8 Movies That Shaped Who I Am

Some people grow up with sports heroes or family traditions to guide them. I had movies. They weren’t just entertainment—they were emotional landmarks, tiny time capsules that helped shape who I am. These are the films that didn’t just leave an impression. They changed something in me.

8. Batman Returns

The first movie I saw in a theater—and maybe the moment I found my favorite hero.

I didn’t understand everything on screen, but the mood—the gothic weirdness, the icy villains, the haunted hero—burned into my brain. It was huge, strange, and immersive. I wasn’t just watching a movie. I was falling into it.

Looking back, Batman Returns might be the reason Batman became my favorite comic book character. He wasn’t a clean-cut superhero. He was complicated, quiet, brooding—almost tragic. And somehow, that made him more real. I think I’ve always identified with him in some way. Maybe it’s the darkness—something about it speaks to me. I’ve always been drawn to stories and characters that lean that way. Not because they’re grim, but because they’re honest about how heavy the world can be. Batman lives in that space. And I think part of me does too.

7. The Little Rascals

The sound of childhood.

This one’s pure nostalgia. A bunch of scrappy kids messing things up and learning as they go—it reminded me of my own early friendships. It didn’t need heavy drama or complex plots. It just made me happy. Sometimes that’s enough.

6. The In Crowd

Teen drama done right—even if no one else remembers it.

I know this one’s not a household name, but I have a soft spot for it. The In Crowd gave me everything I wanted in a teen thriller: secrets, style, betrayal, and just the right amount of camp. It had that early-2000s aesthetic—glossy, moody, over-the-top in the best way. It wasn’t trying to win awards. It just wanted to keep you watching. And it worked. It fed my love for stories with high drama and a little bit of darkness wrapped in beautiful packaging.

5. Scream

The movie that made me fall in love with horror.

This was my gateway drug. Smart, meta, scary, and surprisingly funny—Scream took slasher horror and gave it a brain. It laid out the rules, broke them, and still kept me guessing. It made horror feel like a genre I belonged in, not just something to be scared of.

4. Jeffrey

The first time I saw a same-sex relationship in any capacity.

Before Jeffrey, I had never seen a same-sex relationship portrayed on screen—mainstream or otherwise. Not in a real way. Not in any way. This movie wasn’t a side plot, a joke, or a tragedy. It was just people trying to connect, fall in love, mess up, and figure things out—like anyone else. That was a big moment for me. It opened my eyes and gave me a sense of recognition I didn’t even realize I was looking for.

3. The Game

Suspense done right.

This movie messed with my head in the best way. Layers of deception, paranoia, and misdirection—The Game locked me into its puzzle and didn’t let go. It fueled my love for thrillers that challenge the audience to keep up, to think, and to not trust what they’re seeing.

2. Forrest Gump

The first movie that truly stayed with me.

Forrest wasn’t the smartest or the fastest, but he was kind, loyal, and true to himself—and that was enough. His story made me feel something I hadn’t felt before from a movie. It stayed with me for days, maybe even years. It made me see storytelling differently.

1. Inception

The one that changed how I see film forever.

Nothing has hit me like Inception. Not just the visuals or the action, but the ambition behind it—the layers, the structure, the emotional weight underneath the sci-fi concept. It proved that a movie could be massive, bold, and still deeply personal. Inception didn’t just tell a story. It built a world and dared you to follow it deep. It set the bar high, and honestly, I’m still not sure anything’s topped it.

There are more movies I could name—too many to list here—but these are the ones that made the biggest impact. They didn’t just entertain me. They shaped me. They lit something up inside me that’s still burning.

And that’s what the right movie at the right time can do—it doesn’t just pass the time. It becomes a part of who you are.

What movie shaped you the most—and why? Let me know in the comments.