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We’ve compiled a list of other timeless films for you to enjoy, regardless of whether you’re a vintage movie enthusiast who has devoted endless hours to marathon viewings or you’re a beginner who simply wants to get a taste of cinema history—and the films that shaped it. There has never been a better moment to see some of the greatest movies ever made, whether your taste is for an early romantic comedy (How to Steal a Million), a suspenseful drama about a syndicate of organized crime (The Godfather), or a psychological thriller that redefined the genre of horror (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane). All of these movies are actually entertaining, give you a strong dose of nostalgia, and will make you seem more fascinating at cocktail parties.

(1939) Gone With the Wind

In the first “sweeping epic,” Vivien Leigh plays the courageous Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara, who falls in love with Clark Gable’s Rhett Butler during the Civil War. Although it has been attacked for its racial politics, supporting actress Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American to receive an Academy Award, making it one of the most memorable movies ever filmed. (It also won best picture, defeating Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stagecoach, Wuthering Heights, and The Wizard of Oz, among others, in what may be the most competitive Oscar field ever.)

(1939) The Wizard of Oz

No location compares to home, and no timeless film is as cherished as Dorothy’s Adventures in Oz. Wicked and good witches, scarecrows, tinmen, and cowardly lions, oh my, are just a few of the character types and storylines that the movie left its mark on. Judy Garlard’s stunning rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is the icing on the cake.

Casablanca (1942)

The Godfather and Casablanca have the most quoted screenplays ever. Directed by Michael Curtiz, this WWII classic tells the tale of lovers torn apart by war and reunited in a remote Moroccan piano bar—of all the gin joints in the world—between Scandinavian beauty Ingrid Bergman and rough guy Humphrey Bogart.

Tiffany’s Breakfast (1961)

With her long black gown, sophisticated updo, and iconic black sunglasses, Audrey Hepburn became a fashion symbol owing to Blake Edwards’s comedy about girl-about-town Holly Golightly, a favorite of dorm-room posters and Halloween costumes. (She also looks great in a trench coat.) One of the most fashionable movies of the 20th century, it is based on a Truman Capote book.

Arabian Lawrence (1962)

Peter O’Toole plays the lead role in David Lean’s expansive 70mm desert epic, which tells the story of T.E. Lawrence, the British archaeologist, military officer, and liaison to the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Try to see those breathtaking settings and O’Toole’s baby blues on the big screen if you can. It was filmed in Morocco, Spain, Jordan, and England.

The 1961 film West Side Story

Sound of Music director Robert Wise and choreographer Jerome Robbins directed this musical about gangs in New York City. In this updated version of Romeo and Juliet, the Sharks and Jets dance their way through the streets. Some of the greatest songs of the time were written by Stephen Sondheim and composed by Leonard Bernstein.

Kane, Citizen (1941)
Although it’s difficult to live up to the moniker “best film ever made,” Orson Welles’ portrayal of a crazy publishing magnate truly revolutionized a whole industry. Welles was the first to use chiaroscuro lighting and deep focus in his films. The life story of publishing mogul William Randolph Hearst served as his inspiration, but you’ll have to see it for yourself to understand what “rosebud” really means.

Pyscho (1960)

In a career of masterpieces, Alfred Hitchcock’s most infamous picture was his experiment with exploitation filmmaking, which demonstrated that the Master of Suspense was also the Master of Marketing. It also permanently altered showers. Bernard Herrmann’s shrieking strings had a lasting impact on film music, while Anthony Perkins’ Norman Bates remains one of the most iconic characters in cinema history.

Without a Cause Rebel (1955)

In his brief life, Hollywood legend James Dean starred in just three movies. The most iconic and early film representation of adolescent angst is Nicholas Ray’s Rebel Without a Cause. The film’s fabled status stems from the terrible early deaths of Dean’s co-stars, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo.

The 1961 film A Raisin in the Sun

This classic adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking play, the first by a Black woman to appear on Broadway, stars the legendary Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, and Ruby Dee. The play tells the story of a Chicago family whose lives are about to change when they receive a life insurance check, a significant financial windfall.

Laura (1944)

The gorgeous Gene Tierney plays the title character in Otto Preminger’s Laura, a murder victim with whom the investigator develops feelings while looking into her death. The picture is a combination of family melodrama and film noir. Clifton Webb and future horror mogul Vincent Price are among the many fantastic character actors in supporting parts of this twisted story.

Women (1939)

George Cukor’s The Women, which explored divorce, fashion, and complex female relationships, was incredibly progressive for 1939. Moreover, there are no speaking roles for guys in it! Your next girls’ night movie should be The Women, starring Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell (don’t bother with the 2008 version, though).

The Godfather (1972)

The first movie of Francis Ford Coppola’s epic Mafia trilogy, which was based on Mario Puzo’s novel, made Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino famous and introduced us to a brand-new Marlon Brando as Don Corleone. The mafia movie you can’t resist, the one that made you think of Brando with a thousand marble-mouthed images

1946’s The Best Years of Our Lives

When it comes to movies portraying troops who return home from the war and discover that reintegrating into society is difficult, William Wyler’s World War II film has established itself as the benchmark. Harold Russell, a real war veteran who lost his hands and received an Honorary Oscar for his performance, even co-stars in the movie.

St. Louis: Meet Me (1944)

Judy Garland may have given her best performance on screen in the sentimental musical Meet Me in St. Louis. As Esther Smith, she plays one of four sisters who are hesitant to leave their Midwestern homes and relocate to New York. She met her future husband, director Vincente Minelli, on the set of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which she became a holiday staple with her performance.

