The Top 25 Favorite INTJ Movies
One thing I’ve learned through studying Myers-Briggs® types and movie tastes is that so far everyone has a wide variety of favorites. After asking the INTJs for their top ten favorite movies, I ended up with a list of 539 movies. After tallying up all the responses, I’ve finally narrowed down a list of the top 25.
INTJs really enjoy movies that make them think. They are intellectuals after all and don’t merely watch films to be entertained. They want a movie that makes them do some mental gymnastics. When it came to laughs, INTJs preferred an intelligent, dark, or offbeat comedy to anything slapstick or crude. Romances were hardly ever listed as favorites. Action movies could be enjoyed, but they had to have a complex storyline with a mentally complex idea behind it for it to be listed as a favorite. Overall, after tallying up the genres, these are the categories that came out on top:
INTJ Favorite Movie Genres:
1 – Mystery/Suspense
2 – Science Fiction/Fantasy
3 – Drama
4 – Dark/Off-Beat Comedy
5 – Action Adventure
Disclaimer: I did not choose the movies for this list. These movies were all chosen by INTJs. I’ve gotten some negative response to this list because for every 50 INTJs who love Wes Anderson or Stanley Kubrick, there will always be a couple who don’t. If you’re an INTJ, that does not mean you are guaranteed to love every single one of these movies. All this list shows is what the majority of INTJs prefer. Besides these 25 movies, there were 514 other movies that were listed as favorites.
#1 – Inception
Inception tells the story of Don Cobb, a ‘mind thief’ who has the ability to enter people’s dreams and steal their secrets. His skill has put him in high demand by the corporate espionage world, but it has also cost him the people he loves most. Cobb gets a chance to start over with his life if he can successfully plant an idea in someone’s mind. If he succeeds, it will change everything – but a dangerous enemy anticipates Cobb’s every move.
Why INTJs Love It:
INTJs love a complex movie that makes them think about the nature of reality and fantasy. Since INTJs are Ni-dominant, they rely very heavily on abstract thoughts, ideas, and patterns that aren’t entirely focused on the concrete, sensory world. Movies that have an element of fantasy, and ideas that are abstract, like Inception, strike a chord with these highly intuitive types. As one INTJ said, “Inception raises interesting questions about what matters in reality, or what about reality matters to people. It has an unusual villain/antagonist in that she is really just a manifestation of another’s pain/guilt (almost like “Forbidden Planet.”) It asks a slightly different question in the end than what the viewer was likely expecting.”
#2 – The Lord of the Rings Series
The Lord of the Rings follows the adventures of Hobbits, Men, Elves, and more as they try to destroy the One Ring, which had been lost for centuries, and is now being hunted by evil forces from Mordor. It’s up to Frodo Baggins and his friends to destroy the ring, fight evil and defeat the forces of the Dark Lord Sauron.
Why INTJs Love It: J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, created an incredible world full of beauty, magic, and intrigue. Tolkien was also an intuitive personality type, and intuitives seem to be drawn to these fantastical worlds and the element of fantasy itself. Many believe that Lord Elrond, the elvish ruler, is an INTJ figure in the story.
#3 – 2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey tells a story of evolution. When a large black monolith is discovered beneath the surface of the moon, the world believes it was left there on purpose. Later, in the year 2001, the S.S. Discovery and its crew, Captains Dave Bowman, Frank Poole, and their onboard computer, HAL 9000, must discover what alien force is watching Earth.
Why INTJs Love It: Stanley Kubrick was continually mentioned as a favorite director by INTJs. INTJCentral.com lists him as an INTJ, while CelebrityTypes.com lists him as an ISTP. Whatever the case, INTJs love his movies and seem to have a thorough enjoyment of science fiction. Possibly this has to do with the future-oriented mindset of INTJs, and how they like to imagine what the future could hold given various developments and advances in science. Of course, there are some INTJs who aren’t fond of science fiction, but the majority mentioned it as a favorite genre.
#4 – Batman: The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is a gripping story that follows the efforts of Batman and Lieutenant Jim Gordon as they set out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. While their partnership proves to be effective, they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the citizens of Gotham as The Joker.
Why INTJs Love It: Christopher Nolan’s Bruce Wayne is an INTJ, and perhaps that’s why many INTJs love the Batman movies. Batman: The Dark Knight is smarter and darker than many of today’s superhero movies, and features a complex storyline that keeps you on your toes and constantly guessing about what will happen next.
#5 – A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange tells the story of Britan in the future. A gang of “droogs” rampage the streets at night committing horrendous and violent crimes. Alex DeLarge, the leader, gets caught and has to serve 14 years in prison. There he volunteers as a test subject for a new aversion therapy proposed by the government to make room in prisons for political prisoners. “Cured” of his hooliganism and released, he is dismissed by his friends and relatives. He hates violence now, but the rest of his gang members are still after him.
Why INTJs Love It: A Clockwork Orange deals with intense, controversial subjects like moral relativism, free will versus determinism, and authoritarianism versus libertarianism. The questions raised about these ideas engage the intuitive mind and keep them thinking long after the movie is over. Again, Stanley Kubrick directed this, and since he was often mentioned as an INTJ favorite, his touch may be a big reason why INTJs often loved this movie.
#6 – The Star Wars Original Series
Star Wars is an epic masterpiece of cinema – telling the story of good versus evil in an unforgettable way only Sci-Fi can. Star Wars follows young Luke Skywalker as he joins forces with a Jedi knight, a reckless pilot, a Wookiee, and two droids on an adventure to save the universe from the Empire’s evil forces.
