Amadeus (1984)
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History/Drama
The semi true story of one of Mozart's lesser contemporaries, Antonio Salieri, and the bitter jealousy and resentment he felt towards him. Two amazing characters in a massive, beautifully made historical world. When I first saw this movie as a kid I had rented it from Blockbuster and for some reason the entire thing was muted with subtitles and the only sound was the music. I thought that was how it was intended to be watched and I almost prefer it like that even though the acting is fantastic.
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Drama/War
The experience of a child recruited into a rebel army in a fictionalized West Africa, loosely based on the Sierra Leone civil war. A devestating masterpiece overall but this specifically has the best colors and color grading I've ever seen in a movie. This was Netflix's first original movie, back when they had to actually try and they knocked it out of the park.
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Comedy/Adventure
Two ditzy teenage metalheads go back and time to try and get the information they need to pass their history class. They end up inadvertently setting Joan of Arc, Genghis Khan, Socrates, Napoleon, etc. loose in 1980s Los Angeles. Incredibly fun and was definitely an early influence on my love of history. I think the utopian future depicted in a couple scenes is genuinely moving and makes me weirdly emotional.
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Crime/Drama
Traces the world of organized crime and drug trafficking in Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s by following two childhood friends as they grow. Stylized a bit like a Guy Ritchie movie but significantly darker and more serious, especially due to the fact that all the characters are children and teenagers.
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Family/Sports/Comedy
The semi true story of the creation and development of the first Jamaican bobsled team to compete in the Olympics. So wholesome and sweet and charming. Definitely one of my top comfort movies.
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Family/Horror/Animation
An adventurous girl dislikes her boring home and discovers a whole new exciting and fantastical world. But the grass isn't always greener on the other side. One of the best examples of "children's horror" which I think is an underdeveloped genre.
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Horror/Mystery/Crime
Normal, sane people suddenly and inexplicably start murdering people throughout Tokyo and no one knows why. Genuinely scary and hypnotic in its slowness and quiet and mundanity.
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Documentary
Gritty and cinematic documentary about a community living in New York City's defunct sewers and subway tunnels in the 1990s, with a soundtrack by DJ Shadow.