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The film industry is reliant on the success of major blockbusters that remind viewers everywhere why going to the cinema is a valuable use of their time, energy, and money. Although there is certainly room for niche projects that appeal to a selective portion of the audience, films that are able to transcend the art form and become cultural events are able to ensure that future generations of artists have the same freedoms.
There are certain films from the “Golden Age of Hollywood” that were incredibly important, as they laid the groundwork for many of the most popular films of the last several decades. These films are quite accessible; they are adored by both hardcore cinephiles and those that have broader taste when it comes to the art form. Here are ten movies that were so successful that they revolutionized the film industry.
10 ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (1937)
Directed by David Hand, Ben Sharpsteen, William Cottrell, Larry Morey, Wilfred Jackson, and Perce Pearce
Image via Walt Disney Productions Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is arguably the most important animated film ever made, and certainly the achievement that helped ensure that Walt Disney Studios would become one of the most dominant companies in the history of Hollywood. Although it is an idea that is now taken for granted, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first Disney animated film to draw inspiration from a classic fairy tale and turn it into a musical adventure.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs featured incredible music that has stood the test of time, and certainly was a major achievement in the use of classical hand drawn animation. Although everyone has their own personal favorite Disney animated musical film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the reason that any of them have any reason to exist in the first place.
Exiled into the dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother, a princess is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make her part of their household.
Release Date February 4, 1938
Director David Hand
Cast Roy Atwell , Stuart Buchanan , Adriana Caselotti , Zeke Clements , Eddie Collins , Pinto Colvig
Runtime 83
Writers Wilhelm Grimm , Jacob Grimm , Ted Sears , Richard Creedon , Otto Englander , Dick Rickard
Studio Walt Disney Productions
Tagline The Best Loved Musical Of All Time
9 ‘Goldfinger’ (1964)
Directed by Guy Hamilton
Image via MGM Goldfinger was not the first film within the James Bond franchise, but it certainly turned the series into the cultural juggernaut that it is today. Although both Dr. No and From Russia With Love were successful espionage adventures, Goldfinger embraced the eccentricity and individuality of the Bond franchise; the film featured a snarky sense of humor, cool gadgets, memorable one-liners, and an elaborate musical title sequence.
Goldfinger set the template for the Bond franchise, and proved once again why Sean Connery is one of the most charismatic actors that has ever lived. Many of the most successful Bond films that have been released since, such as Skyfall, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Goldeneye, have drawn direct inspiration from what Guy Hamilton did with Goldfinger was back in 1964 when the series was in its infancy.
Release Date September 20, 1964
Director Guy Hamilton
Runtime 112
Writers Richard Maibaum , Paul Dehn , Ian Fleming
Tagline James Bond is back in action! Everything he touches turns to excitement!
8 ‘The Sound of Music’ (1965)
Directed by Robert Wise
Image via 20th Century Studios The Sound of Music was a box office juggernaut that was unrivaled for many years; despite receiving a mixed reception upon its initial release, The Sound of Music stayed in theaters for over four years, as audiences simply could not get enough of the lively musical that Robert Wise had brought to life.
While it was hardly the first major musical, The Sound of Music inspired a revival of the musical genre by telling an optimistic story that appealed to many generations. The fact the film was long enough to have an intermission didn’t matter to audiences that were highly invested in the story; although both Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer are among the most successful actors in the entire history of the film industry, The Sound of Music certainly ranks highly among the best work that they have ever done.
A young novice is sent by her convent in 1930s Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer.
Release Date April 1, 1965
Director Robert Wise
Runtime 172 minutes
Writers Howard Lindsay , Russel Crouse , Ernest Lehman , Maria von Trapp
Studio 20th Century Fox
Tagline The Happiest Sound In All The World!
7 ‘The Godfather’ (1972)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Image via Paramount Pictures The Godfather was a groundbreaking crime epic that has often been referred to as the greatest American film of all-time by many scholars and critics, and for good reason. Although the original novel of the same name by Mario Puzo was highly popular at the time of its release, director Francis Ford Coppola transformed it into an emotional character story about the price of the American dream.
