Some old movies show their age, but these resonate years after they released.
Sometimes, we revisit old movies and think, "How did this ever get green-lit?" or "Ehhh, that doesn't age well." Sometimes, we pretend we never liked it and throw away our old T-shirts with the cast's faces and definitely those old posters. In other words, sometimes, films from the past are so glaringly from the past that it's hard to watch and enjoy them today. Then, we have those other films whose themes, acting, visual effects, filming, and storytelling techniques, still garner a great appreciation from viewers.
Filmmaking is constantly changing and so is our society, which films are of course influenced by. Whether through the way of speaking, stylistic acting choices, or directorial changes, it can be intriguing for movie buffs to look back at old classics and see what movies today could learn from them. So, here's a list of 20 old movies that still hold up today.
The Matrix follows Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, who is a programmer. Like most heroes at the start of a story, he refuses his call to action to help locate a man thought to be a terrorist. It wouldn't be a movie if he wasn't sucked into the mission anyway, guided along by others who know about this amorphous thing called the Matrix. But, you probably already knew that.
The Matrix not only shifted the landscape for sci-fi and cyberpunk films, but for movies in general. The use of slow motion, spinning cameras, and other techniques make audiences feel as off-kilter as Neo as he navigates the world. But besides the technical aspects, this film is a fun ride, starting right off with action and daring viewers to get up to leave, because if they do, even for a second, they're sure to miss something good.
Written by Nora Ephron, one of the best screenwriters of all time, When Harry Met Sally is a romantic comedy that set the blueprint for what works in this genre. Are the main characters well-rounded? Definitely. Do we understand what's keeping them apart? Absolutely, pretty much right out the gate. And do we know why they eventually want to be together? Yes.
With their grade-A banter, viewers can only imagine the electric conversations Sally (played by Meg Ryan) and Harry (played by Billy Crystal) have with each other. It's romance, so we know the characters are going to end up together, it's the ride that keeps viewers locked in. And after that restaurant scene (I'll have what she's having), audiences were strapped in.
While many on this list were game changers in the film industry, with recognition so strong that people who've never even seen the movies are familiar with the plot and/or characters, Cooley High had a quieter impact. Still, this 1975 dramedy is perfect for movie lovers who want a new spin on a coming-of-age story. Legendary R&B group Boyz II Men named their 1991 debut album Cooleyhighharmony, rapper Nas referenced the film in lyrics for "Memory Lane (Sittin' in Da Park)," and was a source of inspiration for Boyz n the Hood.
So, while it had a huge impact on Black entertainment, this story is not about Black pain. Set in 1960s Chicago, the film centers around two friends with great aspirations to break out and achieve big things. While traumatic events happen, ultimately we see these young boys for what they are: teenagers trying to decide how to proceed in the world. A struggle we keep coming back to coming-of-age stories for.
Casablanca is a war film that tells a timeless love story, starring Old Hollywood icons Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Though in black and white, this film still holds its own against more modern war stories with its simple, yet poignant lines that highlight the high emotions and stakes of this World War II film. "We'll always have Paris," is an iconic line that floats across social media and modern merchandise even today. Even for those who can't relate to the war aspect of the film, the messages about duty, agency, and love are not married to one time period.
Rocky did more than inspire a generation of people to throw on gray sweatpants and jog up a flight of stairs while throwing jabs and listening to Bill Conti's "Gonna Fly Now." No, instead it gave us iconic New York-Italian accents and even more than that, an inspiring take on what it means to be not better than anyone else, but best yourself. Rocky tackled the underdog trope through a different lens and made everyone watching root for Sylvester Stallone's character and analyze what have we been holding ourselves back from because we count ourselves out.
Rocky also portrayed a new kind of character in the sports film genre. Movie analysts at Cinema Therapy discuss Rocky's depiction of "healthy masculinity" stating, "[Rocky] is strong, and he is a fighter, and he believes in kicking ass. But he's also tender, and he's gentle, and he's humble and teachable. This is a beautiful character."
