As tastes change, some movies can fall out of fashion, but a rare few actually improve as the years pass. There is no shortage ofmovies which have aged poorly. Even some which were once considered classics, such asBreakfast at Tiffany’s, Annie HallandDumbo,have some problematic elements which mean they aren’t as popular now as they once were. Not very many movies actually get better with age.
For a movie to get better with age, it helps if it has an original streak. Time is often kind to more creative movies which break the mold, as they eventually find an audience that appreciates them. They can also become trendsetters, and their scores of imitators only serve to highlight the quality of the original. This also happens with exceptional movies that start long-running franchises, since these franchises can spend years trying and failing to recapture what makes the original so unique.
10 Timeless Black and White Movies That Still Hold Up Today
Black and white films are often linked to nostalgia, but there are several colorless classics from different eras that maintain a timeless appeal.
Steven Spielberg has long been a master of big-budget cinematic spectacle, and withJurassic Parkhe might have made the quintessential summer blockbuster.Jurassic Parkmixes elements of sci-fi, action and horror into a crowdpleasing and relentlessly entertaining hit. It was a huge success when it was first released, butJurassic Parkhas gotten even better in the years since.
Very few subsequent blockbusters have been able to recreate its formula.
For a movie made over 30 years ago,Jurassic Park’s effects hold up surprisingly well, with a mixture of cutting-edge CGI and clever practical effects. Another thing which has contributed toJurassic Park’s lasting appeal is the fact that so few subsequent blockbusters have been able to recreate its formula. The most obvious example is theJurassic Worldtrilogy, which uses many of the same elements, but lacks the magic of the original.Jurassic World Rebirthis expected to be another commercial success. It would be a huge surprise if it turned out to be as critically beloved.
LikeJurassic Park,Pulp Fictionwas a big success when it first came out, but it has also grown in stature. Quentin Tarantino’s second movie announced his arrival as a director with a bright future.Pulp Fictionis a captivating swirl of different cinematic influences, but Tarantino’s approach creates something completely unique. From its non-linear story to its explosive bursts of random violence,Pulp Fictionshook up every notion of the crime genre.
Pulp Fiction’s idiosyncratic dialogue and swagger have been imitated plenty of times, but never surpassed.
Pulp Fiction’s idiosyncratic dialogueand swagger have been imitated plenty of times, but never surpassed. Tarantino’s touch has proven to be difficult to replicate, andPulp Fictionhas become even more popular as his career has progressed. Now, 30 years later, many filmmakers are still trying to catch up with Tarantino’s revolutionary second movie.The pop culture parodies and references ofPulp Fictionhave only made it more enjoyable.
Bruce Lee sadly passed away betweenEnter the Dragonwrapping filming and being released. This meant that there was plenty of interest in the final masterpiece of the martial arts legend, andEnter the Dragondid not disappoint.It is one of the quintessential martial arts movies, incorporating western influences such as theJames Bondmovies to create a kung fu extravaganza with a distinct Hollywood flavor.
So many modern big-budget action movies rely on CGI and mindless gunplay, and they lack the gut-punch intensity ofEnter the Dragon.
Enter the Dragon’s fight scenesshowcase Lee’s remarkable skills. He delivers a physical performance that defies logic at times, but everything on screen is real. This creates a kind of action that is becoming increasingly rare these days. So many modern big-budget action movies rely on CGI and mindless gunplay, and they lack the gut-punch intensity ofEnter the Dragon.
Fight Clubfaced a bemused critical response when it was first released. Some reviews categorized it as a dark psychological thriller, but this reading misses David Fincher’s acute corporate satire.Fight Clubis a thriller and a dark comedy rolled into one, and this thematic tension has helped it stand up to repeated viewings.Fight Clubis layered enough to reveal little details on each rewatch.
Tyler Durden’s methods are dangerous, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to disagree with his anti-establishment philosophy.
Fight Clubsatirizes America’s corporate consumerist culture, and this element has aged beautifully. Commercialization and the false promises of social mobility have become even bigger talking points in the 21st century, meaning thatFight Clubmanaged to predict a good deal of class tension.Fight Clubhas some quoteswhich underline Tyler Durden’s twisted philosophy. His methods are dangerous and unhinged, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to disagree with his principle that society isn’t designed for people to achieve personal fulfillment.
At the 2017 Academy Awards,La La Landwas mistakenly announced as the Best Picture winner. A few years on from that infamous blunder, it’s becoming less and less controversial to suggest thatLa La Landshould have won after all. Damien Chazelle’s musical is a synthesis of the old and the new, creating a throwback to the golden days of Hollywood musicals in the 1960s with a 21st century flair.