The Godfather proved that audiences would be interested in truly great acting, as it featured incredible performances from a stacked cast that included Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Talia Shire, James Caan, and Diane Keaton. Although it is unquestionably one of the best films ever made, some fans would argue that The Godfather: Part II is an even superior achievement because it serves as both a sequel and prequel to the original classic.
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The Godfather
Don Vito Corleone, head of a mafia family, decides to hand over his empire to his youngest son, Michael. However, his decision unintentionally puts the lives of his loved ones in grave danger.
Release Date March 24, 1972
Director Francis Ford Coppola
Runtime 175 minutes
Writers Mario Puzo , Francis Ford Coppola
Budget $6 million
Studio(s) Paramount Pictures
Distributor(s) Paramount Plus
6 ‘The Exorcist’ (1973)
Directed by William Friedkin
Image via Warner Bros. The Exorcist is perhaps the most influential horror film of all-time, and was certainly quintessential within proving that it could be a “prestige” genre. Although there was certainly a lot of acclaim given to the classical monster movies of the 1950s and ‘60s, The Exorcist depicted the chilling story of a family in crisis that felt incredibly real; the film became such a sensation that audiences had extreme reactions when they saw it in theaters.
The Exorcist is a brilliant piece of craftsmanship that featured incredible sound design, jaw dropping makeup effects, and an incredible ensemble of actors, including Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller among others. It is one of the few horror films that received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, and certainly led William Friedkin to make further innovations within the genre throughout the rest of his career.
When a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Release Date December 26, 1973
Runtime 122 minutes
Writers William Peter Blatty
Budget $12 million
Studio(s) Hoya Productions
Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures
prequel(s) Exorcist: The Beginning , Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist
Franchise(s) The Exorcist
5 ‘Jaws’ (1975)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Image via Universal Pictures Jaws is perhaps the most important blockbuster ever made, as Steven Spielberg’s terrifying shark movie became the highest grossing film of all-time when it was first released in the summer of 1975. The idea that a single film could be a popular culture phenomenon was virtually unheard of, as Spielberg had cracked the perfect formula to a summer blockbuster that included thrills, chills, laughs, and a good deal of heart.
Jaws showed how minimalist filmmaking could be used effectively, as not showing the shark until the very end simply heightened the suspense. The film was also notable as the first major collaboration between Spielberg and composer John Williams; the ominous “Jaws theme” that Williams created with just a few notes is certainly one of the most iconic tracks in the history of cinema, and led to even more collaborations with Spielberg down the line.
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Jaws
When a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Cape Cod, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.
Release Date June 20, 1975
Runtime 124 Minutes
Writers Peter Benchley , Carl Gottlieb
Production Company Zanuck/Brown Company, Universal Pictures
4 ‘Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope’ (1977)
Directed by George Lucas
Image via Lucasfilm Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope is the single most influential film ever made, as it is hard to imagine how popular culture would have fared without the incredible world that George Lucas created. The Star Wars franchise may have been poised to become the Flash Gordon -style science fiction epic for a new generation, but the original film ended up drawing in the influence of westerns, the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa, and anti-Imperalist sentiments that emerged during the Vietnam War.
The Star Wars franchise became successful because it was a coming-of-age story, and audiences from many different generations could relate to the narrative of a frustrated farm boy like Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) who dreamed of having adventures far away from home. In addition to passing Jaws as the highest-grossing film ever, the original Star Wars created a massive multimedia franchise that continues to churn out new entries today.
A farm boy from a desert planet becomes an unlikely hero in the fight against the oppressive Galactic Empire. Guided by a former Jedi Knight and alongside a rebellious princess, a smuggler, and his co-pilot, he embarks on a mission to destroy the Death Star, a massive space station capable of annihilating entire planets. As he learns about the mystical Force, he discovers his destiny and the true strength within himself.