Related: 20 Classic Action Movies That Never Get Old
Fight Club is the perfect movie for lovers of action films, but want more than big "pew pew" scenes with little in the name of character development. Edward Norton and Brad Pitt's chemistry is off the charts and the scenes in the film will equally make you want to look away due to increased tension and scoot closer to the screen.
The psychological transformation of the Narrator (Norton) throughout the film deserves more than one watch, which is perhaps why the film still has a strong following today. Based on a book by Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club is fun, tense, and provides great material for hours-long debates with friends on what that ending means.
Some of the entries on this list have wide appeal even for those who typically don't like the genre. Here, you may have a difficult time connecting with Singin' in the Rain if you don't like musicals, as it's unapologetically upbeat and a tad over the top. Nowadays, if a character is in a scene in the rain during an intense moment, audiences may roll their eyes. This musical has Gene Kelly clicking his heels and splashing through puddles while singing the titular song.
The creators of the film had a clear vision and stuck to it. A love letter to Old Hollywood and the period where it transitioned away from silent films, Singin' in the Rain is a nice pick-me-up from the heavier portrayals of the industry.
We can't mention Old Hollywood without mentioning the impact Elizabeth Taylor had. Though the actress has an extensive backlist, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is among her best work. The film is an adaptation of a play by Edward Albee and shows the fraught relationship of a married couple, played by once real-life couple Taylor and Richard Burton. Taylor's character steered away from the sometimes one-dimensional characters she's played in the past.
When taking in the historical context when it was made, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? encourages viewers even today to question the values and beliefs we were taught and will make you slightly uncomfortable as they do it.
Stephen King is one of the best horror writers of our time. So it's no surprise one of his books was adapted into a movie. Carrie was based on King's first novel and directed by Brian De Palma who was also part of other successful films such as Scarface and Mission Impossible. Carrie touches on the cruelties of teenagers and shows an extreme example of what can happen when bullying is taken too far.
For those who enjoy prom scenes in teen films, this one puts a unique and horrifying spin on it. There's a sense of foreboding throughout the entire film. Viewers know the film is building to something explosive and the prom sequence does not disappoint.
For many years, Disney and Pixar dominated the animation space. When DreamWorks released Shrek, it showed the world there were other competent filmmakers ready to make an impact. Shrek expertly toes the line between being a cartoon that's for children yet slightly inappropriate for children. Some references flew over kids' heads until years later when they rewatched and could now understand why their parents were laughing at moments they didn't understand.
Additionally, Shrek challenged a lot of the stereotypes present in Disney and Pixar movies, specifically around beauty and love. Shrek is the antithesis to a classic fairytale prince and Fiona also challenges what it means to be a princess. With a smashing opening song and a stellar performance by Eddie Murphy as Donkey, Shrek cements itself as a classic animated film.
The Silence of the Lambs is not your average crime/horror film. Starring Jodie Foster as Detective Clarice Sterling, we watch as she works against a ticking clock to apprehend a serial killer. In order to do so, she must enlist the help of Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins, who is an imprisoned serial killer.
The mind games Clarice must navigate while putting the clues together are captivating, and the scenes where we follow the current killer, Buffalo Bill, are truly horrifying. While not for the light of heart, this film is great for horror fans who love to delve deep into the psyche of fleshed-out characters.
The Back to the Future franchise may have been wrong about what technology we'd have these days, but it got so much else right. From the charismatic character of Marty to the fact that we all love a good bully revenge arc in a movie. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) winds up in the 1950s from the 1980s thanks to a time travel machine his mad scientist friend Doc (Christopher Lloyd) makes. He not only has to interact with his parents when they were teenagers, but he also has to make sure they fall in love if he wants to exist in the future and ward off his teenage mother's crush on him. No pressure.
When speaking to Entertainment Weekly about why this film is still popular today, Fox said, "It's something that kids love and don't think about when it was made. They don't think of it as an old movie."
While not exactly underrated, Scream still doesn't get enough credit for how much it changed the horror genre. The opening scene with Drew Barrymore is among the most iconic in any horror film and sets the tone for the fast-paced film that's soon to unravel. We follow Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) as she grapples with the death of her classmate and the upcoming anniversary of her mother's own murder.
