Photo Credit (Pixabay)

So many movies are available on streaming sites; the question is, how many of them can be considered classics? For a surefire entertaining viewing experience, we have compiled a list of 35 films that are over 25 years old and have left an indelible mark on popular culture and the history of film. So, why not use this essential filmography as a crash course in filmmaking?

Take stock of your viewing history before compiling a personal list of films to watch. Be sure to include classics starring Humphrey Bogart, Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn, and Charlie Chaplin, as well as works by acclaimed filmmakers like Mike Nichols, Francis Ford Coppola, and Steven Spielberg. No matter your taste, you should watch each of these at least once in your lifetime. They will all bring back fond memories and provide interesting discussion starters at cocktail parties. Watch them online or, when the weather permits, set up a makeshift outdoor movie theater in your lawn.

When you’ve finished watching these 35 films that we think are the greatest of all time, we have more suggestions for you, including a list of the finest 90s films, feel-good flicks, and musicals of all time.

The 1941 film Citizen Kane
Find out what the infamous newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane meant when he whispered the word “Rosebud” on his deathbed by following his life as it unfolds.

The 1942 Casablanca
This legendary film stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick, a nightclub owner in Casablanca who rescues his long-lost love Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) and her husband from an imminent peril. Experience the captivating storyline and unforgettable dialogue, such as “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid.”

Lights of the City (1931)
A proper cinema education would not be lacking in a tribute to Charlie Chaplin, the finest silent film comedian of all time. Love blossoms between the “Tramp” and a beautiful blind flower girl in City Lights. Hilarity abounds as the tramp becomes entangled in a web of deceit in his pursuit of her affection and the preservation of her livelihood. This film is so full of heart that you won’t even notice if the language isn’t there.

Oz the Great and Powerful (1939)
Along with her friends Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion, Dorothy sets out on a fantastic journey back to Oz with them. As a result of the Wicked Witch of the West’s many plots, the trio is forced to flee.

A Film About the Godfather Released in 1972
Michael Corleone, an obstinate son, receives the family business from his aging boss father, Vito. Francis Ford Coppola’s first installment in his The Godfather film series, which saw Marlon Brando take home the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance as Vito Corleone.

Bringing Joy to the World (1965)
Musical masterpiece about a young, hesitant nun named Maria who, when hired to babysit the wild von Trapp children, gets more than she bargained for from the stern grandmother, Georg. As the Nazis draw near, the von Trapp family decides to organize a singing group called the Family Singers in the hopes of evading capture.

As I Lay Dying (1962)
To Kill a Mockingbird, adapted from Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1960 book, follows Scout Finch and her pals from childhood as they eavesdrop on Boo Radley, a neighbor. Meanwhile, her dad stood by. Atticus Finch, played by Gregory Peck, is a revered widower and lawyer who is fighting for the rights of an innocent black man. As a result of the trial, the kids see firsthand how harmful racism and prejudice can be.

Musical 1961’s West Side Story
In this musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the legendary love story is set in contemporary New York City in the 1960s. On the upper west side, racial tensions were on full display as the Puerto Rican Sharks fought the white Jets for control of the field. While everything is going downhill, Tony and Maria meet, fall in love, and make everyone question why they are fighting. Featuring Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s music and lyrics, Rita Moreno won an Oscar for her performance.

A New Hope in the Star Wars Saga (1977)
The unforgettable first “episode” of Star Wars, billed as an “American space opera film,” introduces us to a charming ensemble of characters. With the help of the Millennium Falcon’s captain, Han Solo, two adorable droids named R2-D2 and C-3PO, and a gigantic Chewbacca (Chewy), we embark on a galactic quest to rescue Princess Leia, who is being kept captive by the infamous Darth Vader. George Lucas invites us into an anthology that tests the protagonists’ courage, camaraderie, loyalty, and capacity to distinguish between good and evil. You can tell this will be a classic for all time just by looking at the extent of the Star Wars fans now.

The Eve Story (1950)
Aspiring young starlet Eve gets into Broadway icon Margot Channing’s inner circle and wins her favor. Taking Eve under her wing, Margot realizes that Eve wants more than just companionship and advice—she wants Margot’s career! With every part she seems to lose, Margot realizes that. As Margot Channing, Bette Davis gives a performance that garnered her an Oscar nomination.

