Have you heard of the term “Dumpuary?” In Hollywood, Dumpuary refers to the movies released in January and February that studios want nothing to do with anymore. If the movie becomes a hit, even better, but the expectations are low. Streaming movies on services like Netflix has alleviated some Dumpuary symptoms, yet you’ll still find a random horror or action pic that makes you question the ethics of filmmaking.
This article is Dumpuary’s kryptonite. February boasts several iconic movies celebrating milestone anniversaries. One of these historic releases belongs to the legendary Martin Scorsese. Another groundbreaking film, which won the Oscar for Best Picture, celebrates its 35th anniversary. Check out the rest of our top picks and where to watch them.
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Deadpool (February 12, 2016 – 10 years)
Considering how popular the character became, it’s jarring to learn that Fox did not want to make Deadpool. It took a positive reaction to leaked test footage for the studio to finally give Ryan Reynolds the green light to play the “Merc with a Mouth.” The Tim Miller-directed Deadpool introduces audiences to Wade Wilson (Reynolds), the wise-cracking mercenary who transforms into a mutant after a wicked scientist’s experiment gives him accelerated healing and a disfigured body.
In true Wade fashion, he finds himself a new suit, some deadly swords, and a new name, Deadpool. Reynolds, an actor who has made a career playing sarcastic and witty characters, was born to play a foul-mouthed antihero. Unlike many superhero adventures before it, Deadpool embraced its graphic nature—profanity, sex, and a lot of violence. It turns out that audiences love all three, which helped Deadpool become the highest-grossing R-rated movie at the time.
Deadpool
- Release Date
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February 9, 2016
- Runtime
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108 minutes
- Director
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Tim Miller
- Writers
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Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Geoff Johns, Rob Liefeld, Len Wein, Dave Cockrum
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Ryan Reynolds
Wade Wilson / Deadpool
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4
Happy Gilmore (February 16, 1996 – 30 years)
To countless millennials, Adam Sandler is a god who supplied their childhood with iconic characters. 30 years ago, Sandler forever changed the sport of golf with his sports comedy, Happy Gilmore. Sandler plays the titular character, a wannabe hockey player with a raging temper who lacks the skill to play at the next level. When he needs money to save his grandmother’s house, Happy turns to an unlikely sport: golf. He can’t chip or putt, but Happy can drive the ball farther than anyone else who picks up a club.
Once Happy unexpectedly earns a spot on the PGA Tour, the movie exudes comedic brilliance, from his interactions with Chubbs (Carl Weathers) and conversations with Hal (Ben Stiller) to his rambunctious attitude and unorthodox swing. Happy’s best moments happen when he’s pitted against Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), the best player on tour and a perfect villain. Remember this, Shooter: Grizzly Adams did have a beard.
Happy Gilmore
- Release Date
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February 16, 1996
- Runtime
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92 minutes
- Director
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Dennis Dugan
- Writers
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Adam Sandler, Tim Herlihy
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Adam Sandler
Happy Gilmore
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Christopher McDonald
Shooter McGavin
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Julie Bowen
Virginia Venit
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3
Trainspotting (February 23, 1996 – 30 years)
It feels weird to credit a movie for successfully injecting sick humor into a story about drug use, but I don’t know how else to describe Trainspotting. Based on Irvine Welsh’s cult novel of the same name, Trainspotting follows Renton (Ewan McGregor) and his eccentric friends—including Spud (Ewen Bremner), Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert Carlyle), and Tommy (Kevin McKidd)—as they navigate heroin addiction in Edinburgh. No matter how hard Renton tries to break free from his disastrous life, the drugs (and his friends) always pull him back. In some cases, it means he has to get dirty and swim in the world’s most disgusting toilet.
Trainspotting’s secret weapon is director Danny Boyle. Boyle’s eclectic soundtrack of punk and pop enhances the grittiness and chaos of the movie. The film’s frantic pace never slows down, with the highs and lows of an adrenaline rush mirroring a drug high. Trainspotting is a dark movie, but the stellar cast and ambitious direction elevate the grim material. Trainspotting is the toughest movie on the list to stream, so your best bet is to rent or buy it off YouTube.
Trainspotting
- Release Date
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August 9, 1996
- Runtime
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94 minutes
- Director
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Danny Boyle
- Writers
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John Hodge, Irvine Welsh
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Jonny Lee Miller
Sick Boy
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2
The Silence of the Lambs (February 14, 1991 – 35 years)
The movie that will change your viewpoint on Tom Petty’s American Girl is The Silence of the Lambs, Jonathan Demme’s groundbreaking psychological thriller based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris. Jodie Foster stars as Clarice Starling, a young FBI trainee recruited to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a genius psychiatrist and serial-killing cannibal stuck inside a hospital for the criminally insane. Starling hopes Dr. Lecter can help her catch a killer of her own, “Buffalo Bill,” who skins his female victims.
In only 16 minutes on screen, Hopkins gives one of the most famous performances in cinematic history. With every word, Lecter sends a chill down your spine. It’s the perfect balance between horror and thriller, backed by a mysterious story with more twists than an Agatha Christie book. For fans of the Oscars, The Silence of the Lambs is one of three movies to win the Big Five: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The Silence of the Lambs
- Release Date
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February 14, 1991
- Runtime
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119 minutes
- Director
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Jonathan Demme
- Writers
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Ted Tally, Thomas Harris
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Jodie Foster
Clarice Starling
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Anthony Hopkins
Dr. Hannibal Lecter
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Scott Glenn
Jack Crawford
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1
Taxi Driver (February 8, 1976 – 50 years)
Most movies struggle to gain a spot on a “best of” list. Scorsese’s Taxi Driver does not have that problem. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Taxi Driver has strong claims for Scorsese’s best movie, Robert De Niro’s best performance, the best movie of the last 50 years, the best movie of the 1970s, the best New York City movie, and finally, the best movie ever made. Again, these lists are subjective, but they would lose credibility without Taxi Driver’s inclusion.
Travis Bickle (De Niro) is a former war vet and insomniac who drives a New York City cab at night. The more Travis drives the cab, the more his mental health deteriorates, as his outlook on the world becomes polluted with ideas of violence and narcissism. Feeling he must rid the world of evil, Travis plans to assassinate an important politician. Taxi Driver is unapologetically tense, as the audience witnesses a man lose his mind over the 114-minute runtime. It’s not a date-night movie, but I guarantee it’s a better option than the film Travis picked for his night out with Betsy (Cybill Shepherd).
Taxi Driver
- Release Date
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February 9, 1976
- Runtime
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114 minutes
- Director
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Martin Scorsese
- Writers
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Paul Schrader
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Robert De Niro
Travis Bickle
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If you need more inspiration, check out a list of movies coming to Netflix in 2026, which includes Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Plus, look out for a crazy-but-true documentary about a secret mall apartment.
