I'll admit it: I'm not the easiest person to watch older movies with. I tend to be extra critical about films made before the 2000s. (Don't judge me! I'm just being honest.)
I can't believe I'm actually using this GIF. Silence of the Lambs terrified me more than anything, yet I still gave it a perfect 5 stars.
So today, I decided to dive into what movie enthusiasts are saying about older films—specifically, which ones have aged like a fine wine, and which ones have gone sour like milk. Let's figure it out.
I'm kind of conflicted about where to place Grease. It's still an enjoyable movie, but did the story's message really age well?!
Here are the films that people consider to be ageless classics:
1. Nosferatu (1922)

"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
2. 12 Angry Men (1957)

"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
3. Casablanca (1942)

"It perfectly blends intrigue, humor, romance, and serves as an allegory of America's hesitation to enter World War II."
–getridofwires
4. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

"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
5. Some Like it Hot (1959)

"Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are absolutely hilarious, and Monroe truly works magic on the screen."
–bumb1ebeetuna
6. It Happened One Night (1934)

"It's a fantastic film! The first movie to sweep the 'big five' at the Oscars."
–DearBurt
7. Star Wars original trilogy (1977-1983)

–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
8. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

"I saw it about ten times when it was first released, and now my eight-year-old granddaughter is absolutely hooked on it."
–theamelany
9. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

"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
10. The Sound of Music (1965)

"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
11. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

–Jekyllhyde
"Who hasn't seen The Wizard of Oz? It’s undeniably the most-watched movie in history."
–JonPaula
12. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

"I was genuinely surprised by how impressive To Kill a Mockingbird turned out to be. (I had already read the book.)"
–perennial_dove
13. Double Indemnity (1944)

"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
14. Metropolis (1927)

–NewtRipley_1986
"It absolutely blew me away."
–themrmojorisin67
15. M (1931)

–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
16. Duck Soup (1933)

–TrueLegateDamar
"It's incredible how well the humor and the timing of the jokes hold up."
–AdElectronic50
17. Bringing Up Baby (1938)

"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
And now, let’s talk about the films that have not aged so well:
18. Hackers (1995)

"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
19. You've Got Mail (1998)

"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
20. St. Elmo's Fire (1985)

"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
21. Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

–ScottyBones79
"Outcasts in society are merely punching up when they target attractive, popular women."
–rick_blatchman
22. Empire Records (1995)

"It’s hard to imagine a movie now about an independent record store fighting against a huge chain trying to buy it out."
–mattdangerously
23. Accepted (2006)

"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
24. All the President's Men (1976)

"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
25. Pretty Persuasion (2005)

"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
26. Crazy Stupid Love (2011)

"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
27. 2012 (2009)

–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
28. American Beauty (1999)

"The more I watched this film, the more I realized just how bizarre and unsettling it really is."
–Large-Wheel-4181
29. American Pie (1999)

–Momolokokolo
"Essentially, they broadcast revenge porn, and the consequence is that the girl ends up getting expelled from the country."
–Larsaf
30. Blank Check (1994)

"That grown woman kissed a 10-year-old boy."
–Speed3autopilotoff
31. My Fair Lady (1964)

"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
32. Sixteen Candles (1984)

"Who’s watched Sixteen Candles recently? Wow. I adore John Hughes, but honestly, that film has some serious issues."
–SteakandTrach
33. And finally, Batman Returns (1992)

"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
Alright, now it's your turn! What’s one older movie that’s truly stood the test of time? Or, on the flip side, which one has aged terribly? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
For me, it’s When Harry Met Sally (1989). I’m not a fan of rom-coms, but somehow that film is in my all-time top five.
For more content like this, check out Mytour Canada on TikTok and Instagram!
Note: Some responses have been shortened or adjusted for clarity.
