10 Classic Movies That Every Cinephile Will Love To Watch
In today’s world when you can have access to a lot of movies of different genres, we all look for those unforgettable classic movies that stay in our minds forever. The films that are made once in a lifetime by giving cinema an immense contribution by its unique work. Such classic movies have an aura of the different eras, giving us a glimpse of how cinema has changed over the years.
Now as we all are caught up in our houses what can be the best time to explore the classics from different eras and get to know about these classics even more. We might see a lot of movies that may give different vibes of thrill, laughter, entertainment, and so on.
But classics are such films that will not let you take your eyes off from the TV screens and you will be blown away by such unique scripts and performances in these movies. From great storylines and plots to actors “nailing it” in their roles, such masterpiece films have a way to win our hearts over and over again.
Here’s a list of 10 classic movies that you can watch right away :
1. THE GODFATHER (1972)
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Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather is based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 best selling novel. The film is about the Corleone family which is led by Vito Corleone the boss of the New York mafia clan and the patriarch of the family also known as “The Godfather”.
It showcases the instances from 1945 to 1955 under the rule of Vito, who is focusing on passing on the legacy to one of his sons. Vito declines to get involved in the drug business offered by his rival, which leads to Vito getting shot by the rival’s hitmen. Vito’s deteriorating health and the tragic circumstances occurring in the Corleone family lead to the rise of Michael Corleone (youngest son) taking over his Father’s mafia business and becoming “The Godfather”.
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone’s character has a really calm personality with a powerful vision. He is a man of his words, what he wants to happen will happen which is portrayed quite well in one of his dialogues in the film “ I’m gonna make an offer he can’t refuse”.
He is cunning and never reveals what he is truly thinking by keeping the appearance of a calm personality. On the other hand, he is a warmhearted father and loves his family. Al Pacino as Michael Corolene is just like his father, intelligent, independent, and has a powerful vision.
He was a World War 2 warrior and when he returned back home he wanted a normal life as he didn’t want to be included in the mafia business. But fate wanted something else for him, so he ended up becoming a cold-blooded powerful mafia. The Scene when Capos addresses Michael with deep respect as the new mafia don will surely bring goosebumps to the audience. This is the best ever movie and a true classic made in the Crime Genre with an amazing storyline and great performances by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino.
The film is the Three Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Best actor for the role of Don Corleone, and Best Screenplay, the movie is a remarkable contribution to the world of cinema.
2. FORREST GUMP (1994)
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Based on the 1986 novel of Forrest Gump, the film is a comedy-drama film based on a guy named Forrest Gump. The story follows as Forrest is a really simple man who is slow-witted whose mother always supported him and gave him some of the best advice. He was often bullied by others for his low IQ and physical disability but his mother always taught him that he is no different than others.
Even though he was not smart he achieved a football scholarship, fought in Vietnam and saved lives, captained a shrimp boat, and he faced many difficulties in life and never any of it affected his happiness. Jenny was his true love and best friend, he cared for her the most and thought about her every time. But unfortunate circumstances never let them be together even though, often they got back into each other's life. But at some point in the film, Forrest was left to find his own destiny.
Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump’s character taught us a lot of things in the film, his character gave an experience of life through the eyes of Gump. He is a good-hearted man who inspired a lot of people by being his true self. He taught us that it’s not important if you’re intelligent or not but how well you deal with life when it puts you in difficult situations.
He was always honest with himself, tried different things, and didn’t underestimate his own potential. His mother played an important role in giving him the best advice which forever stays with him. She always said these words to Forrest that “Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Tom Hanks has also won an Oscar for his acting in the film.
3. TITANIC (1997)
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Starring Leonardo-di-Caprio and Kate Winslet, the Titanic film is the combination of an epic love story as well as reliving and experiencing history all at once. Directed by James Cameron, the film is about the love story of Jack and Rose taking place in the luxurious unsinkable ship.
Jack Dawson is an artist and Rose belongs to the aristocratic family who boards the ship with her fiance. They met, they fell in love until one day the ill-fated Titanic collided with an iceberg which changed everything. 84 years later, Rose Dewitt Bukater tells the story about life on the Titanic and Jack to her Grandchildren.
The movie is beautifully filmed, as its ending when the ship sinks gave goosebumps and tears in the eyes of viewers. The character of Jack taught us that to live life to the fullest and make each day count as we never know what we are going to deal with next.
Rose is an open-hearted and brave girl who wants to explore the world and live life to the best but she is repressed by her family and forced into an engagement. The acting of both the actors is breath-taking as they fit into the roles of Jack and Rose so well. Titanic is one of the most successful movies in the world of cinema. The film has won 11 Oscars out of 14 and is one of the biggest films of all time holding this many Oscars.
