There are three things that are guaranteed in life: death, taxes, and errands. Whether it’s picking up the kids from soccer, going grocery shopping, folding laundry, or washing dishes, we all have responsibilities and chores we need to do. Many people try to get some enjoyment during these tasks by listening to a podcast or some music, but sometimes a film fan still needs their fix.
Luckily, there are a number of movies you can download onto your device or have on in the background that you can just listen to and enjoy while doing your tasks, without the need to even look at the screen. Here are some of the best movies to “watch” without actually paying attention to the visuals.
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
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This can be seen as a controversial pick given that Star Wars has been praised for decades for its practical effects, space fantasy action, and costuming, but hear me out. Well, actually, hear the film itself out. Star Wars is rich with a wonderful score that helps illustrate the on-screen action beautifully and the dialogue, while not Shakespeare if we’re being honest, does a great job of simply conveying what is happening during the scenes, accompanied by vivid sound effects. While it’s obviously best to watch the movie, a person can still enjoy the adventure like a radio play without feeling lost.
12 Angry Men
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This classic movie is based on a stage play within a single setting, letting the dialogue dictate the plot and the action. One of the cornerstones of the courtroom drama, 12 Angry Men can be easily listened to like a podcast given each character’s distinct vocal performance and perspective. Not a knock to the filmmakers at all, but this movie can be enjoyed blindfolded and there would be little difference in the experience.
Clerks
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This Gen X slacker comedy classic is much like 12 Angry Men in that it’s dialogue-driven and doesn’t take place in many settings, but that’s where the likenesses end. The rants and soliloquies of Dante and Randall provide both poignant drama and crass humor in equal measure, which is the reason why the film has the cult status it has earned. It also launched director Kevin Smith’s career as a filmmaker and a podcaster.
The Princess Bride
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Listening to The Princess Bride is much like listening to Star Wars in that the score and sound effects help your brain interpret the action. However, it is the witty dialogue of the movie that helps keep your attention along with a literal narrator in the form of Peter Falk’s performance as the grandfather telling his grandson the story. The clash of swords, the funny jokes, the melodramatic reads, and the growl of Rodents of Unusual Size (ROUS’s) make this an easy and enjoyable listening experience.
The Shawshank Redemption
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The pitter-patter of the rain, the clank of prison bars, the cracking sound of rocks being broken, the effective score, and the engaging gravitas of Morgan Freeman’s narration make The Shawshank Redemption a great cinematic auditory experience. Hearing the tale of Andy Dufresne's unjust tenure in the prison system can be as engaging as listening to an audiobook version of this Stephen King story.
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A family makes heart shapes with their hands at sunset
Ketel Marte was brought to tears during an MLB game after facing a shameful fan taunt.
Baseball manager's poignant support for a player brought to tears after shameful fan taunt
Whether they’re expecting perfection from their favorite players or, worse, behaving callously toward opposing teams, sports fans often forget that athletes are human beings. But athletic competition has the ability to unify and uplift, even amid such painful and unpleasant encounters. Take, for example, a major-league baseball game held June 24, 2025 between the home team Chicago White Sox and visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.
A shameful low point occurred when Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was at bat in the seventh inning. Per ESPN, a fan reportedly yelled out a comment regarding Marte’s late mother, Elpidia Valdez, who died in a 2017 car accident in the Dominican Republic. Team personnel, including manager Torey Lovullo, then requested the 22-year-old fan be ejected. (Though he was remorseful and admitted his actions were inappropriate, according to an ESPN source, he was nonetheless banned indefinitely from all MLB ballparks.) "We commend the White Sox for taking immediate action in removing the fan," the MLB said in a statement. Marte reportedly declined to comment.
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While the fan’s behavior is inexcusable, it did spark a powerful and inspiring moment. After hearing the comment, Marte was visibly upset, prompting Lovullo to walk on the field, put his arm around him, and offer some words of encouragement. "[I said,] 'I love you, and I’m with you, and we’re all together, and you’re not alone,'" Lovullo said in a post-game interview, as documented by The Rich Eisen Show. "'No matter what happens, no matter what was said or what you’re heard, that guy is an idiot.’"
According to Arizona Republic, Lovullo heard the fan’s comment but didn’t want to repeat it. “I looked right at [Marte] when I heard,” he said. “I looked right at him, and he looked at the person, as well. He put his head down and I could tell it had an immediate impact on him, for sure."
Elsewhere in the post-game interview, the manager called the moment "terrible" and reflected on why he stood up for Marte. "Fans are nasty, and fans go too far sometimes," he said. "I love my players, and I’m gonna protect them…I’ve known Ketel for nine years. He’s had some unbelievably great moments and some hardships as well and some really tough moments in his life. I know those. At the end of the day, we’re human beings, and we have emotions. I saw him hurting, and I wanted to protect him."
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The following day, the Chicago White Sox X account sent out a message in support of Marte, writing, "We’re with you" and "Baseball is family." On The Rich Eisen Show, the show's host addressed the need to eradicate this kind of toxic athlete-fan interaction: "I was hearing [people saying], 'There’s no place for this in major league baseball.' There isn’t. There’s no place for this in our society. I understand that people are saying the MLB has got to do something about this. Fans have a right to heckle players—this is something that has happened forever…But there is a line."
In another recent, depressing sports moment with a beautiful coda, let’s look to Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. During the first quarter, Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon—a devastating injury that could potentially sideline him for most of the 2025-2026 season. Following the game, in a lovely display of sportsmanship, Thunder point-guard and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went to the Pacers locker room to check on his competitor. In a press conference, he said, "You just hate to see it, in sports in general. But in this moment, my heart dropped for him. I can't imagine playing the biggest game of my life and something like that happening. It’s so unfortunate."
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