Timeless; a word used to describe some of the movies that endure and revive themselves for generations. Everyone has at least one film in their collection to put on and enjoy any time of the year. Rather it's a childhood classic or recently discovered treasure, some movies will never lose their audience. While some people's criteria for what constitutes a rewatchable movie will likely differ from others, I think the one universal trait they all share is a sense of wonder you don't see in many other places.
Recently, I've been looking over my own collection of movies I've watched over and over again for as long as I can remember. After careful deliberation, I think I've found the ones that I can enjoy the most, either on my own or with family and friends.
It's TheNorm's top 5 most rewatchable movies.
#5
Star Wars (1977)
Before becoming a pop culture icon, the original Star Wars from 1977 was nothing more than a small passion project made by some bearded nerd with a camera. No one believed it would amount to anything, let alone becoming the catalyst for an entire aspect of nerd culture. Yet, here we are, almost forty-five years later, and it has remained one of the most inspirational stories of all time: both for narrative storytelling and for following your dreams as a creative.
Inspired by the works of renowned Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa, writer/director George Lucas poured his heart and spirit into every aspect of this story despite all of the obstacles thrown his way: he left the DGA (Directors Guild of America), paid for most of the special effects out of his own pocket, and the film itself was practically saved in the editing bay by his then-wife, Marcia Lucas. "The little film that could" made it across the finish line and has touched countless hearts and minds ever since.
#4
The Mask of Zorro (1998)
I consider the year 1998 to be the last year for spectacular cinema. Since then, very few films have retained the necessary balance between visual flare and competent writing seen in The Mask of Zorro. Far too often nowadays, the writing of a film is overlooked in favor of massive spectacle with no substance, causing many to believe (falsely) that one must be traded for the other and cannot coexist. The Mask of Zorro, and many other films like it, prove otherwise!
The writing is clever, witty, structurally strong, and provides a satisfying tale of justice and growth with three-dimensional characters and iconic dialogue. Accompanied by amazing action scenes with masterful set-piece swordfights, not to mention the right amount of sexiness without coming off as sleazy, The Mask of Zorro is a film for just about everyone.
If you need a visual example of how awesome this film is, look no further than this brief moment taken from the final battle, using no CGI, special effects, or trick photography. What you see is what was captured on camera.
#3
Black Panther (2018)
In addition to becoming a household name in superhero cinema, Marvel Studios has earned a reputation for successfully taking risks with their projects, the kind that most other Hollywood executives wouldn't even consider for any reason. Despite being owned by Disney, arguably the biggest @$$#013 in the cinema business, Marvel reached a new level of cultural importance with Black Panther.
While it may not be the first nor only successful superhero film to star a black hero (that distinction goes to Blade respectfully), nor one of the first superhero films created by black artists with a story commentating on the black condition (that distinction goes to The Meteor Man respectfully), Black Panther earns its place as one of the most important and inspiring works of cinema.
Not only that, it's the most rewatchable film of Marvel's entire lineup!
Poetically written, masterfully directed, superbly performed (especially by Michael B. Jordon and the late Chadwick Boseman), visually gorgeous, and stunningly action-packed, all in service to a message about people and society that must not be ignored. Of all the films produced by Marvel Studios, Black Panther remains one of my closest favorites and one of the few in their roster I could rewatch forever.
#2
Back to the Future (1985)
Director Robert Zemeckis has built his career on creating wonderful achievements in special effects and storytelling. However, none of his achievements have ever matched the incredible and entertaining spectacle known as Back to the Future.
Of the many things Zemeckis has accomplished over the years: combining hand-drawn animation with live-action photography in Who Framed Roger Rabit, inserting Tom Hanks into various moments of American history in Forest Gump, and piquing our curiosity about the possibility of life outside our solar system with Contact, the ever-enduring story of a boy trying to save his family and find his way back home, all while driving a nuclear powered Delorean, will always remain his most endearing and treasured achievements.
Everything from the stunning performances (especially Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown), the iconic lines of dialogue, the hand-made special effects, and especially the time machine itself, are all capable of leaving a lasting impression on filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences alike. Walk into a crowded place and yell out the phrase "Great Scott!" aloud, and I guarantee you at least one person in the crowd will know what you're talking about and will likely become your new friend.
But probably not as much as this one will.
#1
The Princess Bride (1987)
What can I say about this film that hasn't already been said a million times over by fans, critics, cinephiles, filmmakers, and those involved with the production?
The Princess Bride is, quite literally, the only film in existence that has reached a level of immortality that no other movie could ever dream of obtaining. It may very well be the only film in existence to have total universal appeal. The witty writing, the convicted performances, the well-timed jokes, the dazzling swordfights, the iconic production design, and, of course, the quotable lines of dialogue any human being worth their salt will remember.
If somehow you still haven't seen this film, you need to rectify that immediately. As in, stop reading this and go watch it right now! Stream it on Disney+, rent it from Amazon, buy the 4K BluRay from Germany, or borrow a copy from a friend. In whatever way you can get this film in front of your eyeballs within the next ten minutes, do so post-haste! Then, if you feel so inclined, check out the book As You Wish by the film's star Cary Elwes; it's an inconceivable read!
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