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Everybody has their favorite films, but if you want to know what goes into crafting a good film, you should see some classics. It can be daunting to strive for a more diverse ethnic taste when watching movies. There are more than a hundred films to pick from, so it could be overwhelming to decide where to start. Fortunately, there are films that can serve as a guide to the art form by demonstrating mastery of the genre or key techniques; this holds true throughout all decades and genres of cinema.

The greatest films of all time are hard to put a number on. From scary horror flicks to animated children’s musicals, cinema covers a wide range of genres and styles. It is not necessary to view a mountain of films in order to have a deeper appreciation for cinema. To better understand various movements, genres, and styles, it is helpful to pick a small number of groundbreaking and iconic works. Among all time, these films rank among the very finest.

The 15 Films That Will Go Down in History As Classics In The Next Two Decades
These films have all the makings of a “classic” with their innovative action sequences, thought-provoking historical dramas, and the most nail-biting crime thriller of all time.

15
Arrival (1979)

The 1979 film Alien is a masterpiece in more than one area. With the elements of a haunted home story transplanted on a spaceship far from Earth, director Ridley Scott created a terrifyingly claustrophobic thriller from which there was no way out. The public’s fears are often the inspiration for horror films, and Alien was the first blockbuster in the space age to ask what the aliens out there might have in store for humanity. It also gave rise to a creature that has become instantly iconic in pop culture, and it did it all within the context of a haunted house.

James Cameron transformed Alien from a science fiction horror film into a science fiction action film as the franchise progressed. A more intellectual turn was taken by David Fincher and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Even though Scott made a triumphant return in 2012 with the prequel Prometheus, the original Alien still has the scariest parts. The film was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2002 by the Library of Congress after winning the Oscar for Visual Effects.

Even after 40 years, the Alien franchise is going strong. The release date of Alien: Romulus is slated for 2024.

14
How I Chose to Love the Bomb and Stop Worrying About Dr. Strangelove (1964)

From his war film Paths of Glory to his horror masterwork The Shining, Stanley Kubrick has a plethora of films that cinephiles should seek out. His hilarious nuclear war film, Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, is the one film that everyone should watch in order to get a greater appreciation for black comedy and satire. The director’s tense camerawork and unmatched sense for dramatic blocking are on full display in the film, but the language truly steals the stage.

Playing three roles with comical passion, Peter Sellers makes a compelling case for being the greatest comedy actor of all time.

Despite having a plot driven by Cold War tensions, Dr. Strangelove is still relevant today. The film depicts a nuclear war looming between the US and Russia, with the men in charge of the war rooms acting like complete and utter morons. Peter Sellers lays claim to the title of greatest comedy actor of all time with his cartoonishly enthusiastic portrayal of three distinct characters, satirizing the eccentricities of a courteous Brit, an arrogant American, and an unpredictable German. In 1989, it was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

13
A Woman Engulfed in Flames (2019)

Even though it isn’t a “classic movie,” Portrait of a Lady on Fire is undeniably a masterpiece of contemporary cinema. Encased in the breathtaking scenery of eighteenth-century France, Céline Sciamma’s period drama throbs with forbidden desire and the faraway prospect of liberation. It is a contemporary masterpiece. The artist-subject dynamic is front and center in Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a well-structured character study. Love, art, and sexual emancipation are all themes that it deftly weaves into its lively thoughts.

Although Sciamma’s musical choices are innovative, minimal, and transient, the climax at the end of Portrait of a Lady on Fire is truly memorable. French cinema, which includes such masterpieces as Breathless, The 400 Blows, and Army of Shadows, is largely introduced to moviegoers via this film. An Independent Spirit Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination went to Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

12
Crime Novels (1994)

The films of Quentin Tarantino are best appreciated as communal adventures. Pulp Fiction’s use of violence, humor, and unfiltered emotion was a nod to over a century of American film. Pulp Fiction became an independent cinematic landmark thanks to its non-linear narrative and interconnecting storyline structure, which set it apart from imitators. The characters in Pulp Fiction are so well developed that they go beyond the limitations of their genre. Nowadays, they are copied as frequently as Tarantino’s own ideas.

The narrative and dialogue are the movie’s greatest assets, setting it apart from similar works.

In 2024, one of Tarantino’s most treasured releases—the groundbreaking film—celebrated its 30th anniversary. While the film does follow two hitmen, its focus is more on the characters and their inner lives than on their job as enforcers in this seedy neighborhood. The narrative and dialogue are the movie’s greatest assets, setting it apart from similar works. In 2013, the National Film Registry was expanded to include it by the Library of Congress.

11
From 1994’s The Lion King

The Lion King exemplifies how movies may reimagine beloved tales. Much of the plot comes from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” but there are also biblical allusions to Moses and Jesus. Beautiful 2D animation reimagines the story in a completely fresh way, though. The film follows King Mufasa’s son Simba as he flees from his father’s murder, which he takes personally, and the horrific life he leads as a result. Before he can come back and take the throne, he must discover who he is.

