As tastes change, some movies can fall out of fashion, but a rare few actually improve as the years pass. There is no shortage of movies which have aged poorly. Even some which were once considered classics, such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Annie Hall and Dumbo, 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.
Related 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.
10 Jurassic Park (1993)
Steven Spielberg’s Summer Blockbuster Has Aged Surprisingly Well
Close
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10
Your comment has not been saved
10/10 10/10 Jurassic Park
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director Steven Spielberg Release Date June 11, 1993 Cast Sam Neill , Laura Dern , Jeff Goldblum , Richard Attenborough , Bob Peck , Martin Ferrero
Steven Spielberg has long been a master of big-budget cinematic spectacle, and with Jurassic Park he might have made the quintessential summer blockbuster. Jurassic Park mixes elements of sci-fi, action and horror into a crowdpleasing and relentlessly entertaining hit. It was a huge success when it was first released, but Jurassic Park has 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 to Jurassic Park‘s lasting appeal is the fact that so few subsequent blockbusters have been able to recreate its formula. The most obvious example is the Jurassic World trilogy, which uses many of the same elements, but lacks the magic of the original. Jurassic World Rebirth is expected to be another commercial success. It would be a huge surprise if it turned out to be as critically beloved.
9 Pulp Fiction (1994)
Quentin Tarantino’s Crime Classic Remains Unparalleled
Close
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
10/10 8.4/10 Pulp Fiction
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director Quentin Tarantino Release Date October 14, 1994 Cast John Travolta , Bruce Willis , Ving Rhames , Samuel L. Jackson , Uma Thurman , Christopher Walken , Tim Roth , Harvey Keitel , Eric Stoltz , Rosanna Arquette
Like Jurassic Park, Pulp Fiction was 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 Fiction is 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 Fiction shook 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 dialogue and swagger have been imitated plenty of times, but never surpassed. Tarantino’s touch has proven to be difficult to replicate, and Pulp Fiction has 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 of Pulp Fiction have only made it more enjoyable.
8 Enter The Dragon (1973)
Bruce Lee’s Martial Arts Magnum Opus Is An Antidote To Modern Action
Close
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
10/10 Enter the Dragon
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director Robert Clouse Release Date August 19, 1973 Cast Bruce Lee , John Saxon , Ahna Capri , Bob Wall , Shih Kien , Jim Kelly
Bruce Lee sadly passed away between Enter the Dragon wrapping filming and being released. This meant that there was plenty of interest in the final masterpiece of the martial arts legend, and Enter the Dragon did not disappoint. It is one of the quintessential martial arts movies, incorporating western influences such as the James Bond movies 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 of
Enter the Dragon.
Enter the Dragon‘s fight scenes showcase 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 of Enter the Dragon.
7 Fight Club (1999)
David Fincher’s Psychological Thriller Seems Increasingly Prophetic
Close
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
10/10 9/10 Fight Club
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director David Fincher Release Date October 15, 1999 Cast Brad Pitt , Meat Loaf , Edward Norton , Jared Leto , Helena Bonham Carter
Fight Club faced 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 Club is a thriller and a dark comedy rolled into one, and this thematic tension has helped it stand up to repeated viewings. Fight Club is 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 Club satirizes 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 that Fight Club managed to predict a good deal of class tension. Fight Club has some quotes which 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.
6 La La Land (2016)
La La Land Is More Than A Throwback Musical
Close
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
9/10 8.1/10 La La Land
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director Damien Chazelle Release Date December 9, 2016 Cast Hemky Madera , meagen fay , J. K. Simmons , Sonoya Mizuno , Rosemarie DeWitt , John Legend , Ryan Gosling , Finn Wittrock , Ashley Caple , Josh Pence , Emma Stone , Jason Fuchs
At the 2017 Academy Awards, La La Land was mistakenly announced as the Best Picture winner. A few years on from that infamous blunder, it’s becoming less and less controversial to suggest that La La Land should 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 Land
has a lot more going for it.
At the time, La La Land looked as if it might usher in a new era for the big-screen musical, but this hasn’t panned out. La La Land therefore 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 Land has a lot more going for it.
5 The Graduate (1967)
The Graduate Is Surpisingly Timeless
Close
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
7/10 The Graduate
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director Mike Nichols Release Date December 21, 1967 Cast Dustin Hoffman , Katharine Ross , Murray Hamilton , Anne Bancroft , William Daniels
Although it was released in 1967, The Graduate is 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 since The Graduate was 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 ending has 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.
4 Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
The Roald Dahl Adaptation Is Darker Than Most Modern Children’s Movies
Close
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
8/10 10/10 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director Mel Stuart Release Date June 30, 1971 Cast Jack Albertson , gene wilder , Peter Ostrum , Denise Nickerson , Julie Dawn Cole
Although Roald Dahl famously disliked the first movie adaptation of one of his books, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has earned its status as a family-friendly classic. Neither Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or the Wonka spinoff 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 Factory
has earned its status as a family-friendly classic.
Gene Wilder’s growing reputation has also contributed to Willy 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 makes Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stand out when compared to modern children’s movies is that it treats its young audience with plenty of respect, and it isn’t afraid to expose them to a little bit of darkness.
3 Mean Girls (2004)
Mean Girls Has Finally Got The Respect It Deserves
Close
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
9/10 7/10 Mean Girls
Director Mark Waters Release Date April 30, 2004 Cast Amy Poehler , Lacey Chabert , Tina Fey , Rachel McAdams , Amanda Seyfried , Lindsay Lohan
Mean Girls has 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 appreciate Mean Girls as 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, and Mean Girls was unfairly dismissed in some quarters.
Comedy as a movie genre has largely been dominated by male voices, and
Mean Girls
was unfairly dismissed in some quarters.
Mean Girls works 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 of Mean Girls.
2 Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters Is A Unique Sci-Fi Comedy
Close
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
8/10 Ghostbusters
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director Ivan Reitman Release Date June 8, 1984 Cast Bill Murray , Dan Aykroyd , Sigourney Weaver , Harold Ramis , Ernie Hudson , Rick Moranis
Ghostbusters features several former Saturday Night Live cast 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, but Ghostbusters doesn’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.
Comparing Ghostbusters with 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 makes Ghostbusters a 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.
1 Back To The Future (1985)
Doc And Marty’s Adventures Are Staples Of ’80s Nostaligia
Close
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
10/10 9.4/10 Back to the Future
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director Robert Zemeckis Release Date July 3, 1985 Cast Claudia Wells , Christopher Lloyd , James Tolkan , Thomas F. Wilson , Michael J. Fox , Wendie Jo Sperber , Crispin Glover , Marc McClure , Lea Thompson
The Back to the Future trilogy has only gotten more popular with age, as it has come to represent the pinnacle of 1980s nostalgia. Everything about Back to the Future‘s visual design screams ’80s, even when the characters travel to the year 2015 in Part 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 Future
has aged better than most other old sci-fi movies because it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Back to the Future has 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, but Back 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.