Everything is changing, but nothing ever really changes, and that’s as true about cinema as it is about life. Some of the greatest films ever made continue to find new audiences and new relevance today; their significance changed, perhaps, but never erased. That evergreen quality is what makes a movie a classic, and sometimes, the passage of time can transform a once-forgotten film into a newly appreciated gem.
Irrespective of whether their messages were appreciated by the audiences of their time, these films are now regarded as the gold standard for the industry, inspiring countless subsequent filmmakers in their work. Their pioneering themes, socio-political insights, and timeless narratives make these movies as popular today as they were when they first hit screens, if not more. Here’s our handpicked selection of some of the greatest classic movies that feel newly relevant again, including some true masterpieces that have transformed cinema.
8
‘Wall Street’ (1987)
A crime drama film directed and co-written by Oliver Stone, Wall Street follows a young stockbroker, Bud Fox, who idolizes the wealthy and crooked corporate raider Gordon Gekko, and gets involved in insider trading. Raising his ambitions and lowering his scruples, Bud quickly becomes successful, but soon, his life starts to fall apart. Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen star as the mentor and mentee, respectively, with Daryl Hannah, Hal Holbrook, James Spader, and Terence Stamp in key roles.
Wall Street perfectly captures the zeitgeist of its decade, depicting the culture of excess that dominated the 1980s, immortalized by Douglas’s monologue in his powerful, Academy Award-winning performance. But the film’s themes and characters still hold relevance; Gordon Gekko’s motto of “greed is good” and the relentless ambition for fast money are as prevalent today as they were back then. Even decades later, Wall Street continues to serve as a cautionary tale of how corporate greed and prioritizing profit over probity lead to the moral decay of society as a whole.
7
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)
Directed and produced by Frank Capra and based on Philip Van Doren Stern’s 1943 short story The Greatest Gift, It’s a Wonderful Life tells the story of George Bailey, a community banker overwhelmed by his financial troubles, who attempts to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. But his plans are foiled by the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, who shows him what the world and his community would be like if he never existed. James Stewart stars as George, with Henry Travers as Clarence. The cast also includes Donna Reed, Thomas Mitchell, Lionel Barrymore, and Beulah Bondi in important roles.
A heartwarming and soulful story about appreciating life, It’s a Wonderful Life remains an evergreen holiday classic that never loses its essence. But beyond its Christmas fantasy setting, the film is essentially a reminder that, despite all the troubles one may face, life is still worth living, and there is real value in doing right by the community we care about. Even eight decades later, this bittersweet tale of kindness, honesty, and optimism feels as apt and relevant in a world where the George Baileys continue to stand up to the Mr. Potters of society, spreading hope and joy wherever they can.
6
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ (1962)
Directed by Robert Mulligan, To Kill a Mockingbird is an adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The movie follows Atticus Finch, a lawyer in Alabama, who defends Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping a young, white woman. Seen through the eyes of his six-year-old daughter, Jean Louis “Scout” Finch, the film focuses on Atticus’s fight for justice while educating his children about prejudices. Gregory Peck stars as Atticus Finch, with Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, Ruth White, Paul Fix, Brock Peters, Frank Overton, and James Anderson in important roles.
A profound and poignant legal crime drama, To Kill a Mockingbird stays faithful to the original novel, with both the book and its film adaptation retaining their significance decades after their release. Despite its original setting of a small Southern community in the Depression era, the film serves as a powerful observation on race, class, and the justice system, all of which are still relevant in modern society. Through its bold narrative on racial injustice and moral integrity, To Kill a Mockingbird acts as a timeless mirror, forcing the audience to confront the enduring issues and painful realities of the world.
5
‘Citizen Kane’ (1941)
Directed, produced, co-written, and played by Orson Welles in his film debut, Citizen Kane explores the complicated life story of Charles Foster Kane, an immensely wealthy newspaper publisher and industry magnate who dies uttering the word “Rosebud.” When Kane’s death becomes a sensational global news story, reporter Jerry Thompson is tasked with revisiting Kane’s life and discovers the meaning of his mysterious last word. Besides Welles, the film also stars Joseph Cotton, Dorothy Comingore, Everett Sloane, Ray Collins, George Coulouris, Agnes Moorehead, and Paul Stewart in key roles.