4. THE TRUMAN SHOW (1998)
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What if the world you’re living in is just a lie? What if everyone is pretending? What if you don’t know the truth about your own life? The concept of this film is unique and thought-provoking, the Truman show directed by Peter Weir is a science-fiction comedy-drama film.
The story revolves around a guy called Truman, who is watched by millions of people without him knowing it. He is filmed by the hidden cameras everywhere capturing his every moment 24/7 which has been broadcasted everywhere. He lives in a big studio where everyone around him is an actor and the things around him happen according to the will of the TV producer (Christof). Due to unusual events happening around him, he is suspicious and tries to discover the truth of his life.
Starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, is an easygoing and happy character. He has everything, a successful job, and a beautiful wife but he feels that his life is getting repetitive. Christof is a ruthless TV producer, who tries to control Truman’s mind and his action, and whenever he feels that Truman is getting a hint of things he covers it up by making up events to make him believe that nothing is wrong.
The only thing that is real in Christof’s artificial world is Truman and the way he expresses his emotion, which the producer tries to capture every time. The concept of this film is quite different and that’s what makes it interesting. The film powerfully showcased Truman’s realism and how at some point in the film he took charge of his own reality and life. Jim’s perfect portrayal of the different emotions of Truman and his mind-blowing performance is worth the time.
5. THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)
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Directed by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight is a superhero film based on Batman, The Dc comic character. The film commences as Batman, Jim Gordan, and Harvey Dent form an alliance to wipe out the crimes happening in Gotham city.
Later when all the mob bosses are thrown in the prison, the mob turns up to Joker. Joker is a psychopathic mastermind criminal who puts the city in trouble by creating havoc and difficulties for Batman to confront his own beliefs. The sole purpose of Joker was to let Batman believe that everyone is just like Joker, he wanted to destroy Batman’s belief and wanted to show the world that Batman can be corrupted too.
Christain bale as Batman’s character is a powerful and emotionally solid superhero. He believes in saving Gotham city from all crime and protecting its people. Whereas on the other hand Joker is a character with no pity for anyone and is a psychopath who considers himself to be the “agent of chaos”.
Joker also tests Batman's psychological and physical ability and tries to bring him closer to the fine line between heroism and vigilantism. Joker’s character is complicated to understand as he doesn't seem that easily predictable, he is crazy and he just does things without a plan.
Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker has won the hearts of the people, as his villain character is an iconic one. He also won the Oscar for the best supporting category in The dark knight. The fight between the good and bad with 2 different ideologies of the hero and the villain, as Joker creates troubles and Batman wants to save the people of Gotham City.
6. CONTAGION (2011)
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Contagion is one of the films portraying the situation of the pandemic outbreak all over the world. Directed by Steven Soderbergh the film is about the flu and infection which spreads all over the world causing deaths. It all starts as Beth returns from a trip from Hong Kong and she dies after 2 days.
It shocks all the doctors as they can’t find the reason for what killed her, several symptoms like Beth were found in other people which lead to an outbreak of the flu. As the contagion slowly spreads worldwide, it creates panic amongst people. The US Center for Disease Control tries hard to find a cure for it.
As today the world is facing a pandemic in real life, the contagion movie feels quite realistic and relatable. The film portrays the quarantine situation, the fear of losing close ones, and so many people get infected because of the flu. It gives us the exact same feeling that we all are facing today.
The film conveys how an infection spreads and how dangerous it can be if we don't take precautions. It even shows how healthcare workers and government officials try hard to bring the situation under control.
7. BIRDMAN OR THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE (2014)
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What if the role you played once became a part of you and it’s inner voice always haunts you that you can’t be better at something else? Birdman is a dark comedy film directed by Alejandro G Iñárritu. The film is about a fading actor named Riggan Thomson, who is restarting his career by directing, writing, and starring in a Broadway production.
For over 20 years, he played the role of Birdman in which he got lots of fame but now he wants to be known as a serious actor and not just a bookish superhero. The Birdman voice inside him constantly mocks him, points his fears, and makes him doubt himself.
The film portrays the battle between a man who wants to pursue his dream and his constant inner voices which degrade him that he can't do it, causing self-doubts and insecurities.
The film has a completely different concept as it shows how an actor faces the ups and downs in the industry and how one has to fight his own self-doubt. Micheal Keaton as Riggan Thomson is a talented actor who wants to act as a serious actor and wants to be remembered.
The portrayal of his inner voices of Birdman is a constant reminder for all of us and not just the actors that sometimes we have to fight the battles going inside our heads. Birdman’s voice made Riggan believe that he can do no better in the dream that he wants to pursue and reminds him of his failures. Riggan’s inside voices make him feel that when he was Birdman he got all the fame, but a shift in career led to a decrease in his popularity. The film is unique and every aspect is beautifully portrayed.
