Texas Tech University graduate Andy Fickman is one of Disney’s top directors. In only a few short years of film-making, Fickman has propelled himself into the position of being one of their most profitable and trusted helmers, his 2007 comedy The Game Plan starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson earning $147 million worldwide.

His new movie, released today is Race to Witch Mountain, a “re-imaging” of the popular 1975 movie Escape to Witch Mountain that went straight to the top of the U.S. box office in March. Only this week he has made another deal with Disney to make the female centric rom-com You Again, which he will film this Summer.

Finding time in his insanely busy schedule promoting Race to Witch Mountain around Europe, the incredibly cool Fickman managed to send OWF his DVD choices for before we jetted him off to the mysterious, deserted island of Movie Castaway.

If I, Andy Fickman, was trapped on a desert island and I could have the luxury of retaining five movies, with the assumption being there’ll be enough electricity to provide me with DVD and TV viewing privileges, I think the following five would top my list:

ANIMAL HOUSE (1978)

Few movies are funnier upon repeat viewings and Animal House is the gold standard for comedy. And let’s face it, if I’m stuck on a desert island, even one with electricity, laughter will be crucial medicine to combat the mounting fear that I will never get off the island. Plus, there are tons of boobs in this movie, which will also help combat island fever.

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)

Hard for me to find a movie that gets my blood pumping for adventure more than this film. Plus, on the island, it will serve as a bit of a MacGyver-esque inspirational tool. Whenever I think the island will have the better of me, I simply must remind myself that Indy has been in far worse situations and he survived.  Plus, as island insanity sets in, I can repeatedly hum the theme song.

STAR WARS (1977)

Few movies captured my imagination more as a kid than Star Wars. I was transported to another world in a galaxy far, far away. And it seems based on how depressing life on my desert island might be, even with electricity, dreaming of locations away from my current sand trap will help keep my mind lucid.

Also, when I tire of humming the Raiders of the Lost Ark theme, I can dive into the Star Wars theme thus expanding my desert island playlist. Technically it should be noted I would include Animal House’s drunken, rollicking rendition of “Louie Louie” to the radio of my mind. But much like everyone else on the planet, I don’t have a clue what those lyrics are.

THE WILD BUNCH (1969)

Pound for pound, no one delivers the goods like Peckinpah. And he raised the notion of violence to an artistic high in this film.  There might be many a night that I spend in my isolated fortress on the water imagining some horrific way in which I might meet my demise. At which point I will pop in The Wild Bunch and feel better that the odds of being ripped apart by 500 bullets seems pretty slim. And I will go to bed that night upon my leafy palm fronds and dream of happier times.

JAWS (1975)

Finally, my last movie of choice remains one of my all time favorites. And that is the genius that is Jaws. Aside from providing me with an additional, recognizable theme song for Radio Fickman, Jaws will serve as a daily reminder that I’m better sitting my ass down on my quaint and comfy, electricity laden desert island than taking two steps into that ocean where a giant man eating shark named Bruce could snap me in half with a blink of his oversized eye.

And that my friends, represents Andy Fickman’s desert island video collection. 

GO SEE RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN NOW in theaters everywhere!!

Movie Castaway runs every Friday where those with links to the film industry let us know which five films they would take with them if they had to stay on a desert island. You can find the Movie Castaway Archives Here.