With the help of arguably the greatest film score of all time, The Lion King showcases the spectacular spectacle of a stage musical—the crown jewel of Disney’s rebirth in the 1990s. Not only did the film earn nearly $1 billion globally, but it also took home two Oscars and four Grammys. In 2016, The Lion King was listed to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. Multiple sequels and a 2016 CGI remake were also born from the film.

10
Filmed in 1975, Jaws

Even before Jurassic Park and E.T. were made, there were films that were meant for children. Steven Spielberg’s blood-soaked horror The Extra-Terrestrial is about a rampaging killer shark. Jaws has all the necessary blood and tension to be considered a classic horror film, but unlike most monster flicks, the interpersonal interaction is really well-developed. The great white shark gets very little screen time, considering how intimidating it is. Because making the shark was a stressful part of filming, it’s probably the best that way.

Jaws has all the necessary blood and tension to be considered a classic horror film, but unlike most monster flicks, the interpersonal interaction is really well-developed.

Instead, the film hinges on the tension that arises as the protagonists—a police chief, an oceanographer, and a seasoned shark hunter—wait for the monster to materialize. Spielberg ushered in a new era of big-budget blockbusters with Jaws, which have appeared every summer since 1975, and the summer blockbuster is now a typical part of the cinema industry. Upon its addition to the National Film Registry in 2001, the Library of Congress took notice.

Ten Forgotten Classics That Actually Had Sequels
Surprisingly, there are sequels to cult classics like Grease, The Mask, and Donnie Darko, though they are not as well-known as the originals.

9
The 1942 Casablanca

Casablanca is a tragic love story that takes place during World War II. As the jaded American expat whose demons from the past keep popping up, Humphrey Bogart gives a superb performance as Rick. The plot is effortlessly carried along by the unparalleled chemistry between him and Ingrid Bergman, who plays his romantic interest, Ilsa. The melancholy tone and quotable dialogue of Casablanca culminate in a heartbreaking ending as Rick and Ilsa give up their love for a higher purpose.

Casablanca is ultimately not just a love story but also a story of second chances and personal growth. In addition to being a love tale set against the backdrop of World War II in a little town in Casablanca, the film is also a masterclass in the use of setting to set the stage for acting and storytelling. In 1989, the inaugural year of inductions, the Library of Congress added this cinematic classic to the National Film Registry. The film went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars.

8
Fantasy film Spirited Away
Although Spirited Away luxuriates in complexity, animation often focuses on pragmatism and economy due to its high cost. Each corner of Hayao Miyazaki’s vast canvas betrays a loving touch, and immersing oneself in his universe of magical beings and esoteric magic demands more than one watching. The style of the film is just as important as its substance, although there are a lot of lavish touches that aren’t really required for the story to progress. Unbelievable landscapes are brought to life by Miyazaki’s limitless imagination.

It took 22 years for Miyazaki to win his second Oscar, following Spirited Away’s historic win as the first Japanese anime to do so.

If you’re unfamiliar with Japanese animation, and especially Hayao Miyazaki’s work, this film is a great place to start. Miyazaki finally won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature again in 2023 with The Boy and the Heron, 22 years after Spirited Away became the first Japanese animation to do so. Additionally, it serves as a gateway film, leading viewers to numerous additional titles like Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, How’s Moving Castle, and countless more.

7
A Film About the Godfather Released in 1972

Francis Ford Coppola succeeded in making an audience feel sorry for a vicious criminal family with The Godfather. Although the Corleone family runs an unusual firm, they are human like everyone else and place a premium on integrity, devotion, and decency. Confidence is embraced by the audience by the dark and emotive style of The Godfather. The characters’ extreme particularity is ultimately what makes them popular. Even the most heartless survivalists might be sympathetically portrayed in the brutal and exciting film The Godfather.

If anything, the sequel improves upon the original. The Godfather Part II and The Godfather (1976) were both nominated for multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, with Robert De Niro taking home the trophy for Best Supporting Actor in the latter and Marlon Brando for Best Actor in the former, despite the fact that they played identical roles. Best Adapted Screenplay was also bestowed for both features. Although gangster films have been present since the silent film era, these particular films are still considered classics in the genre.

The Godfather Part II is an excellent film in its own right that continues the Corleone family’s story.

6
This Is the Life (1947)
The classic holiday film It’s a Wonderful Life has stood the test of time, even after seven decades since its release. The comforting embrace of It’s a Wonderful Life might be savored at least once every December, if not more often. This is in contrast to other films, even great ones, that lose their charm with repeated viewings. An emotionally wrenching drama, the film follows a guy who, after contemplating suicide, discovers the impact he has on the world and the people he cares about.

A powerful antidote to contemporary cynicism, the touching sentiments of It’s a Wonderful Life prove without a reasonable doubt that movies have an ethereal charm all their own.

It’s a fable with moral lessons that celebrates the mundane lives that we all lead, similar to those in Dickens’s and the great Greek plays. A powerful antidote to contemporary cynicism, the touching sentiments of It’s a Wonderful Life prove without a reasonable doubt that movies have an ethereal charm all their own. The film received five Oscar nominations before it fell into the public domain in 1974 due to non-renewal, which is why it gets re-aired on multiple networks throughout the holiday season.

