What to watch tonight? 12 movies based on how much time you have

"What are we watching tonight?" The question comes back every evening, and the answer often takes longer than the movie. Our tip: start not from the genre, but from how much time you really have. Here are 12 safe bets, sorted by running time.

You have 90 minutes (or less)

Perfect on a weeknight, or before a not-too-late bedtime.

• Run Lola Run (1998, 1h21): an adrenaline-fueled thriller built like a video game.
• The Guilty (2018, 1h25): a breathless Danish thriller set entirely on the phone.
• A Quiet Place (2018, 1h30): pure tension.
• The Dinner Game (Le Dîner de cons, 1998, 1h20): the perfect French comedy.

You have 2 hours

The ideal length for a proper movie night.

• Parasite (2019, 2h12): Palme d'Or and Oscar for Best Picture, best seen knowing nothing.
• Arrival (2016, 1h56): smart, moving science fiction.

• The Intouchables (2011, 1h52): the feel-good movie that never disappoints.
• Whiplash (2014, 1h47): 1h47 of tension around a drum kit. Yes, really.

You have the whole evening

For a Friday, a Sunday or a night with no alarm the next morning.

• Interstellar (2014, 2h49)
• The Godfather (1972, 2h55)
• Heat (1995, 2h50)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001, 2h58)

The golden rule

Always add 15 minutes to a movie's running time: the time to settle in, find the platform and press play. A 2-hour movie started at 9:30 pm means bed at quarter to midnight. Choosing by running time is the best way to stop falling asleep before the ending.