Among cinephiles, the imploration "You've GOT to see this movie in the theater!" is far beyond cliché at this point. We all get excited when we leave the local cinema feeling changed by the experience.
It's a throwback to our cave dwelling days, when community groups would gather for shelter and exchange exaggerated tales which imparted upon us wonder and reflection.
This is one of the original charms of the early movie theater experience. What once was seen through a slot in Nickelodeon players was now shared in grand palaces the audience could spend a whole day in, sitting through short subjects, a stage show, and the feature presentation.
Below is a list of 20 of the finest examples of such works, from almost every age of cinema, across a spectrum of genres. Each of these films play to a different strength in big-screen cinematics, and the experiences can vary wildly.