While other movie musicals are remembered for their soundtracks alone,La La Landhas a lot more going for it.
At the time,La La Landlooked as if it might usher in a new era for the big-screen musical, but this hasn’t panned out.La La Landtherefore stands alone as a unique movie for the 21st century.There are moments of good humor, but it’s also a mature romantic drama, the likes of which just aren’t trendy anymore. While other movie musicals are remembered for their soundtracks alone,La La Landhas a lot more going for it.
Although it was released in 1967,The Graduateis still just as relatable in the 21st century.When Benjamin Braddock graduates from college, he doesn’t quite know what to do with his life, although every adult in his life is pressuring him in their own way. This experience has been felt by millions of people all over the world in the decades sinceThe Graduatewas released. Watching it proves that some things never change.
The Graduate’s ambiguous ending has also ensured that the movie has aged well.
The Graduate’s ambiguous endinghas also ensured that the movie has aged well. On the surface, it seems gleefully optimistic, but as Benjamin and Elaine’s smiles start to fade, the realization of their recklessness starts to sink in. Although they want to reject the orthodoxy of their parents, they understand that their futile act of rebellion has left them just as rudderless as before.
Although Roald Dahl famously disliked the first movie adaptation of one of his books,Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryhas earned its status as a family-friendly classic. Neither Tim Burton’sCharlie and the Chocolate Factoryor theWonkaspinoff have been able to measure up to the charming practical effects and set design of the first movie. Over the years, it has developed a quirky retro sheen that can’t be faked.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryhas earned its status as a family-friendly classic.
Gene Wilder’s growing reputation has also contributed toWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’s enduring popularity. He made many of his best movies in the years after playing Willy Wonka, and his comedic performance is even more enjoyable in retrospect. One thing that makesWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factorystand out when compared to modern children’s movies is thatit treats its young audience with plenty of respect, and it isn’t afraid to expose them to a little bit of darkness.
Mean Girlshas been described as a “chick flick,” but this label is often used as a paper-thin cover for misogyny. With the benefit of hindsight, audiences can now appreciateMean Girlsas one of the best comedies of the 2000s, and its appeal isn’t limited to women. Comedy as a movie genre has largely been dominated by male voices, andMean Girlswas unfairly dismissed in some quarters.
Comedy as a movie genre has largely been dominated by male voices, andMean Girlswas unfairly dismissed in some quarters.
Mean Girlsworks so well because it shows an awareness of its own awkward place within the genre. It satirizes the perceptions of women in comedy with some shallow high school stereotypes, but it’s also an earnest celebration of female friendships and resilience.20 years on, more people are finally getting in on the joke, as they look beneath the surface ofMean Girls.
Ghostbustersfeatures several formerSaturday Night Livecast members, and much like a comedy sketch, its main goal is to make its audience laugh.The script doesn’t adhere to the tried and tested conventions of Hollywood storytelling.There are some important beats where they need to be, butGhostbustersdoesn’t pursue a central message, and it isn’t particularly interested in themes. It’s the kind of movie which would be noted into oblivion by studio executives today, but it works nonetheless.
It’s the kind of movie which would be noted into oblivion by studio executives today, but it works nonetheless.
ComparingGhostbusterswith its legacy sequels reveals just how unusual the original movie is. While the sequels have taken on a more reverent tone, with messages about family and togetherness, they have strayed further from the sense of fun which powers the original. This all makesGhostbustersa beautiful outlier. It’s an entertaining comedy that gives its cast all they need to do what they do best, and the sci-fi plot is intriguing without becoming too self-important.
TheBack to the Futuretrilogy has only gotten more popular with age, as it has come to represent the pinnacle of 1980s nostalgia. Everything aboutBack to the Future’s visual design screams ’80s, even when the characters travel to the year 2015 inPart II.The sequel’s poor predictions about the future have only served to reinforce its status as a kitschy retrofuturist gem.The inaccuracies and anachronisms are all part of the fun.
Back to the Futurehas aged better than most other old sci-fi movies because it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Back to the Futurehas aged better than most other old sci-fi movies because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Most sci-fi movies which make bold predictions eventually fall out of fashion, butBack to the Future’s musings on time travel are a mix between H.G. Wells and idle teenage fantasies.Back to the Future’s larger-than-life characters and its snappy humor give it great rewatch value, and this has kept it feeling fresh.
