50 Classic Movies to Watch (Part 2)

Rear Window

Perhaps Hitchcock’s reigning masterpiece, Rear Window is the ultimate quarantine movie - perfect for a pandemic when you’re stuck at home with nothing to do. The movie tells the story of a travel photographer (Jimmy Stewart) recovering from an injury who spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. With a stunning Grace Kelly and set during a sweltering NY summer, it’s a can’t-miss classic.

Jaws

The ultimate monster movie, some have cited it as the actual first summer blockbuster when it hit theaters in 1975. The movie is about a killer shark wreaking havoc on a Northeast beach community. The local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer team up to hunt the beast down. It stars Richard Dreyfus, Robert Shaw, and Roy Schneider. It’s epic. And it shouldn’t be missed.

Schindler’s List

Schindler’s List is a hard but necessary watch. Based on a true story, the film follows Oskar Schindler, an industrialist concerned for his Jewish workforce in German-occupied Poland during World War II. It’s heart-wrenching and important. Another Spielberg classic on this list, (Jaws and Indiana Jones being the others) it stars Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, and Ben Kingsley.

Star Wars: A New Hope

Come on guys. It’s Star Wars. One of the most iconic cultural artifacts of our time. Released in 1977, the world had never seen anything like it. In the most simplistic description I can muster, the movie follows Luke Skywalker, an angsty teen who joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee, a princess, and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station.

The Silence of the Lambs

You won’t find many serial killer thrillers on any of my ‘best of all time’ lists, but this one is an exception. Both in its craft and its show-stopping female lead, Silence of the Lambs is a true masterpiece. The movie is about a young F.B.I. cadet (Jodie Foster) who consults with an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer (Anthony Hopkins) to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.

The African Queen

You may not have heard of The African Queen and which is a real shame because it was a surprising hidden gem for me while I was making my way through this list. The film stars Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in WWI Africa. He’s a gin-swilling riverboat captain and she’s a strait-laced missionary who convinces him to use his boat to attack an enemy warship.

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Let’s just be honest. Spielberg had a couple of GREAT decades. One of the best action/adventure trilogies of all time, the first installment follows archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) who is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis. The film also stars a feisty Karen Allen and it’s an all-around good time.

Pulp Fiction

It was my first time watching Pulp Fiction and I can see why its earned its cult classic status. The film solidified my admiration for Tarantino. With an all-star cast like Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis, the movie tells the story about two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits whose violent stories converge in style.

12 Angry Men

One of my all-time favorites, this Sidney Lumet classic tells the story about a jury deliberating a case about a young man who is accused of killing his father. The film was revolutionary for its time, tackling themes of racism and injustice. The film stars Henry Fonda in a knock out performance.

Psycho

Again, serial killers with mommy issues aren’t usually my go-to favorites, but Hitchcock can at least make you appreciate the sheer artistry of his classic thriller. The plot goes as follows: when a secretary embezzles $40,000, she goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man and his mother… you probably know the rest. But as much as you think you know about this movie, you should watch or re-watch it nonetheless.