• Thinkstock
    1 of 22

    It's impossible to create the perfect guy-movie list using just 21 films. Consider these suggestions as a way to give your at-home movie collection a solid all-around boost.

    We've got Academy-Award winners, hilarious comedies, epic dramas and even a film about romance.

    Here's a list of 21 movies that we think every guy should own.

  • Paramount Pictures
    2 of 22

    "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" 

    If you still haven't seen "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" after seven years, then you need to pick up a copy of it and watch it on repeat for the next week. It’s the incredibly funny Judd-Apatow-directed film about a poor sap who just never got around to having sex. The film was ranked in the top 30 of the 100 Funniest Movies on Bravo and stars Steve Carell as the unlucky dude, as well as Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen and Romany Malco as his friends who do everything they can to get him laid. You know your buddies would do the same for you. 
  • Paramount Pictures
    3 of 22

    "The Godfather"

    What guy doesn’t already include "The Godfather" and "The Godfather: Part II" on his list of favorite movies. The Francis-Ford-Coppola-directed films follow Michael Corleone as he reluctantly transforms into the ruthless boss of the Corleone crime family. While many people believe "The Godfather: Part III" didn't live up to expectations, it wasn't all that important since the first two had already earned enough Academy Awards for six films.
  • Paramount Pictures
    4 of 22

    "American Beauty"

    Kevin Spacey is at his best as a father in the suburbs who has simply had enough.  The film, director Sam Mendes’ debut, follows the downward spiral of Lester Burnham and his family as he goes through a midlife crisis that includes quitting the job he hates, buying his dream car, working out and pursuing his teenage daughter’s best friend.  The film cleaned up at the Academy Awards the year of its release, taking home many of the top honors, including Best Picture. 
  • Paramount Pictures
    5 of 22

    "Braveheart"

    In 1995, Mel Gibson filled his mantel at home with Oscars thanks to his work on "Braveheart." He directed and starred in this film about William Wallace, the 13th-century Scottish warrior. It’s filled with action, bloody fights and one of the greatest movie battles of all time. 
  • Miramax
    6 of 22

    "Swingers"

    Women have a whole slew of films to choose from to help them through rough breakups. Guys, however, have one movie: "Swingers." The indie comedy, written by and starring "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau, introduced the world to Vince Vaughn.  

    And Vaughn is hilarious as the smooth-talking best friend of a poor sap trying to get over his ex-girlfriend. The role launched Vaughn's career and his performance will make you understand why.

  • Paramount Pictures
    7 of 22

    "Catch Me If You Can"

    DiCaprio. Hanks. Walken. Spielberg. As if those aren’t enough reasons to check out this “chase me” dramedy, consider the fact that it’s based on a true story. DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale Jr., a teenager who manages to pull off a number of cons worth millions of dollars. Hanks is the FBI bank-fraud agent who is always just one step behind Abagnale. Hanks and DiCaprio play well off each other and are complemented by Spielberg’s direction and an excellent jazz score by John Williams. 
  • Paramount Pictures
    8 of 22

    "Face/Off"

    John Travolta becomes Nicolas Cage, so Nicolas Cage becomes John Travolta. Boom. That’s it. And it’s probably one of the most entertaining action movies you’ll ever see. 
  • Paramount Pictures
    9 of 22

    "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off"

    It doesn’t matter what year you were a senior in high school, every guy on the planet has wanted to pull off the ultimate ditch day, Ferris-Bueller-style. Matthew Broderick’s iconic portrayal of the smooth-talking title character gave guys something to aim for. With the right amount of charm, you can pull off anything.
  • Warner Bros.
    10 of 22

    "True Romance"

    Don't let its poor box-office numbers fool you. "True Romance" ranks right up there with other films written by Quentin Tarantino. Yes, it's a story about a romance, but it's a Tarantino romance: chock-full of violence, profanity and sex. 

    The film includes a lot of the typical Tarantino regulars like Christopher Walken and Samuel L. Jackson, but nothing beats Gary Oldman's performance as a volatile pimp who goes head-to-head with Christian Slater's character. 

