The popcorn's been popped, the sweatpants are on, and the evening is your oyster. Your next challenge: Figuring out exactly which of the best movies available to you is the one you're going to watch tonight. No matter what you're looking for—a rom-com, a murder mystery, a sad film, a great musical movie—there are plenty of must-watch films in your chosen genre to settle in with for the first (but probably not the last) time.
We movie lovers at Marie Claire know how time-consuming picking a great movie can be, so we did the work for you. We combed through movie rankings, critical reviews, and award nominations, and spoke to fellow pop culture fans to bring you this list of crucial must-watch films. Of course, you can expect to see well-known classics like Casablanca and The Sound of Music on this list, in addition to movies from iconic directors like Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick, and Alfred Hitchcock. But modern masterpieces like Everything Everywhere All At Once and Get Out stand up just as well and are on this list, too.
The must-watch movies below are modern classics, the best of the best, the essential films that millions of people are probably jealous that you're getting to see for the first time. They span multiple countries, languages, and decades. (A bonus: You’ll also find must-know facts and exactly why each film is considered the “best.”) And because pulling these movies was a hard enough task in itself, we've decided to leave this list unranked. Feel free to decide for yourself how your favorites stack up to the rest on this list, and if we've left a title off, don't yell at us too harshly. A list as subjective as this is meant to be debated, after all. Without further ado, in no particular order: The best movies of all time.
The Best Romance Movies of All Time
There are a few things you can (almost) always expect from a romance movie: a love story (duh!); attractive protagonists; and a happy ending—usually. Maybe you need to be reminded that true love is out there. Or maybe you need to show your partner what real romance looks like. Some of the movies on this list are funny, and some are the ultimate in sad romance films, but there’s one thing all of these romantic films have in common: They're sure to pull on your heartstrings and make you believe in love all over again.
Casablanca (1942)
Director: Michael Curtiz
Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
For fans of: black and white films and worldly settings
Set in the early years of World War II in Casablanca, Rick Blaine's (Humphrey Bogart) nightclub is an oasis for refugees despite the warnings he gets from local authorities. But things get rocky when an ex-lover and her boyfriend show up, bringing with them a challenge that Rick has to face. One of the most famous classic Hollywood romance films of all time, Casablanca is a love story you won't forget.
The Notebook (2004)
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Marsden
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 53%
For fans of: unwavering love stories and steamy kisses
Ryan Gosling. Rachel McAdams. An on-screen kiss that's impossible to forget. The Notebook, based on Nicholas Sparks's 1996 novel, is a must-watch for all of the hopeless romantics out there who believe they'll eventually find their way back to their one true love. "It wasn't over. It still isn't over!"
Titanic (1997)
Director: James Cameron
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
For fans of: tragic love stories and real-world disasters
Need we say more? If you haven't watched Titanic yet (please don't admit this out loud), do yourself a favor and stream it on Netflix immediately.
A Star Is Born (2018)
Director: Bradley Cooper
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliot
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
For fans of: musical movies and remakes
If you were alive in 2018, you most definitely heard about Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga's on- and off-screen chemistry thanks to their roles in the hit adaptation of A Star Is Born. The movie centers on rockstar Jackson Maine (Cooper) and struggling artist Ally (Gaga) who fall in love while Maine pushes Ally into the spotlight and confronts his own demons. Make sure to have a pack of tissues handy.
Before Sunrise (1995)
Director: Richard Linklater
Stars: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Erni Mangold
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
For fans of: Europe and love at first sight
In this swooningly romantic movie from Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke play a pair of travelers—she French, he American—who have a chance meeting in Vienna and decide to spend the evening before his departing flight walking around the city and talking to one another. In 2005, the sequel Before Sunset continues the story, and then in 2015 the trilogy is wrapped up with Before Midnight. All of them are worth watching over and over.