Why INTJs Love It: Star Wars will probably be a favorite among many personality types, but I think what each type appreciates about it is different. INTJs love the complex, fantastical world created in Star Wars and enjoy how many of the problems can be faced by mastering an unseen, spiritual defense or attack called “the force” instead of merely tactical weaponry.
#7 – Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction tells four stories that are interwoven into one intense, thrilling mystery. The story follows Pumpkin and Honey Bunny, two thieves who, while dining at a coffee shop, decide that the best thing to do is to rob it. Vincent and Jules, two hitmen working for mob kingpin Marcellus Wallace, are sent to retrieve a very special and very mysterious briefcase for their boss. Butch Coolidge is an aging prizefighter who is being paid to “take a dive”, but instead, accidentally kills his opponent. These four seemingly unrelated stories come together in one gripping tale.
Why INTJs Love It: Quentin Tarantino was mentioned as a favorite by many INTJs. Pulp Fiction has a non-linear storyline, and intuitives often don’t think in a linear fashion. Where sensors prefer an A to B to C approach in storytelling, intuitives are often intrigued by a storyline that goes from A to G to E to B, etc,.. This non-linear, mysterious type of story is a delight for many INTJs who like something more complex yet quirkily comedic to keep their minds engaged.
#8 – Memento
Memento tells the story of Leonard, an insurance investigator who has lost his short-term memory but is determined to find the murderer of his wife. In order to maintain his search, he takes polaroids and tattoos important facts on his body. The film goes back in time to reveal each little bit of the puzzle as he tries to find out the person who killed his wife. In the process, the audience gets caught up in the same confusing puzzle – becoming just as confused as Leonard is.
Why INTJs Love It: Memento is a mystery that unfolds in a non-linear fashion, keeping you guessing and trying to piece together clues. This type of storytelling captures how the Ni-dominant mind often works – pulling bits of information from many different sources and trying to piece it all together into one complete picture. One INTJ I know said this about memento, “it’s a mind-challenging movie and I love this sort of movie. It makes you think and rethink to understand it, even when it’s finished. To conclude, I think that I love all movies that have a twist, and need some kind of intelligence to be understood.”
#9 – The Big Lebowski
There are two men named Jeffrey Lebowski. One is a multi-millionaire and one is a lazy, pot-smoking hippie named “The Dude”. Their paths cross when two thugs confront “the Dude”, thinking he’s the multi-millionaire whose wife owes their boss a debt. They try to intimidate him to get him to pay the debt owed, and end up ruining his favorite rug. The Dude, wanting payback for his now destroyed rug, seeks out the millionaire Lebowski. What follows is a tale of intrigue, kidnapping, comedy, and White Russians.
Why INTJs Love It: INTJs repeatedly mentioned how much they loved Joel and Ethan Coen’s movies, and The Big Lebowski came out on top. This movie is just the type of offbeat comedy that keeps an INTJ entertained. Many typologists even believe that Maude Lebowski is an INTJ character.
#10 – The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker who is wrongly convicted of a double homicide he didn’t commit. After he is sentenced to life in prison, he befriends Red, the prison “entrepreneur”. Together, they form an unlikely bond and Andy proves that no chains or cell doors can imprison the power of the mind.
Why INTJs Love It: The Shawshank Redemption is full of deep, well-developed characters that draw you into their story. While Andy and Red may be held behind bars, they fight to keep their minds free, and with that freedom, they are able to find happiness and liberation. This mental freedom, and the ingenuity of Andy DuFresne, are sure to captivate an INTJ audience.
#11 – The Prestige
The Prestige is set in London in the 1800s. It follows the lives of two rival magicians who come across each other’s diaries which contain the secrets of their magic tricks and their personal lives. We follow them back in time to when their diaries were written, and both magicians become obsessed with their rival’s best trick. The tricks, as shown to the audience, look the same, but neither magician can figure out how his opponent does it.
Why INTJs Love It: The mystery and creativity of the magicians in this story will intrigue many INTJs. Alfred Borden, Christian Bale’s character in the movie is an INTJ, and this may also make the film more enjoyable for an INTJ audience. As one INTJ stated, “I loved the themes of illusion, obsession, and secrecy within the film and loved the notion of devoting everything to your art. The lengths at which Borden and Angier went to be the best magician were incredible and made for an incredibly intense and passionate film.”
#12 – Fight Club
Fight Club follows the life of a depressed office worker who suffers from insomnia and a nagging feeling of emptiness in his daily life. He meets the reckless, devil-may-care Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) who takes him under his wing and together they start an underground fight club for men who are fed up with their mundane lives. However, this club evolves and becomes much more sinister than our main character ever dreamed.
Why INTJs Love It: INTJs often feel ill at ease in a world that is largely focused on obtaining more and more material possessions. While they usually do well in the corporate world, the INTJ often has more of an intellectual goal in life and feels stifled by a world that focuses highly on sensory and material aspects. Fight Club deals with the issue of men trying to find their true purpose in life…a purpose that doesn’t involve IKEA home furniture, having the perfect hairline or driving the perfect car. It’s about self-actualization through self-acceptance, and re-thinking your purpose in life.
#13 – V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta is set in the future in Britain after a World War. Tyranny and oppression are the new norms, and freedom fighter “V” plots to overthrow this tyranny with the help of a young woman named Evey.
V for Vendetta is the epic story of fighting terror with terror.
