Shifting Expectations’ list of 50 essential movies was initially constructed algorithmically with data gathered on the commercial success, critical reception, and accolades of over 1,500 films from over the 100+ year history of film. Although some subjectivity was used in narrowing the list down from 75 to 50 films, each film on the list qualified for its place in at least two of 5 categories: Most Awarded, Stellar Acting, High Grossing, Critical Acclaim, or Cultural Impact. Once the list was constructed a watch order was randomly generated, with only minor tweaking to accommodate seasonally appropriate films. The list of films as presented here indicate the order we will be watching or have already watched and when each is watched. Feel free to watch along with us and share your experiences with us during the week we watch a film on social media (or whenever suits you). 50 movies is one a week to finish in a year. We think that is a reasonable pace.
| Watch Week | Episode Date | Movie | Release Year | Qualifying Categories |
| Dec 29 – Jan 04 | Jan 28 | Casablanca | 1942 | Stellar Acting, Critical Acclaim, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Jan 05 – Jan 11 | Jan 28 | One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest | 1975 | Stellar Acting & Most Awarded |
| Jan 12 – Jan 18 | Jan 28 | Jurassic Park | 1993 | Highest Grossing & Cultural Impact |
| Jan 19 – Jan 25 | Jan 31 | Seven Samurai | 1954 | Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact |
| Jan 26 – Feb 01 | Feb 4 | The Wizard of Oz | 1939 | Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact |
| Feb 02 – Feb 08 | Feb 11 | Titanic | 1997 | Highest Grossing & Most Awarded |
| Feb 09 – Feb 15 | Feb 18 | It Happened One Night | 1934 | Stellar Acting & Most Awarded |
| Feb 16 – Feb 22 | Feb 25 | The Dark Knight | 2008 | Stellar Acting, Highest Grossing, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Feb 23 – Feb 29 | Mar 3 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | 1981 | Most Awarded & Cultural Impact |
| Mar 01 – Mar 07 | Mar 10 | Citizen Kane | 1941 | Critical Acclaim, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Mar 08 – Mar 14 | Mar 17 | A Streetcar Named Desire | 1951 | Stellar Acting, Critical Acclaim, & Most Awarded |
| Mar 15 – Mar 21 | Mar 24 | From Here to Eternity | 1953 | Stellar Acting & Most Awarded |
| Mar 22 – Mar 28 | Mar 31 | Taxi Driver | 1976 | Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact |
| Mar 29 – Apr 04 | Apr 7 | Star Wars | 1977 | Highest Grossing, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Apr 05 – Apr 11 | Apr 14 | Singin’ in the Rain | 1952 | Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact |
| Apr 12 – Apr 18 | Apr 21 | Ben-Hur | 1959 | Stellar Acting, Highest Grossing, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Apr 19 – Apr 25 | Apr 28 | All About Eve | 1950 | Stellar Acting, Critical Acclaim, & Most Awarded |
| Apr 26 – May 02 | May 5 | Jaws | 1975 | Highest Grossing & Cultural Impact |
| May 03 – May 09 | May 12 | Pinocchio | 1940 | Critical Acclaim & Most Awarded |
| May 10 – May 16 | May 19 | 2001: A Space Odyssey | 1968 | Most Awarded & Cultural Impact |
| May 17 – May 23 | May 26 | Rocky | 1976 | Stellar Acting, Highest Grossing, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| May 24 – May 30 | Jun 2 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | 2003 | Highest Grossing, Critical Acclaim, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| May 31 – Jun 06 | Jun 9 | Toy Story | 1995 | Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact |
| Jun 07 – Jun 13 | Jun 16 | Rear Window | 1954 | Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact |
| Jun 14 – Jun 20 | Jun 23 | Apocalypse Now | 1979 | Critical Acclaim, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Jun 21 – Jun 27 | Break Week | Catch up or watch your favorite movie! | 2020 | You! |
| Jun 28 – Jul 04 | Jul 07 | Gone with the Wind | 1939 | Stellar Acting, Highest Grossing, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Jul 05 – Jul 11 | Jul 14 | The Silence of the Lambs | 1991 | Stellar Acting, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Jul 12 – Jul 18 | Jul 21 | The Avengers | 2012 | Highest Grossing & Cultural Impact |
| Jul 19 – Jul 25 | Jul 28 | On the Waterfront | 1954 | Stellar Acting, Critical Acclaim, & Most Awarded |
| Jul 26 – Aug 01 | Aug 04 | Schindler’s List | 1993 | Stellar Acting, Critical Acclaim, & Most Awarded |
| Aug 02 – Aug 08 | Aug 11 | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon | 2000 | Most Awarded & Cultural Impact |
| Aug 09 – Aug 15 | Aug 18 | Avatar | 2009 | Highest Grossing, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Aug 16 – Aug 22 | Aug 25 | 12 Angry Men | 1957 | Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact |
| Aug 23 – Aug 29 | Sep 01 | Pan’s Labyrinth | 2006 | Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact |
| Aug 30 – Sep 05 | Sep 08 | The Sound of Music | 1965 | Highest Grossing, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Sep 06 – Sep 12 | Sep 15 | Double Indemnity | 1944 | Critical Acclaim, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Sep 13 – Sep 19 | Sep 22 | Lawrence of Arabia | 1962 | Stellar Acting, Critical Acclaim, & Most Awarded |
| Sep 20 – Sep 26 | Sep 29 | Spirited Away | 2001 | Critical Acclaim & Most Awarded |
| Sep 27 – Oct 03 | Oct 06 | The Godfather | 1972 | Stellar Acting, Highest Grossing, Critical Acclaim, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Oct 04 – Oct 10 | Oct 13 | Cabaret | 1972 | Stellar Acting & Most Awarded |
| Oct 11 – Oct 17 | Oct 20 | Psycho | 1960 | Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact |
| Oct 18 – Oct 24 | Oct 27 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | 2004 | Highest Grossing & Cultural Impact |
| Oct 25 – Oct 31 | Nov 03 | Network | 1976 | Stellar Acting & Most Awarded |
| Nov 01 – Nov 07 | Nov 10 | Bonnie and Clyde | 1967 | Stellar Acting, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Nov 08 – Nov 14 | Nov 17 | My Fair Lady | 1964 | Stellar Acting & Most Awarded |
| Nov 15 – Nov 21 | Nov 24 | The Treasure of the Sierra Madre | 1948 | Stellar Acting, Critical Acclaim, & Most Awarded |
| Nov 22 – Nov 28 | Dec 01 | E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial | 1982 | Highest Grossing, Most Awarded, & Cultural Impact |
| Nov 29 – Dec 05 | Dec 08 | City Lights | 1931 | Critical Acclaim & Cultural Impact |
| Dec 06 – Dec 12 | Dec 15 | Kramer vs. Kramer | 1979 | Stellar Acting & Most Awarded |
| Dec 13 – Dec 19 | Dec 22 | It’s a Wonderful Life | 1946 | Most Awarded & Cultural Impact |
