“Classic” can be a pretty loaded term. And, when it comes to deciding the classics of cinema, it seems that there’s no surefire system for designating the must-sees of movie history. Some might argue that a true classic is one that withstands the test of time–perhaps it was the first of its kind to achieve a stylistic or technical feat, or maybe it holds a universal appeal that can translate to each new generation. Others might insist that it’s possible for the “instant classic” to emerge, one that needs no aging process to prove its cultural merit. Your college film professor might measure a classic by how many students’ eyes glaze over before its runtime is complete. And, judging by the must-watch list of the resident film bro in your social circle, it seems that some might gauge classics by how horribly they fail the Bechdel test.
But, there’s one litmus test that almost always proves a true classic movie: How many people protest in dismay when you tell them you’ve never seen it.
If you already have a list of “Movies to Watch Before You Die” rotting away in your Notes app, or are triggered whenever someone asks if you’ve seen Good Will Hunting, don’t fret. We’re not here to lecture you. We just want to remind you, oh-so-gently, that chipping away at that must-watch list doesn’t have to be painful. In fact, it might even be enjoyable. So, we’ve cut out the leg-work for you. Here are the best classic films on Netflix. No film bro lecture or analysis essay necessary.
Awakenings
When fans think of Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, Awakenings might not be the first title that comes to mind. However, the two actors’ lead performances in this 1990 drama are uniquely profound. Based on Oliver Sacks’s memoir of the same name, the adaptation explores Sacks’s historic medical breakthrough while working with catatonic patients of the encephalitis lethargica epidemic. (Medical background not required.)
Stripes
The war comedy genre is one that, as you might guess, has been trodden upon pretty lightly. But Stripes might arguably be the most memorable of its rank. Bill Murray stars as John Winger, a newly-unemployed and single cabbie who goes from listless to enlisted when he impulsively joins the army to combat his lack of purpose. Winger finds a bit more action than he bargained for, though, when his irreverent antics land him behind enemy lines.
My Girl
The rite of passage for every 90s kid, and likely the movie that scarred most of them with its overwhelming themes of death, My Girl tells of the coming-of-age that occurs when life forces us to grow up too fast. A young Anna Chlumsky stars as the daughter of a widowed mortician, played by Dan Aykroyd, with beautiful supporting performances from Macaulay Culkin and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Apocalypse Now
Lauded as one of the best war films of all time, Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now is a vivid adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness set amidst the Vietnam War. Martin Sheen stars as an operative captive assigned to venture deep into Cambodia to track down an AWOL colonel, played by Martin Brando. (While the film offers commentary on the sheer violence and uselessness of the Vietnam War, it should be noted that its depiction of citizens in Vietnam and Cambodia is largely insensitive–as native citizens are often erased from the narrative or shown through racist stereotypes.)
She’s Gotta Have It
Spike Lee’s 1989 Do the Right Thing is often referred to as the director’s magnum opus, but She’s Gotta Have It, from three years prior, is equally essential viewing. A revolutionary portrayal of Black sexuality on screen, it’s a comedy you won’t soon forget.
Blade Runner
Rain Man
Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman star in the classic road trip drama Rain Man, which won Best Picture at the 1988 Oscars. Here, Charlie (Cruise) learns that he has an older brother, Raymond (Hoffman), when their father dies and leaves the bulk of his estate to the formerly mysterious relative. What starts as a story motivated by money becomes a film about family, love, and empathy.
Dances With Wolves
If you’re looking for a classic Western, look no further. The 1990 epic features Kevin Costner (who also directed and produced the film) as Civil War soldier John J. Dunbar who befriends a band of Lakota people, and after developing an appreciation for their culture, decides to stick with them amid growing threats.
My Fair Lady
The celebrated 1964 classic musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s play “Pygmalion” has landed on Netflix. My Fair Lady stars the ever charming Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, the working class girl that phonetics professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) decides he will transform into a cultured lady.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Authurian legend gets the parody treatment in this absurd—and endlessly quotable—1975 cult classic in which the Monty Python players star as the Knights of the Roundtable on the search for the legendary treasure.
Monty Python’s Life of Brian
Monty Python (yes, more of them!) takes on Christ with this story of Brian of Nazareth, a man who was born on the same night as Jesus—just in the stable next door—and spends his entire life being mistaken for the messiah.
Howards End
This lush Merchant-Ivory 1992 adaptation of the classic E.M. Forster novel follows two families with opposing worldviews who are thrust together when their children become romantically attached.
Lauren KrancLauren Kranc is an assistant editor at Esquire, where she runs the brand’s social media accounts and covers pop culture and television, with entirely too narrow an expertise on true crime shows.
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