Why INTJs Love It: It’s been a while since I’ve seen this movie, and since I’m an INFJ I may have a hard time explaining why INTJs are drawn to this movie. I’ll let INTJ Justin Honse, explain: “V for Vendetta is a great film because of how it gets us to align with a terrorist, essentially – the anti-hero, V. And the audience, just like Natalie Portman’s character Evey, slowly starts to see the power of a corrupt government from his perspective and blurs the lines between what is right and wrong, until we are firmly on his side, despite his murderous rampages and terroristic plot.”
#14 – Alien
Alien follows a commercial crew aboard the deep space towing vessel, Nostromo. They are on their way home when they pick an SOS warning from a distant planet. What they don’t know is that the SOS warning is not like any other ordinary warning call. Picking up the signal, the crew realizes that they are not alone and that there is an alien stowaway hiding on the cargo ship.
Why INTJs Love It: Sci-Fi movies are great for thinking people who want to explore the possibilities of the universe or the future. Alien is a welcome treat for INTJs who often delight in exploring these kinds of possibilities. Ellen Ripley is also believed to be a great example of an INTJ heroine.
#15 – The Royal Tenenbaums
The Royal Tenenbaums tells the story of Royal Tenenbaum and his wife Etheline. They have three children who are all extraordinary geniuses. Tenenbaum and his wife separate and after two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums is forgotten. When Royal’s estranged wife becomes engaged to a new man after twenty years of separation, Royal devises a scheme to get his whole family back together again.
Why INTJs Love It: Wes Anderson’s films were a perennial favorite among INTJs who love his offbeat, dry sense of humor, and intricate storylines. All of his movies were listed as favorites, but The Royal Tenenbaums got by far the most votes.
#16 – Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko feels out of place among his family and his peers. On top of his isolation and depression, Donnie Darko is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him into committing a series of crimes – through these visions, he learns that the world will soon be coming to an end. Seeking answers, Donnie investigates time travel in an attempt to turn back the clock and prevent the world’s seemingly impending doom… actions which cause bizarre and life-changing results.
Why INTJs Love It: Donnie Darko is another one of those movies that doesn’t follow a linear story pattern. It’s mysterious, complex, and keeps you guessing about its real meaning. As one INTJ stated, “this is one of those lovely movie experiences that forces you to let go of the notion that movie = graspable plot.” Donnie Darko is thought-provoking, subtle, and focuses on Donnie’s struggle with schizophrenia and the question “would the world be better without me?”. One INTJ said that Donnie Darko is a great example of an “INTJ comfort film.”
#17 – Blade Runner
Blade Runner tells the story of Rick Deckard, a policeman of the future who hunts down and terminates replicants – artificially created humans. Although he wants to leave the force, he’s drawn back in when 4 replicants hijack a ship back to earth. While searching for the replicants, Rick is faced with a huge, sprawling, bleak vision of the future. Blade Runner questions what it is to be human, and why every life is so significant.
Why INTJs Love It: Blade Runner is an abstract science fiction masterpiece that engages the imagination and possibility-focused mind of the INTJ. John Olsen, an INTJ, said: ” I think Blade Runner interests me because the story of Rick Deckard’s Fi vs. Ni struggle and how it develops personally resonates with me.”
#18 – American Beauty
American Beauty follows the lives of suburban couple Lester and Carolyn Burnham. On the outside, these two have it all – a perfect house in a perfect neighborhood. But inside, Lester is slipping deeper and deeper into a hopeless depression. He finally breaks when he becomes infatuated with one of his daughter’s friends. Meanwhile, his daughter Jane is developing a deep friendship with a shy boy-next-door named Ricky, who lives with an abusive father.
Why INTJs Love It: American Beauty is full of complex people with deep-seated issues that need to be resolved. This film points a finger at American materialism, greed, and the pressure to “fit in”. Like Fight Club, American Beauty points to there being more to life than the quest to obtain wealth and to blend in with society. For the imaginative, intellectual INTJs, this type of story often resonates with them.
#19 – The Princess Bride
This fairy tale adventure tells the story of beautiful, young Buttercup and her one true love, Wesley. After a long separation, Buttercup is forcibly engaged to the evil Prince Humperdink. In Wesley’s attempts to save her, he must battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin to be reunited with her. Based on the William Goldman novel “The Princess Bride” which earned its own loyal audience.
Why INTJs Love It: INTJs love the dry, offbeat sense of humor scattered throughout The Princess Bride and enjoy the verbal sparring between characters. A few INTJs also mentioned that they appreciated that the movie didn’t take itself too seriously. Many even believe that Westley, the main hero, is an INTJ.
#20 – No Country for Old Men
Llewelyn Moss comes across an unexpected fortune when he finds $2 million in the desert where a drug deal has gone wrong. Thinking this is his way to a better life, he takes the money but soon finds himself on the run with a deadly killer looking for him. This killer, Anton Chigurh, has a unique murder weapon at his disposal. Throughout the story, soon to be retired Sheriff Ed Tom Bell attempts to convince Moss, mostly through his wife Carla Jean, that he should turn the money over to the authorities or everything could end in tragedy.
Why INTJs Love It: Joel and Ethan Coen are perennial favorites among INTJs, who enjoy their offbeat, complex stories. INTJ Justin Honse says: “No Country for Old Men sounds like it should be a formulaic suspense-type movie, but it’s in its own category. I went with a group of my friends for a “guy’s night”, and it actually spawned great conversation between about 8 of us in the parking lot for a good hour afterward. The Coen Brothers found evil incarnate in Javier Bardem’s character, and it keeps you wondering what the role of fate and chance are in life. Not just with the coin-flipping scene – but with virtually every scene in the film.”
