Take a groovy trip back to one of the most culturally significant eras of the last 100 years. The 1960s were a crucial point for cinema, a time marked by huge cultural shifts and new ideas being shown on the big screen. New technologies were emerging, and storytelling rules were being broken; greater ideas and creativity were skyrocketing, and changes were being made that rocked the entertainment world.
This truly was a time marked by cinematic marvels, all of them greatly defining this glorious decade. From genre-defining classics to grand Best Picture winners, let’s take a look at some of the films from the ’60s that make us feel nostalgic. Every year is marked by triumph and greatness, and there’s a film that today makes us feel so satisfied and reminisces about this age where cinema was king.
10
‘Psycho’ (1960)
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Kicking the decade off with his terrifying brilliance, the master of suspense, Sir Alfred Hitchcock, began the ’60s by changing the scope of the horror genre with Psycho, his proto-slasher masterpiece. Starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh, it’s the now iconic tale of a thieving desk secretary as she runs off with her boss’s money and stays at an isolated motel, which is owned by a strange-acting young man with a murderous dark side.
Psycho is perhaps the most significant horror film of all time. It broke new ground for the horror genre and cinema as a whole with its depiction of violence and sexual imagery. Not to mention, it created a chilling legacy with its story and suspense that is still terrifying today. From Hitchcock’s powerful filmmaking to the flawless performances, this is a must-watch for all cinemagoers.
9
‘West Side Story’ (1961)
One of the all-time greatest musicals ever made, Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins‘ West Side Story is a remarkable cinematic achievement with a lasting presence in pop culture. It’s an incredible romantic drama involving two teens from different ethnic backgrounds in New York as they dangerously fall in love despite the constant conflict between their warring neighborhoods.
With Oscar-winning direction, songs, cinematography, and performances, West Side Story is a film marked by wonder. Its incredible musical numbers and dance choreography are simply captivating and never lose their charm, even after decades and multiple rewatches. It defined 1961 and part of the ’60s as a whole, making it one of the decade’s standout features.
8
‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)
The ’60s produced some of the grandest epics we know today, but perhaps the greatest and most recognizable one was the 1962 classic Lawrence of Arabia by two-time Academy Award-winning director David Lean. Starring the late Peter O’Toole in the titular role, it’s a nearly four-hour-long adventure highlighting the triumphs and challenges of the famed British archaeologist/soldier/diplomat T. E. Lawrence during his time during the First World War.
It’s a fascinating cinematic thrill ride, full of action, drama, gorgeous visuals, and unforgettable spectacles. It’s a biographical war masterpiece that still looks visually flawless and could easily have been released today, making it so incredibly timeless. Lawrence of Arabia was a true cinematic event of the ’60s, one that constantly deserves to be watched and appreciated today.
7
‘From Russia with Love’ (1963)
There’s no mentioning the ’60s without discussing the 007 franchise. Ian Fleming‘s iconic spy novel series made its glorious debut on the big screen in 1962 with Dr. No, featuring the appearance of the late great Sir Sean Connery as the definitive James Bond. However, 1963’s From Russia with Love is an entry that established Bond as an icon of this decade. The story follows the famed gentleman spy in a race against time, encountering a beautiful Russian agent and two deadly assassins, to retrieve a Soviet encryption device taken by Spectre.
Featuring iconic lines, thrilling chases, gripping action, memorable villains, and captivating performances, From Russia with Love is not just considered one of the best 007 films of the ’60s, but of the entire franchise. It’s a spy masterpiece that hooks viewers in right from the start, then never lets go until the very end, creating a powerful movie-watching experience that certainly hasn’t lost its effect after all these years.
6
‘Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’ (1964)
From one of the greatest storytellers of the 20th century, the late Stanley Kubrick, comes one of his most compelling and enduring classics of all time, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Starring Sterling Hayden, George C. Scott, and Peter Sellers, it sees several military higher-ups and even the U.S. President in panic mode as they try to stop a rogue, highly paranoid Brigadier General from launching an unprovoked nuclear attack on the Soviet Union.
