What we consider our favorite things says so much about us. While some books, songs, or films may remain lifelong favorites, our tastes may change, and what we once loved might not touch us in the same way.

I wanted to track what I consider my top favorite films for this reason. Some choices were immediate and easy, and others took more consideration. There are movies I love and consider important to how I’ve grown, but if I could only watch ten films for the rest of my life, which ones would pass that test of watchability? Going by this test, some surprises snuck into this exclusive group, but life can’t be all comedy or drama or camp or fantasy.  We need silly, inexplicable stories just as much as we need the serious ones.

So these movies are the ones that never fail to delight me, the stories that inspire me and comfort me at this time in life.

1) Dead Poets Society (1989)

“You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are going to find it at all.”

2) About Time (2013)

“I’d only give one piece of advice to anyone marrying. We’re all quite similar in the end. We all get old and tell the same tales too many times. But try and marry someone kind.”

3) Notting Hill (1999)

“Happiness isn’t happiness without a violin-playing goat.” 

4) It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

“What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.”

5) A Little Princess (1995)

“All girls are! Even if they live in tiny old attics, even if they dress in rags, even if they aren’t pretty, or smart, or young, they’re still princesses – all of us! Didn’t your father ever tell you that? Didn’t he?”

6) Anastasia (1997)

“There was a time, not very long ago, where we lived in an enchanted world of elegant palaces and grand parties.”

7) You’ve Got Mail (1998)

“The odd thing about this form of communication is that you’re more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings.”

8) Pitch Perfect (2012)

“You guys are the best. Even though some of you are pretty thin, I think that you all have fat hearts. And that’s what matters.”

9) Mary Poppins (1964)

10) National Treasure (2004)

“Yeah, someone that did something in history and had fun. Great. Wonderful.”