The 1950 film Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a sobering drama about the consequences that can befall a famous silent film actor as his shine begins to fade with age. A young, aspiring screenwriter is hired by an aging starlet who wants him to pen her comeback film role. Billy Wilder (Some Like It Hot, The Apartment) wrote the script. Chaos, betrayal, and catastrophe follow his erroneous belief that he is in control of the relationship. Definitely a Hollywood classic.

The 1958 Universal Vertigo
If you’ve never watched any of Alfred Hitchcock’s anthologies, I would recommend Vertigo as an introduction. There are countless films in his canon that may be deemed classics. There should be more mind-bending and less terror. In this film, Jimmy Stewart stars as a former police officer who, despite his phobia of heights, accepts a job to prevent the suicide of a young woman. In this cinematic masterpiece, which has breathtaking broad panoramas of the San Francisco Bay area, Hitchcock exposes that the job is not what it looked.

From 1967’s The Graduate
Mrs. Robinson is a family acquaintance, and her much older wife has an affair with Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate. When Ben falls for Mrs. Robinson’s daughter, his already convoluted life takes a turn for the worst. He is aimless and wondering what comes next. Enjoy the film’s Oscar-winning direction by Mike Nichols, superb acting by Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, and Simon & Garfunkel’s score while you’re at it.

“Chinatown” from 1975
An unexperienced private investigator finds himself in a bit of a jam when a woman hires him to look into her husband’s affairs. As Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) investigates what he believes to be a simple case of adultery, he becomes entangled in a complex web of familial strife, municipal corruption, and murder. In this noir-style picture reminiscent of The Maltese Falcon, Jack Nicholson delivers a performance that won him a Golden Globe.

A Rainy Day Song (1952)
When silent film power couple Don (Gene Kelly) and Lina (Jean Hagen) find out that Lina is sound-ready and Don isn’t, they’re in for a tough ride during the difficult transition from silent films to the “talkies” in Hollywood. Due to Lina’s inability to sound like the movie star she portrays on screen—despite taking diction classes—the talented actress Kathy (Debbie Reynolds) is enlisted to conduct covert voice-over work. This charming picture, co-directed by Gene Kelly, is packed of musical numbers, dance numbers, humor, and, of course, that iconic dancing scene in the rain!

Amid the Darkness of Night (1967)

In order to uncover the truth, Black Philadelphia police detective Virgil Tibbs must team up with the racist police chief who wrongfully convicted him of murder. As they journey through rural Mississippi and see people from all walks of life, they encounter racial tensions, class battles, and the surprising alliances and betrayals of those they least expected. This picture, which included an Oscar-winning performance by Sydney Poitier, was significant because it had a black male protagonist and because it exposed institutional prejudice during the height of the civil rights movement.

The 1959 film Some Like It Hot
Jack Lemon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe all turn in outstanding performances in this comedic frolic written and directed by Billy Wilder. The film stars Lemon and Curtis as two singers, one female and one male, who witness a mob murder and flee to Florida in disguise. As their paths diverge, one becomes entangled with Monroe, a charming and beautiful bandmate, while the other falls victim to the schemes of a multi-millionaire.

Odyssey: The Motion Picture (1968)

Stanley Kubrick’s famous science fiction epic is based on a short story by Arthur C. Clarke and follows a mysterious black obelisk as it bridges the gap between the past and the future. The HAL computer system on the space station quickly becomes an adversary to the astronauts on a perplexing mission. The bizarre places this film goes are a result of a battle between humans and machines.

Take the High Road (1989)
Do the Right Thing, widely considered a masterwork by Spike Lee, takes place over the course of one summer day in Brooklyn’s mostly African American neighborhood “Bed Stuy” and examines the racial tensions that arise there. The Library of Congress recognized this film as “culturally significant,” and it received two Oscar nominations.

During 1954’s On the Waterfront
Terry Malloy is a dock worker and aspiring boxer played by the Oscar-winning Marlon Brando. In order to testify about the local mob leader’s control of the docks, Terry, who is under the heel of the boss, must team up with a priest from the area and a young woman whose brother was killed. Terry intends to take a chance and testify himself, even if his attorneys have warned him against it.

The Seven Dwarfs and Snow White (1937)

Walt Disney Productions’ inaugural feature-length animated film, this revolutionary picture broke new ground. A young princess named Snow White had to flee from her envious stepmother in this Grimm fable. She finds sanctuary with a charming and eccentric band of dwarfs. Will Snow White be able to escape the Wicked Queen before she marries Prince Charming? Would the kiss of genuine love be enough to rescue her?

