Some of the fondest, coziest memories of my childhood derive from the after-school trips with either my mom or dad to the dying Blockbuster on the edge of town. Despite it being nearly a decade since then, I still remember those trips vividly by how much excitement I had. My first exposure to “Star Wars” was a distorted “Revenge of the Sith” ad playing on a broken CRT TV in the back of the store. I remember getting just a glimpse of fabled R-rated movies the likes of “Unforgiven” or “I Am Legend” and imagining in my head how the movie played out based on its cover. I remember the joy of successfully begging my mom to get those microwavable popcorn buckets at the checkout. I remember that rush of excitement on the drive home when reading the back of the case or, in the event of a video game rental, reading the long-forgotten manual, eagerly waiting to enjoy a great movie night.

Now, with the advent of endless streaming services and the death of video rentals, I can find anything I want online. We’ve all experienced that dull drag of scrolling through Netflix in a quest to find something for the mood you’re in, even if you don’t know what mood you’re in, so you just throw on “The Office” or something on the same wavelength. This existed before the pandemic and will last long after the pandemic. But one demographic that is struggling with the choice paradox far more than you may think is the elderly.

Every Thursday, I make sure to call my isolated grandparents and speak with my grandfather, who is always overjoyed to hear from me. But whenever I ask what he’s been watching, he is always stumped with finding something worthwhile to watch, believing most stuff on TV to be terrible (he’s not wrong).

I truly believe I am not alone in my efforts to connect with family over films, especially in the neverending search for films that connect both to today’s audience and that of yesterday’s. So I created a short list of films I feel you can get as much of a kick out of as your old folks will. Obviously, it’s all subjective, but there’s no harm in trying:

The “Bang Bang” flicks:

“A Bridge Too Far” (1977)

A seemingly forgotten masterpiece, “A Bridge Too Far” remains one of the best old-school war movies to date. Set during the chaotic mess of Operation Market Garden, it follows soldiers from varying Allied sides in their doomed quest to advance through Europe. Big spectacle battles are brought to life with practical effects and set design that still trumps modern war films, providing an absolutely great experience.

“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989)

Another classic action piece to coincidentally star Sean Connery, the third entry in the Indiana Jones series remains my personal favorite and a great explosion-filled romp. A straightforward adventure to get the Holy Grail, it packs all the punches of great old-school blockbuster and Speilberg charm

“The Castle of Cagliostro” (1979)

Okay, the idea of recommending an animated film to your grandparents sounds stupid, but if there was ever a title from the medium to recommend to anyone who’s never tired, it would be “The Castle of Cagliostro.” The debut feature of legendary director Hayao Miyazaki, this light-hearted adventure film follows two thieves on a classic quest to save the princess from the castle. Full of beautiful, smooth animation and one of the greatest car chases in cinema history, it’s a complete crowd-pleaser anyone can love.

The “Howdy Howdy” flicks:

“The Searchers” (1956)

When it comes to classic Hollywood Westerns, “The Searchers” is as classic as it gets. The strongest of John Wayne’s performances, the film follows a years-long quest to save a kidnapped child. The film has its problematic elements and is definitely a relic of the past. It’s a much deeper take than many Westerns of the era. The film’s exploration of Ethan Edwards’s terrible, racist personality and his journey to save a child soon devolves into a desperate quest for his redemption. This movie is definitely a must-watch for the genre.

“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966)

Essentially the coolest movie ever made, this Spaghetti-Western magnum opus has yet to be topped. Despite being the basis of every western parody, this action-epic is still as gripping as it was decades ago. A simple story of three cowboys all trying to get their hands on an elusive treasure amidst the raging civil war provides all you need, and Ennio Morricone’s phenomenal score is icing on the cake. You simply can’t go wrong with this one.

The “Oscar-bait” flicks:

“Gattaca” (1997)

A sci-fi drama that is incredibly gripping as it is disturbing, “Gattaca” depicts a dystopia born out of the quest for utopia. “Gattaca” presents a world where genetic engineering has given rise to a new class division. With real-world technology on the rise, this feature provides a drama you can really get behind. I first experienced this film in my high school biology class, and it was quite fitting, really.

“The Truman Show” (1998)

The larger-than-life drama that pushed Jim Carrey into an acting legend, “The Truman Show,” provides one of the most fascinating drama-comedies to date. Following the life of Truman, a regular man unknowing growing up and living life on television, this movie explores so many ideas in such a short amount of time, yet it never feels bogged down by it. It’s full of so many details and so many amazing performances that it can’t truly be appreciated in just one viewing.