12 Modern Movies That Will One Day Become Classics

We think these movies have the potential to become a classic one day.

When classic films are mentioned, different movies may come to mind, depending on who is being asked at the time or what kind of classic is being referred to. Whether they’re a science fiction or romantic comedy fan, the definition of a classic movie can be quite broad, and, with the passage of time, can include a wide range of movies within its scope. But when we often think of a classic movie, one tends to dwell on the fact these movies came out a long time ago, in a distant past when they might not have even been born before yet or a film that came out when they were very young. Movies released after those periods tend to not be considered a classic — at least not yet.

Modern movies have been increasing their usage of technology, but also quality as well. While remakes and adaptations have remained popular on the big screen, there has been a plethora of exciting original content as well. All of these kinds of movies, whether popular or not with mainstream audiences, have been able to prove they’re worthy of being rewatched multiple times. That said, here are 12 modern movies that we think have the potential to become classics further down the road.

12 PHOTOS

12. Dune

The Dune movies are an adaptation of a beloved book series written during the 1960s, and Denis Villeneuve brought his love for the original series and made it into an epic science fiction film in 2021. Timothee Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides, who, with his family, is brought to the desert planet of Arrakis by the Emperor. As things go wrong, and the family is set up for disaster, Paul, who has visions of the future, joins the local Fremen to resist the new invaders. Villeneuve’s vision vibrantly brings this world to life, making it a science fiction movie for contemporary audiences.

11. La La Land

Damien Chazelle’s La La Land captivated audiences when it first came out in 2016. Starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, they portray two characters who first cross paths in a road rage incident. Although they got off to a bad start, that won’t be the first time they meet. One is a jazz musician (Gosling) struggling with following his dreams and career, and the other is an aspiring actress just getting started (Stone).

La La Land evokes the musical movies of Hollywood’s past but with a modern flair, capturing the spirit of Los Angeles and the people fighting to make their dreams — and relationships — flourish every day.

10. Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer was one of the most anticipated releases in the summer of 2023, making the Barbenheimer phenomenon even more real at the box office. Cillian Murphy portrays Robert J. Oppenheimer, the physicist who led a team at the Los Alamos Project in World War II. As the story of the atomic bomb is developed in tandem with what ultimately becomes Oppenheimer’s downfall, this epic biopic certainly goes all out. Featuring some of the biggest names of this era of film history, Oppenheimer, despite its various faults, shines when it comes to how captivating its story unfolds.

9. Everything Everywhere All at Once

When Everything Everywhere All at Once swept the Academy Awards the year of its release, it came as no surprise. A film focusing on a Chinese-American family with personal problems, Their many issues become worse when many different parallel universes begin to collide. Not only is this a film monumental in its representation of Asian Americans and popularity, but it’s an excellent example of how genres can be blended together to create a pretty good movie.

The film also boasts incredible performances by its key cast members, which included Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis, among many others.

8. Babylon

When it was released in 2022, Babylon, a three-hour tale of excess, decay, and life in Hollywood during the 1920s, flopped. Director Damien Chazelle’s film might feel like it’s three different films mashed into at one long movie at times, but there’s a lot to learn from a movie like this. Throughout several time periods, he tracks the rise and fall of multiple individuals active in Hollywood during this time, many of whom are based on real people. It’s messy, but it lavishly goes full force into a time that was equally messy.

7. Parasite

Parasite was one of those movies that gained the traction it did once in a decade or two. Bong Joon-ho’s dark comedy is a mirror into the socioeconomic divides between two different families in South Korea — however, this is a divide that can be seen in many wealthier countries, not just Korea.

When a poor family infiltrates a wealthier one to tap into their financial excess, the movie pivots and literally goes down a dark path to show how far people can go in the name of secrecy and money. It would later win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, a monumental achievement for representation.

6. The Worst Person in the World

2021’s The Worst Person in the World is reminiscent at times of its predecessors in European cinema but is very much rooted in a contemporary story. The Norwegian film blends together elements of romantic comedies and dramas to tell the story of Julie, an Oslo-based medical student who decides to pursue the arts.

When she starts a relationship with an artist older than her, she begins dabbling in writing, and, by her 30th birthday, is starting to receive attention as a writer. As she struggles with her life and career, things begin to change for Julie.

5. Midsommar

Florence Pugh shines in Midsommar, Ari Aster’s 2019 horror movie that has already captured the hearts of many around the world. She portrays a traumatized student Dani. Her sister has just killed herself and their parents, and Dani is coping with the circumstances of that.

When she’s invited to rural Sweden to attend a midsummer festival, she has her reservations, and as the day goes on, it’s revealed they’ve come across a cult instead. Deeply unsettling and compelling at the same time, Midsommar is already on its way towards becoming a classic.

4. Nope

Many know of Jordan Peele for his movie Get Out, but it’s Nope that pushes the limits even further in an experimental way. Set on a ranch in Los Angeles County, Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer portray two siblings who find themselves distinctly aware that something’s lurking out there, and it’s not like anything they’ve ever seen before.

Nope is distinctly commenting on the concept of a spectacle and exploitation in its themes. It not only can be applied to the film industry, but also to the natural world around us — when one tries to conquer a creature of nature, it can lead to horrifying circumstances.

3. In the Heights

Lin Manuel Miranda first wrote the stage musical In the Heights back when he was a college student, but that little script would later become a Tony Award-winning musical on Broadway and a movie a decade later. The 2021 musical movie depicts the life of Usnavi, a bodega store owner in Washington Heights who lives in a Latinx community that is now threatened by the continued gentrification of New York City.

The story of multiple characters who grew up in the neighborhood is woven together with Usnavi’s, showing how immigrant and diaspora communities are deeply rooted in collective spaces and shared memories.

2. Manchester by the Sea

Kenneth Lonergan’s 2016 film Manchester by the Sea is a quiet one, but it doesn’t need to be flashy to make an impact. Casey Affleck portrays Lee, a janitor who’s depressed and lives alone. When his brother dies, Lee decides he’s going to tell his brother’s son.

Unable to bury his brother until spring arrives, Lee makes the executive decision to stay in the area, especially as he is now the guardian of the son. The film explores grief, as Lee has not only lost his brother, but his family in a tragic accident years before, but also human connection in a touching, moving way that seems timeless.

1. 12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave is based on the memoir by Solomon Northup, who, as a young man, was kidnapped and sold into slavery. This movie follows his journey from living as a free man and musician in New York before being lured into slavery under the promise of a job in Washington.

However, this did not come without criticism — members of the Black community have critiqued it as a liberal white savior film, reminding us of the importance of critically analyzing films even if they can be considered classics now or in the future.