#21 – Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice tells the story of the five Bennet sisters, who have spent the entirety of their lives being told to marry rich husbands so that they can support their family. They are not from the upper class, and their house in Hertfordshire will be inherited by a distant cousin if Mr. Bennet dies. When the wealthy bachelor Mr. Bingley and his best friend Mr. Darcy arrive in town for the summer, the shy and beautiful Jane falls in love with Mr. Bingley, and Elizabeth finds Mr. Darcy a snobbish and proud man, and she swears to loathe him forever.
Why INTJs Love It: Pride and Prejudice is the ONLY romance that made the top 25 for INTJs. In fact, in the entire list of 539 mentioned favorites, there were only a few romances listed. Many INTJs are able to connect with and enjoy Mr. Darcy’s character since he is an INTJ. This may play a part in why this movie is such a popular choice. It’s also quite a bit smarter than most romances and captures beautifully the atmosphere of the early nineteenth century.
#22 – The Social Network
One fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer to work out a new idea that will forever change the way we communicate. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network that takes the world by storm. Six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history… but his success leads to both personal and legal complications.
Why INTJs Love It: The Social Network captures the cunning intelligence of Mark Zuckerberg, whom many believe to be an INTJ. The film brilliantly captures how Facebook has made us a nation of narcissists, and how it’s re-shaped who we are. It’s a smart, funny, absorbing movie that will make you think about how social networking may have affected your own life.
#23 – The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs tells the gripping story of Clarice Starling, a young intelligent FBI trainee who has been sent to the Baltimore state hospital for the criminally insane to interview inmate Dr. Hannibal-the cannibal- Lecter. Once a brilliant psychiatrist, Hannibal Lecter transformed into an infamous psychopathic serial killer. She must match wits with Lecter and trust him to give her clues in the search for “Buffalo Bill”, a nickname for another killer who is murdering young women across the Midwest.
Why INTJs Love It: The blog Zombies Ruin Everything captured it perfectly when they said “It’s pretty rare to get more than one INTJ in the same room, in real life or fiction. The so-called “1%” is normally the type pulling the strings behind the scenes and is foiled by the film’s end. Here, we get an INTJ as the protagonist and supporting role.” See more here. One of the reasons that INTJs may particularly enjoy The Silence of the Lambs is that it features two INTJs. It’s also a smart, compelling, edge-of-your-seat mystery/thriller that will keep the NT mind engaged.
#24 – Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Dr. Strangelove tells the story of U.S. Air Force General Jack Ripper, a once brilliant general who has now gone completely mad. Without warning, he sends his bomber wing to destroy the U.S.S.R. with a hydrogen bomb. He believes that the communists are conspiring to pollute “the precious bodily fluids” of the American people. The U.S. president meets with his advisors, where the Soviet ambassador tells him that if the U.S.S.R. is hit by nuclear weapons, it will trigger a “Doomsday Machine” which will destroy all plant and animal life on Earth. Will the bombers be stopped in time? Or will General Jack Ripper succeed in destroying the world?
Why INTJs Love It: Another Stanley Kubrick movie, Dr. Strangelove captures in a satirical way the fear left in the world following WWII. This movie is offbeat, dark, and cynical – with incredible performances by Peter Sellers, who played three parts in the movie.
#25 – There Will Be Blood
There Will Be Blood tells the story of oil prospector Daniel Plainview and his destructive obsession with money. When Plainview is given information about the possibility of finding oil in Little Boston, California, he travels there and immediately tries to buy all the land he can. He smooth-talks the locals into selling by promising to build roads, schools, and churches. He has no intention of doing so, of course. His only purpose is to make money. Over the course of his endeavors, men die, the locals get nothing, and Plainview gets wealthy. In his life he makes few friends and many enemies and eventually even his adopted son H.W. is alienated.
Why INTJs Love It: Having not seen this movie myself, I’m going to let INTJ Justin Honse explain what he loved about it: “I loved There Will Be Blood, not only because of Daniel Day-Lewis’s astounding performance but for how it captures his character’s descent into madness over chasing money his entire life. The last scene encapsulates where he ended up perfectly.”
What Are Your Thoughts?
Do you agree with this list? What are your favorite movies? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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I meant to come back to this. I think many of the movies are on point. Although entertainment does have a wide range of appeals, even beyond the MBTI of the individual. Though I think your survey pulled out the appropriate selection for the type.
Thank you!! I think more than anything I was able to pick up on certain themes that were preferred by various types or certain genres that were preferred. INTJs and INFJs liked very similar movies, but INTJs preferred darker ones it seemed like with more ambiguous heroes and villains. INFJs liked many of the same movies, but more of the clearly defined justice vs. injustice themes. I’m doing an ISTJ list and they seem to go more for hardcore action, or Westerns or war movies. I try to get at least 250 responses from different people before I make the lists, this ISTJ one is taking a while because they aren’t as active on forums or in groups. I don’t think SJ types in general tend to be as obsessed with MBTI (maybe I’m wrong).
Now I’m curious – what are your top 10 favorite movies?
1- Saw
2- Law abiding citizen
3- Predestination
4- Sherlock Holmes : A game of shadows
5- Prestige
6- Inception
7- Requiem for a dream
8- The shawshank redemption
9- Now you see me
10- Mr.Nobody
My list is quite long but here are my top 10. But always my best movie ever is the SAW.
Thanks for giving me your list! I will add your votes to my INTJ movie list and if anything changes I will re-do this post. I know a lot of INTJs mentioned some of the same movies you did.