Citizen Kane is a groundbreaking Hollywood masterpiece that has been a huge inspiration to subsequent films and filmmakers with its non-linear narrative, innovative cinematography, and complex character story. Besides being a monumental example of Welles’s filmmaking genius, Citizen Kane presents a powerful exploration of human connection and deeply layered social satire depicted through the haunting portrait of a man’s endless ambitions and regrets. The examination of Kane’s media empire, manipulation of public opinion, self-serving political career, and the corrupting nature of power continues to mirror the state of media and political populism in many modern societies, and likely always will.
4
‘12 Angry Men’ (1957)
A classic legal drama directed by Sidney Lumet and adapted from Reginald Rose’s 1954 teleplay, 12 Angry Men follows 12 jurors trying to decide between the conviction or acquittal of a teenager who is charged with murder on the basis of reasonable doubt. As they begin to deliberate, serious disagreements and conflicts are sparked within the jury, forcing them to question their own values and morality. Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E. G. Marshall, and Jack Warden star in the main roles.
12 Angry Men is often cited as the best courtroom drama since To Kill a Mockingbird, a ranking it still holds, even decades after it first premiered. Set during the McCarthy Era, the courtroom drama is a compelling critique of the American justice system of its time, vividly demonstrating how personal, social, racial, and economic biases can distort facts and influence one’s perception of the truth. With themes of justice, prejudice, civic responsibility, and the criticality of reasonable doubt, 12 Angry Men continues to resonate within the modern legal landscape, where the ideals of fairness and ethical thinking are as pertinent today as ever.
3
‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ (1984)
A British dystopian tragedy written and directed by Michael Radford, 1984 is an adaptation of George Orwell‘s eponymous novel. The film follows Winston Smith, a low-ranking civil servant in a war-torn, totalitarian superstate, where individualism and independent thinking are persecuted on a political and personal level. When Winston falls in love with a woman named Julia, his only joy in life is instantly frowned upon and closely monitored, and he struggles to maintain his sanity. John Hurt stars as Winston Smith, with Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, Cyril Cusack, James Walker, and John Boswell in key main roles.
Despite being made over four decades ago, 1984 largely holds up today with its themes of political authoritarianism, mass surveillance, and manipulation of truth. At its time, the dystopian drama was critiqued for its discomforting plot but admired for its bleak beauty, atmospheric cinematography, and powerful performances. An emotionally devastating film, 1984 continues to reflect issues in the modern era dominated by social media and constant data tracking, and it serves as a chilling, cautionary, and accurate tale of societal control versus free will.
2
‘Blade Runner’ (1982)
Directed by Ridley Scott and adapted from the Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner is set in a dystopian future Los Angeles, where the powerful Tyrell Corporation bio-engineers androids, aka “replicants,” to work on space colonies. When a group of advanced replicants goes rogue and escapes back to Earth, former police officer Rick Deckard is hired to hunt them down. Harrison Ford stars as Deckard, with Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, and Darryl Hannah in supporting roles.
A film that launched a decades-spanning, global multimedia franchise, Blade Runner is an ’80s cult classic and a sci-fi masterpiece that has since remained timeless for its immersive and authentic world-building, using revolutionary practical effects that often surpass CGI. But the film’s enduring nature lies in its themes of artificial intelligence, the impact of technology on human society, and humanity at large. Four decades later, Blade Runner feels more relevant than ever, particularly due to its philosophical narrative that encourages profound questions about humankind, the environment, and corporate power.
1
‘Dr. Strangelove’ (1964)
Directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, Dr. Strangelove (aka Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb) is a classic political satire black comedy that follows a paranoid brigadier general of the United States Air Force, who launches a pre-emptive nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. The President of the United States, his titular nuclear war expert, and a British Royal Air Force exchange officer frantically attempt to recall the bombers before they start a nuclear war and cause global destruction. Peter Sellers portrays three different characters, with George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, Slim Pickens, and Tracy Reed in supporting roles.
Loosely adapted from Peter George’s novel Red Alert, Dr. Strangelove is one of the greatest political satires of all time and one of the most influential films ever made. Although the film parodies Cold War fears of a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the U.S., its themes, ideas, and characterizations are timeless. An incisive critique of political incompetence, the dangers of unchecked power, military power games, and the absurdity of all of it, Dr. Strangelove not only feels prescient but succeeds in evoking laughter and dread about the human condition even decades after its release.