6 Most Influential Movies of the Last 50 Years, Ranked

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Often considered the first movie, Louis Le Prince’s “Roundhay Garden Scene” was created in 1888. Since then, the film industry has evolved dramatically, producing countless trends and beloved classics. Films like The Wizard of Oz (1939), Gone with the Wind (1939), Godzilla (1954), and Psycho (1960) remain incredibly influential and important works of cinema.

When people talk about the most important films ever made, these movies are usually among the first mentioned. While many incredible films have been released over the last half-century that could be considered the best, recent decades have also given us truly outstanding movies that deserve recognition as classics.

The Dark Knight Changed How People Saw Superhero Movies

As a huge fan, I think The Dark Knight (2008) isn’t just a great DC movie, it’s one of the best superhero films ever made, hands down. What really struck me about this Batman movie is how seriously it took itself. It’s a dark, gritty, and intense action thriller, and it proved that superhero stories could be really complex, even disturbing. It wasn’t afraid to get dark, and that’s what makes it so incredible.

Even before The Dark Knight, films like Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man trilogy and the first Iron Man movie were starting to move away from the silly and simplistic tone of earlier superhero adaptations. However, The Dark Knight is widely seen as the model for today’s superhero films, which generally explore more serious themes, complex stories, and crime-driven plots.

When The Dark Knight came out, it was a groundbreaking achievement for superhero films, winning several prestigious awards, largely due to Heath Ledger’s unforgettable performance as the Joker. It was also a massive box office success, becoming the highest-grossing superhero movie of its time. While later Marvel Cinematic Universe films surpassed its box office record, The Dark Knight paved the way for the many successful and influential superhero movies that followed.

Avatar is Still the Highest Grossing Film Ever Made

James Cameron’s 2009 film, Avatar, is a hugely popular and visually stunning science fiction movie, famous for its colorful world and unusual creatures. It currently holds the record for the highest-grossing film of all time, briefly losing the title to Avengers: Endgame in 2019 before regaining it with a recent re-release. Avatar has become a major franchise, and James Cameron has spent much of the last fifteen years working on its sequels.

With a worldwide gross placing it among the top three highest-earning films ever, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) demonstrated strong fan enthusiasm despite being a sequel released over a decade after the first film. The recently released Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) is also impressive, but doesn’t quite reach the level of the original Avatar movie.

Avatar was widely praised and became a landmark film, influencing how movies were made afterward. It popularized 3D technology, even leading to the release of 3D televisions. The film was a massive financial success, becoming the first to earn over $2 billion worldwide – a feat few movies have matched. Even now, Avatar is considered one of the most visually stunning and highly regarded films of all time.

The Shining is One of the Most Celebrated Horror Movies in History

While Stanley Kubrick’s classic 2001: A Space Odyssey is a bit older, we’ve included another one of his masterpieces: the psychological horror film The Shining (1980). Based on the novel by Stephen King, The Shining became a hugely popular and critically acclaimed horror film. Interestingly, it wasn’t a particularly faithful adaptation of the book, but that didn’t stop audiences and critics from embracing it.

Although Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining differs from the original novel, it powerfully portrays a man’s disturbing and believable journey into insanity. Jack Torrance, a writer and recovering alcoholic, accepts a solitary job as winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel. As Jack spends more time in isolation and surrounded by the hotel’s ghostly presence, he tragically loses himself and becomes a shadow of his former self.

Over the years, the film has faced criticism, largely because of Stanley Kubrick’s difficult working methods and how he treated Shelley Duvall, who played Jack’s wife. However, despite this controversy, The Shining is widely considered a masterpiece of horror and one of the best films ever made. Some even believe it paved the way for the more sophisticated horror films we see today.

Pulp Fiction Made Room for Independent Films to Shine

Most people remember Pulp Fiction (1994) as a classic movie of the ’90s, but it’s easy to forget that it was actually made as an independent film. Considering it was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino – now a major Hollywood director – that might come as a surprise!

This film was a huge success, profoundly impacting everyone involved and leaving a lasting mark on Hollywood. Critics often consider Pulp Fiction Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece and it remains one of his most celebrated works. The film also revitalized John Travolta’s career, which had been struggling, and inspired many subsequent movies.

Perhaps the biggest impact of Pulp Fiction was how it changed perceptions of independent films. Now, indie movies are often highly respected because they have the freedom to create without the strict rules and demands of major studios. Companies like A24 and Neon are now leading the conversation in film, but it’s likely they wouldn’t exist as we know them without the success of Pulp Fiction.

A New Hope Kicked Off One of the Biggest Franchises Ever

While perhaps not the strongest film in the Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) is where the story began. George Lucas’s epic space opera introduced iconic characters like Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo in the late 1970s, and it revolutionized filmmaking.

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As a huge fan, it always amazes me how Star Wars is just everywhere! It feels like everyone, even people who haven’t watched the films, knows something about it. Things like lightsabers and the Force are instantly recognizable, and you can bet most people would know Darth Vader or Yoda if they saw them. It’s become such a huge part of our world!

This franchise is unique because it’s still being created! Following the initial, highly successful three films, the series expanded with another three prequels, three sequels, and a number of standalone movies. Beyond the films, there are also countless TV shows, books, comics, and video games. Surprisingly, few people predicted that the first film, A New Hope, would be a hit, which demonstrates that a truly original concept can have a massive impact.

Jaws Invented the Summer Blockbuster

Released in 1975, Jaws is the oldest movie on this list, just meeting our 50-year mark. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this thrilling creature feature was a surprise hit – he actually doubted it would do well! The movie was initially planned for a Christmas release, which was a prime time for films in the mid-1970s. However, production faced numerous problems and setbacks, largely because the mechanical shark kept breaking down.

Despite a difficult production and a less-than-perfect release date of June 20, 1975, Jaws became a massive hit. It’s hard to believe now, but back then, summer wasn’t a prime time for going to the movies. In fact, Jaws is largely responsible for establishing the tradition of the summer blockbuster, and its success made summer a popular time to see films.

Even now, Jaws remains one of Steven Spielberg’s best films. Ironically, the fact that the mechanical shark often malfunctioned actually improved the movie, creating a sense of suspense and mystery reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock. Jaws also played a big role in starting several Hollywood trends, such as focusing on movies with straightforward, attention-grabbing concepts.

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2025-12-27 23:12