I definitely agree with you that entertainment can appeal to so many different types, and it can’t be narrowed down necessarily because of type. There are so many individual preferences involved. I mainly was just trying to see if there were any recurring themes that came up as favorites for different types:) Thanks for your input!!
An INTJ would like the BBC/A&E Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. Only an INFJ would like the Keira Kneightly version. The rest of the list only works on male INTJ’s and pretentious people. (An INFJ friend on the other hand loved the Keira Knightly one, which I found entirely too emotive)
Also you’re confusing Mark Darcy from “Bridget Jones” to Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pride & Prejudice. Helen Fielding created Mark Darcy essentially as an homage to the Fitzwilliam Darcy character from “Pride & Prejudice”, written by Jane Austen.
Thanks for your input! I will try to fix the Pride and Prejudice mishap as soon as possible (my internet keeps disconnecting every two minutes today because we’re in a bad storm, so it may have to wait). I came up with this list by asking a bunch of other INTJs for their top ten favorite movies, putting them all into an excel sheet, waiting till I had at least 250 responses, and tallying them up. There may have been more responses from male INTJs than females – but these are the movies that had the most votes. I know it’s not going to be everyone’s favorites, and movie tastes can vary sooo much based on who you are and may not be able to be narrowed down by type. My main goal with this is to see if there are any underlying themes that are preferred among various types. If you’re ever interested, I can send you the complete list of favorite movies that I ended up with – there were at least several hundred movies altogether! Thanks again for letting me know about the Pride and Prejudice problem.
There’s no fixing needed, certainly not based on one person’s opinion alone. In fact, I found that person’s comment to be rather presumptuous and pretentious itself. I am a female INTJ, and with the exception of The Dark Knight, I love, and I do mean LOVE, all of the movies listed. In fact, quite a few of them are in my Top 10, and all are certainly in my Top 50 favorites. And that includes Pride & Prejudice starring Kiera Knightly.
I vouch as a female INTJ that I think this is a great list. It strikes me that the majority of these films (3 I’ve not heard of) are my regular favourites!
Thank you for your input on this! I really appreciate it!
I agree. I’m a female INTJ, and most of these are on my favorites list (Although ironically, “Pride and Prejudice” is not). Another one that I could see as in INTJ favorite is “Minority Report.”
I love Minority Report! That one definitely got mentioned a few times, just not enough to make the top 25 – I can definitely see it being an excellent INTJ movie though.
This INTJ would disagree about the two versions of Pride & Prejudice. I thought Colin Firth’s Darcy was just plain arrogant, while Matthew McFadden came across extremely introverted but intelligent. My top 25 movie list would include Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid because, not only did it have excellent writing and acting, but it taught me what cinematography really is. I would also include Rosencratz and Guildenstern are Dead and What about Bob for humor.
wow. I had never thought of this but you must be right. I absolutely adore the 2005 Pride & Prejudice and I’m and INFJ. My best friend loathes it and she’s an INTJ. Ha. This explains so much…. Thanks for pointing that out.
I’m an INTJ. This is a good list. I’m fond of a lot of these movies.
Thank you! I’m really glad you felt it ‘matched’ 🙂 I am looking forward to checking out some of these movies after researching them that I haven’t had the chance to see before.
I’m an INTJ female and love most of these movies! Especially anything Wes Anderson. I’ve seen most of the list but there are now a few I’ll definitely have to check out!
So glad you like them! The movie lists are tough for me because I always get quite a few people who don’t agree with me or think I should have changed the list – but I keep trying to explain that I don’t actually pick the list, I just ask the types and then sort out the ones with the most votes! Thank you so much for your feedback 🙂
So accurate! I love all of these; Inception is my absolute favourite movie, as well as clockwork orange, and pulp fiction…all right I like them all. haha
I agree with most of the films on the list. Funny, I was just thinking about rewatching Inception this morning…I would add The Dark Knight Rises, Casino Roayle and Skyfall, Inglorious Basterds, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Sin City. But the one that I’m certain has to be on the list is the SAW franchise cause I think INTJs apprciate it much more than other types.
Almost everything fits perfectly with my personal favourite list…i would like to add Matrix , Seven & all SAW movies too..glad to know that i’m not the only weirdo out there…?
Most of these movies are already very popular, apart from MBTI. Given the small sample population you used, I doubt this list is representative. Also, I doubt there’s much correlation between MBTI and movie preferences.
Thanks for your feedback – there may not be a huge correlation between MBTI and movie preference – that’s what I’m trying to figure out through doing this, and I’ll know better once I’ve gotten through each of the 16 types. I definitely have, however, noticed trends that seem more popular among different types. I’ve only done lists for INTJs, INFJs, ISTJs, and INFPs at this point, and I tried to get responses from at least 250 people from that type before making the lists. When I was doing it I noticed the types of movies that each type picked were very different depending on the type. However, because these posts only indicate the top 25 movies, it’s harder to see those trends in these lists – but I’m not sure if people want to read a list hundreds of movies long:) And you’re right that many of the movies are very popular – for example, Star Wars, Inception, and Lord of the Rings are on every list at this point. However, many of the other movies were definitely favored by INTJs far more than other types. For example, The Social Network, There Will Be Blood, Dr. Strangelove – those got a lot of INTJ votes while they received no votes from many of the other types. Anyway, I have to go now but thank you for commenting even if you weren’t satisfied with the post itself!
INTJ here. Didn’t like the list.
