Living on the outskirts of a city, where picket fences and pink flamingos dot the landscape, in the so-called 'burbs, is an experience that many have sought to document.
Life in the suburbia is a complicated affair, thus making it fodder for many a director's high definition visions.
Here in no particular order is a list of the top ten movies centered on this place we call suburbia.
American Beauty: Directed by Sam Mendes, this film explores the devastation and unhappiness that lurks underneath the surface of a normal suburban family.
Perhaps it's the fact that Mendes is a Brit that the film is especially scathing, yet understated.
Kevin Spacey plays the unhappy husband trapped in a loveless marriage.
He is frustrated with his job, with his family and with himself.
He fantasizes about his daughter's attractive blonde friend, starts a marijuana habit and learns that in suburbia, salvation is often far away.
The film's brilliant cinematography warrants nothing less than an HD viewing.
Donnie Darko: This is an unconventional look at an all too conventional and mainstream suburbia.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays a sleep walking high school student who takes advice from a giant rabbit and becomes obsessed with wormholes and time travel.
This is well made piece of work, with a surrealistic undertone that gives the storyline a compelling edge.
Edward Scissorhands: Johnny Depp dons a pair of scissor hands and gobs of white makeup for this role in Tim Burton's bizarre ode to the cruelties and the wonders of life in suburbia.
Blue Velvet: David Lynch creates a perverse, dark cinescape with this movie.
It's brutal, eccentric and filled with depraved characters that will leave a lasting impression.
This isn't the type of movie you'd watch with your NFL loving, sports fanatic neighbor.
This movie plays on IFC and other movie channels on satellite TV.
Arlington Road: This is a thoughtful, well-made suspense thriller, which explores suburban mentality.
Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack play a seemingly innocuous, all American suburban couple, but in reality, they are right-wing domestic terrorists.
Jeff Bridges costars as the increasingly suspicious neighbor.
The ending is both startling and disquieting.
Clerks: Satirical, sarcastic and brilliant, this is Kevin Smith's first feature film.
Despite being shot for only 25k, Smith managed to make a clever commentary about modern life.
The film features two suburban slackers working at a convenience store and video shop.
There's lots of dialogue and off-beat characters.
It's definitely an interesting movie.
Suburbia: The name of this film says it all.
It's a stark look at the lives of suburban teenagers.
Ennui and a general languor envelop the cast, who have nothing better to do than hang out in front of a convenience store, venting about their failures, and ranting about satellite TV shows and popular culture.
It's a raw film, which is rough but honest.
Pleasantville: A clever, endearing story about the tolls of suburban niceties and rampant consumerism.
This film pokes fun at the state of values in both the late 1990's and the 1950's.
The Virgin Suicides: Sofia Coppola's directorial debut is a swansong to innocence lost.
It's a haunting and sweeping look at the lives of young adults who fall in love in a 1970's suburb.
This film should be watched in HD.
The Burbs: This comedy starring Tom Hanks is off the wall.
It's got cannibals and wacky neighbors.
For a more lighthearted look at suburbia, this movie is definitely a must-see.