Buzz
While many movies are fleeting, some gradually gain appreciation, but only a handful achieve instant classic status, captivating audiences immediately. On average, just one film annually earns a spot on the list of timeless classics.
These films aren’t always the loudest or the highest-grossing at launch, as such movies often lack the depth to warrant repeated viewings.
To be considered a Movie Classic, a film must inspire viewers to revisit it time and again.
These are the movies that linger in your mind long after the credits have rolled, offering insights into our lives, relationships, or even pushing the boundaries of cinema itself.
10. 2011—Drive
Few car chase films earn a place among cinematic classics. Typically, they feature flashy vehicles, adrenaline-pumping soundtracks, and frantic shouts of ‘Drive!’ as if the driver needs a reminder of their job.
Drive, however, breaks the mold. Ryan Gosling portrays Driver, a calm and collected stuntman and getaway driver who speaks sparingly, if at all.
He opts for inconspicuous family cars, drives within legal limits, obeys traffic signals, and tunes into police scanners and sports broadcasts while on the move.
Drive is a Neo Noir car chase film, with Carey Mulligan as the distant love interest. As with most Neo Noir romances, their relationship is anything but smooth.
If you’re seeking a smart, understated car chase film that still packs excitement and action, Drive is the perfect choice.
9. 2012—The Master
The Master features Joaquin Phoenix as a psychologically scarred war veteran and Philip Seymour Hoffman as the magnetic leader of a burgeoning religious group called The Cause. Phoenix finds solace and belonging in this new community, especially after his traumatic World War II experiences, but soon questions whether Hoffman is truly the savior he appears to be.
Loosely inspired by Scientology, The Cause is a religion Hoffman’s character essentially invents on the fly. Phoenix, initially persuaded, dedicates himself to the movement.
However, his wartime PTSD resurfaces repeatedly, and as it turns out, PTSD, charismatic cults, and homemade alcohol are a volatile combination. Who could have guessed?
The Master garnered numerous accolades upon its release, earning Oscar nominations for both Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The duo also secured the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival, while the film itself was honored with The Silver Lion. It was poised to win The Golden Lion for Best Film but was relegated due to a regulation prohibiting a single film from claiming both top acting and directing awards (Quentin Tarantino, as Chair of Judges in 2010, contested this rule, though it remains unchanged).
In Venice, no single film can dominate entirely.
8. 2013—Her
Joaquin Phoenix continued his stellar run in the 2010s with the 2013 classic Her. He portrays Theodore Twombly, a solitary man who crafts heartfelt letters for strangers. After upgrading his computer to include a virtual assistant voiced by Scarlett Johansson, he gradually develops romantic feelings for her.
The AI evolves through their interactions, becoming his perfect match—except for the fact that she isn’t human. Can their love overcome this barrier? Not quite, but the film offers a poignant exploration of happiness and the challenges of expressing emotions.
Her might just hold the record for the lowest-grossing film ever nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
That’s not an official award, of course. The actual title for the lowest-grossing theatrical release goes to Zyzzyx Road, which earned a mere $30 during its brief run. Likely because no one could pronounce its name. ‘Two tickets for Zyz…, actually, make it
Her grossed just $258,000 in its opening weekend, a clear reminder that box office numbers don’t reflect a film’s quality. Released the same year, We’re The Millers, a lackluster comedy featuring Jennifer Aniston as an implausible stripper, raked in $26.5 million in its debut. Not every moviegoer has discerning taste.
7. 2014—Birdman
Actors often possess delicate egos. And sometimes, those egos are enormous. Truly enormous.
Birdman, also known as The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance, delves into the theme of ego. It explores the fragile ego of an aging actor who never landed the roles he desired (it’s tough to exude gravitas in a bird suit) and the inflated ego of a young upstart convinced of their invincibility.
Michael Keaton portrays the aging star, weary of his iconic role as a bird-powered superhero yet unable to escape its shadow. In a bid to redefine his career, he pours his savings into a Broadway production he writes, directs, and stars in, all while his mental stability unravels.
Keaton excels at portraying a man teetering on the edge of a breakdown. Edward Norton co-stars as a talented but insufferably demanding actor brought into the play. Both deliver stellar performances, earning the film a Best Picture Oscar and a well-earned Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
If you’re looking for a film about shattered dreams, the cutthroat and superficial world of acting, or the fragility of ego, this is it. A heads-up, though: there are numerous scenes featuring Keaton and Norton in nothing but tight underwear. No explanation provided.
6. 2015—Spotlight
A film can achieve classic status not only through its performances but also due to its subject matter. All The President’s Men was undoubtedly a brilliant movie, with Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman delivering exceptional performances. However, what truly cemented its place in history was its focus on Watergate and how two journalists uncovered the scandal.
The movie’s greatness stems not just from its acting and direction but also from its ability to compellingly narrate a story of immense significance. The same holds true for Spotlight.
The film chronicles the work of The Boston Globe’s investigative journalism team, Spotlight, as they delve into cases of child sexual abuse.