Favorite movies and series:
1 – Matrix [Movie]
2 – Breaking Bad [Series]
3 – Money As Debt [Documentary]
4 – The Money Masters [Documentary]
5 – The Godfather [Movie]
6 – Gladiator [Movie]
7 – The Big Bang Theory (only the first seasons later they screwed it up) [Series]
8 – Harry Potter [Movie]
9 – Lord of Rings [Movie]
I like your favorites, all that I have seen anyway! A lot of those movies did get voted for, they just didn’t get quite as many as the top 25 I show here. Maybe I should do a 25-50 post 🙂 I appreciate your feedback, and I’m sorry you didn’t like the list. Like I said in the post, I didn’t pick the movies personally, I just tallied up the results from INTJ voters – I may revise it in the future though. There are so many excellent movies that didn’t make the list and had a lot of votes – 25 is just too small a number, perhaps.
A romance movie that I thought had potential to make the list was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I loved that movie. One of the few romantic films I enjoyed and it too, was told in a nonlinear fashion. Gondry managed to not make the film cheesy in the slightest, and aside from all the sci-fi elements, it was a more realistic depiction of love. Wasn’t as predictable as other films either.
Thank you!! I believe Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind came in 27th, right after the Matrix at 26. So that one did get a lot of votes! I completely agree with your assessment of the movie, I love that movie. I have a hard time with romances myself, even though I’m an INFJ, because I find them too cheesy – ESOTSM is very relatable and thought-provoking. Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it!
Hi, that’s a really good list, but I think there is one big movie missing: Back to the future!
What do you think about it? What’s its ranking in your list?
With the exception of 19, this is like a list of movies this INTJ cannot stand. I want wit, humor, smarts, a good pace, a little interpersonal stuff, and an ending I can’t anticipate. Favorites include Ocean’s 11, The Martian, and many others.
Boondock Saints, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch
this list is for children-INTJ ? …..6 to 14
This list is for anyone, not specifically geared towards children – in fact, I would definitely not recommend a lot of these movies to children as they are R-rated.
intj-33 old list
RAN , Twin Peaks , Throne of Blood , Macbeth , 2046 , The Thirteenth Floor , Matrix , Interstellar , Le Samourai , Immortal , Le Clan des Siciliens …& yes … Inception , Solaris , American Beauty , Blade Runner , 2001: A Space Odyssey , A Clockwork Orange …
If I was 13 years old and American this might do. Now I’m 37 and still not American this seems funny and very nostalgic.
If I was 13 years old and American this might do. Now I’m 37 and still not American this seems funny and very nostalgic.
Thanks for commenting! Which movies are your favorites?
Oh gosh i was excited when i saw this list, and as an INTJ, i absolutely adore some of the movies here.
HOWEVER, I am offended to say the least, not by you Susan Storm, but by the INTJ’s in general, to have not included THE MATRIX?
What was going on?
Hi Susan.
I really enjoyed this list. Ten of my favorites are here. Thank you.
I’m glad! Thank you for letting me know!!
Hi, Suzan,
v. good article, kindly let me know if you can help me in career choose up on personality.
Identity should be on there. – Mystery Thriller.
I’d also put on Revolver – definitely makes you think.
I can’t speak for other INTJs, but most of the movies I consider to be my favorites were on the list. I was excited to see I’m not the only one who really loves 2001: A Space Odyssey. Most people think I am joking or a freak for that choice. Some other choices of mine are the Matrix, Infini, The Fountain, and Vanilla Sky. Thanks for posting! I enjoyed it. …. (38 yr. Female INTJ)
Agreed with most of the list. Might add Shutter Island, The Deal, Interstellar, The Fountain, Cloud Atlas.
Those are all excellent movies! Thanks for your input!
There are so many filmes titled “The Deal”. Not clear which one is meant.
I was so excited to find this list, because I’ve always thought my taste in movies was so far outside the norm. It’s nice to see that there are like minded people out there. Would I switch out a couple to fit my personal preferences? Yes, but overall I’m really pleased. I have watched many of these movies multiple times, which is my film barometer. It’s funny…I have recommended Inception to many people with odd results. People seem to either love it or think it’s stupid. There’s not a lot of, “It was ok.” Christopher Nolen, the Coen Brothers, Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson are all favorite directors.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this list! I would agree with you on Inception, I’ve noticed that people have a love/hate relationship with that movie, and very few people feel in-between on it. Thanks for reading and sharing your input!
Right with a few, wrong in so many…namely clock work orange and Big Lebowski, you lost me at pot smoking hippie. Cloxknwork orange, although obscure, is absurd and nonsensical and is nonetheless and waste of time. Batman, lord of the rings, and silence of the lambs however is spot on. Add the Beach to the list…what I meant to say was, dispite your errors, bravo my friend, you’ve done well.
Thanks Brandt! I know this list isn’t going to appeal to every single INTJ. I didn’t pick the movies myself, they were all voted on by self-professed INTJs I spoke with on Facebook groups, internet communities, forums, as well as INTJs I knew in real life. There were sooo many other movies that were voted on, these are just the 25 with the most votes. I loved the book the Beach by Alex Garland! Did you read the book? I liked the movie too, but I felt like they changed too much!
I think almost every INTJ would enjoy The Big Short -intj
The Big Short, Smartest Guys in the Room, and Margin Call are some of my favorites.
The matrix should join the list? anime movies as well?
Person of Interest (2011-2016), 5 seasons. TV show specifically for INTJs.
Definitely a good show 🙂 My husband and I just started watching it a few months ago, although he’s ISTP and I’m INFJ.
I really love some of the films from the list, some of them I have not seen yet, and some I don’t like at all (V for Vendetta, Star Wars).
