Best Movies For Reaction Videos
A "first time watching" movie reaction video is a video in which a person or multiple people react to their first time seeing a movie or a television series episode. Videos showing emotional reactions or criticism and commentary are numerous on video hosting services such as YouTube and live-streaming services such as Twitch. Typically the depicted persons are aware that they are being recorded and the camera and microphone are acknowledged by the subjects.
Typically a condensed version of the movie itself is shown as a picture-in-picture or in a split screen, allowing the reaction video's viewers to see what is being reacted to. It generally works better when several subjects are involved and when they avoid irritating gimmicks like going in and out of focus in an effort to dodge copyright issues.
Not unexpectedly the degree to which this sort of stuff is an entertaining watch is very dependent on the film that is being viewed. And although it would seem fairly easy to predict what will work and what will bomb, the makers of these are often completely clueless. And most try to up viewership by selecting mega-popular high dollar garbage like "Saving Private Ryan" and "Titanic". So in the interest of "saving" people from being bored to death this list includes the movies most suitable for this treatment, with the caveat that the people producing these are an uneven mix of talent so just choosing the right movie does not guarantee that a specific reaction video will be worth watching.
Most of those making these videos represent that they are watching the film for the first time. While they could be faking that claim, generally speaking they are convincing in their reactions.
Finally I don't recommend watching a reaction video without first seeing the film on your own.
Typically a condensed version of the movie itself is shown as a picture-in-picture or in a split screen, allowing the reaction video's viewers to see what is being reacted to. It generally works better when several subjects are involved and when they avoid irritating gimmicks like going in and out of focus in an effort to dodge copyright issues.
Not unexpectedly the degree to which this sort of stuff is an entertaining watch is very dependent on the film that is being viewed. And although it would seem fairly easy to predict what will work and what will bomb, the makers of these are often completely clueless. And most try to up viewership by selecting mega-popular high dollar garbage like "Saving Private Ryan" and "Titanic". So in the interest of "saving" people from being bored to death this list includes the movies most suitable for this treatment, with the caveat that the people producing these are an uneven mix of talent so just choosing the right movie does not guarantee that a specific reaction video will be worth watching.
Most of those making these videos represent that they are watching the film for the first time. While they could be faking that claim, generally speaking they are convincing in their reactions.
Finally I don't recommend watching a reaction video without first seeing the film on your own.
List activity
128 views
• 3 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
44 titles
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsBruce WillisHaley Joel OsmentToni ColletteMalcolm Crowe, a child psychologist, starts treating a young boy, Cole, who encounters dead people and convinces him to help them. In turn, Cole helps Malcolm reconcile with his estranged wife.This is hands down the best film for this activity, for obvious reasons if you know this film. I won't spoil things by providing any details.
- DirectorVadim PerelmanStarsUma ThurmanEvan Rachel WoodEva AmurriA woman's survivor's guilt from a Columbine-like event 15 years ago causes her present-day idyllic life to fall apart.As yet undiscovered by reaction people this film a prime candidate. So if you enjoyed reactions to "Sixth Sense" keeping looking for someone to react to this one ....
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMatthew ModineR. Lee ErmeyVincent D'OnofrioA pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.Stanley Kubrick films are generally good subjects for the reaction video treatment although this one is by far the best.
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael J. FoxChristopher LloydLea ThompsonMarty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.This film utilizes the theatrical device of drawing viewers into the story by giving them information of which many important characters are unaware. This is a good predictor of what will work as a reaction video.
- DirectorEric IdleGary WeisStarsEric IdleJohn HalseyRicky FataarCharts the adventures of the prefab four, possibly the most famous band of all time.I would love to see one.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsCary GrantPriscilla LaneRaymond MasseyA Brooklyn writer of books on the futility of marriage risks his reputation after he decides to tie the knot. Things get even more complicated when he learns on his wedding day that his beloved maiden aunts are habitual murderers.Lots of subtle humor in a story that was originally a play. With the feel of the stage nicely captured by the film.