You've Got Mail (1998)
Director: Nora Ephron
Stars: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Greg Kinnear
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69%
For fans of: online dating and rivals
The Marie Claire team is *very* passionate about You've Got Mail. Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, the 1998 drama/romance tells the story of two neighborhood bookstore rivals who absolutely hate each other in real life, then fall in love online, and well...we won't spoil the rest for you. (The good ol' AOL days.)
In the Mood for Love (2000)
Director: Kar-Wai Wong
Stars: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Kelly Lai Chen
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
For fans of: love never realized and beautiful costumes
The elaborate costumes, the stunning visuals, and the beautiful art direction are all key features of art house movie In the Mood for Love, by Chinese director Wong Kar-Wai. And though there's sparse dialogue, sit back and prepare to be enchanted by the slow but captivating scenes of two married neighbors falling in love.
Roman Holiday (1953)
Director: William Wyler
Stars: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
For fans of: royals and European getaways
Breakfast at Tiffany's is terrific, of course, but Audrey Hepburn won the Academy Award for her turn as a princess who ditches her schedule (and her entourage) in favor of exploring Rome, only to fall asleep on a bench and get rescued by a hunky American reporter played by Gregory Peck.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
Director: Aditya Chopra
Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Amrish Puri
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
For fans of: opposing families and Indian cultures
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the highest-grossing Indian film of 1995, is an absolute delight. The Bollywood rom-com about two young star-crossed lovers who fall in love despite their parents' critiques ended up winning 10 Filmfare Awards—India’s Academy Award equivalent—and changed the game forever.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Director: Rob Reiner
Stars: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
For fans of: fall and friends-to-lovers
If you haven't seen When Harry Met Sally, you probably know it from this famous "I'll have what she's having" scene. But it's worth seeing in full to relive Nora Ephron's groundbreaking screenwriting, plus the easy banter between America's sweetheart Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal (it kind of set the stage for modern rom-coms as we know them).
Love Jones (1997)
Director: Theodore Witcher
Stars: Larenz Tate, Nia Long, Isaiah Washington
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
For fans of: Chicago and dramedies
A photographer (Nia Long) and a poet (Larenz Tate) fall in love in one of the best romance movies of all time.
The Princess Bride (1987)
Director: Rob Reiner
Stars: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
For fans of: fairytales and adventures
There are so many things packed into The Princess Bride: historical fantasy, sweeping romance, laugh-out-loud comedy, subtle satire, Robin Wright and Mandy Patinkin! If you haven't seen yet, just think of every time you've heard, "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die," as little nudges to watch.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Director: David O. Russel
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
For fans of: football and dysfunctional relationships
What looks from the outset like a typical rom-com delves deeper into the motions of mental illness, as a bipolar man tries to reconnect with his estranged wife following his release from a psychiatric ward. He meets a recently widowed woman (Jennifer Lawrence) with her own problems, who convinces him to join a dance competition with her to help him win his wife back.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Director: Michel Gondrey
Stars: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
For fans of: dreamy visuals and nonlinear stories
One of the smartest love stories ever written (it won best screenplay at the Oscars that year) captures a couple who both undergo a treatment to erase each other from their memories following a breakup. The dream, right? Not so, as they revisit their life together in woozy flashbacks and realize that they're not ready to let go just yet.
Like Water for Chocolate (1992)
Director: Alfonso Arau
Stars: Lumi Cavazos, Marco Leonardi, Regina Torné
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
For fans of: magical cooking and family dynamics
This sumptuous story follows the life of a Mexican girl who's subjected to a family custom that demands she stays unmarried and take care of her mother through old age. She ends up pouring her lifetime of unfulfilled passion into her cooking, where her family literally feels her emotions while eating, thanks to a helping of magical realism.
Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Director: Joe Wright
Stars: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
For fans of: Jane Austen novels and the enemies-to-lovers trope
Sure, there have been plenty of Jane Austen adaptations over the years, but not all of them have Matthew Macfadyen dreamily walking across a field at sunrise in a billowing coat. This period piece takes the cake for its beautiful scenery and in-your-face chemistry between Macfadyen and Kiera Knightley.