Release Date May 25, 1977
Director George Lucas
Runtime 121 Minutes
Main Genre Sci-Fi
Writers George Lucas
Budget $11 Million
Studio(s) Lucasfilm
Distributor(s) 20th Century
Franchise(s) Star Wars
3 ‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Image via Universal Pictures Jurassic Park saw Spielberg replicating the success of Jaws to create another film that became the highest-grossing of all-time; ironically, it was released the same year that Spielberg also directed the historical drama Schindler’s List, which won him the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director that he had long since deserved.
Jurassic Park pushed the boundaries of special effects forward through the use of computer generated imagery. While James Cameron had certainly set some precedents with the CGI he used in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Jurassic Park proved that digital characters could appeal alongside live-action actors in a way that felt realistic. In addition to inspiring another franchise that is set to return to the big screen next year, Jurassic Park created another iconic score by Williams that took it to an entirely new level of popular culture success.
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Jurassic Park
In Steven Spielberg's massive blockbuster, paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park's mastermind, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when various ferocious predators break free and go on the hunt.
Release Date June 11, 1993
Runtime 127 minutes
Main Genre Action-Adventure
Writers Michael Crichton , David Koepp
Franchise Jurassic Park
Sequel Jurassic World, Jurassic Park 3, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Cinematographer Dean Cundey
Producer Kathleen Kennedy, Gerald R. Molen
Production Company Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment
Sfx Supervisor Dennis Muren
Budget $63 million
2 ‘Titanic’ (1997)
Directed by James Cameron
Image via 20th Century Studios Titanic is one of the rare films in which its critical praise and commercial success were equivalent. Although it broke records when it surpassed Jurassic Park to become the highest-grossing film of all-time, Titanic was also a critical darling; it took home a record breaking eleven Academy Awards, an honor that has only ever gone to Ben-Hur and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Titanic proved that audiences could become invested in a schmaltzy, old-fashioned love story, as the film’s sincerity is its greatest attribute. Although the destruction of the ship itself is still one of the greatest achievements in the history of special effects, it is the heart shattering romantic chemistry between Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio that has ensured that Titanic will always be remembered. Subsequent re-releases of the film in 3D prove that viewers still care about it.
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Titanic
A seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.
Release Date November 19, 1997
Director James Cameron
Runtime 194 minutes
Writers James Cameron
Studio Paramount Pictures
Tagline Collide With Destiny.
Franchise titanic
Budget 200 million
Studio(s) Paramount Pictures, 20th Century
Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures, 20th Century
1 ‘Avatar’ (2009)
Directed by James Cameron
Image via 20th Century Studios Avatar saw Cameron topping himself with another film that became the highest-grossing of all-time, and has still not been surpassed (despite the fact that Avengers: Endgame briefly held the record before Avatar was re-released). The use of 3D has always been controversial, but Cameron used the extra dimension to create an expansive world on Pandora that was unlike anything the viewers had ever seen before; in an industry dominated by sequels, prequels, adaptation, and remakes, Cameron found ultimate success in an idea that came purely from his own imagination.
Avatar did a great job at its worldbuilding, but it also incorporated a powerful message about the importance of protecting the environment and rebelling against corporate interests. Considering that its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, was just as commercially and critically well-received, it's safe to say that there is a very bright future for the next iterations of the Avatar franchise.
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Avatar
A paraplegic Marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.
Release Date December 18, 2009
Director James Cameron
Runtime 162 minutes
Writers James Cameron
Franchise Avatar
Characters By James Cameron
Sequel Avatar: The Way of Water
Cinematographer Mauro Fiore
Producer Jon Landau, James Cameron
Production Company 20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Entertainment, Ingenious Film Partners, Dune Entertainment
Sfx Supervisor Joe Letteri
Budget $237 Million
Studio(s) 20th Century Fox , Lightstorm Entertainment , Dune Entertainment , Ingenious Film Partners
Distributor(s) 20th Century Fox
Franchise(s) Avatar
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