When I want to know about the top movie rentals on dvd and Blu-ray, I always consult with Netflix, the leading online video store in the United States. The following list details their current top 10 rental champs, taken from the massive list known as “The Netflix 100.” While these rankings do change from time to time (Mystic River was #1 for quite a while), the films included have an amazing amount of staying power. Entries are listed in ascending order.
Gran Torino (2008) – In what may be his last acting role, Clint Eastwood stars as a former Detroit auto worker who’s less than thrilled about becoming a minority in his longtime neighborhood. But when he stands up to local gang members, he becomes an unlikely hero and forms a bond with his young Asian neighbors.
The Proposal (2009) – Sandra Bullock stars as a Canadian exec living in the United States. Facing deportation when her visa expires, she concocts a plan to marry her long-suffering assistant (Ryan Reynolds) and remain in the country. Naturally, the fake romance soon blossoms into something very real.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – This inspirational tale stars Will Smith as an ambitious man who must raise his son and fend off homelessness while pursuing a stockbroker position with Dean Witter. Based on the true story of Chris Gardner.
No Country for Old Men (2007) – Winner of the Best Picture Oscar, this modern-day Western from the Coen brothers tells of a cat-and-mouse game between a Vietnam veteran (Josh Brolin) and a deranged hitman (Javier Bardem). At stake is a satchel filled with two million dollars. Tommy Lee Jones co-stars as a lawman who follows their battle across the West Texas landscape.
The Blind Side (2009) – The true story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a teenager who runs away from his latest foster home and is taken in by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy (Sandra Bullock and Tom McGraw). As he grows comfortable with his new family, Michael discovers his true talent: football.
Iron Man (2008) – Robert Downey Jr. rocketed to superstardom following his role as Tony Stark, a wealthy industrialist who constructs a suit of high-tech armor and flies around the world righting wrongs.
The Departed (2006) – Martin Scorsese remakes the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, this time setting it in Boston. The Irish mob has infiltrated the cops, but the police have also returned the favor. As each side tries to find their mole, the tension swells to a violent conclusion. Starring Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg.
The Bucket List (2007) – A comedy about two dying men (Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) who make a list of all the things they want to do before they pass on. Since one of them is filthy rich, they set about completing their lists. As you might expect, they learn a little something about themselves along the way.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) – An inventive fantasy about a man who ages backwards (Brad Pitt) and his love for a woman (Cate Blanchett) who he first encounters as a six-year-old girl. Based on the 1922 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Crash (2004) – Winner of the Best Picture Oscar, Crash puts together an impressive ensemble cast to tell stories of racism and heartache in the city of Los Angeles. Starring Sandra Bullock, Brendan Fraser, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, and Terrence Howard.
-By: Shane Rivers
If you haven’t already watched them, be sure to take a look at these top movie rentals. From superheroic action to decade-spanning fantasy, these films are sure to please even the most finicky cinema fan. And just in case you’re curious, Sandra Bullock leads the pack by appearing in three of the top 10 movies from Netflix.