Moulin Rouge (2001)
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%
For fans of: over-the-top musicals and
A little bit quirky and a little bit extravagant, Baz Luhrmann creates a visual spectacle of a musical that's still so much fun to watch, despite a sad ending. Complete with a perfect soundtrack and fairytale romance, this is a musical you can watch again and again.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Director: Céline Sciamma
Stars: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
For fans of: Lesbian love stories and slow burns
Set in 18th-century France, a young painter named Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), the daughter of a French countess, only she must keep it in secret. By day, Marianne and Héloïse spend time together and eventually grow a mutual attraction, while Marianne attempts to paint Héloïse at night. Each shot of this rich period piece is like a painting itself, and the love story is so intimate to watch unfold.
Notting Hill (1999)
Director: Roger Michell
Stars: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
For fans of: London and star-crossed lovers
Julia Roberts is just a girl—a beret-wearing, world-famous movie star, to be exact—standing in front of a boy—Hugh Grant, as a decidedly non-famous travel bookstore owner—asking him to love her. His response, of course, comes with a supersized dose of that classic, bumblingly awkward Hugh Grant charm.
The Best Comedy Movies of All Time
Sometimes, we all need a little cheering up, and what better way to do that than with a feel-good movie that makes you laugh? These comedy films are guaranteed to bring a little levity to your evening, whether it be through jokes or characters in insane situations. With typically universally relatable stories, comedy movies remind us that it's okay to poke fun at ourselves once in a while.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Director: John Hughes
Stars: Mathew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%
For fans of: playing hooky and fourth wall breaks
Every kid in high school dreamed of having a day off like Ferris Bueller's and, frankly, I still aspire to have one like his as an adult. Come for each character's hilarious antics, stay for the inevitable comparisons between Alan Ruck's character, Cameron Frye, and his current character on Succession, Connor Roy.
Mean Girls (2004)
Director: Mark Waters
Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
For fans of: teen comedies and high school clichés
No movie has ever spoofed high school culture as brilliantly as Mean Girls, whose hilarious script by Tina Fey has become iconic, bringing the phrases "so fetch," "I know, right?" and "cool mom" into our modern language. It lives on in countless memes and GIFs, even though the movie's more than 10 years old at this point.
Clueless (1995)
Director: Amy Heckerling
Stars: Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%
For fans of: Jane Austen adaptations and classic '90s movies
Cher Horowitz stole everyone's heart in the '90s as the well-intentioned Valley Girl with an enviable revolving closet who set out to prove she wasn't "just a ditz with a credit card." Inspired by Jane Austen's Emma, Clueless sees her trying to play matchmaker at school, until she gets caught up in her own love triangle.
His Girl Friday (1940)
Director: Howard Hawks
Stars: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
For fans of: journalism and screwball comedy
Carey Grant and Rosalind Russell play a formerly married couple—he an editor, she an investigative reporter—who have to team up for one last assignment. Of course, the fact that he hired her only after finding out she was engaged to someone new might have something to do with it, but Russell is hilarious and their chemistry is bananas in this romance.
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Director: Billy Wilder
Stars: Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
For fans of: impersonations and comedic duos
If you don't know why Miss Marilyn Monroe was and is such a big deal, take a look at this one. The film shows off her vocal chops as the lead singer of an all-girl band who dreams of wooing a millionaire. As her band travels to sunny Florida, she makes friends with two new musicians in the group, who she doesn't realize are men in disguise and on the run.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
For fans of: silly humor and cult classics
You'll never think of coconuts the same way after watching this silly British slapstick comedy set in the time of King Arthur and the fabled Round Table. God sends a group of knights on a quest to find the Holy Grail, where they encounter several nonsensical obstacles along the way—a classic Monty Python premise.
