film does not have the thrill and chase many of the ones above possess, this film will give you a different kind of ride!
9. Armageddon (1998)
English 2h 31m IMDb
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck
There are many ways to tackle the sci-fi genre. Our next film is another science fiction, but it shows a different approach to the genre. Let us talk about Armageddon.
This film centers on a mission to stop an asteroid from destroying all humanity. The plan? To drill a hole and insert some nuclear bombs on the asteroid to split it. Easy, right? Well, some things are easier said than done, and the team encounters more problems than anticipated.
10. The Social Network (2010)
English 2h IMDb
Director: David Fincher
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
Do you know Facebook? You likely do, and you probably even have one! Even if you do not, you have probably at least heard of it. It is currently one of the biggest social media platforms, after all. Well, that is what our next film is all about. Let us talk about The Social Network and see how Facebook came about.
The film follows Mark Zuckerberg, the events that led to the creation of Facebook, and all the challenges the youngest billionaire faced.
11. Iron Man (2008)
English 2h 6m IMDb
Director: Jon Favreau
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard
Next up, we have a superhero film. We believe this will not be a list of the best movies for men if we do not include at least one superhero film. Do you not agree?
This film centers on Tony Stark and how one of the most popular and beloved heroes of this generation – Iron Man – was found. Whether you are a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or superhero films in general, this one is a film to consider.
12. The Dark Knight (2008)
English 2h 32m IMDb
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
Yes, we believe this list needs at least one superhero film. However, that does not mean there should only be one! So, for all the superhero-loving men out there, we have another one for you. Let us talk about The Dark Knight. One of the top-grossing superhero films of all time.
The film follows Bruce Wayne as he continues to be the Batman. Here, we see all the sacrifices the hero has to make for the safety of Gotham. However, we also witness how the protector ends up hated by the very people he has been protecting.
13. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
English 2h 22m IMDb 
Director: Frank Darabont
Stars: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton
The basis for our next film is a book by Stephen King. While King is known for his horrors, this story will show you a different side of the author.
This film follows a banker who got unjustly convicted of murder. It tells of his life while he serves his sentence. While he finds some joy inside the prison walls, it is not all sunshine and rainbows.
If you have seen a prison film before, you have likely already guessed how this one ends. However, believe us, this film probably will not end how you expect it to.
14. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
English 3h IMDb
Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
Leonardo DiCaprio has a lot of films that could have easily made it to this list. The man is a legend, after all. He is in many good movies with great plots and his performance almost always easily deserves a chef’s kiss. However, while the actor has many films, he only has a few comedies.
Based on the memoir of Jordan Belfort, the film centers on his fall, his rise, and his fall again as a stockbroker. If you want to see DiCaprio delivering some laughs and gags, this film is one to check out.
15. The Bourne Identity (2002)
English 1h 59m IMDb
Director: Doug Liman
Stars: Franka Potente, Matt Damon, Chris Cooper
The idea of having the CIA hunting you down could be terrifying. However, not knowing why they are chasing you and who you are might be the worst-case scenario.
That is what Jason Bourne has to face in this next film, running and evading all sorts of enemies while trying to figure out why they are after him and who he is in the first place.
Good thing you do not forget your moves when you get amnesia because his moves will do him a lot of good in surviving and the audience in having an action-filled good time!
16. The Departed (2006)
English 2h 31m IMDb
Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
Do you want to see more of DiCaprio and Damon? We could help you with that. We have a film right here that stars the two outstanding actors!
The Departed is a story where the good guys send a spy over to the bad guys, and the bad guys send an undercover to the good guys. With the bad guys being mobsters and the good guys being the police, as you can expect, this film is one filled with action, suspense, and thrill.
It will have you glued to your seats but will also have your heart racing!
17. Taken (2008)
English 1h 30m IMDb
Director: Pierre Morel
Stars: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen
You see, you do not mess with Green Berets or CIA officers. Additionally, you do not get on the bad side of someone who was both. Finally, you try your very best not to mess with their daughters. In this film, Bryan Mills, a previous Green Beret and ex-member of the CIA will show you that as he embarks on a chase to save his daughter.
This film is filled with action and suspense. The one to make your heart race and keep your butt glued to the seat.
18. First Blood (1982)
English 1h 33m IMDb
Director: Ted Kotcheff
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna
Our next film is one of the many attempts to take the words from the book of David Morrell to the big screen. If we are to base it on the box office alone, we could say it is a successful attempt at that.
The story follows a Vietnam War veteran trying to visit an old friend. However, it is so easy to start a fire, as they say. When a local person of authority decides he does not like our lead, things turn for the worse, and a friendly visit turns into a hunt.
19. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
English 1h 39m IMDb
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen
Quentin Tarantino is a popular name in Hollywood. Whether you are a fan of the director or not, you have probably heard the name at least a few times. It might come as a surprise then to know that the famous director only directed ten films!
Reservoir Dogs is the first film by the director. Its story follows a group of criminals as they deal with all sorts of trouble, including a traitor and the police. If you want your movie with some violence, action, and thrill, this one might tickle your fancy.
20. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
English 1h 55m IMDb
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman
For our last film, let us talk about the first installment of the Indiana Jones franchise. If we are being honest, any of the four films could be on this list. However, why not start, well, where it all started. With Raiders of the Lost Ark!
This adventure film focuses on one of the first exploits of its titular character – the recovery of the Ark of the Covenant. A quest filled with action and some comedy on the side. If buried treasures and adventures are your things, you might want to consider joining our archeologist in this treasure hunt!
Final Words
Whether you are planning for some downtime movie time or planning a movie night with your guys, we hope our list of the 20 best movies for men was able to help. If you are still missing a spot or two on your watchlist, feel free to go and visit our other discussions.