Dr. Strange is one of the most significant cinematic pieces of its era, a film that boldly satirized the chilling tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and their involvement in the Cold War. This darkly comedic marvel is a masterpiece through and through, telling an incredible story that’s both thought-provoking and rich with social commentary.
5
‘The Sound of Music’ (1965)
Continuing the ’60s string of captivating musical classics, 1965’s The Sound of Music is a delight that maintains its reputation as a must-watch for everyone who isn’t a fan of the genre. It’s a film that has warmed hearts for decades, seeing Academy Award winners Julie Andrews and the late Christopher Plummer in the story of a governess as she falls in love with a widowed naval officer in late 1930s Austria.
The Sound Music is powerfully nostalgic, capturing the escapist feeling and wholesome vibe that was present at the time. It’s still charming, inspiring, and wonderfully catchy. It’s undoubtedly a classic with a timeless effect of putting a smile on viewers’ faces.
4
‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ (1966)
Sergio Leone‘s Spaghetti Westerns defined a huge chunk of the era, delivering compelling and memorable classics that still have a significant influence on cinema today. His iconic “Man with No Name” trilogy is truly remarkable, each bringing incredible stories to the table. But, the definitive best has to be 1966’s The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, the concluding chapter. Starring Clint Eastwood as the titular unnamed gunslinger, it sees him in a race against a ruthless bounty hunter and his vengeful old partner-in-crime to recover a lost Confederate treasure.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly stands today as one of the greatest Western movies of all time. It has everything from an exciting adventure plot, legendary characters, iconic one-liners, and a powerful score, courtesy of the great Ennio Morricone, to leave viewers instantly satisfied. It’s highly watchable, masterfully told, and is certainly an unforgettable classic that will continue to be one of the best films to ever come out of the ’60s.
3
‘The Graduate’ (1967)
Mike Nichols’s The Graduate is one of the most timeless and thought-provoking coming-of-age dramas ever made. It’s a masterfully told story full of incredible acting and gripping drama, following two-time Academy Award-winner Dustin Hoffman as a disillusioned college graduate who worries about his future while his current life is spiraling out of control after having a brief affair with a wealthy married woman.
The Graduate marked a point in the entertainment industry’s transition into a counterculture known as “New Hollywood,” becoming groundbreaking for capturing the rebellious, disillusioned young culture of the time. It was fascinating and complex, bringing with it a new edge to storytelling that was further expanded upon in the 1970s. Today, it’s remembered for its unique story and compelling legacy, so there are no signs it will ever be forgotten anytime soon.
2
‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968)
Stanley Kubrick was rolling high in the 1960s, as they really were his years to shine. But one that has since cemented his legacy as an absolute legend has to be his 1968 masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey. It’s a grand adventure about a small crew of astronauts as they bravely go exploring for a source in outer space to answer the question of why a mysterious artifact was found on Earth.
This groundbreaking science-fiction epic is a landmark in cinema, one with a legacy unlike any other film. It’s still visually flawless and spectacularly beautiful to look at, even with rewatches. Not to mention, its story has been endlessly debated about its meaning. It’s Kubrick’s definitive film, which established him more as a visionary filmmaker and stands as one of the greatest films of all time, not just the ’60s.
1
‘Easy Rider’ (1969)
1969’s Easy Rider was the perfect note to end the decade on, as it wonderfully captured the second half of its wild, unique, and untamed spirit. Starring the late Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, it’s about two free-spirited bikers as they ride across the country in search of enlightenment.
This fun, innovative classic defined the latter half of the ’60s, a wildly creative tale that further cemented cinema’s flow into a new decade of indie filmmaking. Easy Rider tested limits, broke taboos, further established the counterculture of the time, and featured a groovy tone that truly represents almost everything unique about this iconic point in history.
Easy Rider
- Release Date
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May 7, 1969
- Runtime
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95 minutes
- Director
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Dennis Hopper