8. THE REVENANT (2015)
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Inspired by true events, The Revenant is based on the part of Michael Punke's novel The Revenant of 2002. Directed by Alejandro G Iñárritu, the film is about Hugh Glass, a legendary frontiersman, who didn’t give up on life and lived even after all the life-threatening and brutal injuries.
In the 1820s when Hugh, a fur trapper, goes out to explore the wilderness, he is attacked by a bear and is left near the death’s door. His hunting team abandoned him there itself by leaving 2 men with him because of the fear of getting attacked by enemies.
But one of the men from the hunting team kills Hugh’s son and leaves Hugh to die. Hugh uses all possible ways to survive so that he can go back to civilization. He is filled with grief and anger as he wants to track down the men who killed his son.
The Film is filled with sorrow, revenge, thriller, adventure, and how one loves a family so much that they can do anything for it. Leonardo-di-Caprio’s acting as Hugh Glass is mind-blowing as all the emotions of loss, pain, anger, and grief are portrayed very well.
There are some powerful dialogues in the movie which conveyed hope, life, and also a philosophical aspect to the movie. Like “As long as you can still grab a breath, you fight. You breathe...keep breathing” such dialogues conveyed hope to Hugh to keep living no matter what.
There are scenes in the films that will make you feel disgusted like the bear attacking Hugh and his bad injury but all scenes are raw and make it more realistic than ever. The film has won 3 Oscars in the 88th Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Best Director, and Best Actor.
9. LITTLE WOMEN (2019)
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Little Women is the best of the literary classic films directed by Greta Gerwig. The film was nominated for 6 Academy Awards and is the seventh film adaptation of a novel of the same name. The film is about the four girls of the March family who live with their mother all alone, as their father serves in the civil war.
After the civil war, Josephine March is trying to make her living as a writer in the male-dominated New-York-City as her family is dealing with poverty. Her other sister Meg March is married to a school teacher, Amy March is an artist and lives in Paris with Aunt March, Beth March loves to play Piano and is the quiet one in the family. The illness of one sister brings the whole family under one roof. The film is all in one package which portrays love, ambition, kindness, hard work, and family unity.
The Four women of the March family are all unique and living life on their own terms. Jo’s character in the film portrays the topic of women-independence as Josephine wants to be a writer, she works really hard for it, she is an independent woman who wants her family to be together.
One of her dialogues explains quite well how she feels about love and why she doesn’t want any romance in her life. The dialogue is "You know I feel, Women, they have minds and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they have got ambitions and they have got talent as well as just beauty and I'm sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for.”
This shows that she is a determined woman who wanted to achieve her ambitions. Meg is responsible and kind, also she believes in love and getting married. Beth is a silent girl and she is more close to Josephine. Amy loves unique possessions and she is a great artist. The four sisters' love for their family and each one's perspective towards life gives a unique taste to the film.
10. PARASITE (2019)
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It is the first South Korean film to win the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The film also won 4 Oscars at the 92nd Academy awards including the Best Picture award. Directed by Bong Joon Ho, Parasite is a dark comedy film based on two contrary classes of families.
The Kim family is a poor one who is hopeless and penniless. They live in a small basement and do less-paid temporary jobs and they find it difficult to meet their needs. Whereas the Park family is the rich one as they live their life with all luxuries. By sheer luck when Ki-woo (son of Ki-taek) gets a business proposition to work as a tutor at Park family, the Kim family uses this opportunity in a wise way.
This greed and class-discrimination drama takes many turns and twists in the most entertaining way. The symbiotic relationship between both families collapses as the Kim family gets to know the darkest secret of the Park family.
The film is a combination of thriller and entertainment but its perfect storyline taught us so many things. One of its scenes portrayed so beautifully the class discrimination when Ki-taek drives Mrs. Park on the way she talks about the weather to her friend on a phone call. Where she says “Today the sky is so blue and no pollution, thanks to all the rain yesterday”.
This scene points out the heartbreaking moment as the Kim family faced the sewer flood because of rain which destroyed the property they live in and they were shifted to the gymnasium. This scene conveys to us that the misery of one person can be a pleasure to another. The film gave us the lessons of envy, greed, and class-discrimination and is considered one of the modern classics.
As of today, we are all confused to decide what to watch because we have so many varieties and genres in front of us. The much better approach is to explore the classics of every decade.
As having an immense love for films, I always think that the unique works of cinema never grows old as to in which era you watch it, you always can feel the vibe of that era. No matter how bad your day is going or how bored you are, a good film will always make your day.