And I’d like to write my vision of the INTJ film list separated into two categories: “great list” and the second group of films that are really good, but I cannot put them in the “great list”. The lists will also include films that are already listed in the post.
So, the Great list:
Interstellar, Inception, Mr. Nobody, Shutter Island, A Beautiful Mind, The Lord of the Rings.
And the second list:
The Imitation Game, Memento, Café Society, The Pursuit of Happyness, Black Swan, Arrival, The Revenant, Gladiator, Forrest Gump, Iron Man, Troy, The Wolf of Wall Street.
Also I would like to note that I’m not a “movie” person and I rarely watch movies, so I think, that it’s a great chance that I’m missing a lot of good films.
The list is great it actually encouraged me to watch some of the movies on it i hadn’t seen yet! Two or three amazing movies that i think deep thinkers might enjoy : A beautiful mind, dead poets society and my personal favorite good will hunting. These are mostly sad but exceptionally good! (also risky business, top gun and rain man are pretty good too).
Very solid list. Some are of no interest to me, but I get why they would be on the list. So, so glad to see “There Will be Blood” noted. – disturbing and fascinating, so real! Have a definite love/hate relationship with Daniel Plainview. Thinking perhaps the character was an INTJ.
I fit with about half the list. Love everything Wes Anderson and most fantasy series including LOTR. I would also suggest Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Little Miss Sunshine, Phoebe in Wonderland, and The Butterfly Effect.
Yes! Love all those suggestions 🙂 Although, I haven’t seen Phoebe in Wonderland yet. Thanks for the feedback!
Pride and Prejudice is the only romance I actually like. Bat-Man and Lord of the Rings are some of my favorite movies. I also like, BBC’s Sherlock, Agatha Christie Poirot and Star Trek.
Oh I just finished watching all the seasons of Sherlock…soooo good! and love Agatha Christie novels/shows! Thanks for your input!
You’re welcome. I started watching The Prestige but haven’t finish it yet. I kind of watched it with my dad, but wasn’t really listening or watching because I was on my computer. I kind of prefer to watch movies by myself anyway.
I think you forgot my favourite director, David Lynch, especially the movies Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive, both movies are such excellent mysteries open to various interpretations.
Oh Brother Where Art Thou?
JFK?
…I enjoyed the novels more than the movies. I feel like a seasoned INTJ. I’m old.
Honestly some of my top ten are in your list! I am INTJ. A big out is American beauty
Good list. It contains a lot of my favorites, but it’s missing my top 2, which I think would appeal to most INTJS: The Spanish Prisoner and Man from Earth.
Good list. It contains a lot of my favorites, but it’s missing my top 2, which I think would appeal to most INTJS: The Spanish Prisoner and Man from Earth.
I believe you have mixed up the titles for “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will be Blood”.
I’m guessing that, with movies, there are preference forces at work other than M-B type — things like when and where we lived in our formative years and the worldview we subscribe to. I’m an older INTJ and I’ve only watched 2 or 3 movies on this list and didn’t really care for any of them. There is probably a moderate genre preference correlation with M-B types but, specific movies — I’m not so sure. I do like thrillers and action-adventure movies, but I grew up in the ’50s and early ’60s when classic westerns ruled the big screen.
Where is “Law Abiding Citizen” and “Buttfly effect”.
Count of Monte cristo
Count of Monte cristo
The Prestige is a very good movie … Nolan is INTJ and Bale, ISTP… But, sadly there is this last reversal which categorizes this movie in science fiction.
The Illusionist is a succes.
I am INTJ, and this list is bullshit.
Love American Beauty, Memento, and Fight Club. Strongly dislike Lord of the Rings and Star Wars (but it’s smart to list them because statistically you’ll probably be right). For me, science fiction is okay as long as it doesn’t depart too much from reality, but fantasy is a no. Where’s the logic? Same with any superhero movie. I think Inception is more of a wannabe INTJ movie…a little forced, a little overly complicated. Movies not on the list that I like include The Matrix, Good Will Hunting, Limitless, and the Gladiator.
Natural born killers is numba 1
The only movie I like here is Silence of the Lambs. Just not a sci-fi fan. Where are Goodfellas, The Departed, Full Metal Jacket? Any other INTJs love these movies?
Law Abiding Citizen, The Matrix, and The Departed should be on there.
I’m an INTJ and it’s very rare to find a list of animated films for my type though INTJs are imaginative and open minded. I’m highly less interested into life-action films and TV shows (Same for slice of life animated shows), I find them most of the time tough (I’m serious), down to earth and boring. The case that I highly like animated films and TV programs (I prefer most of the time the shows that their genres are listed in this topic) because: a) I prefer them since I was toddler. b) They are far away from reality. c) They encourage my interest. d) I’m more of childish (though I’m 20). e) I really dislike any kind of stereotypes and high popularity things (whether they are INTJ or the animated shows stereotypes).
I’m sorry if there is any kind of writing mistake because I’m not a native English speaker.
Lord of Rings, Batman, Alien and 2001 Space Odissey are for kids not INTJs. The only interest of Star Wars is Darth Vader. Agree with the rest and propose Blond in The Good The Bad and The Ugly. What do you think about Alexander Mahone in Prison Break? Thans for your comments.
I agree with that version of pride and prejudice…v for vendetta..the departed.. No country for old men.. there will be blood. Where is god father as someone pointed out. The great escape.. and The Equalizer?♥️
Great list! So many of my favorites. Didn’t know I was so predictable. Kinda nice to find out I’m normal in some abnormal way.
