We may earn a commission from links on this page.What exactly makes a movie a classic varies wildly and with the viewer, as does the appropriate timescale. For some, a movie from a decade ago might be eligible (I call these movie fans children). For others, you have to go back much further. Today, Im going to do the latter, taking a look at some of the great (or, at least, greatly entertaining) movies that were released no later than the tail end of the 1970s. (Even if I find it personally distressing to label movies younger than I am classics.) Quibbling over semantics aside, these offerings prove how deeply rewarding it is to dig through the back catalog of motion picture history now and again.In the Heat of the Night (1967) Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) entry into Sparta, Mississippi, at the outset of this steamy, socially conscious cop thriller unfolds like a scene from a horror movie, making clear the peril of a Black man in a southern town after dark. Thats of course before the sheriff realizes that Mr. Tibbs is the only one who can solve a murder. Though its politics are dated, this Norman Jewison-directed Oscar winner remains a landmark film of the Civil Rights movement. You can stream In the Heat of the Night on Pluto TV and MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. In the Heat of the Night (1967) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Rocky (1976) The long-running franchise has had its ups (the Creed films) and downs (that robot butler in Rocky IV), but the original remains one of the ultimate sports movies, with a ton of heart buoyed by characters who feel like real people. (It beat out Network and Taxi Driver for Best Picture and its hard to be mad about it.) You can stream Rocky on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Rocky (1976) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video All About Eve (1950) Im not sure that Hollywood ever turned out a sharper, funnier script than this one. If Bette Davis had only done All About Eve, shed still be a legend. Is it one of the best black-and-white movies ever made? Yes. You can rent All About Eve from Prime Video. All About Eve (1950) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Sounder (1972) Cicely Tyson and Paul Winfield are phenomenal in this drama about a family of deep South, Depression-era sharecroppers struggling to survive and to stay together. You can stream Sounder on Pluto TV, Prime Video, and Peacock. Sounder (1972) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Casablanca (1940) Everybodys favorite golden-age Hollywood movie came by its reputation fairly: Bogart and Bergman have tremendous chemistry, and the film blends the doomed romance vibes with real suspense and a sense of humor that keeps the wartime atmosphere from getting too heavy. You can stream Casablanca on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Casablanca (1940) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Jeanne Dielman, 32 Quai des Commerce (1975) Recently named the best movie ever made in a stupidly controversial Sight & Sound critics poll, Chantal Ackermans three-hours-plus epic shows us three days in the life of a Brussels single mother. Its gripping and tragic in its depiction of day-to-day drudgery, even as part-time sex worker Jeannes tricks turn out to be the least interesting parts of her day. You can stream Jeanne Dielman on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Jeanne Dielman, 32 Quai des Commerce (1975) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Black Girl (1966) The movie that brought international attention to sub-Saharan African cinema. Black Girl stars Mbissine Thrse Diop as Diouana, who is isolated and treated as less than human by her French employers as she reflects on her earlier life in Senegal. You can stream Black Girl on Max, The Criterion Channel, and Prime Video. Black Girl (1966) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Metropolis (1927) Fritz Langs story of a future city starkly divided between the haves and the have-nots remains visually stunning, and its themes are no less relevant now than they were nearly a century ago. You can stream Metropolis on The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Pluto TV, and Kino or rent it from Prime Video. Metropolis (1927) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Only Angels Have Wings (1939) Snappy dialogue, interesting, believable characters, and women who are at least as cool and interesting as the men: This Howard Hawks romantic adventure is mostly about pilots just hanging out in a South American town, with every takeoff and landing a potential tragedy. You can rent Only Angels Have Wings from Prime Video. Only Angels Have Wings (1939) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The French Connection (1971) Maybe not Gene Hackman's best movie, but it's the one that made him a star, and it's not hard to see why. It's a tense, uncompromising crime drama about a troubled, borderline-dirty cop that nonetheless boasts thrilling action and one of the best car chases in movie history. You can stream The French Connection on Prime Video. The French Connection (1971) Learn More Learn More Some Like It Hot (1959) Two musicians get in drag in order to escape from mobsters in this classic Billy Wilder vehicle for Marilyn Monroe, at the peak of her powers here. Nobodys perfect, but this movie is close. You can stream Some Like It Hot on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. Some Like It Hot (1959) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) A deliberately paced mind-bender, Stanley Kubrick and company take us from the origins of violence to a hypnotically engaging and highly detailed mid-century modern future where we come face to face with our own evolution. You can stream 2001 on Max or rent it from Prime Video. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) A very satisfying and thoroughly unpretentious crime thriller in which four men hijack a New York City subway train, demanding money in exchange for a release of their hostages and the car itself. The high tension and NYC setting are highlights, as is the cast: Walter Matthau as the lead police lieutenant is believably human while adding a touch of humor. Hctor Elizondo, Martin Balsam, Robert Shaw, Jerry Stiller, and Doris Roberts also put in solid performances. You can stream The Taking of Pelham One Two Three on MGM+ and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Last Picture Show (1971) Another flashback to a bygone era, this one set in a dying small town in Texas. One of the best movies of the 1970s, Peter Bogdanovichs breakout is mercifully free of the rosy glow that the high-school films of the 70s leaned into. You can stream The Last Picture Show on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. The Last Picture Show (1971) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Singin in the Rain (1952) A cinematic slice of pure joy, with a number of truly great musical numbers punctuated by some genuinely hilarious performances. For my money, the best musical of the era (and far weirder than youre probably imagining). You can stream Singin' in the Rain on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Singin in the Rain (1952) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) A soaring, candy-colored musical about young lovers (Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo) separated by circumstance in the titular city. Pretty much every word is sung. In French. Watch it anyway! You can stream The Umbrellas of Cherbourg on Max, The Criterion Channel, and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Stormy Weather (1943) There's not a ton of plot here, with the film serving instead as a showcase for the talents of some of the biggest Black talent in Hollywood of the era. And that's plenty. Starring Bill Robinson, better known as Mr. Bojangles, the movie is presented as a retrospective of his life, with Lena Horne offering up an indelible, thrilling performance of the title song. Cab Calloway and Fats Waller also appear and perform, as does Casablanca's Paul Dooley. You can rent Stormy Weather from Prime Video. Stormy Weather (1943) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Stagecoach (1939)Travelers on the titular stagecoach find their lives threatened by both vengeful criminals and Apache warriors while traveling from Tonto, Arizona Territory, to Lordsburg, New Mexico. In many ways the prototypical Western, the movie's well-drawn characters and unconventional sympathies (the sex worker here is the hero; the straight-laced banker is no good) make it a much-copied, but never replicated, genre standout. You can stream Stagecoach on Prime Video, Max, The Criterion Channel, and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Stagecoach (1939) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Sleeping Beauty (1959) A bomb upon its initial release, time has been very, very kind to this story of the somnolent princess and her wicked adversary, Maleficent. Its art style, inspired by Medieval tapestry work, is among Disney's most beautiful, bar none. You can stream Sleeping Beauty on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Sleeping Beauty (1959) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ The Lady Vanishes (1938) A (relatively) early triumph for Hitchcock, the director assembles a memorable cast on a train from which sweet, kindly Miss Froy (Dame May Whitty) has, well, vanished. Only Iris Henderson (Margaret Lockwood) seems to remember that Miss Froy even got on the train, leading to a brisk, clever, often quite funny, mystery. You can stream The Lady Vanishes on Max, The Criterion Channel, and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. The Lady Vanishes (1938) Learn More Learn More The Muppet Movie (1979) Kermit and company set out on a road trip in this essential Muppets origin story (sort of, approximately) that kicks off with a heartwarming rendition of "Rainbow Connection" and then leads us on a journey across America to fame and fortune in Hollywoodnot without some obstacles along the way. The songs are wildly memorable, and Jim Henson's trademark blend of heart and silliness (with an oddly believable tone) is well in place. The Muppets have never been (quite) done better. You can stream The Muppet Movie on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Muppet Movie (1979) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Night Nurse (1931) A pre-code classic, Night Nurse stars the great Barbara Stanwyck as sexy trainee nurse Lora Hart, who uncovers a plot to kill some kids in order to get control of a trust fund. For all that drama, the movie is brisk and fun, and it's immensely satisfying to watch Lora come out swinging when her patients are in danger. You can stream Night Nurse on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Night Nurse (1931) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max 8 (1963) If not Federico Fellini's finest, it's right up there. The very meta story involves a writer/director (played by Marcello Mastroianni) struggling with writer's block while trying to get his science fiction movie off the ground. Wildly visually inventive, it's a fabulous film about the art of moviemaking. You can stream 8 1/2 on Max, the Criterion Channel, and Kanopy, or rent it from Prime Video. 