The Wedding Party (2016)
Director: Kemi Adetiba
Stars: Adesua Etomi, Banky Wellington, Richard Mofe-Damijo
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67% (Audience Score)
For fans of: weddings and family shenanigans
One of the highest-grossing Nigerian movies of all time, anyone interested in Nollywood should check out The Wedding Party. The film shows every aspect of the wedding day between Dozie (Banky Wellington) and Dunni (Adeusa Etomi), down to the families' concerns and the planner's antics. Plus there's plenty of glamorous inspo for your own big day.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Director: Gil Junger
Stars: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%
For fans of: Shakespeare retellings and bad boys
Volumes could be written about the sheer brilliance of this movie. If you've never seen it, know that it's one of the best teen movies ever made, from the script to the acting (two words: Heath. Ledger.) to the speech-making and wooing. It feels like a modern Shakespearean comedy because it is. (Ever heard of Taming of the Shrew?)
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (2018)
Director: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
Stars: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
For fans of: stunning animation and relatable protagonists
If you love superhero movies, this Spider-Man standalone may become your favorite of them all. The Oscar-winning animated film follows Miles Morales' origin story with a multiverse twist that has multiple Spider-Mans (Spiders-Man? Spider-Men?) popping up in his world.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Director: Robert Luketic
Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%
For fans of: female empowerment and chick flicks
Heard of the bend and snap? If you can believe Legally Blonde came into our lives more than two decades ago, it's time to give this classic feel-good movie a watch if you haven't already—even if just to witness the evolution of Reese Witherspoon and her incredible acting. What, like it's hard?
Coming to America (1988)
Director: John Landis
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%
For fans of: corny lines and snappy jokes
A hilarious comedy with a super-sweet love story, Coming to America is an essential watch for anyone who loves to smile. This film also cemented Eddie Murphy's place as comedy royalty, with him and Arsenio Hall cracking us up through multiple different characters.
Bridesmaids (2011)
Director: Paul Feig
Stars: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
For fans of: all-female casts and hilarious gags
Kristen Wiig wrote and stars in Bridesmaids, a film about a bridal party's hilarious activities leading up to the big day (which should be required viewing every wedding season).
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Director: John Hughes
Stars: Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
For fans of: unexpected friendships and teen makeovers
John Hughes's catalog of '80s films (with Molly Ringwald often playing the starring role) are all classics, though this story about unexpected friendship that blossoms in the middle of detention hall takes the cake for its iconic scenes, from coordinated dances to beauty makeovers.
Knives Out (2019)
Director: Rian Johnson
Stars: Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
For fans of: ensemble casts and whodunnits
This comedic mystery pays homage to old-school detective flicks while also showing a brand-new caper that surprises at every turn. Also, Daniel Craig is at his best when he gets to bust out a hilarious accent.
Groundhog Day (1993)
Director: Harold Ramis
Stars: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliot
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
For fans of: time loop stories and holidays
It may not be the first film to play into the time loop trope, but it may be the one that holds up the most. This charming comedy follows arrogant weatherman Phil Connors who's forced to cover the annual Groundhog Day celebration, only to find himself waking up to repeat the same day over and over again. What results is a hilarious and thoughtful film on existentialism and reason.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Director: David Frankel
Stars: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%
For fans of: fashion montages and Stanley Tucci
This movie is filled with iconic moments: There’s the infamous cerulean monologue, the perfect mid-aughts opening montage set to “Suddenly I See,” one of the most satisfying style transformations ever put on film, a grilled cheese sandwich containing $8 worth of Jarlsberg and, yes, the Chanel boots. What more could you ask for?
Barbie (2023)
Director: Greta Gerwig
Stars: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
For fans of: dolls and powerful women
The summer of 2023 will forever be remembered for its spectacular displays of female power, between Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s sold-out world tours and, of course, the blockbuster release of Barbie. Come for the nostalgia, the perfectly choreographed dance scenes, and Ryan Gosling’s goofy turn as Ken, stay for the expert skewering of the patriarchy, a celebration of womanhood, and that America Ferrera monologue.
The Best Classic Movies of All Time
Less of a genre and more of a distinction, we define "classic movies" as the kind of film that changed their respective genres forever. Being familiar with the films on this list will set you apart from the casual pop culture fan and put you on the road to becoming a movie buff. For a film to be a classic in our book, it needs to have some years on it (all of these films on our list came out before 1990), be universally loved, and had a major cultural impact. The classic movies below all check those boxes.