Girl with the dragon tattoo…and documentaries
There should be Harry Potter series in the list.
Yes this list is exactly that.
Most of the movies listed are derivative. Female INTJ here. Gladiator; Harold and Maude; Slaughterhouse Five; The Turning Point; Burlesque; The Last Samurai; World according to Garp; and Diner.
Oh and Being There.
I would say this is a good general list. I am an INTJ female and I do like most of the movies mentioned. However, ALL of these movies are well known and popular, even Dr. Strangelove is a cult classic. Lots of people of all types love these movies. Let’s get a list going of the less well-known movies for INTJs. I think that’s why most any INTJ would search for “movies for INTJs” in a browser, because they want recommendations for things beyond what is already obvious.
Also, I would mention that it’s hard for me to enjoy a movie if all of the parts aren’t well-done. Acting, Plot, Character Development, Dialogue, Set-Up, Visuals, Music, Timing etc etc etc. If any one of these aspects is lacking, I can’t enjoy the movie because it’s distracting and I can’t recommend it. Inception is an example of this. The realization of the concept wasn’t quite born out in the story line and explanation… just wasn’t quite there and that kinda ruined the movie for me, I kept thinking it could’ve been better. It was as if they rushed to finish the movie.
Sometimes I am SO astonished at how someone can say “That was a great movie!”, when, maybe the Plot was good, but the Acting was terrible. I can enjoy movies some movies that are so bad, they’re good, but you usually know that going in, and are mentally prepared for it.
Not even close. Tested 3 times INTJ. Not even fracking close.
I am an INTJ woman, I am surprised Godfather didn’t make the list, Michael Corleone is an INTJ and that movie perfectly fits my taste.
Female intj- one of my all time favorite movies is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof- could be the complex family dynamics or it could be Paul Newman’s beautiful face. (I’m intj not blind)
This is the most mediocre list of films I’ve ever seen. How in the hell is star wars a good film. For intjs? And inception is a film stupid people watch to try and feel smart. This article was written by a junior intern copywriter.
There should be Harry Potter series in the list.
I agree with almost the entire list. My favorite part of the post is the description of Donnie Darko as INTJ comfort film — that is exactly how I have described it to people.
I’ve seen it all. I was hoping to find some new movies to add to my watchlist! Sad! Proud INTJ!
I’ve seen at least 15 of the movies mentioned and love all of them, the rest will now go on my ‘to watch list’ thanks.
To all INTJs reading the comments I can recommend The machinist, if you like movies like fightclub.
Eÿe 2 have seen most of the movies listed above. I’ll definitely put the movies I haven’t seen on my watchlist. I must say…. INFP have brilliant taste in movies! With romance type movies, as an INFP female; I prefer it to be in a different time period verses the modern era. Otherwise, the choices of movies are right on target! From Fantasy spellbound like the Neverending Story and Lord of the Rings to futuristic action like Inception & Star Wars….this list pretty much aligns with my taste in cinema stories.
huh it says intj not infp
Interstellar, Blade runner 2049 , Ex machina, The marcen , Gravity As an intj I would prefer to an another Intj
The Shutter island
I like most of these movies. Along with the whole mystery and psychological thriller thing I love Knives Out, Murder on the Orient Express, A Simple Favor, Ready or Not, those escape room movies, The Girl on the Train, Vertigo, Last Night in Soho, and those kinds of movies. One movie that broke me for an hour or so after was this Korean movie called The Villianess. Lots of twists, so much to play with. I also find the genre of the movies I tend to rewatch/comfort-watch, end up being in horror too. Movies with a lot to play with, mentally. I think that’s what gets me. And attention to detail, so well done movies in other worlds/realities are very much appreciated.
But i also enjoyed sherlock homes
Eek…you guys all went to the dark side. I dislike almost all of these. I admit, however, I gave up movies as go-to entertainment about a decade ago due to finally having enough of works like “Funny Games”, Fight Club, and Saw (crap I am supposed to “like” as an INTJ, but that are really just…sick). I enjoyed This Beautiful Fantastic and I found The Jade Scorpion humorous. The early seasons of Midsomer Mysteries TV series from BBC are good for a binge.
Mostly American movies. INTJs tend to look further, I guess, and need some other stimuli than American pop-culture.
I’m not much for movies. I’m much more for music or literature. But, if I want to watch something, I’d rather European or Japanese productions, such as Agatha Christie, Monty Python or Akira Kurosawa. I don’t have patience to stuff like rings or games… Maybe someday.
Well I certainly am an INTJ . I am an Astrologer among other things,
these 2 are are connected and it could well be that Astrology is the main
influence of character if an Expert scans the Horoscope properly.
I’m either INFJ or INTJ. I’ve seen most of these movies, but the only one I’d call a favorite is V for Vendetta. Some of the movies on here I hated, like Princess Bride (corny humor). Many on the list are popular, but I don’t see the appeal, such as Star Wars and Fight Club.
Here are my other favorite movies: Ace in the Hole, Avatar, Ben X, Bordertown, Captain Fantastic, The Crow, Fable, Fahrenheit 451, Fallen, Fifth Element, First Do No Harm, God Bless America, Hanna, Idiocracy, John Q, Law Abiding Citizen, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, Little Dorrit, Matilda, The Mosquito Coast, Network, Nim’s Island, Peaceful Warrior, Phone Booth, Planet of the Apes (1968), Pleasantville, Powder, Quigley Down Under, The Sixties, Sucker Punch, They Live, You Don’t Know Jack.