5
Virus (2019)

Like many other recent classics, Parasite is only a great film in its own right. A dark narrative of defiance and deceit coexists with a class-conscious comedy of manners in this story. This peculiar duality is reflected in the Kim family, who are trapped between their insect-infested, half-subterranean house and the more privileged lifestyle they sneak into. For around half of its running duration, Parasite satirizes the class difference; however, after that, it foregoes humor in favor of violence and fury.

Parasite may be a deceitful thriller with a message, but it offers nonstop entertainment throughout. Parasite is a seminal film in cinematic history, and not just because of the plot. To date, no film made in a language other than English has ever won the Best Picture Oscar. Best Screenplay and Best Director went to Bong Joon-ho, respectively. When looking to get into the Asian film business, which has produced numerous masterworks over the years, Parasite, a dark comedy thriller from South Korea, would be a good place to start.

Parasite won Best Picture at the 2020 Oscars, making it the first film made in a language other than English to do so.

4
Enjoyment (1967)

In his far-reaching critique of metropolitan corporatism in the mid-century, Jacques Tati, forty years after everyone else, returned to the techniques of silent films. Monsieur Hulot, portrayed by Tati, is an endearingly oafish character who stands in stark contrast to the refined refinement of polite society. Bewildered, he staggers among gray monolithic towers until a disastrous restaurant opening causes society to suddenly collapse into chaotic disorder. The picture-book simplicity and excitement of the faces and actions transmit every beat, so subtitles are unnecessary.

An entertaining and creative homage to the slapstick comedies of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin from the silent film period.

Part of a trilogy starring Hulot, this French comedy also contains Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot and Mon Oncle. This hilarious homage to Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton’s slapstick comedies from the silent period is sure to please. Although any of those films are still worth seeing (City Lights and The General are great places to start), this French film may be a better introduction because it offers a somewhat more contemporary spin on the genre.

3
The 2003 film “Lost in Translation”
Actors Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson portray characters from wildly different life phases.

Two random Americans from the United States start an unexpected romance after meeting in Tokyo in Lost in Translation. The inevitable conclusion of their brief time together hangs over their humorous exchanges, making it both uplifting and painful. The two leads, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, are at opposite ends of life’s spectrum yet share a quest for purpose. They trust each other in a manner that only complete strangers can, and the daring, mysterious conclusion of Lost in Translation puts the extent of their bond up for debate.

This is one of Sofia Coppola’s releases that succeeds on a deeper level and has broad appeal, even if her films are generally considered to be an acquired taste. This showcases Scarlett Johansson’s brilliance in smaller films and is one of Bill Murray’s finest performances (for which he was nominated for an Oscar). Not only did Coppola win the Best Original Screenplay Award, but the film also received Best Picture and Oscar nominations. It may have come out in 2003, but it looks and feels a lot like indie films from the ’90s.

2
The 1987 film Raising Arizona
Kidnapping an infant for a crime caper is typically too vile, but Raising Arizona has the compassion to support its gloomy premise. Although the film takes place in what appears to be the American West, the characters’ speech is stilted and dated. The bounty hunter who stalks the desert like a vengeful demon is just one example of how parts of the story could be found in the Old Testament. In Raising Arizona, the neo-expressionist style is flaunted with pride. On purpose, the plot and characters are completely fantastical. But in the end, they boil down to a classic American fairy tale about fairness and justice.

The Coen Brothers became beloved by cults for their dark comedy, which featured absurdist filmmaking, which is exemplified in this film.

Anyone looking to get into the films of The Coen Brothers would do well to start with this one. The brothers were Quentin Tarantino’s contemporaries, having begun a decade before Tarantino, since they each established their own unique style of filmmaking. This picture exemplifies the absurdist style of the Coen Brothers’ dark comedies, which made them beloved by cults and ultimately earned them an Oscar. It also has a superb performance by Nicolas Cage, who was just starting out in his career before becoming a huge star.

1
Untitled (1960)
In addition to being one of the most famous horror films of all time, Psycho transforms into a riveting detective story about the midpoint. The story twists in Psycho revolutionized cinema watching, and the impact of the film is felt even now. Both the groundbreaking use of the Dutch angle and Alfred Hitchcock’s masterful use of dramatic irony continue to guide the horror genre. There is a lot more to Psycho than graphic violence, while the shower scene has justifiably made it into discussions about the greatest scenes in cinematic history.

If you’re a fan of horror films, you might want to start with Hitchcock’s unsettling classic. Since it was released more than 10 years before films like Halloween and Black Christmas, which are generally regarded as the originators of the slasher subgenre, many cinema historians consider Psycho to be the genre’s grandpa. Scream is just the latest in a long line of films that have recycled and parodied the frightening opening sequence starring Janet Leigh over the past sixty years. Thanks to its groundbreaking impact on the horror film genre, Hitchcock’s Psycho will go down in cinematic history as a cinematic classic.