There’s nothing better than a good movie that stands the test of time. One you can watch over and over again ten years later and still feel the same emotions, or experience it all for the first time and still be wowed.
It seems not a day has passed since these classics graced our screens, so roll out the wine and press play on some oldies for your next movie night in.
Carrie (1976)
One of the greatest Stephen King adaptations ever to be brought to life and with a reputation so strong, it’s managed to inspire multiple remakes and even a Broadway musical since 1976.
Carrie was the movie that put Brian De Palma on the map and it’s no wonder because it shows just how distinctive the director’s style was so early on in his career. De Palma explores King’s themes of adolescence and repression with a skilful balance of tension and tenderness, while never succumbing to cheap tricks to win his audience over.
He also executes one hell of a finale that even King himself admitted was better than his own ending. And even if the movie’s power starts to weaken with the passage of time, Spacek and Lauries’ spectacular performances will no doubt keep the flames of its legacy burning bright.
IMDb: 7.4/10
Cast: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving and more
How to stream Carrie
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Without a doubt one of the most entertaining family films ever made with a charm factor so high, that it could induce a sugar rush just from the sight of its sweet temptations alone.
Faithfully based on Roald Dhal’s beloved children’s book, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory combines endearing wit and spoonfuls of endless imagination to concoct a wildly inventive movie-going experience for audiences far and wide – and just like all great musicals have in common, every song is just as memorable as the next.
IMDb: 7.8/10
Cast: Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum and more
How to stream Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Cabaret (1972)
Sometimes the lyrics of a song can resonate with just as much power as a political statement, and musical genius, Bob Fosse (All That Jazz), was no stranger to that concept.
The rise of the Nazi occupation is something that’ll always hold a strong relevance in cinema and Cabaret explores that dark chapter in history with such a thematic progressiveness, it’s no wonder it’s proven to be one of the only films that can convert musical haters into musical lovers. Between Fosse’s energetic direction and Liza Minelli’s charismatic performance, this is essential cinema of the highest calibre.
IMDb: 7.8/10
Cast: Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem and more
How to stream Cabaret
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
At once both deeply imaginative and dramatic, The Wizard of OZ is the perfect culmination of artistic and technical elements coming together to form the ultimate cinematic experience for all types of audiences.
The story itself is simple, and enchanting and holds a strong moral undercurrent that’s amplified by Victor Fleming’s classic gaze. From Judy Garland singing ‘Over the Rainbow’ and the Tinman shedding tears of oil (which were actually chocolate syrup), to the wicked witch’s grotesque final melting moment, the movie is full of scenes that have stained our childhood memories and will continue to do so until the frames of its beautifully saturated celluloid start to fade.
IMDb: 8/10
Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger and more
How to stream The Wizard Of Oz
Rear Window (1954)
A charming thriller that’s just as sharply written as it is immaculately captured through Robert Burks’ crisp cinematography.
Of all the films made by Alfred Hitchcock, Rear Window finds the master of suspense in top form, showcasing his signature skill to place the audience in the shoes (or in this case, wheelchair) of the central protagonist, while testing our darkest voyeuristic cravings inside a domestic setting. It might not be as boundary-pushing as Psycho, but it’s far more groundbreaking on a technical level.
IMDb: 8.5/10
Cast: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey and more
How to stream Rear Window
Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)
If charm could be served as an aperitif, it would come out looking like this movie. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is nothing less than a slice of 60’s bohemian sophistication that wears its heart on its sleeve and unsurprisingly, also features some very cool frocks too.
Superstar Audrey Hepburn’s screen presence is just as magnetic as Edwards’ slick direction, who adapts the sometimes earnest source material into something slightly more delectable for modern audiences.
IMDb: 7.6/10
Cast: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal and more
How to stream Breakfast At Tiffany’s
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Not one part of this deranged commentary about social discord fails to reveal the unstable political systems that have constructed the world we live in and Kurbick knew that by pushing his thematic boundaries, this movie would get those timely messages across.
On the surface level, the story and characterisation are both notorious for their shock value (especially for their time), but if one digs a little deeper, it’s impossible to ignore the valid arguments raised throughout its runtime, which are still astoundingly relevant even in today’s social climate.
IMDb: 8.3/10
Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates and more
How to stream A Clockwork Orange
Repulsion (1965)
It’s a real shame that Roman Polanski’s work has been tarnished by the controversies of his personal life because the man’s talent is undeniably unique.
Repulsion might not be considered his greatest film, but it’s arguably his most polarizing one and is a gleaming example of how resourceful the director can be. With an uncategorizable style driven by seamless technical precision, Polanski’s claustrophobic study of loneliness chipping away at one woman’s psyche reminds us that sometimes all it takes to make a successful thriller is a basic concept, a simple setting and an actor who can tap into a director’s artistic vision, no matter how twisted or absurd it may be.
IMDb: 7.7/10
Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Ian Hendry, John Fraser and more
How to stream Repulsion
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