8 (1963) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Godzilla (1954) There's plenty of city-stomping action in this, the original kaiju film, but also a poignance and deep resonance for Japan, a country then only just coming to grips with both nuclear horror and its own actions during World War II. As 2023's Godzilla Minus One reminded us, the monster was born out of real trauma. You can stream Godzilla on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Godzilla (1954) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) A noir essential with a classic setup (a disgraced cop enlists a couple of old associates to rob a bank) complicated by the skin color of the film's lead Johnny Ingram, played by Harry Belafonte. Noir characters are pretty much always doomed, but here it's not just that their plan is shoddyit's that confidently racist Earl Slater (a believably seething Robert Ryan) is never going to be able to make it work. It all builds to an appropriately apocalyptic climax. You can stream Odds Against Tomorrow on Prime Video and The Roku Channel. Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Sunset Boulevard (1950) Gloria Swanson was just 50 when she was cast as the horrifyingly outdated silent-film star at the center of this very dark comedy/film noir. Doesnt matter; she kills it. You can stream Sunset Boulevard on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Sunset Boulevard (1950) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Sunrise (1927) With some of the most brilliant cinematography and camerawork of the silent era, F. W. Murnau tells a story of romance (and attempted murder) that feels epic, even with stakes that, ultimately, arent any bigger than the marriage between the films troubled couple. You can stream Sunrise on The Roku Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Sunrise (1927) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Just an old-fashioned love story about the romance between a young engaged couple, a genderfluid scientist, and a jacked lab experiment. A cult classic now too famous to qualify as a cult classic, and for good reason. You can rent The Rocky Horror Picture Show from Prime Video. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Wizard of Oz (1939) A sweet-seeming Kansas girl heads off to the magical Land of Oz, announcing her arrival by murdering a lady and stealing her shoes. Only one thing to do at that point, really: take out her sister, as well. You can stream The Wizard of Oz on Max or rent it from Prime Video. The Wizard of Oz (1939) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Psycho (1960) Near the tail-end of his career, Alfred Hitchcock reinvented American horror cinema and introduced the definitive screen slasher: Norman Bates mother and best friend, Norma. You can rent Psycho from Prime Video. Psycho (1960) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video It Happened One Night (1934) Frank Capras risqu romantic comedy swept the Academy Awards in its year, with leads Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert making for a brilliant pairing in the movie that defined the rom-com, and remains among the best of the form. You can stream It Happened One Night on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. It Happened One Night (1934) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Cooley High (1974) Cochise (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a basketball star, and Preach (Glynn Turman), an aspiring playwright, plot to play hooky during their final weeks of senior year. Their plan leads to a series of adventures and misadventures that look very much like the stuff of a more typical teen comedy, before the comedy slowly gives way to more serious introspection. This movie had a profound influence on filmmakers from John Singleton to Spike Lee. You can stream Cooley High on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and Prime Video. Cooley High (1974) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) A postwar drama made right in the thick of things, exploring the high cost of World War II on returning soldiers. Sharp, well-observed performances from veterans like Myrna Loy and and Fredric March, as well as from newcomer Harold Russell, a then-recent veteran who won one of the film's many Oscars for his performance. A smart and impressively honest movie that must have taken a lot of courage to make. You can stream The Best Years of Our Lives on Prime Video, Kanopy, Pluto TV, and Peacock. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Kwaidan (1964) This Japanese anthology of horror-tinged stories isn't necessarily terrifying, but it is one of the most stunningly beautiful, and sumptuously designed films that you're likely to find this side of Japanese folklore. A highly influential film, it kicks off with the story of a horribly wronged woman and her very long, very black hair. You can stream Kwaidan on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Kwaidan (1964) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) This historical drama brings Medieval Europe to stunning life with its depiction of Arthur, King of the Britons (Graham Chapman), scouring the English countryside in search of men brave enough to join his Knights of the Round Table, desperate to figure out if swallows can, indeed, carry coconuts. Its all deeply serious. (Cough cough.) You can stream Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and Britbox. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Godfather (1972) Its said by many that the second film is betterand theyre not wrong, though the first is a similarly brilliant piece of filmmaking, and absolutely the place to start when watching or rewatching Francis Ford Coppolas saga. You can stream The Godfather on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Godfather (1972) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ M (1931) Peter Lorre is chilling as a murderer of children in Fritz Langs thriller. Aside from being a masterful film in its own right, M influenced every crime drama, serial killer film, and police procedural thats come along since. You can stream M on Max, Kanopy, and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. M (1931) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Gilda (1946) One of the greatest and most entertaining noir films of its era also foregrounds one of the hottest bisexual love triangles youre likely to find in film. You can rent Gilda from Prime Video. Gilda (1946) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mildred Pierce (1945) Joan Crawford is at her very dramatic best in this story of a mother dealing with a hyper-entitled snotbag of a daughter. Joan and director Michael Curtiz take all of the great noir trappings of the era (including murder) and put a single mother at the center of them. Now central in her filmography, this was a comeback for Joan at the time, and proved that she could still pack cinemas as a middle-aged woman. You can stream Mildred Pierce on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Mildred Pierce (1945) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Superman (1978) In our highly dystopian present, every third movie is a superhero punch-'em-up. But not so in 1978, when Richard Donner directed the original (more or less) and best (more or less). Christopher Reeve remains a steadfast combination of believable sincerity and dorky charm, generating real chemistry with Margot Kidder's Lois Lane. You can stream Superman on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Superman (1978) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Seventh Seal (1957) Max von Sydow stars as a medieval knight in Ingmar Bergman's dark fantasy about finding human connection in the absence of faith. The film tells its story using some of the most indelible imagery in the history of cinemaanyone for a game of chess? With death? You can stream The Seventh Seal on Max, The Criterion Channel, and Kanopy. The Seventh Seal (1957) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Citizen Kane (1941) The pretentious film student's answer to the question: "What's the greatest film of all time?" is, as it happens, a genuinely great film. It's an appropriately dark and wildly innovative commentary on the corrupting powers of money and American-style capitalism. In those regards, it hasn't aged a day. You can rent Citizen Kane from Prime Video. Citizen Kane (1941) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Battleship Potemkin (1925) So rousing is Sergei Eisenstein's film, set during the early Russian Revolution of 1905, that you'll be cheering on the rebellion that lead to the birth of the Soviet Union (where this film was no less controversial than elsewhere). Among the movie's many brilliantly directed moments is the iconic Odessa Steps sequence, which has been referenced by everyone from Laurel and Hardy to Denis Villeneuve. You can stream Battleship Potemkin on Max, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Kino, and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Battleship Potemkin (1925) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) This all-star road race film is goofy, sure, but it's also got a mean streak a mile wideand I absolutely mean that as a compliment. The cast all compete to make it across the state of California to collect a chunk of money that they've learned is buried in a state park. It's cute watching Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Jonathan Winters, Eddie Anderson, Sid Caesar and others team up to get the moneybut it's even better when they fall out and start fighting tooth and nail, all alongside crooked cop Spencer Tracy. You can stream It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World on Prime Video, Kanopy, and Pluto TV. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) The all-star cast can be a little distracting, but Stanley Kramers courtroom drama remains powerful and depressingly relevant in its depiction of normal, everyday people driven to commit atrocities with only minimal encouragement. You can stream Judgment at Nuremberg on MGM+ and Pluto TV or rent it from Apple TV. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) at Apple TV Learn More Learn More at Apple TV Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953) The first in a series of charming, and increasingly inventive comedies from the great director (and star) Jacques Tati. M. Hulot feels like a silent film character in a world of sound, and, indeed, the focus here is less on dialogue than in the inadvertent ways in which our hero brings absolute chaos wherever he goes. There's a method to the comedy, as well, Tati finding satisfaction in seeing the thin veneers of the comfortable, snobby, rich vacationers worn away. You can stream M. Hulot's Holiday on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Carnival of Souls (1962) This deeply haunting, low-budget independent beat George Romero's Night of the Living Dead to the punch by around five years, following a young woman (Candace Hilligoss) through a dark night of her own. Thoroughly eerie, it's a movie that stays with you, like it or not. You can stream Carnival of Souls on Max, The Roku Channel, AMC+, MGM+, The Criterion Channel, Kanopy, Shudder, and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Carnival of Souls (1962) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Sound