From the Golden Age of Hollywood to the present day, cinema has evolved into an integral part of society and an undeniably powerful force in our shared cultural landscape. Every year, we see thousands of new films debut around the globe, each adding to a rich and diverse tapestry. And while that means there’s always something new to see, we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the ones who came before — the groundbreaking classics that made cinema what it is today. Netflix is home to a sizable collection of classic films, but in this article, we’ll be focusing on the ones that have a truly universal and evergreen appeal. Movies that aren’t just classic but timeless. Read on to discover our handpicked selection of the most timeless classic movies you can watch right now on Netflix.
Looking for more cinematic landmarks? Be sure to check out our lists of the greatest cult classics on Netflix, the best movies on Netflix in general, and movies streaming on Netflix that changed film forever.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
‘Rear Window’ (1954)
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.5/10
Inspired by Cornell Woolrich‘s 1942 short story “It Had to Be Murder,” Rear Window is a 1954 mystery thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and written by John Michael Hayes. The film follows a photographer confined to his home with a broken leg who passes the time casually spying on his neighbors. Things take an unexpected turn when he accidentally witnesses an apparent murder. The film features an ensemble cast led by James Stewart and Grace Kelly, with Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, and more in supporting roles.
Easily one of Hitchcock’s most celebrated films, Rear Window had its very first screening at a benefit in New York City and competed for the Golden Lion at the 1954 Venice Film Festival. A critical and commercial success, the movie earned four Academy Award nominations. With an endlessly suspenseful plot and amazing performances, Rear Window has often been hailed as one of the greatest films of all time and was added to the National Film Registry in 1997 by the United States Library of Congress.
‘The Birds’ (1963)
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.6/10
Loosely based on Daphne du Maurier’s eponymous 1952 short story, The Birds is a 1963 horror-thriller film written by Evan Hunter and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren (in her screen debut), the film revolves around an inexplicable and seemingly unprovoked outbreak of violent bird attacks on the people of Bodega Bay, California. The movie also features Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, and Veronica Cartwright in key roles.
The Birds wasn’t particularly well-received at the time of its release, and its production was highly controversial, but it’s still considered one of the greatest horror films ever made. That’s largely due to the groundbreaking special effects used in the film, which effectively raised the bar for practical visual effects in cinema and earned special effects technician Ub Iwerks an Academy Award nomination. The movie also won Tippi Hedren a Golden Globe for her central performance. A strange, atmospheric, and thoroughly gripping creature feature (where the creature is literally just birds), The Birds is one of Hitchcock’s best and most ambitious films, and in 2016, the movie was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress.
‘American Graffiti’ (1973)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.4/10
A coming-of-age comedy-drama, American Graffiti was co-written and directed by George Lucas. Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, and more, the film follows a day in the life of a group of teens in 1960s Modesto, California, as they grapple with their futures on the last day of summer. The story unfolds through a series of vignettes that ultimately come together to paint a picture of its time, complete with cruising culture, rock-and-roll, greasers, and mysterious blondes.
George Lucas might be known worldwide as the creator of Star Wars, but American Graffiti is a very different kind of fantasy — a bittersweet film full of heart and humor that speaks to a more thoughtful sensibility. A visually striking movie with some great performances, the film was near-universally acclaimed when it was first released in 1973. Today, American Graffiti continues to entertain audiences, offering a nostalgic return to the ’60s, plus an appearance by Harrison Ford (pre-Star Wars) and one of the greatest rock soundtracks of all time.
‘The Age of Innocence’ (1993)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 7.2/10
Directed and co-written by Martin Scorsese, The Age of Innocence is a 1993 adaptation of Edith Wharton‘s eponymous 1920 romantic drama novel. The movie stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Newland Archer, a wealthy New York attorney in the 1870s who finds himself smitten by a scandalous countess (Michelle Pfeiffer) while engaged to her conformist cousin (Winona Ryder). The film’s ensemble cast also includes Miriam Margolyes, Geraldine Chaplin, Michael Gough, Richard E. Grant, Jonathan Pryce, June Squibb, and more, with Joanne Woodward as the Narrator.
