50 Classic Movies You Should Do Yourself a Favor and Watch

Movies are magical. They transport you to other worlds full of memorable characters, sinister plots, and surprising mysteries just waiting to be told. Film allows you the wonderful opportunity to step into someone else’s shoes for a brief moment in time, and experience the world as they see it.

You see what they see, feel what they feel, and learn as they learn. The sympathetic process that goes in creating a film is equal parts math and magic, all coming together to through the collective vision of directors, producers, editors, sound mixers, actors, screenwriters, and even more to deliver a delightful (sometimes) escape from the mundanity of every day life.

Sadly, not all movies have the same impact as others. But those that do, stay with you. The classics builds tension, suspense, and anguish, only to deliver a satisfying catharsis that leaves you a better person overall for having learned some valuable lesson. Other films create beautiful, sweeping shots that you long to frame on a wall in your home. Others feature delightful music that string you along the plot, like a charming two-step. But again, the classics are a magical combination of all of the above, forming the finest experiences the medium has to offer. If you haven’t seen these movies, you are in for a treat. By no means is this list the limit, but it’s a great place to start.

Akira Kurosawa’s historical epic about a group of samurai who defend a village from a bandit attack. A masterpiece and among the finest films ever made.

Ridley Scott’s neo-noir masterpiece follows the story of a detective chasing a group of rogue androids around a cyberpunk Los Angeles.

Alfred Hitchcock’s revolutionary horror/thriller still manages to shock modern audiences with its excellent use of suspense, editing, and music.

Spike Lee’s comedy-drama showcases the rising racial tensions that culminate on the hottest day of the year in Brooklyn.

Another Hitchcock greatest hit that’s equal parts mystery and psychological thriller.

A Swedish film by Ingrid Bergman about a stage actress who suddenly loses the ability to speak, and the nurse in charge of taking care of her. Stunning visuals and great drama.

Another Hitchcock masterpiece about the dangers of obsession and nostalgia.

One of the finest films ever made that fully utilizes everything that makes the medium of cinema special. David Lynch’s masterpiece is difficult to approach but oh so rewarding to watch.

Martin Scorsese beautifully documents the descent into madness of Vietnam war veteran, Travis Bickle.

One of David Fincher’s earlier works, Se7en is a master-class in screenwriting and suspense.

A Scorsese adaptation of the equally great Chinese film, “Infernal Affairs,” The Departed tells the story of a game of cat and mouse in the Boston police department.

Francois Truffaut’s classic film that ushered in the French New Wave is a story of growing up as a boy.

Akira Kurosawa’s film about a chance encounter in the woods between a samurai, maiden, and a bandit that details the nature of truth and the human condition.