- DirectorBrian G. HuttonStarsClint EastwoodTelly SavalasDon RicklesA group of U.S. soldiers sneaks across enemy lines in WWII France to get their hands on a secret stash of Nazi treasure.Full of lively action and comedy with a counterculture flavor transported to the WWII era.
- DirectorPierre CoffinChris RenaudStarsSteve CarellJason SegelRussell BrandGru, a criminal mastermind, adopts three orphans as pawns to carry out the biggest heist in history. His life takes an unexpected turn when the little girls see the evildoer as their potential father.Has all the right elements.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonEdward FurlongA cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.Works far better than the first film.
- DirectorPhil Alden RobinsonStarsKevin CostnerJames Earl JonesRay LiottaIowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice he can't ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe. Supported by his wife, Ray begins the quest by turning his ordinary cornfield into a place where dreams can come true.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsKatharine HepburnCary GrantCharles RugglesWhile trying to secure a $1 million donation for his museum, a befuddled paleontologist is pursued by a flighty and often irritating heiress and her pet leopard, Baby.A classic film that most post baby boomer have never seen.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMartin SheenMarlon BrandoRobert DuvallA U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.The Robert Duvall sequences work well enough for the film to make this list but the majority of the film is not such a great fit.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.Breaking movie conventions amps up the entertainment value of viewer reactions.
- DirectorVictor FlemingKing VidorStarsJudy GarlandFrank MorganRay BolgerYoung Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz, and embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others' wishes.The biggest problem is finding viewers who qualify for "first time watching" status.
- DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsAnthony PerkinsJanet LeighVera MilesA Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsRoy ScheiderRobert ShawRichard DreyfussWhen a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Cape Cod, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.Obvious candidate for the treatment.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsJodie FosterAnthony HopkinsScott GlennA young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.People will say we're in love.
- DirectorJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsJeff BridgesJohn GoodmanJulianne MooreJeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.
- DirectorMichael CrichtonStarsYul BrynnerRichard BenjaminJames BrolinA robot malfunction creates havoc and terror for unsuspecting vacationers at a futuristic, adult-themed amusement park.
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsHumphrey BogartMary AstorGladys GeorgeSan Francisco private detective Sam Spade takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar and their quest for a priceless statuette, with the stakes rising after his partner is murdered.Much of the high quality film noir stuff lends itself to this treatment and is a genre where it is easy to believe the makers are viewing it for the first time.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsSigourney WeaverMichael BiehnCarrie HennDecades after surviving the Nostromo incident, Ellen Ripley is sent out to re-establish contact with a terraforming colony but finds herself battling the Alien Queen and her offspring.Much better for reactions than the first movie.
- DirectorJohn BoormanStarsJon VoightBurt ReynoldsNed BeattyIntent on seeing the Cahulawassee River before it's dammed and turned into a lake, outdoor fanatic Lewis Medlock takes his friends on a canoeing trip they'll never forget into the dangerous American back-country.I don't think many reaction people have discovered this film.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIvana BaqueroAriadna GilSergi LópezIn the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.I don't think many reaction people have discovered this film either.
- DirectorJohn MaddenStarsGwyneth PaltrowJoseph FiennesGeoffrey RushThe world's greatest ever playwright, William Shakespeare, is young, out of ideas and short of cash, but meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.
- DirectorDennie GordonStarsAmanda BynesColin FirthKelly PrestonAn American teenager learns that her father is a wealthy British politician running for office. Although she is eager to find him, she realizes it could cause a scandal and cost him the election.If you are seeking a movie from which to produce a reaction video, look for one for which no "quality" reactions have been uploaded. One like this one which currently has an incredibly moronic collection of reactions. Talk about setting the bar low.
- DirectorTodd SolondzStarsHeather MatarazzoChristina BrucatoVictoria DavisAn awkward seventh-grader struggles to cope with inattentive parents, snobbish class-mates, a smart older brother, an attractive younger sister and her own insecurities in suburban New Jersey.