Leaving on a Jet Plane (1939)
The epic Civil War saga of irritable Scarlett O’Hara and her many lovers is told in Gone with the Wind, an adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel. Despite its size and the sheer number of individuals that worked on it, this film had some disturbing themes and visuals. Hattie McDaniel’s outstanding performance as Mammy earned her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar and made history as the first Oscar to be presented to an African American.

The Stagecoach (1939)
In this revolutionary western by John Huston, a motley crew of adventurers traverses the American West. Ringo Kid, played by John Wayne, is an outlaw who, along with his fellow travelers, faces an impending Apache attack.

The 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia
The epic historical drama is based on T.E. Lawrence’s life. Lawrence, whom the British despatched to Arabia to translate and act as a go-between in their conflict with the Turks.

Arrogant Without a Reason (1955)
Classic James Dean picture about troubled teen Jim Stark who is trying to make a fresh start at school and in his new town, but the area has its own set of difficulties. After developing feelings for a local girl (Natalie Wood) and befriending a social outcast at school, he finds himself entangled with the town bully, and his problems never seem to go away. The vintage drag racing will keep you there, but the classic James Dean smoldering glances will draw you in.

“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” set in 1966
Legendary bandits and bandits-turned-heroes are the focus of this film as they flee to Bolivia from an unsuccessful train heist.

A Place to Call Home (1960)
The extramarital affairs of the firm bosses are funded by a man’s (Jack Lemmon) flat. He finds out that the lady he has feelings for—Shirley MacLaine—is engaged with his boss’s mistress when he discovers that his manager is using him for promotions. Is his career more important than love?

“Dr. No” from 1962
Witness the birth of the Bond legend in this debut film starring Sean Connery as the iconic character. Get ready to travel to Jamaica with James Bond as he faces off against the mysterious Dr. No, boss of the infamous crime syndicate “Spectre.” This action-packed adventure has Bond girls, classic automobiles, and an eerie, diabolical lair that would later serve as inspiration for the Austin Powers films.

Kong the Great (1933)
While filming on an isolated island in the Indian Ocean, the locals kidnap the actress and director and plan to sacrifice her to Kong, the enormous gorilla thought to be a deity. Kong is captured and sent to New York City until she is rescued, and that’s when the harm starts! There have been innumerable sequels to this monster flick, and the iconic poster featuring the Empire State Building and New York City from it continues to circulate.

Comedic Girl (1968)
Barbara Streisand won an Oscar for her portrayal of the charming and delightful Fanny Brice, who goes from being a vaudeville bit player to a Broadway star. Her marriage to Nick (Omar Sharif) is troubled and disheartening, despite her successful job. Featuring timeless Stuart charm, songs, and humor.

“Annie Hall” from 1977
Diane Keaton’s portrayal of nightclub singer Annie Hall is the film’s shining light, despite the film’s dubious connections to Woody Allen. Annie Hall was unique among romantic comedies of the era in the easygoing and authentic manner it portrayed real-life conversations and relationships between men and women. Featuring cameos by Christopher Walken, Shelley Duvall, and Paul Simon, it won the Oscar for Best Picture.

Filmed in 1975, Jaws
Director Steven Spielberg’s breakout hit Jaws was the first of its type at the box office and temporarily rendered us all waterphobic. Amity Island is a little village on the coast of Great White Shark Island, and the shark has been terrorizing swimmers there. Along with a scientist (Richard Dreyfuss), a quirky boat captain (Robert Shaw), and the police chief (Roy Scheider), they set out on a quest to catch the monster. With just a few notes, John Williams creates an eerie score. Uh oh! Uh oh!

The 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Adapted from Truman Capote’s novel, Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) inhabits a fantastical realm where tiaras and pearls abound and breakfast is enjoyed while gazing out the Tiffany windows. While on the hunt for a rich husband to marry, a high-class escort encounters a budding writer in her building who threatens her entire worldview.

The 1937 Duck Soup

Duck Soup, starring the Marx Brothers, is a hilarious tale of national leaders and spies who find themselves embroiled in a power struggle between rival nations. Anyone interested in early slapstick should watch it.

The 1957 film 12 Angry Men
An avant-garde picture for its period, 12 Angry Men follows a jury as they deliberate over a teenager’s death sentence case. The sole setting is the jury room, where we observe heated arguments and the lone juror (Henry Fonda) questioning whether they have heard all the evidence. Every second counts as they make this decision, since they know their lives are in jeopardy. Skillfully helmed by Sidney Lumet.