8 Fantastic Films That Last 88 Minutes

      Here are eight excellent movies with a runtime of 88 minutes.

      A recent study indicates that 88 minutes is the ideal duration for a film. Talker Research conducted a survey with 2,000 respondents and discovered that while most people consider 88 minutes the perfect movie length, only 10 percent prefer films that last two hours or more. The study also found that older adults tend to have longer attention spans, with baby boomers favoring an average film length of 93 minutes.

      With that in mind, here are eight outstanding movies that have a runtime of 88 minutes.

      The Lion King

      Credit: Disney

      It’s no surprise that young children often have shorter attention spans than adults when it comes to watching movies.

      Fortunately, there’s the original Lion King, a timeless family classic that entertains kids with the antics of Timon and Pumbaa, while adults can appreciate its loose ties to Hamlet.

      The songs, composed by Elton John and Tim Rice, also contributed to its success on Broadway. The time passes quickly.

      Airplane!

      Paramount – Credit: Paramount

      If you’re in the mood for nonstop laughter for 88 minutes, this film is your best choice.

      This disaster movie parody, crafted by Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker, is packed with visual gags, double entendres, and fantastical situations, including our favorite joke featuring Barbara Billingsley and jive.

      We’ve discussed that joke extensively.

      Zombieland

      Columbia Pictures

      For a mix of comedy, action, horror, and absurdity, look no further than Zombieland.

      Director Ruben Fleischer’s energetic hit stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, and Emma Stone as survivors navigating a zombie apocalypse in an American wasteland.

      It also boasts one of the all-time greatest cameos, thanks to Bill Murray.

      Attack the Block

      StudioCanal UK

      A remarkable illustration of what can be achieved with a modest budget and an imaginative vision, Joe Cornish’s cult classic Attack the Block is a rapid-fire story about a South London gang defending themselves from aliens on Guy Fawkes Night.

      This film marked the acting debut of future Star Wars star John Boyega, featured above.

      While it garnered positive reviews, it had a lackluster box office performance upon its release in 2011, but its reputation and fanbase have significantly grown over the years.

      Rashomon

      Daiei Film

      Behold: one of the most revered and influential films ever made, which can be watched in the same time it takes many people to drive to and from work.

      Rashomon is Akira Kurosawa’s remarkable narrative—told and retold from various viewpoints—about a samurai’s murder. The characters reveal through their deceptions how they wish to be seen.

      Released in 1950, the film introduced a storytelling technique that has been adapted many times since, but rarely with such finesse and effect. The cast includes the legendary Toshirō Mifune.

      Paths of Glory

      United Artists

      Another classic, this early work by Stanley Kubrick presents one of the director’s most straightforward narratives.

      It features Kirk Douglas, who later starred in Kubrick’s Spartacus, as Colonel Dax, the commanding officer of French soldiers refusing to advance in a suicidal assault during World War I.

      He defends them against accusations of cowardice, allowing everyone to regain a piece of their humanity. All within just 88 minutes.

      Laura

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      Perhaps the most intricate film on this list, Laura follows the story of a young, beautiful, and talented executive, Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney), who is found murdered outside her apartment.

      The story unfolds through the perspective of columnist Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), who becomes her friend and tries to use his connections to assist her. But with this setup, the surprises are just beginning.

      The cast features a young Vincent Price, who plays it relatively straight instead of fully embracing his macabre horror persona. This Otto Preminger noir is also included in our list of classic 1940s films that remain enjoyable today.

      Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

      Lauren Films

      For the final entry on this list, let’s embrace the wild side for 88 minutes. Pedro Almódovar’s classic follows actress Pepa (Carmen Maura), who is abruptly dumped by her boyfriend without an explanation.

      This triggers a chaotic series of events that involve spiked gazpacho, a terrorist cell, a planned airplane hijacking, and an actual motorcycle hijacking.

      The film not only introduced a broader audience to Almodóvar's wild creativity but also to one of his favorite actors, Antonio Banderas.

      By the Way

      Sony Pictures

      Regrettably, the 2007 Al Pacino thriller 88 Minutes—where Pacino’s criminal profiler learns he has just