Top 20 Best Classic Hollywood Movies of All Time

If theres an image synonymous with Hollywood stardom, its James Dean in a red jacket and cuffed jeans. But the eternal allure of Rebel Without a Cause lay in the complex emotions the late actor keeps bottled up until he cant any longer. In his signature role, Dean plays Jim Stark, a repressed teenager who runs afoul of the law and his domineering parents. Jims tragic struggle to find comfort in an uncaring world helped set the bar for subsequent portrayals of teenage angst, and undoubtedly speaks to anyone who has ever felt the same. Although Deans untimely passing meant he never saw the impact of his work, his deeply empathetic performance is a testament to everything this movie still offers in his place.

Another quintessential star for her time, Bette Davis led this ensemble drama all the way to six Oscar wins, including the award for Best Picture. Well over seven decades later, her paranoid and chaotic performance has helped All About Eve remain one of the more thematically innovative films of the Classic Hollywood era. Davis stars as Margo Channing, a Broadway veteran stalked and eventually usurped by Eve Harrington, a calculating fan who aspires to fame at any cost. Pitch perfect casting and a lavish production design would have allowed the film to get by as a one-note exercise in star power. But make no mistake: this is a meditative and ruthless takedown of fame, vanity, and the entertainment industry that packs a finely crafted punch.

At a time when moviegoers needed escapist entertainment, this landmark creature feature provided the biggest escape of them all. An unprecedented accomplishment for special effects, our introduction to the giant ape from Skull Island helped codify several genres at once, including fantasy, horror, and even romance. And its not hard to see how, either. Its a sweeping adventure packed with iconic imagery, an unforgettably tense climax, and characters we cant help but fall in love with. The dimensions King Kong provides to its titular antagonist and the questions it asks about what makes a monster have had a ripple effect that most movies can only dream of. Beauty may have killed the beast, but Kongs place in film history more than lives on.

Drama takes on many forms. While some movies find the dramatic tension within an epic story, 12 Angry Men is an enduring reminder of the unbearable intensity you can wring out of a single location. With a young man on trial for murder, the film follows a headstrong juror as he attempts to convince the remaining eleven that theres more to the case than meets the eye. As his character encourages the others to look past their own prejudices, Henry Fonda lays bare the objectivity and logic required to execute the law. Dripping with suspense, the film bravely approaches difficult topics through nothing more than searing, yet honest conversations. In short, it should be required viewing for anyone looking to study both theater and law.

Even as the advent of talking pictures took over Hollywood, Charlie Chaplin still found ways to prove he was a star like no other. His persistence in defending silent films value is not unlike the persistence of his iconic Tramp character in this romantic dramedy. Chaplins eye for physical comedy sets the stage for one clever gag after another as the Tramp falls for a blind woman and attempts to raise money for a surgery that will help her see again. For all of its humorous delights, its also a touching story about being proud of who you are and finding beauty from within. It remains a defiant stroke of genius from Chaplin, who continued to find success in silent film with 1936s Modern Times.

Alfred Hitchcock more than earned his reputation as the Master of Suspense with stressful yet entertaining thrillers like Rear Window and North by Northwest. But his movies also know how to make viewers think, and Vertigo is one of his most daunting challenges to date. James Stewart stars as a detective whose fear of heights compromises his investigative skills, while Kim Novak plays an enigmatic woman with enough secrets to reawaken his past traumas. Blurring the line between romance, mystery, and horror, the films exploration of themes like obsession and identity is enhanced through demanding performances and Hitchcocks innovative camera techniques. Its not the kind of film that can be understood in a single watch, but thats precisely what makes it so engrossing.

If love triangles feel tired and played out, then behold the ultimate love square! Serving up a sweet slice of wholesome pie at a time when people desperately needed it, The Philadelphia Story stars a whos who of Hollywood talent. Katharine Hepburn takes the lead as Tracy Lord, a wealthy socialite betrothed to a fellow member of the upper crust. However, Tracy soon catches the eye of a journalist played by James Stewart while also rekindling things with her ex-husband, played by Cary Grant. The three leads fire off scintillating dialogue with breakneck precision, playing off one another in ways both hilarious and swoon worthy. Audiences couldnt help but embrace the movies charm, effectively relaunching Hepburns career and winning Stewart the Oscar for Best Actor.

One of the most pivotal filmmakers to emerge from old Hollywood, John Hustons work behind the camera resulted in several unprecedented classics, including The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. But before he provided new meaning to the Western genre, Huston practically created the film noir as we know it with The Maltese Falcon. This film school staple stars Humphrey Bogart as Detective Sam Spade, whose routine murder case quickly evolves into a complicated web of crime and deceit. Helping to codify tropes like the hard boiled investigator and the femme fatale, the film is taut and nerve-inducing thanks to its engrossing story, top-notch cast, and dazzling cinematography. In other words, its every bit as much of a mystery as the one Spade attempts to solve.

Theres no business like show business, but not all that glitters is gold. Given Hollywoods propensity to make movies about itself, this satirical film noir was truly ahead of its time in its exploration of such a devastating truth. In a brilliant bit of casting, former silent film star Gloria Swanson plays Norma Desmond, a former silent film star whose delusions of grandeur are entertained by an up-and-coming screenwriter. Their toxic relationship sets the stage for quotable dialogue and one of the most iconic endings in movie history. Made all the more realistic by its inclusion of real-life Hollywood bigwigs as themselves, Sunset Boulevards twists and gut punches make for a sobering experience. But its undoubtedly one thats aged like fine wine.