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Director: Nicholas Ray
Stars: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
For fans of: teen angst and the 1950s
Two words for you: James! Dean! The old Hollywood icon's second to last film, as teenager Jim Stark, before his untimely death in 1955 ended up being one of his most celebrated. The unlikely bond shared on-screen between him, John "Plato" Crawford (Sal Mineo), and Judy (Natalie Wood) gave American youths at the time a movie where they could finally see themselves on the screen.
A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
Director: Daniel Petrie
Stars: Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Ruby Dee
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
For fans of: theatrical plays and social commentary
A Chicago family, the Youngers, are about to receive a windfall that will change their lives, but they have different ideas on how to use the money. An adaptation of the Lorraine Hansberry play made with the original cast, this film questions who is allowed the American Dream.
Carmen Jones (1954)
Director: Otto Preminger
Stars: Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%
For fans of: historic performances and musicals
This underrated musical set at an all-Black army camp follows Carmen (Dorothy Dandridge), who, despite being sought after by every man at the base, has her sights set on the super married Joe (Harry Belafonte). Dandridge's performance as Carmen Jones got her nominated for an Oscar, making history as the first African American actress in a leading role to be nominated.
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Director: Robert Mulligan
Stars: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Robert Duvall
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
For fans of: historical stories and court cases
Scout Finch tells the story of how her father, Atticus, a small town lawyer in the rural South, defended a wrongfully accused black man in this adaptation of Harper Lee's beloved novel. Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch is how most people who've seen this movie think of the character, and you will too when you see it.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Director: George Roy Hill
Stars: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
For fans of: Westerns and buddy comedies
Robert Redford! Paul Newman! Really strong facial hair game! What could go wrong? Well, actually, a train robbery does go wrong, leaving outlaws Butch Cassidy (Newman) and The Sundance Kid (Redford) on the run from a seriously dangerous posse as they try to leave rural Wyoming for Bolivia. It's a Western film you can't miss.
12 Angry Men (1957)
Director: Sidney Lumet
Stars: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
For fans of: courtroom dramas and realistic thrillers
This classic film is ostensibly about a dozen white men on a jury arguing over whether a young Puerto Rican man actually killed his father (the class and race dynamics feel unfortunately familiar, 60-plus years later). But it's really about prejudice and stereotype and the assumptions we carry with us every day without realizing it. If you didn't get to watch this one in school, watch it now.
Rocky (1976)
Director: John G. Avildsen
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
For fans of: sports movies and underdog stories
It’s the classic underdog story that made Sylvester Stallone a household name. The movie follows boxer Rocky Balboa on the road to fight heavyweight champion Apollo Creed in a match deemed “a somebody vs. nobody.” The film, written by Stallone, would go on to win Best Picture at the Oscars in 1977.
The Godfather (1972)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
For fans of: mob dramas and gangster action
Yes, there are three parts to this trilogy that might require a night of bingeing. But there's really nothing like Francis Ford Coppola's depiction of the mob family of Don Vito Corleone. It's a chilling to the bone, action-packed story that's not one to miss.
Jaws (1975)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
For fans of: tension-building suspense and iconic theme songs
When Steven Spielberg made this movie, I’m unsure if he knew it would become the face of anti-shark propaganda, and make a whole generation scared to get in the water. Regardless, this movie about a sheriff, marine biologist, and fisherman hunting down a shark that’s terrorizing their beach town is a must-see.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Director: Spike Lee
Stars: Danny Aiello, Giancarlo Esposito, Ossie Davis
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
For fans of: slice-of-life stories and driving messages
Spike Lee acts and directs in a film that marries comedy and drama perfectly. Roger Ebert's review is pretty spot-on, but to summarize: Lee builds a community in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, teeming with life and tension on the hottest day of the year. And then he rips it all apart. But it's so much more compelling than even that description. Lee handles all his characters with love, and there's no one who's truly evil, despite spot-on and heart-wrenching commentary about racism, classism, and poverty.
