"Wow, That Movie Really Has Issues": 17 Timeless Films That Have Proven Their Worth, And 16 That Have Definitely Not Aged Well

"I watched the original Nosferatu (1922) yesterday, and I was shocked by how much it still managed to frighten me. By the time I reached the middle, I completely forgot I was watching a silent film from over a century ago, and I found myself gripping the edge of my seat."

–InspectorMendel

"It's surprisingly captivating for a film that's just about people talking in a room."

–jamal-almajnun

"This is always the film I suggest to people who struggle with watching old black-and-white movies because of their age."

–dancingbanana123

"It perfectly blends intrigue, humor, romance, and serves as an allegory of America's hesitation to enter World War II."

–getridofwires

"I'm 50 and only saw this for the first time about a year ago. I had no idea it would be so fantastic — though being a classic, I should have known!"

–TheMachineTookShape

"Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are absolutely hilarious, and Monroe truly works magic on the screen."

–bumb1ebeetuna

"It's a fantastic film! The first movie to sweep the 'big five' at the Oscars."

–DearBurt

–epicfail1994

"I'm 34, and I never really watched Star Wars properly until now, as I wasn't really interested in it. But I have two young boys now, and decided to watch the original Wars film, A New Hope, with them. I was pleasantly surprised, and of course, the music is amazing. By the end, when they’re receiving their medals, I felt deeply moved."

–jumpingdiscs

"I saw it about ten times when it was first released, and now my eight-year-old granddaughter is absolutely hooked on it."

–theamelany

"The ending still resonates just as powerfully as the first time I watched it. Perhaps it’s the way I’ve spaced out my viewings, or maybe it’s the holiday-like atmosphere that enhances it, but it’s incredible how impactful it remains with each rewatch."

–JimboAltAlt

"Initially, my wife persuaded me to watch, but after just 30 minutes, I turned to her and said, 'You know what? This is truly amazing!' The performances, the songs, the sets, and the costumes — everything is top-notch, unforgettable, and delightful."

–kafrillion

–Jekyllhyde

"Who hasn't seen The Wizard of Oz? It’s undeniably the most-watched movie in history."

–JonPaula

"I was genuinely surprised by how impressive To Kill a Mockingbird turned out to be. (I had already read the book.)"

–perennial_dove

"I expected this to be good (and it is), but I didn’t expect it to feel so fresh, with the dialogue standing out so much. It's both incredibly entertaining and absolutely excellent."

–studiocistern

–NewtRipley_1986

"It absolutely blew me away."

–themrmojorisin67

–delifte

"M was way ahead of its time. I remember watching it during a film class in college and being stunned by its darkness — it creates an eerie and unsettling atmosphere without showing anything."

–BrotherOfTheOrder

–TrueLegateDamar

"It's incredible how well the humor and the timing of the jokes hold up."

–AdElectronic50

"I adored Bringing Up Baby and still find it absolutely hilarious — it’s my all-time favorite screwball comedy starring two of my favorite acting legends!"

–No-Jaguar6771

"It’s essentially the blueprint for every screwball romantic comedy that came after."

–doesntgetthepicture

"The technological leaps from the early 90s to today have clearly been enormous.

There’s a scene where they’re all thrilled over a laptop with something like a 32KB memory. It’s hilarious to watch now."

–mushy_cactus

"The whole rivalry between the big bookstore and the small one kind of loses its impact when Borders and Waldenbooks have both shut down and Barnes & Noble is the only one still standing."

–Tyranid457TheSecond1

"They're just a bunch of entitled individuals with no real struggles. It’s honestly hard to sit through."

–raylan_givens6

"I consider St. Elmo's Fire one of the worst films ever made. There’s nothing to redeem it."

–Antique-Ad-3980

–ScottyBones79

"Outcasts in society are merely punching up when they target attractive, popular women."

–rick_blatchman

"It’s hard to imagine a movie now about an independent record store fighting against a huge chain trying to buy it out."

–mattdangerously

"In light of the student loan crisis and all the for-profit colleges scamming students with worthless degrees, the plot doesn’t seem as humorous anymore."

–slightofhand1 

"It remains an incredible film, but from today’s perspective, its ending feels so abrupt—you don’t see the consequences of their investigation. But back in 1976, it made sense because everyone knew what was coming. The impeachment and resignation of Nixon were the biggest stories in the world only a few years prior."

–turkeygiant

"In general, the film assumes you’re already familiar with Watergate — the key players, the timeline, and the intricate details of the conspiracy."

–Hey_Bim

"In a post-#MeToo, post-#BelieveWomen world, there's no way this film would be made today. Even back then, it must have been uncomfortable to watch. I like to imagine there was at least one woman involved in the production who thought, 'Hold on, isn't this movie suggesting that all women are crazy, compulsive liars?'"

–cerberaspeedtwelve

"It became outdated almost instantly. There’s a reference to Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher's happy relationship despite their age gap. Ryan Gosling’s character mocks Steve Carell’s character's outfit, jokingly asking if he’s Steve Jobs. A Borders bookstore appears in the background. Within a year, Demi and Ashton broke up, Jobs passed away, and Borders went under."

–IgnoreMe733

"Despite following the lives of both men and women, the movie doesn’t pass the Bechdel test. The female characters are reduced to mere background players, even though they are supposedly the 'strong female leads.'"

–HighlightAwkward5567

–Exotic-Channel4253

"That film came out at the perfect time. Then, of course, when the world didn’t end in 2012, we all just moved on."

–robophile-ta

"The more I watched this film, the more I realized just how bizarre and unsettling it really is."

–Large-Wheel-4181

–Momolokokolo

"Essentially, they broadcast revenge porn, and the consequence is that the girl ends up getting expelled from the country."

–Larsaf

"That grown woman kissed a 10-year-old boy."

–Speed3autopilotoff

"I saw this as a play in February 2018, right after the #MeToo movement, and they had altered the ending while keeping the original dialogue. It was incredible. Now I can’t watch the original movie without feeling something is off."

–HighlightAwkward5567

"Who’s watched Sixteen Candles recently? Wow. I adore John Hughes, but honestly, that film has some serious issues."

–SteakandTrach

"In Batman Returns, Batman sabotages Penguin's political campaign by revealing a recording in which he expresses his utter disdain for his own supporters. I’m not sure that plotline would fly today..." 

–Archamasse