Ghostface, the killer, isn't supernatural or superhuman, and that makes them all the more scary. It also managed to keep the horror element there and also leaning into plenty of comedic, somewhat satirical moments without feeling jarring. Without diving into spoilers, the killer reveal while par for the course now, was not common when this debuted.
Related: How Scream Changed the Face of Horror
Mean Girls is such a staple in the modern pop culture zeitgeist that it's nearly unfathomable to comprehend that it came out in 2004. While there are a few jokes in this film that make many viewers think ehhh, that's not great, on the whole, this movie holds up incredibly well. It's hard to imagine any other actors playing a different role in this film. The comedic timing is close to perfection.
There's also a surprising amount of nuance for what may look on the surface as a typical teen rom-com. The film both embraces and pokes fun at traditional rom-com tropes and character archetypes and in the end, it's one that never seems to lose its charm no matter how many times you rewatch it.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is wish fulfillment at its finest. We all wish we could be like carefree, confident Ferris who plows through life, and it all manages to work out for him in the end. Or perhaps like cool Sloane who is level-headed yet not afraid to take risks and have fun. Yet, for most of us, we're likely Cameron, a nervous ball of energy always wondering what could go wrong.
In Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Matthew Broderick as Ferris invites the audience to experience his day playing hooky with him by breaking the fourth wall. So much happens in this movie that you have to wrap your head around it only happens over one day.
Lost-footage horror films are common in the genre now, but when The Blair Witch Project released, it bent everyone out of shape. The movie is entrenched in small-town lore and follows a group of friends who want to investigate some haunted woods and confirm whether the legend of the Blair Witch is just gossip.
Not only was the documentary-style filming unique, but the accompanying marketing which featured the actors as missing persons added to the hype surrounding the film. The creators committed to this device. And even though now horror audiences are familiar with it, the film still holds its own with performances that make you forget you're watching actors.
A gang story that focuses on preteens and teenagers, and is actually suitable for them to watch. While this movie does tackle heavy themes and is violent, it still manages to capture the innocence of youth that the main characters are losing but haven't yet lost. The Outsiders follows a group of friends who are poor and have little optimism for their lives, and it's further complicated by the antagonistic relationship they have with a rich rival gang.
While the inclusion of famous "Brat Pack" actors firmly transports viewers back to the 80s and 90s, the messages of friendship, hope, and breaking a cycle of hate walk right alongside us in the 21st Century.
Love & Basketball is exactly what it sounds like. A love story. And a sports story. The two main characters, Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) have to navigate the complications of both their love for basketball and their love for each other. The film shows them as kids growing up in the same neighborhood to adulthood when they try to move on but still feel that draw toward each other.
Tying in another entrant on this list, writer and director Gina Prince-Bythewood said she "wanted to make a Black When Harry Met Sally" (via Variety). Both explore male-female "friendships" but Love & Basketball pushes it further by highlighting a Black relationship and female ambition, especially in a male-dominated sport.
The live-action Scooby-Doo movie gets loads of attention for its picture-perfect casting and it rightly deserves all the hype. However, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is the most underrated film of this historic franchise. Arguably one of the darker Scooby-Doo films, it touches on topics such as colonialism, racism, war, and victims becoming victimizers. Don't worry, it's not heavy-handed. Children watching the film are likely to be too engrossed in the gang's quest to find "real" monsters to notice any kind of message.
Zombie Island gives fans all the familiar gags we love like Scooby and Shaggy's oversized love for food, Velma's knack for putting together clues, and Fred and Daphne's not-so-secret pining over one another, while delivering their darkest, scariest film yet.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is the perfect film for adults who never let go of their love for cartoons. Set in the late-1940s, Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) is a jaded detective who has a hatred for cartoons. This wouldn't be a problem if this was our world, but in this universe, people live alongside cartoon characters.
For Eddie, his life is altered after witnessing a game of patty-cake. Yes, you read that right. He's forced to help Roger Rabbit (voiced by Charles Fleischer) clear his name after the murder of a prominent man. With lots of humor, excellent use of animation, and a touching story about overcoming grief, Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a reminder to never lose our inner child.

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