Featuring an outstanding cast, including Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, and Rachel McAdams, the film brings the story to life.
The team initially investigates allegations of a pedophile priest in Boston and the diocese’s efforts to conceal it. As their investigation deepens, they uncover evidence of widespread abuse spanning decades.
Inspired by the real-life 2002 investigation into a pedophile ring in Boston, the film is gripping and suspenseful. It earned several Oscars, including Best Picture, with Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams receiving nominations for Best Supporting Actor.
This film undoubtedly falls into the category of Important Movies, though it’s far from a feel-good experience.
5. 2016—Hunt For The Wilderpeople
For a heartwarming and lighthearted film, Hunt For The Wilderpeople is an excellent choice. This New Zealand adventure-comedy features Sam Neill and Julian Dennison, who has carved out a niche playing troubled foster kids yearning for love (as seen in Deadpool 2).
Dennison plays a city kid with a minor criminal record, including offenses like littering and kicking objects. He is placed with a kind but short-lived foster mother and Sam Neill, who portrays a gruff, emotionally reserved foster father.
Their escape into the wilderness, driven by Dennison’s desire to avoid returning to foster care, is both humorous and heartfelt, steering clear of sentimentality. Neill’s character teaches his foster son survival skills, while Dennison’s character helps him rediscover love and even literacy. Hunt For The Wilderpeople enjoyed modest success upon release, but its acclaim has steadily grown, making it a must-watch.
4. 2017—Call Me By Your Name and The Shape Of Water
Certain years yield an abundance of cinematic classics, and 2017 gifted us two exceptional yet distinctly different films.
Call Me By Your Name is a visually stunning, tender coming-of-age tale of first love, set in an idyllic Italian summer that feels plucked from nostalgic dreams. Vibrant colors, lazy afternoons, bicycles, and the overwhelming intensity of a young man’s awakening desires define the film.
Timothée Chalamet delivers a remarkable performance, and Armie Hammer proves himself a far more talented actor than many had previously acknowledged.
The Shape Of Water offers a completely different cinematic experience, yet it’s equally breathtaking. Directed by Guillermo Del Toro, the film feels like a modern fairy tale. It tells the story of a mute woman who forms a deep connection with a mysterious creature, bonding over shared moments of hard-boiled eggs and dance.
The movie blends comedy, fantasy, and drama, with several scenes that are undeniably strange. Sally Hawkins shines as the protagonist, while Michael Shannon delivers a chilling performance as the heartless government agent determined to keep them apart.
The Shape Of Water is as visually stunning as it is thematically dark, and as romantic as it is unconventional. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a must-watch, and if you have, it’s worth revisiting.
3. 2020 Placeholder—Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2020 was largely a disappointing year for new films, so we decided to include a standout from the early 2000s to complete this list. While Pan’s Labyrinth, Guillermo Del Toro’s visually mesmerizing fantasy, was a strong contender, we opted not to include it since one of his films is already featured.
We also considered Mulholland Drive, David Lynch’s intricate neo-noir psychological thriller, and Boyhood, the groundbreaking film shot over 12 years to capture the essence of growing up.
Ultimately, as romantics at heart, we chose Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Jim Carrey delivers an unusually subdued performance, paired with Kate Winslet as the woman he struggles to erase from his memory.
The film explores themes of love, loss, and the bittersweet nature of memories. If you could erase your past, would you be destined to repeat the same mistakes?
Eternal Sunshine strikes the perfect balance of sentimentality. Keep tissues handy—it’s worth it. This is one of those rare films that stays with you long after the credits roll.
2. 2019—Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
2019 was undeniably a year dominated by Tarantino.
Tarantino years are always memorable. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, his ninth film according to his unique counting system, marked a slight departure. While his movies have always paid homage to Hollywood, this was the first time he fully immersed his story in its world.
The film intertwines the glitz of Hollywood stars with the sinister allure of the Manson Family. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Rick Dalton, a fading TV star relegated to minor roles, while Brad Pitt portrays his loyal stunt double, Cliff Booth. True to Tarantino’s style, the movie is packed with references to obscure films, songs, and even commercials, most of which fly over the average viewer’s head—but that’s part of its charm.
Unlike his previous eight films, the protagonists here are relatively straightforward—almost ordinary, especially compared to Tarantino’s usual cast of eccentric characters.
If you’re anticipating another Pulp Fiction, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood might take some adjusting to. It improves with each viewing, and by the third watch, it reveals itself as a true masterpiece.
1. 2018—Roma
While many great films tackle grand themes, others focus on intimate stories, examining the minutiae of everyday lives.
Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma is a prime example. Set in Mexico City, the film chronicles the life of an ordinary woman living an unremarkable existence. Yalitza Aparicio portrays a domestic worker in a middle-class household, navigating the challenges of being abandoned by her boyfriend after discovering she’s pregnant.
Roma is a tale of women supporting one another and the men who disappoint them. It’s a story of resilience, solidarity, and triumph over adversity.
Visually stunning, Roma earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. It made history as the first Best Foreign Language Film winner to also claim the Oscar for Best Cinematography.
