The best films, according to hackers
24 films were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 5 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended films with the badge. Each figure is one person. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Prompts reflection on own life
People recommend it as a quiet, sweet film about a Tokyo public toilet cleaner's simple routine that prompts reflection on one's own life.
Audience participation at midnight screenings
People recommend it for loud, interactive midnight screenings where audiences shout at the screen and throw props, and say it grows on them over repeat viewings.
People call the films great
People recommend the original trilogy for its craft, its place in fans' childhoods, and restorations that improve picture and sound. Critics say the films feel weaker on adult rewatch and object to Lucas's later edits.
All 24 films, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan | 50 | 37 | 57% | 7 | — | — |
| 2 | Perfect Days (2023 film) | 19 | 1 | 95% | 9 | — | Approved |
| 3 | The Secret Agent (2025 film) | 18 | 9 | 67% | 2 | — | — |
| 4 | One Battle After Another | 17 | 14 | 55% | 5 | — | — |
| 5 | The Rocky Horror Picture Show | 15 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | Approved |
| 6 | Star Wars original trilogy | 14 | 5 | 74% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Tied 7 | The Big Short by Adam McKay | 11 | 1 | 92% | 6 | — | Approved |
| Tied 7 | The Conversation (1974 film) | 11 | 2 | 85% | 5 | — | Approved |
| 9 | Oppenheimer (2023) | 10 | 10 | 50% | 5 | — | — |
| 10 | Lawrence of Arabia | 9 | 0 | 100% | 6 | — | — |
| 11 | Casablanca (1942 film) | 8 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 12 | The Social Network | 7 | 1 | 88% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 12 | The Graduate | 7 | 3 | 70% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 14 | Barbie (2023 film) | 6 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 14 | Bugonia (2025 film) | 6 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 14 | Tampopo | 6 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 14 | Oscar (1991 film) | 6 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 14 | Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990 film) | 6 | 0 | 100% | 1 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | Parasite by Bong Joon-ho | 5 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | F1 the Movie | 5 | 1 | 83% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | Stand By Me | 5 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | The Hobbit film trilogy | 5 | 15 | 25% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou | 5 | 0 | 100% | 1 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | Bacurau | 5 | 0 | 100% | 1 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same film in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to films that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.