Back to the Future (1985)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Crispin Glover
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
For fans of: Comedic sci-fis and '80s references
This sci-fi film sees Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, a time traveler who drives his flying Delorean back into the '50s after an experiment gone wrong. Fun fact: the sequel is set in the far-away future, a.k.a. 2015.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Director: Robert Wise
Stars: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
For fans of: sweet storylines and uplifting music
Julie Andrews plays an Austrian nun during World War II in the Academy Award-winning film. When she comes to the villa of retired naval officer Captain Georg von Trapp to be governess to his seven children, she begins to realize how much the family means to her. The latter part of the movie has an unexpected twist and displays the unfathomable truth of what it was like living in Nazi Germany.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Director: Milos Forman
Stars: Jake Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Brad Dourif
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
For fans of: memorable characters and tragic comedies
Jack Nicholson's at his best in this film about a habitual criminal who's sentenced to time in a mental hospital. There, he threatens the natural order under the watch of cruel Nurse Ratched and attempts to flee with his fellow patients. The film swept up five Academy Awards in its day, from Best Picture to Best Actor and Best Actress.
The Graduate (1967)
Director: Mike Nichols
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
For fans of: love triangles and a moving score
Between the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack and the easy-on-the-eyes love triangle—Dustin Hoffman as a wandering college graduate, his married neighbor Mrs. Robinson, and her daughter—this film is hard to not immediately fall in love with.
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Director: Jim Sharman
Stars: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%
For fans of: wild characters and over-the-top dance numbers
See for yourself where all the live versions of the cult favorite Rocky Horror Picture Show began with this over-the-top, perfectly cast musical (see: young Susan Sarandon).
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Director: Victor Fleming
Stars: Judy Garland, Jack Haley, Ray Bolger
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
For fans of:
A technical marvel at its time and one of the most influential films ever, this 1937 film is definitely worth a watch for movie buffs, even if you've seen countless iterations of L. Frank Baum's fairy tale.
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Director: George Cukor
Stars: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
For fans of: screwball comedies and love triangles
Eighty years after its release, this classic still deserves every bit of its perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating. Katharine Hepburn plays the headstrong socialite Tracy Lord, who spends the days leading up to her second wedding trading barbs with her ex-husband Dexter (Cary Grant) and James Stewart’s Mike, a journalist sent to cover the ceremony—leading her to reassess her decision to marry the social-climbing George Kittredge (John Howard). There’s still a wedding at the end of the movie, but we won’t spoil who ends up as the groom.
The Best Scary Movies and Thriller Movies of All Time
Horror and thriller films do something to us that no other genre of films do—they terrify us. Some people may think it’s crazy, but feeling a sense of fear, dread, and anticipation via movies is an adrenaline rush like no other. These classic horror movies and thrillers feature some of the most terrifying creatures, killers, and jump scares, not to mention some unforgettable psychological horror. You’re going to want to leave the lights on when you go to bed after watching these.
The Exorcist (1973)
Director: William Friedkin
Stars: Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
For fans of: demonology and good vs. evil stories
The film that prompted so many parodies and remakes (another one is coming in 2023!), nothing lights a candle to the original. Rightfully dubbed "one of the best horror films ever made" by many, The Exorcist goes above and beyond to make you terrified. The story about a girl possessed by a demon in need of an exorcism is unsettling, to say the least.
Parasite (2019)
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Stars: Song Kang-ho, Choi Woo-sik, Park So-dam
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
For fans of: gruesome twists and commentaries on social issues
An unemployed family of four slips into the lives of the crazy wealthy Park family. Then, there's an incident that can’t entirely be cleaned up in a cleaning shift. Long after the credits roll, you’ll be questioning the ending and mulling over the tough, important themes.
The Shining (1980)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Stars: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
For fans of: Stephen King and eerie settings
Jack Nicholson is on this list a few times, but this classic horror movie is probably his most well-known role. The Torrance family—husband Jack, wife Wendy, and son Danny&mdas