A sweeping period drama with plenty of romance and style, The Age of Innocence was highly acclaimed by critics at the time of its premiere and went on to receive several accolades. The movie received five Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Costume Design, and earned Miriam Margolyes the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. A masterfully crafted costume drama with compelling performances and a heartbreaking story, the film is easily one of the best (and most underrated) films of Scorsese’s celebrated career.
‘Airport’ (1970)
Rotten Tomatoes: 75% | IMDb: 6.6/10
- Release Date
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May 29, 1970
- Runtime
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137 Minutes
- Director
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George Seaton
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Burt Lancaster
Mel Bakersfeld
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Dana Wynter
Cindy Bakersfeld
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Dean Martin
Vernon Demerest
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Barbara Hale
Sarah Demerest
The disaster film that basically originated the modern genre, Airport was written and directed by George Seaton and adapted from Arthur Hailey‘s eponymous 1968 novel. The movie revolves around the fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago, where a snowstorm, a stowaway, and a suicide bomber add up to a crisis onboard a Boeing 707 airliner. Burt Lancaster stars as airport manager Mel Bakersfield and Dean Martin as pilot Vernon Demerest, with Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, and more in supporting roles.
Airport was a huge box office hit when it premiered in 1970, but it had very mixed reviews from critics. To be fair to the critics, the movie does waste a lot of time on frankly boring character drama before getting to the entertaining bits. Despite those flaws, the film’s performances and highly detailed production helped it successfully tap into the cultural zeitgeist of its time. Airport earned 10 Academy Award nominations, inspired three sequels, set off the popular disaster movie trend, and is widely regarded as a landmark cult classic.
‘The Jerk’ (1979)
Rotten Tomatoes: 82% | IMDb: 7.1/10
Featuring legendary comedian Steve Martin’s first starring role in a movie, The Jerk is a comedy film directed by Carl Reiner and written by Martin, Carl Gottlieb, and Michael Elias. Martin stars as Navin R. Johnson, the white adopted son of Black Mississippi sharecroppers, and the film follows his idiosyncratic adventures. Besides Martin, the movie also stars Bernadette Peters, M. Emmet Walsh, Catlin Adams, Maurice Evans, and Jackie Mason.
The Jerk premiered in December 1979 to critical and commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year and effectively launching Steve Martin’s film career. A riotous showcase of the actor’s early work, The Jerk begins with a simple premise and escalates the story in increasingly unpredictable and hilarious ways. But as ridiculous as it might be, the movie also makes a surprisingly sincere point about the inevitable ups and downs of life and finding yourself again at the end of all that chaos.
‘Smokey and the Bandit’ (1977)
Rotten Tomatoes: 72% | IMDb: 7.0/10
Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 action comedy road film directed by Hal Needham in his directorial debut. The movie stars Burt Reynolds and Jerry Reed as bootleggers Bo “Bandit” Darville and Cledus “Snowman” Snow. The plot follows their attempt to smuggle 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana to Atlanta while being pursued by Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason). The movie also features Sally Field, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Mike Henry in significant roles.
Smokey and the Bandit wasn’t initially a hit, but it built momentum in Southern markets over the course of the year and ended 1977 as one of the highest-grossing domestic films in the United States, second only to Star Wars. A wildly entertaining road trip through the South with all the laughs and excitement you could ask for, the film has built a steady fan following in the decades since its release and is widely regarded as a cultural landmark. The movie’s success spawned two sequels and numerous references, tributes, and parodies, but none of them really match the sheer fun of the original.
‘Midnight Run’ (1988)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.5/10
A 1988 buddy action comedy, Midnight Run was directed by Martin Brest and written by George Gallo. Robert De Niro stars as a bounty hunter who’s hired to capture a mob accountant (played by Charles Grodin) and transport him from New York to Los Angeles. Though the job seems simple enough, the hunter finds himself caught between his employer, the mob, and the FBI. Besides De Niro and Grodin, the film also features Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina, and Joe Pantoliano in lead roles.
A hilarious odd-couple comedy anchored by the excellent chemistry between its two leads, Midnight Run was a critical and commercial hit at the time of its release. The movie is a must-watch for De Niro fans, marking the actor’s transition out of the crime noir roles that dominated his work in the ’70s and ’80s, proving that he’s just as great with comedy as he is with gangster dramas. The film earned two Golden Globe nominations, including one for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and continues to enjoy a cult following to this day.