- DirectorChristopher SmithStarsMelissa GeorgeJoshua McIvorJack TaylorFive friends set sail and their yacht is overturned by a strange and sudden storm. A mysterious ship arrives to rescue them, and what happens next cannot be explained.
- DirectorMichael SteinbergStarsLouise MyrbackJulia StilesChelsea FieldEllie is an average girl with typical teen problems: a bratty little sister, a nagging mom and a father that denies her the attention she desperately craves. But Ellie's not the kind of girl that gets mad. She gets evil.
- DirectorDean ParisotStarsTim AllenSigourney WeaverAlan RickmanThe alumni cast of a space opera television series have to play their roles as the real thing when an alien race needs their help. However, they also have to defend both Earth and the alien race from a reptilian warlord.The attraction of this film is that viewers identify with the characters and essentially participate with them in the action. Such films are great candidates for the reaction treatment.
- DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsJack BlackMike WhiteJoan CusackAfter being kicked out of his rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band.
- DirectorCy EndfieldStarsStanley BakerJack HawkinsUlla JacobssonOutnumbered British soldiers do battle with Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift.
- DirectorTaika WaititiStarsRoman Griffin DavisThomasin McKenzieScarlett JohanssonA young German boy in the Hitler Youth whose hero and imaginary friend is the country's dictator is shocked to discover that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.
- DirectorMichael RitchieStarsWalter MatthauTatum O'NealVic MorrowAn aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league.
- DirectorGarry MarshallStarsGoldie HawnKurt RussellEdward HerrmannA cruel but beautiful heiress mocks and cheats a hired carpenter. When she gets amnesia after an accident, he decides to introduce her to regular life by convincing her that they're husband and wife.This film is great for the reaction treatment because the underlying premise is deception and that always creates viewer involvement in the action because they know the truth and get off on watching the deception play out.
- DirectorJohn BadhamStarsMatthew BroderickAlly SheedyJohn WoodA young man finds a back door into a military central computer in which reality is confused with game-playing, possibly starting World War III.
- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsRichard DreyfussRon HowardPaul Le MatA group of teenagers in California's central valley spend one final night after their 1962 high school graduation cruising the strip with their buddies before they pursue their varying goals.I'm kind of surprised at this one but it is probably because looking back at 1962 becomes popular with every successive generation.
- DirectorGeorge Roy HillStarsPaul NewmanMichael OntkeanStrother MartinA failing ice hockey team finds success with outrageously violent hockey goonery.
- DirectorHarley CokelissStarsTom WilkinsonCharlotte WakefieldMatthew BeardTom travels fifty years to the past after discovering a time machine. He meets May, a little orphan who needs help. Now that he knows his friends' fate and his own, he will try to reorder the events and change their history.
- DirectorMike BinderStarsJoan AllenKevin CostnerErika ChristensenWhen her husband unexpectedly disappears, a sharp-witted suburban wife and her daughters juggle their mom's romantic dilemmas and family dynamics.
- DirectorHerk HarveyStarsCandace HilligossFrances FeistSidney BergerAfter a traumatic accident, a woman becomes drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival.
- DirectorCameron CroweStarsBilly CrudupPatrick FugitKate HudsonA high-school boy in the early 1970s is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies them on their concert tour.
- DirectorHenri-Georges ClouzotStarsYves MontandCharles VanelPeter van EyckIn a decrepit South American village, four men are hired to transport an urgent nitroglycerine shipment without the equipment that would make it safe.
- DirectorAndrew FlemingStarsKirsten DunstMichelle WilliamsDan HedayaAfter wandering off during a White House tour, two high school girls inadvertently become Richard Nixon's top secret advisers at the height of the Watergate scandal.
- DirectorHenry SelickStarsDakota FanningTeri HatcherJohn HodgmanWandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, an 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice.