The Big Lebowski isn't a Jewish movie per se, but it was written and directed by the Cohen brothers (who also did A Serious Man, which is getting lots of mentions) and includes one of the all-time greatest Jewish characters in any movie - Walter Sobchak, played by John Goodman. Probably the best ever film portrayal of a Jewish convert, the poor guy's a Vietnam vet wrestling with his faith and sense of purpose after being divorced from his born-Jewish wife.
It's not really explained in the movie, but my take on it is that after his wife left him (for Marty Ackerman) he had something to prove, to her but mostly himself, so he doubled down on his Judaism and ended up spending most of his non-bowling time at Chabad
Ushpizin is one of our favourites.The etrog part was funny,where one of the "guests "made a salad and found the etrog in the cupboard and used it in the salad Moshe digs in the salad and finds out that he's eating etrog and starts spitting it out.
It has ALOT of funny parts
Yeah, it was good at combining comedy and drama. The actress for Moshe's wife was also the actor's real wife who had never acted before, so that makes it ten times more impressive.
I keep rewatching "A Serious Man" On the other hand, I know someone who got a letter to the editor published in the newspaper because she didn't like the film and its self loathing nature. Decades later, when the synagogue's rabbi used it in a class, she admitted she may have gotten it wrong.
As a horror fan, I have to give a shoutout to The Vigil (2019) for a really good Jewish twist on the haunting/possession genre. There's a little bit of Holocaust backstory but the film is set in the modern day and not mainly about that.
Israeli films are also great. I liked Red Cow (2018) which was a great lesbian coming-of-age film about a girl growing up in an East Jerusalem settlement. Incitement (2019) about Yigal Amir and the Rabin assassination was excellent.
Hoooly shit my partner and I watch a decent amount of horror and the vigil was truly one of the scariest experiences we've ever had! Very impressive that it's so low budget and such a simple setting and concept, yet they managed to build such intense tension and dread we had to pause and take a breather halfway through!
The movie left me so anxious. From the fiddle music and crying baby soundtrack, singular space, close ups with people just popping out at you. It was a great film but damn was it stressful
It’s already been said in this thread, but A Serious Man is an excellent film and my favorite Jewish film aimed for an adult audience ( Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dream Coat and The Prince of Egypt are also favorites, but are aimed for kids)
Since all the good ones have been said: Not a whole film, but I heard klezmir coming from the TV the other day and found my 6 year old watching an episode of Knuckles (apparently they made a miniseries after the second sonic movie) and an episode is called "the shabbat dinner" and is literally about visiting his mother for shabbat and she teaches Knuckles about the traditions.
Then they beat up bad guys in the kitchen to klezmir music as the shabbos candles glow.
Yentl and Funny Girl. I love Babs. Not a movie, but The Spy either Sasha Baron Cohen on Netflix is sooo good. True story about an Israeli going undercover in Syrian government
It Runs in the Family, set during Passover, features 3 generations of the Douglas family (Kirk, Michael, and Cameron) as dysfunctional grandfather/father/son trying to reconcile
Late Marriage (2001), For Your Consideration (2006), Keeping the Faith (2000), Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986), An American Tail (also 1986!)
I just finished reading American Pastoral...haven't seen the movie yet but hoping it's as good as the book.
Wet Hot American Summer is very Jewish, though more subtext than direct theme. The based on the writers' experiences in Jewish summer camps. (Please note, it's not everybody's sense of humor.)
I LOVE Late Marriage. It's so Israeli but also very Georgian (or Bulgarian?) and I find it fascinating in it's portrayal of "modern" Israeli Jews vs. old country Israeli Jews. It's also disturbing and heartbreaking, so view with caution.
I had no idea about the basis for Wet Hot American Summer but it made me look up H. Jon Benjamin and I had no idea he was Jewish. This makes me so happy! Bob's Burgers is one of my favorite shows and I used to watch Archer a lot.
*The Infidel*, written by David Baddiel and directed by Josh Appignanesi. Omid Djalili plays a Muslim man in London who discovers that he was adopted at birth and was actually born Jewish, and so he enlists a cabbie played by Richard Schiff to teach him how to Jew.
I can’t honestly say “favorite” since I haven’t seen it in over 50 years, but I’ve never forgotten about “The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob” a French comedy from 1973. My parents LOVED the movie. I have no idea where it’s available for viewing.
I'm throwing in Unorthodox television mini series.
Are You There God It's Me Margaret, and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah are great for kids.
The Fabelmans are Jewish, although it's not the main thing. I loved School Ties because it deals with a serious topic.
Hunters was an interesting series about Nazi Hunters (bit outlandish but fun). The Plot Against America and The Man in the High Castle are wild series that show and alternate reality using the Holocaust with the former wondering what if the US aligned with Hitler and the latter wondering what if the Nazis won.
While it is a Holocaust adjacent movie, [Nowhere In Africa ](https://zeitgeistfilms.com/film/nowhereinafrica#:~:text=A%20love%20story%20spanning%20two,a%20remote%20farm%20in%20Kenya.) was amazing and extraordinary
I also liked Munich, Blazing Saddles, Marathon Man (phenomenal), Kissing Jessica Stein, technically Clueless, technically The Way We Were, Exodus, Gentleman's Agreement (very poignant and an Academy Award winner) and probably more I can't recall.
You must be joking. Every character is Jewish, a serious goyische kup, or, best of all, a dazzling urban sophisticate.
Oy Gottinyu, these people without eyes in their heads.
While not explicitly Jewish, the movie Goon has a Jewish main character. I'm not sure there are many other sports movies where the main character is a member of the tribe.
I loved Avalon. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/avalon-at-25[rent Avalon](https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.f8a9f785-2aa7-9c1f-aee1-08b59f74e9e8&territory=US&ref_=share_ios_movie&r=web)
This is Where I Leave You (American movie) is funny. It's about a family sitting shiva. I haven't seen it in years, though.
Rough Diamonds (Danish series) is really good. It's a bit violent at times, but the writing is strong.
Jojo Rabbit is one of my favorite movies about a very dark and serious topic. What makes it better is knowing the director is Jewish (he also plays Hitler in the movie)
The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare had some very good, empowering representation in it. It's a very silly, unrealistic action movie to the point that it feels like a Marvel movie but it felt good.
The Big Lebowski isn't a Jewish movie per se, but it was written and directed by the Cohen brothers (who also did A Serious Man, which is getting lots of mentions) and includes one of the all-time greatest Jewish characters in any movie - Walter Sobchak, played by John Goodman. Probably the best ever film portrayal of a Jewish convert, the poor guy's a Vietnam vet wrestling with his faith and sense of purpose after being divorced from his born-Jewish wife.
He doesn’t roll on Shabbos
Shomer fuckin’ Shabbos!
Obviously you’re not a golfer. The Big Lebowski is my all time favorite movie.
So, you know about r/lebowski then, right?
Best subreddit on the whole site.
Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man
The Supreme Court has roundly rejected prior restraint!
I abide, but not on Shabbos
The Dude abides!
When he's walking out of the bowling alley and starts talking about the Rambam I nearly screamed with excitement lol
It's not really explained in the movie, but my take on it is that after his wife left him (for Marty Ackerman) he had something to prove, to her but mostly himself, so he doubled down on his Judaism and ended up spending most of his non-bowling time at Chabad
I can see this so clearly xD
The Hebrew Hammer
Shabbat shalom motherfucker!
This is the answer.
I don't think anything beats Fiddler, but Ushpizen doesn't get enough credit.
Ushpizin is one of our favourites.The etrog part was funny,where one of the "guests "made a salad and found the etrog in the cupboard and used it in the salad Moshe digs in the salad and finds out that he's eating etrog and starts spitting it out. It has ALOT of funny parts
Yeah, it was good at combining comedy and drama. The actress for Moshe's wife was also the actor's real wife who had never acted before, so that makes it ten times more impressive.
I love that film, watch it every sukkot.
Yes, he refused to play a part with a woman that wasn't his wife. I admire him a lot ,
My favorite has to be The Prince of Egypt. It’s absolutely beautiful.
You're playing with the big boys now.
Well, that's stuck in my head for the rest of the night!
The Frisco Kid
We just watched that, such a good one! Harrison Ford saying “bar matzvah” has been making me giggle for a week.
Sheee—it!
I must have watched that movie at least a 1000 times during childhood. ”Y’know what you are?! Yer real mishi-gun!” *”Meshuganah”*
Loved that movie too!
I keep rewatching "A Serious Man" On the other hand, I know someone who got a letter to the editor published in the newspaper because she didn't like the film and its self loathing nature. Decades later, when the synagogue's rabbi used it in a class, she admitted she may have gotten it wrong.
I FUCKED YOUR WIFE LARRY I SERIOUSLY FUCKED HER
The scene with the junior rabbi is one of my favorite scenes in any movie.
this is the definitive answer
The Rabbi’s Cat. It’s a graphic novel by an Algerian Jewish French author made into an animated film.
The soundtrack is absolutely delicious
As a horror fan, I have to give a shoutout to The Vigil (2019) for a really good Jewish twist on the haunting/possession genre. There's a little bit of Holocaust backstory but the film is set in the modern day and not mainly about that. Israeli films are also great. I liked Red Cow (2018) which was a great lesbian coming-of-age film about a girl growing up in an East Jerusalem settlement. Incitement (2019) about Yigal Amir and the Rabin assassination was excellent.
Hoooly shit my partner and I watch a decent amount of horror and the vigil was truly one of the scariest experiences we've ever had! Very impressive that it's so low budget and such a simple setting and concept, yet they managed to build such intense tension and dread we had to pause and take a breather halfway through!
Uncut Gems is so good (one of the most stressful movies ever), and has a great Seder scene.
My family watches When Do We Eat? (2005) every year a day or two before the start of Pesach.
I was literally looking through this thread to find this answer!!!
It's brilliant. Max Greenfield before he broke through in New Girl.
Shiva Baby! Is my new favorite Jewish film that was released in the last few years
The movie left me so anxious. From the fiddle music and crying baby soundtrack, singular space, close ups with people just popping out at you. It was a great film but damn was it stressful
It's a horror movie without monsters or jump scares.
Same!
Such a great movie!! Someone else recommend here before and I watched and it was amazing
Funny girl!
Hester Street, Crossing Delancey, or anything by Joan Micklin Silver
I haven't seen anyone mention Dirty Dancing.
It’s already been said in this thread, but A Serious Man is an excellent film and my favorite Jewish film aimed for an adult audience ( Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dream Coat and The Prince of Egypt are also favorites, but are aimed for kids)
Space balls. Hebrew Hammer.
Beau is Afraid
The Chosen
Damn, beat me to it. Whatever happened to Robbie Benson?!
No clue but the rabbi was a great actor!
Since all the good ones have been said: Not a whole film, but I heard klezmir coming from the TV the other day and found my 6 year old watching an episode of Knuckles (apparently they made a miniseries after the second sonic movie) and an episode is called "the shabbat dinner" and is literally about visiting his mother for shabbat and she teaches Knuckles about the traditions. Then they beat up bad guys in the kitchen to klezmir music as the shabbos candles glow.
Crossing Delancy. Just went to the pickle shop yesterday!
Every girl fell for that pickle man.
The 1960 Little Shop of Horrors. :)
call me by your name!
Yentl and Funny Girl. I love Babs. Not a movie, but The Spy either Sasha Baron Cohen on Netflix is sooo good. True story about an Israeli going undercover in Syrian government
Yentl is so good!
Lies My Father Told Me, A Serious Man
Hester Street -
Some of my ancestors arrived in America in the time period of this movie…I like to think it gives me a small glimpse of their experiences
It Runs in the Family, set during Passover, features 3 generations of the Douglas family (Kirk, Michael, and Cameron) as dysfunctional grandfather/father/son trying to reconcile
Late Marriage (2001), For Your Consideration (2006), Keeping the Faith (2000), Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986), An American Tail (also 1986!) I just finished reading American Pastoral...haven't seen the movie yet but hoping it's as good as the book. Wet Hot American Summer is very Jewish, though more subtext than direct theme. The based on the writers' experiences in Jewish summer camps. (Please note, it's not everybody's sense of humor.)
Oh, I had forgot about Keeping the Faith! I liked that movie! 🥰
I LOVE Late Marriage. It's so Israeli but also very Georgian (or Bulgarian?) and I find it fascinating in it's portrayal of "modern" Israeli Jews vs. old country Israeli Jews. It's also disturbing and heartbreaking, so view with caution.
I had no idea about the basis for Wet Hot American Summer but it made me look up H. Jon Benjamin and I had no idea he was Jewish. This makes me so happy! Bob's Burgers is one of my favorite shows and I used to watch Archer a lot.
The Frisco Kid. Young Harrison Ford and Gene Wilder.
*The Infidel*, written by David Baddiel and directed by Josh Appignanesi. Omid Djalili plays a Muslim man in London who discovers that he was adopted at birth and was actually born Jewish, and so he enlists a cabbie played by Richard Schiff to teach him how to Jew.
The mad adventures of rabbi Jacob. The Hebrew hammer
I can’t honestly say “favorite” since I haven’t seen it in over 50 years, but I’ve never forgotten about “The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob” a French comedy from 1973. My parents LOVED the movie. I have no idea where it’s available for viewing.
I'm throwing in Unorthodox television mini series. Are You There God It's Me Margaret, and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah are great for kids. The Fabelmans are Jewish, although it's not the main thing. I loved School Ties because it deals with a serious topic. Hunters was an interesting series about Nazi Hunters (bit outlandish but fun). The Plot Against America and The Man in the High Castle are wild series that show and alternate reality using the Holocaust with the former wondering what if the US aligned with Hitler and the latter wondering what if the Nazis won. While it is a Holocaust adjacent movie, [Nowhere In Africa ](https://zeitgeistfilms.com/film/nowhereinafrica#:~:text=A%20love%20story%20spanning%20two,a%20remote%20farm%20in%20Kenya.) was amazing and extraordinary I also liked Munich, Blazing Saddles, Marathon Man (phenomenal), Kissing Jessica Stein, technically Clueless, technically The Way We Were, Exodus, Gentleman's Agreement (very poignant and an Academy Award winner) and probably more I can't recall.
Disobedience (2017) - Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, a bit full on in parts though! (don’t watch it with your parents….or rabbi)
Blazing Saddles, the finest of them all.
I’m a massive fan, but it’s not about Jewish people at all. Not one character is supposed to be Jewish
Mel Brooks has a cameo as a Yiddish speaking Indian chief, so there’s that.
You must be joking. Every character is Jewish, a serious goyische kup, or, best of all, a dazzling urban sophisticate. Oy Gottinyu, these people without eyes in their heads.
The Offering is a really good horror movie
The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch. Our family absolutely loved it. ❤️
The marvelous Mrs Maisel- not my person fave but definitely a fan favorite
While not explicitly Jewish, the movie Goon has a Jewish main character. I'm not sure there are many other sports movies where the main character is a member of the tribe.
I loved Avalon. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/avalon-at-25[rent Avalon](https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.f8a9f785-2aa7-9c1f-aee1-08b59f74e9e8&territory=US&ref_=share_ios_movie&r=web)
Wonderful film!
When Do We Eat. It’s a passover comedy
Star Wars, Han Solo shortened his name from Soloman so he could get work in smuggling.
Defiance.
Shiva Baby
Surprisingly, Rachel Sennott, not Jewish.
makes her an even better actress because wow the vibes are immaculate in that movie
Seconded!
A rats tale I always thought of it as Russian Jews escaping the Bolshevik revolution
Do you mean American Tail?
Yes sorry about the mistake not properly recalling film title.
Fauda
A serious man
Hebrew hammer, I haven’t watched it yet but I’ve heard great things about it
The Prince of Egypt
Prince of Egypt? It's a classic.
Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers
This is Where I Leave You (American movie) is funny. It's about a family sitting shiva. I haven't seen it in years, though. Rough Diamonds (Danish series) is really good. It's a bit violent at times, but the writing is strong.
I love One Night with the King
Live and Become is the best Jewish movie you’ve never heard of. Stop what you’re doing and watch it.
Fiddler on the Roof, and The Women's Balcony.
trilogy by Leonid Parfenov “Russian Jews”
The Fixer
Novia Que Te Vea.
Uncut Gems
Frisco kid
No one has mentioned Wholly Moses yet. Lol! I forgot to in the original post. It was a favorite as a kid. I named my guinea pig Herschel.
Yentl duh
Defamation by Yoav Shamir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTAjc1OSrmY
Crossing Delancey!
Cast a giant shadow
Jojo Rabbit is one of my favorite movies about a very dark and serious topic. What makes it better is knowing the director is Jewish (he also plays Hitler in the movie)
Israeli (as opposed to just Jewish) but Fauda and Shtisel were awesome...
Munich, and Inglorious Basterds. Get’s me in the mood to be vengeful.
The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare had some very good, empowering representation in it. It's a very silly, unrealistic action movie to the point that it feels like a Marvel movie but it felt good.
I love the Meyerowitz Stories
Sixty six was a good watch showcasing British Jewish life in the 60s