of Music (1965) The hills are alive, etc., as a charmingly goofy nun-in-training gets a job at the home of an Austrian aristocrat. What starts out as a very hummable sing-a-long takes a dark turn as the shadow of Nazi Germany comes to loom. That genuine threat elevates Julie Andrews' breakout into something as meaningful as it is fun. You can stream The Sound of Music on Disney+ and Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. The Sound of Music (1965) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Pather Panchali (1955) Indias answer to the French New Wave, Satyajit Rays gorgeous but down-to-earth drama finds universal truths in the fraught relationships between desperately poor Apu, his sister Durga, and their mother, Sarbajaya. (The subsequent two films in what would eventually become known as the Apu Trilogy are just as great.) You can stream Pather Panchali on Max, The Criterion Collection, and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Pather Panchali (1955) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Sherlock Jr. (1924) The General is often seen as Buster Keatons masterpiece, but I prefer Sherlock Jr., in which a normal schlub finds himself, literally, drawn into the movies. Its an acrobatic and often hilarious journey into film history. You can stream Sherlock Jr. on The Criterion Channel, Kanopy, and Kino or rent it from Prime Video. Sherlock Jr. (1924) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Funny Girl (1968) Barbra Streisand broke through in a big way in this funny (naturally), moving, and ultimately epic story about the rise of real-life comedian Fanny Brice and her troubled romance with Nicky Arnstein (Omar Sharif). Its like buttah. You can stream Funny Girl on Prime Video. Funny Girl (1968) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video His Girl Friday (1940) One of the films that defined the sharp, fast-talking screwball comedy genre, with Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant as an ex-married newshound couple trying to uncover the truth behind the story of a convicted murderer. You can stream His Girl Friday on Prime Video, MGM+, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Pluto TV, and Shout Factory TV. His Girl Friday (1940) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Bride of Frankenstein (1935) On the eve of his wedding, Dr. Frankenstein finds himself drawn into temptation when his old mentor shows up in town. The two run off together with every intention of giving birth to new life. You can rent Bride of Frankenstein from Prime Video. Bride of Frankenstein (1935) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Modern Times (1936) Ever feel like youre just a cog in the capitalist machinery of life? Charlie Chaplins masterpiece is the perfect movie for anyone whos ever been stuck in a rut at work. You can stream Modern Times on Prime Video, Max, The Criterion Channel, and Kanopy. Modern Times (1936) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Rashomon (1950) Akira Kurosawas samurai tale is not only wildly influential, its also films definitive statement on the unreliability of memory and the ease with which we spin stories for our own benefit. A warriors murder is recounted by a series of characters, each with a similar tale, but with details that vary in crucial ways. You can stream Rashomon on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Rashomon (1950) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Jaws (1975) Steven Spielberg created the thrilling, harrowing summer blockbuster to beat them all way back in 1975, shaping the cinematic landscape were still living in, for better or worse. You can rent Jaws from Prime Video. Jaws (1975) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video High Noon (1952) Its hard to believe, all these decades later, that this simple story of a sheriff abandoned by a terrified town was one of the most controversial films of its era. Theres a lot going on here just under the surface, including a strong defiance of the Red Scare and its accompanying Hollywood blacklist. You can rent High Noon from Prime Video. High Noon (1952) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Carrie (1976) One of Stephen Kings earliest works translates into this memorably bloody coming-of-age story about a shy young woman (Sissy Spacek) with growing telekenetic powers, caught between her controlling mother at home and her cruel classmates at school. You can stream Carrie on MGM+ and Max or rent it from Prime Video. Carrie (1976) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Night of the Hunter (1955) Actor Charles Laughton's sole directorial effort is a wildly impressive one, with serial-killing preacher Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) charming and then terrorizing a rural West Virginia family during the Great Depression. Audiences at the time found it impossibly weird and arty, and often weren't thrilled with Laughton's take on religious hypocrisy. Time has revealed it as a taut, idiosyncratic masterpiece. You can stream Night of the Hunter on Pluto TV and Prime Video. The Night of the Hunter (1955) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video A Raisin in the Sun (1961) Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Roy Glenn, and Louis Gossett Jr. star in this family drama about a Black family about to come into a small windfall, and the intergenerational conflict and trauma that impacts the ways in which family members want to spend it, and even their their definitions of a better life. You can rent A Raisin in the Sun from Prime Video. A Raisin in the Sun (1961) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video