  • Paramount Pictures
    11 of 22

    "Forrest Gump"

    Guys should watch "Forrest Gump" as a bucket list of sorts. The fictional character, portrayed by Tom Hanks, finds himself indirectly involved in some of the most important moments in United States history. We should all strive to accomplish the kinds of things Gump, a man living with below-average intelligence, was able to achieve. 
  • Paramount Pictures
    12 of 22

    "Gladiator"

    Talk about your epic battle film. If you’re a guy and you've never seen Russell Crowe as General Maximus Decimus Meridius as he seeks revenge against the man who murdered his family, then you need to lock yourself in your room for a few hours to educate yourself. At the very least, you’ll finally understand why your friends are always holding their arms out and yelling “Are you not entertained?”
  • Paramount Pictures
    13 of 22

    "Zoolander"

    Derek Zoolander has a problem. He's recently begun to wonder if there is more to life than just being really, really, ridiculously good looking. The movie about a male model who unknowingly becomes involved in a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia is one of Ben Stiller’s most hilarious films. Will Ferrell’s portrayal of evil fashion mogul Jacobim Mugatu is reason enough to buy the movie. A sequel is currently in the works, so if this isn’t in your collection yet, make sure it is soon.
  • Columbia Pictures
    14 of 22

    "Taxi Driver"

    It's hard to narrow down the Robert De Niro must-own films since he has so many epic credits on his resume. Since we already covered "The Godfather: Part II," it feels like the next logical step is to tell you to pick up "Taxi Driver."

    De Niro plays Travis Bickle, a lonely and depressed man in New York who drives a cab for a living. The film follows Travis and his downward spiral which eventually drives him to violence. The camera work that director Martin Scorsese uses to display Travis's fall is hauntingly memorable.

  • Paramount Pictures
    15 of 22

    "Old School"

    College is one of the best times in a guy’s life. A lot of guys fantasize about what it would be like to go back and party again the way we did then. In this Todd-Phillips-directed comedy, Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn get their chance to do just that as three guys in their 30s who end up starting their own fraternity. If for some reason you missed this one, then you probably also didn’t understand a lot of the quotes your friends have been yelling out over the past 10 years. Better check it out and play some serious catch-up.
  • Paramount Pictures
    16 of 22

    "Paranormal Activity"

    Nothing makes you feel more like a man than screaming like a schoolgirl. As guys, we’re supposed to be the tough ones in a scary movie. "Paranormal Activity" is one of the few horror films in recent years that ditches the over-the-top gorefest and creeps you out psychologically. Grab "Paranormal Activity 2" and "Paranormal Activity 3" so you can watch the entire series late at night and then sit around and freak out every time your house creaks.
  • Paramount Pictures
    17 of 22

    "Saving Private Ryan"

    This is another Spielberg-Hanks team-up, so you know it’s got to be good. "Saving Private Ryan" is set during World War II and follows the story of seven soldiers and their captain as they set off on a mission to find a Private First Class who is the only surviving brother of four soldiers killed in action. The film took home a bunch of Academy Awards, including Best Director. The opening sequence, in which American soldiers land on Omaha Beach at the beginning of the Normandy invasion, is worth the price of the movie alone.
  • Paramount Pictures
    18 of 22

    "Star Trek"

    This reboot, directed by J.J. Abrams, was an attempt to get more than just the usual trekkies into theater seats. It's an updated and cooler "Star Trek" that remains true to the already heavily devoted fan base. The over $385 million it earned at the box office should tell you that it succeeded in doing what it set out to do.
  • Paramount Pictures
    19 of 22

    "Top Gun"

    A staple in the Tom Cruise collection, "Top Gun" follows a young Naval aviator code-named Maverick as he trains at the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School. It’s full of epic flight sequences, but nothing beats the classic “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” serenade that Cruise and Anthony Edwards perform. It makes any pickup you’ve ever attempted seem completely half-assed. 
  • Paramount Pictures
    20 of 22

    "Transformers" Trilogy

    We love things that blow up. We love movies that feature things being blown up. The "Transformers" series took one of the most popular toys of the '80s, brought them to life and made them blow things up. The Michael-Bay-directed and Steven-Spielberg-produced box-office giant follows the story of a teenager who becomes involved in a war between alien robots who have the ability to disguise themselves as popular machinery, such as vehicles or weapons. 
  • Paramount Pictures
    21 of 22

    "Tropic Thunder"

    "Tropic Thunder," directed by and starring Ben Stiller, pokes fun at actors in war movies and actors in general. It’s the story of a group of spoiled thespians who accidentally end up in real danger while filming a war movie. The movie is ridiculous, over-the top and incredibly entertaining. It comes chock-full of celebrity cameos, and co-stars Robert Downey Jr. as an Australian actor who undergoes skin-pigmentation surgery in order to play an African-American character. 
  • Warner Home Video
    22 of 22
    Next: Insanely Hilarious Internet Photos

    "North by Northwest"

    Every guy's movie collection should include a few classics. While it's hard to narrow down which Alfred Hitchcock films you should own, you can't go wrong with Cary Grant as Roger Thornhill in the mistaken-identity thriller, "North by Northwest."

    The film is arguably one of Hitchcock's best, and gave us the often-parodied, classic crop-duster-plane chase sequence. Before there was Clooney, there was Grant. Get to know the originator of men's classic Hollywood style by adding this to your collection.