Holiday Roman (1953)

Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck touring Rome? Swoon. Peck portrays a journalist who stumbles upon Hepburn, an anonymous princess wishing for some freedom, in William Wyler’s picture. Hepburn’s portrayal in one of the most cherished romances in history earned her an Oscar for Best Actress.

In 1954, Seven Samurai

This tale of a bandit-infested village that recruits seven samurai to defend itself is arguably the most well-known of renowned filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s films and is regarded as a foundational piece of cinema. If the plot sounds familiar, it was also the inspiration for the western classic The Magnificent Seven.

1959’s Some Like It Hot

Billy Wilder’s crossdressing comedy best showcased Marilyn Monroe’s keen comedic skills, but she had many noteworthy roles. Some Like It Hot, one of the funniest films of the 20th century, co-stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, who wear drag to evade mob assassins.

One Night It Happened (1934)

Back when sound-assisted films were still referred to as “talkies,” this fast-talking romantic comedy, which was directed by Frank Capra, created the genre known as the “screwball comedy.” Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert portrayed a sensual, sophisticated, and intelligent romance that was shockingly progressive for its day in one of the first road films ever made.

(1965) The Sound of Music

Based on the actual wartime experiences of the Von Trapp family singers, The Sound of Music, directed by Robert Wise, is one of the last great roadshow musicals. Julie Andrews plays the role of Maria, a trained nun who becomes governor. This musical is among the most cherished of all time because of the songs written by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Stagecoach (1939)

One of the most important Westerns ever filmed, John Ford’s classic follows a group of strangers as they go through perilous Apache country on a coach. This was the first movie that Ford shot in Monument Valley, and it starred John Wayne as the Ringo Kid, who gave a breakthrough performance that made him a star.

Northwest By North (1959)

If Cary Grant and his iconic gray suit didn’t outrun cars, trains, and airplanes in this mystery of mistaken identity, Tom Cruise wouldn’t be able to do what he does. In addition to being the model for today’s action-hero movies, Hitchcock’s suspense thriller is more stylish, humorous, and bizarre than the majority of contemporary blockbusters.

The 1957 film 12 Angry Men

Everyone who may ever serve on a jury should watch Sidney Lumet’s gripping one-room drama, which centers on a guy (Henry Fonda) who persuades every other juror to support his opposing viewpoint. An intriguing character analysis and dramatic writing lesson.

1952’s Singin’ in the Rain

In addition to being a parody of the shift from silent to sound cinema, this MGM musical, which starred Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, was representative of the lavish productions of the 1950s. But we are grateful for that wonderful sound, since without it, we wouldn’t have such amazing song and dance numbers as “Good Morning” and “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Indemnity Double (1944)
Based on a Raymond Chandler novel, this Billy Wilder-written and directed movie stars Barbara Stanwyck as femme fatale Phyllis. The poor simp was never able to resist her charms, and Fred MacMurray plays the square insurance agent who is lured into her scheme. Double Indemnity is a chic and seductive introduction to classic noir cinema.

1960’s La Dolce Vita

In Federico Fellini’s epic, Marcello Mastroianni plays the sexiest role of Marcello Rubini, a journalist who, over the course of a week, falls into a variety of escapades with gorgeous cinema stars and other glitterati of Rome. Who could forget the image of Anita Ekberg, the Scandinavian goddess, swanning in high fashion in the Trevi Fountain?

1951’s An American in Paris

French ballerina Leslie Caron (later known as Gigi) made her film debut in Vincente Minelli’s musical, which starred Gene Kelly as an American painter residing overseas. Minelli creates a beautifully colorful and surreal setting with music by George and Ira Gershwin. This narrative of a love triangle in the City of Light culminates with a stunning “dream ballet” climax.

In 1938, The Lady Vanishes

The Lady Vanishes, which was produced in his home country of England before his arrival in the United States, showcases Alfred Hitchcock’s skill at presenting suspenseful mystery stories and his sense of humor. The feisty Iris, played by Margaret Lockwood, is an Englishwoman who investigates the disappearance of a fellow traveler on a sleeper train in chilly Eastern Europe.

Terry Malloy, played by Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954), “could have been a contender” in the boxing ring, but Brando’s performance in Elia Kazan’s movie catapulted him to the top. For his Stanislaski-taught realist portrayal of the longshoreman who battles union corruption, Brando received an Oscar for Best Actor. The movie also took home seven other awards.

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford co-star in the classic horror film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. An old Hollywood mansion is the home of two elderly sister-child stars, one of whom is wheelchair-bound. However, one is preparing a spectacular return that excludes her sibling, while the other is planning retaliation for the collision that left her disabled.

Rebecca (1940)

Joan Fontaine plays a newlywed who is confined to a remote mansion and haunted by the memory of her husband’s deceased first wife in Hitchcock’s debut American picture. Hitch’s iconic style adds to the scary atmosphere of this classic psychological mystery thriller, which is based on the Daphne du Maurier novel.

1946’s It’s a Wonderful Life

Despite being a Christmas film, the timeless film, which stars James Stewart and Donna Reed, has a message that is relevant at any time of year. On Christmas Eve, George Bailey, a decent man, has a crisis and declares that he wishes he had never been born. In this incredibly influential heartwarmer that was, astonishingly, a box office failure when the movie first came out, an angel kindly shows him what the world would have been like without him.