28 Days Later

Directed by Chris Columbus and released in 1990, Home Alone follows 8-year old Kevin McAllister who's been accidentally home left alone for Christmas. All by himself he must contend with a myriad of unfamiliar obstacles including the scary furnace and the two home burglars who have an eye on the McAllister homestead. Kevin's mother after realizing she's left him behind tries to race home from Paris to ensure his safety. Determined to protect his home Kevin hatches a plan to ward off the bandits in a battle of wits in a race against the clock in this Christmas Classic, written by the great John Hughes.

Directed by Gabriel Axel and released in 1987, Babette's Feast is a film that follows a French maid named Babette working for two sisters in a remote Danish town. As a refugee of a French civil war Babette is taken in by the two sisters thanks to a mutual friend in France. One day Babette wins the lottery and decides to show her thanks to the town and to celebrate the sisters' late father's 100th birthday with her cooking of French cuisine. It's a film that highlights community and the transcendental power of food in one of the finest films about cooking in cinematic history.

Directed by Wes Anderson and released in 2009, Fantastic Mr. Fox tells the story of a fox and his family who live off of the crops and livestock of three brutish farmers, Bogus, Bunce, and Bean. Fed up with the fox's antics they decide to team up to rid themselves of their shared problem. Mr. Fox, becoming wise to their plot teams up with his friends to ensure they all not only survive, but thrive in a wholesome, charming, and fun animated adventure for the whole family.

Directed by Danny Boyle and released in 2003, 28 Days Later follows a man named Jim who awakens from a coma 28 days after a deadly disease ravages the Earth. As he navigates an empty post-apocalyptic London alone he must learn to survive among the world's infected inhabitants, which are fast, violent, deadly, and highly contagious. It's a film that has introduced a new kind of terror to the horror genre and is among the best horror films of this century.

Directed by Georges Franju and released in 1960, Eyes Without a Face tells the story of a genius plastic surgeon who is determined to restore his daughter's beauty after a car accident led to her disfigurement. Driven by guilt, remorse, and regret he and his assistant attempt to transplant the faces of unfortunate young women while his daughter is locked in his mansion, sedated, and made to wear a mask to hide her true face. A film that delves into some deep themes its as much poetry as it is shocking and horrific, a perfect mix for your rolodex this spooky season.

Directed by Ridley Scott and released in 1979, Alien follows a crew of seven who find themselves on a foreign planet upon intercepting a distress signal while travelling back to Earth. With a damaged spacecraft they find an environment that seems off and upon one of their own getting injured they venture back inside their spacecraft. However, they soon learn that it is not what they left behind that is dangerous, but instead, what they let in. Filled with suspense and tension Alien is a horror classic that is a must-see.

Directed by Lewis Milestone and released in 1930, All Quiet on the Western Front is an anti-war film based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name. The first highly effective and successful anti-war film it utilized ground-breaking techniques and followed the source material with a high degree of accuracy to relay its message. Still relevant and affecting today, it's a must-see for fans of film, film history, and history alike.

Directed by Don Chaffey and released in 1963, Jason and the Argonauts relays a tale from Ancient Greece in which Jason sets sail to find the Golden Fleece and reclaim the throne of Thessaly A tale of grit, revenge, and adventure it's a movie with drama, action, and special effects from a legend of stop-motion animation. Still entertaining audiences today it is among the best fantasy films released in the sixties, at a time when films of the genre were in high demand.

Directed by John Ford and released in 1940, The Grapes of Wrath is a film based on the Steinbeck novel of the same name. Following a fictional Tom Joad and his family the movie follows their move from their home in Oklahoma to California in search for work. Drawn by flyers advertising jobs during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression the hope of a brighter future the flyers offer is too good to pass up. A film told through wonderful performances and rich and beautiful black and white photography, it shines brightly as a nod to a classic novel.

Directed by Georges Méliès and released in 1902, A Trip to the Moon follows a scientist on  journey through space to the moon in his newly crafted spaceship. A movie shot by a pioneer of filmmaking at the dawn of cinema, it's a movie with many awe-inspiring moments and one that would inspire generations of filmmakers, set designers, cinematographers, and special effects artists.