When prompted to name their favorite film or television show — one that they feel confident enough to defend to the grave — the members of the graduating class of The Daily Californian’s Arts & Entertainment department did not hesitate. Be it Michael Lehmann’s 1989 cult hit or the franchise following the most well-known seafarer around, each of these selections is one our departing students hold near and dear. For them, these picks provide inspiration, inspire awe, exemplify “high” or “low” art and, ideally, leave space for a few chuckles in between. So grab your weapon of choice — cutlass sword, Good Samaritan gun or standard lightsaber — and take a trip down superlative lane to cast your votes for the Best Of these exhilarating selections.

— Ryan Tuozzolo

Why ‘Heathers’ remains the best film of all time

… for all the saccharine teen romances that end with a diamond earring or musical number, there are just as many that end, well, explosively.

— Caroline Smith

There’s simply nothing out there that compares to the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise

For me, “Pirates of the Caribbean” defined the best of what blockbusters could be.

— Shannon O’Hara

But given that “Star Wars” is the reason why I love movies, the best entry in the franchise is, by association, my favorite film.

— Harrison Tunggal

Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Hellboy’ films are the pinnacle of the superhero genre

These two movies are rich in detail and an antidote for the often empty superhero films that are getting pumped out today.

— Camryn Bell

‘Sunshine Sento-Sake’ is the best show to enjoy slowly

The audience shares in the deep joy of carelessness, of letting go of responsibilities with Utsumi. But then, at the end of every episode, his phone rings.

— Charlie Kruse