Old Hollywood is rife with its share of feel-good holiday classics. While Miracle on 34th Street remains a perennial favorite, Its a Wonderful Life is the inarguable standout of the bunch. One of the most uplifting films ever made, it centers on banker George Bailey, whose tough circumstances cause him to contemplate his existence. Luckily, an encounter with an angel named Clarence opens Georges eyes to just how much better off his family and friends are with him in their lives. It makes for such optimistic storytelling that its hard to believe the film was initially unsuccessful. We thank our lucky stars it found new life on television, as its simple yet profound message is one that can be embraced every day of the year.

This adaptation of L. Frank Baum's fantasy novel is one of the first movies that many of us saw as a child. Because of that, its burned into our brains. But even without that nostalgia factor, The Wizard of Oz is still one of the best films ever made. Judy Garlands voice immediately endears you to Dorothy as she longs to get out of Kansas. The film is also set apart by its unforgettable switch from black and white to technicolor. The black and white palette holds a certain comfort that makes you think of home. And with the switch to color, the first time you see Oz, youre just as amazed as Dorothy.

Marilyn Monroe lent her talents to several iconic comedies during her all too brief career, including 1953s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. But her alluring image found not one, but two perfect foils in Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis for this groundbreaking farce. One of the more daring films of its time, Some Like It Hot follows two Depression-era musicians who disguise themselves as women to evade a group of mobsters. Swapping out genres as quickly as the protagonists swap genders, the movie blends crime thrills with satirical jabs at gender norms to brilliant effect. With a progressive tone and ingenious performances to back it all up, the films open disobedience toward censorship helped open the doors for new types of stories in the decades that followed.

A Vespa ride around Rome with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn? Yes please! In Roman Holiday, Hepburn stars as Princess Ann, a royal who longs for freedom away from regal duties. While sneaking away to experience the city, she meets Pecks Joe Bradley, a journalist who doesnt realize at first who she is. While Bradley is supposed to be chasing an exclusive interview, he starts to fall in love with her instead. Roman Holiday is overflowing with romance. The chemistry between Peck and Hepburn leaps off the screen, and the end leaves you with a sense of bittersweet yearning.

During his lifetime, Alfred Hitchcock solidified his place in Hollywood as one of the best directors. But one of his best films came rather early on in his career. Rebecca is a psychological slow burn about the marriage between Maxim de Winter and his second wife, played by Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine respectively. The ghost of Maxims first wife, Rebecca, haunts the couples huge mansion, and the housekeeper Mrs. Danvers floats around just as eerily. Hitchcock masterfully delivers a spine-tingling story, and the performances send the film over the edge as one of the best.

When it comes to noir, this one has double the fun. Although Double Indemnity doesnt feature sex of any kind, the way Walter and Phyllis speak to each other could be classified as downright naughty. The noir genre ruled the 1940s, but this films slick dialogue pushes it above the rest. Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck star as Walter and Phyllis, two lovers who conspire to kill the latters husband for his money. However, it soon becomes apparent Phyllis is not what she seems. Billy Wilders film is one of the books, with masterful direction and a legacy that cant be ignored.

Frankly my dear, theres no way we couldnt put this one on the list. Gone with the Wind was released to wide acclaim in 1939. The film starred Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh as two stubborn romantic leads living in the south during the Civil War. While there are certainly criticisms to be had of the film, for the most its cultural estimation only grew in the years after its release. When adjusted for inflation, the film is still the most financially successful film ever made in box office terms. Released in 1939 and still with that kind of impact? Now thats something to be impressed about.

You know all those romantic comedies you love? Sleepless In Seattle, When Harry Met Sally , and the like? Well, you have It Happened One Night to thank. The 1934 pre-code masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the best films ever and has pretty much every rom-com trope you know and love. Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert are endlessly charming as two hapless people who meet on the road and strike up a relationship. Hijinks, room sharing, negging, and so, so much flirting ensue. Gable and Colbert definitely contribute to the films whimsical, slapsticky charm, but its also got a great script to match.

When it comes to movie musicals, you cant do much better than Singin in the Rain. Gene Kelly almost single-handedly changed the game for movie musicals, expanding the imagination of what they could do. His innovative ideas hit a fever pitch in 1952s Singin in the Rain. The movie isnt just a happy-go-lucky musical. Its also a hysterical examination of the change from silent films to talkies and a delightfully satirical take on moviemaking. But of course, because its Gene Kelly, it also has musical sequences that will make your jaw drop.

Sometimes when everyone says something is great, its because it really is great. But the thing thats truly incredible about Orson Welles Citizen Kane is that Welless first film was his masterpiece. Thats right. Citizen Kane was Orsons feature directorial debut. Ironically, Welless naivety on set is part of what makes the film so amazing. Welles would ask his cinematographer, Gregg Toland, to do things that a more experienced director might have deemed impossible from the get-go. But, Toland tried out some of Welless ideas, and wouldnt you know it? They worked, and we got one of the most innovative films in history.

We all go to the cinemas looking for magic. Every once in a while, a movie comes along that gives you that magical feeling and then some. Casablanca hit theaters in 1942, and funnily enough, wasnt a massive runaway hit upon its release. The movie did well initially and was respected enough to win Best Picture at the Oscars that year. But as the years have gone by, critical and popular esteem has grown in spades for this World War II romance. Maybe its the iconic lines of dialogue. Maybe its the remarkable romantic chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Whatever it is, its definitely magic.


Is there a classic movie you think we forgot about? Let us know in the comments!