15 Classic Movies from the 1960s That Still Captivate Audiences Today
Society wasn’t the only thing that started to change in the 1960s. The film industry did, too! Filmmakers were finally allowed to take more artistic risks, which led to the ’60s being one of the most iconic decades for the movie industry! And while some films didn’t exactly stand the test of time, some became beloved classics that we’re still watching to this very day. Here are 15 that you might just remember…and feel compelled to rewatch once you’re finished reading this article!
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
A lot of people still consider this epic science fiction film to be one of the greatest and most influential movies ever made, and it’s not hard to see why! Though we celebrate it today, many critics and casual viewers hated 2001: A Space Odyssey when it was released. According to History.com, some 241 audience walkouts were recorded at the New York premiere alone! However, young movie buffs flocked to the theater in droves, making 2001: A Space Odyssey the highest-grossing film of 1968. (Which, coincidentally, was around the same year that the Hayes Code ended.)
2. The Birds
Some of the best horror movies are built on simple premises, and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds is no exception to that rule. When birds begin attacking residents of a small Northern California town for seemingly no reason, what unfolds is…well, you can probably imagine. While the film is based on Daphne du Maurier’s short story of the same name, Hitchcock’s movie bears little resemblance to the source material. “We’re getting rid of the du Maurier story entirely. We’re just keeping the title and the notion of birds attacking people,” the famed director told screenwriter Evan Hunter. The Birds marked actress Tippi Hedren’s film debut.
3. Charade
What do you get when you combine Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, romance, and suspense? 1963’s Charade, of course! Dubbed the “best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made”, this movie is filled with capers, plot twists, and enough suspense to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. After filming ended, Grant stated, “All I want for Christmas is to make another movie with Audrey Hepburn.” He requested Hepburn as his co-star in 1964’s Father Goose while Hepburn convinced casting directors to offer Grant the role of Henry Higgins in 1964’s My Fair Lady. Sadly, the two never starred in another movie together.
4. My Fair Lady
When Sir Rex Harrison, who plays Henry Higgins, learned that Audrey Hepburn had been cast as Eliza Doolittle, the actor was incredibly upset. Not only did he feel that she was miscast, but he wanted to act alongside Dame Julie Andrews, who originated the role on Broadway. Nonetheless, Harrison must’ve had a change of heart during filming, as he went on to call Audrey Hepburn his favorite leading lady. Backpedaling? A creative PR ploy? A genuine statement? We aren’t really sure. But regardless of Sir Rex Harrison’s true feelings, nobody can deny the on-screen chemistry between him and Ms. Hepburn.
5. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The third and final film in Sergio Leone’s “Dollars Trilogy”, many have hailed The Good, the Bad and the Ugly as one of the best in its genre. Starring Clint Eastwood as the titular “good” character, this Spaghetti Western wasn’t met with much acclaim. In fact, noted New York Times critic Renata Adler dubbed the film “the most expensive, pious, and repellent movie in the history of its peculiar genre.” Even Eastwood reportedly wasn’t a fan of the finished product, referring to it as “bloated.” And while it isn’t without its problems, we guarantee that you can’t think of this movie without wanting to whistle its iconic riff.
6. To Kill a Mockingbird
Based on Harper Lee’s best-selling novel, this award-winning movie was an instant hit with audiences. Not only was To Kill a Mockingbird Robert Duvall’s film debut, but Gregory Peck also stated that it was his favorite film he’d ever done. Actor James Earl Jones auditioned for the role of Tom Robison, though it ultimately went to Brock Peters. Interestingly, Peters would go on to play Darth Vader—a character Jones voiced—in the Star Wars radio plays.
7. The Manchurian Candidate
This Cold War thriller may have been released in 1962, but you can’t deny that a lot of its themes still feel pretty darned relevant. Starring Frank Sinatra (yes, the Frank Sinatra) as Major Bennett Marco and Angela Lansbury as Eleanor Iselin, the film was initially deemed controversial and pulled from distribution. It was actually censored in many of the former “Iron Curtain” countries, like Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Despite its somewhat rocky debut, The Manchurian Candidate later went on to develop a cult following.
8. Mary Poppins
Did you know that Walt Disney regarded Mary Poppins as one of the greatest achievements of his long and storied career? Sadly, the author of the Mary Poppins book series, P.L. Travers, didn’t share Disney’s opinion. Upon reading the 46-page script, she was so aghast that she described it as “so coarse, so uncouth, so wrong in every way.” However, members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences didn’t agree with Travers, as Mary Poppins brought home five awards at the 1965 Oscars.
9. The Miracle Worker
The title of this movie comes from none other than author Mark Twain, who was a close friend of Helen Keller. Like the stage play, The Miracle Worker tells the story of tenacious teacher Anne Sullivan, her young, blind, and deaf charge Helen Keller, and the lengths Sullivan goes to help her student overcome numerous challenges. The movie was an instant hit with critics and audience members alike. Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke brought home Academy Awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.
10. Night of the Living Dead
Most people agree that George A. Romero’s 1968 movie pioneered the zombie genre. Still one of the most profitable independent films ever made, the film garnered controversy at the time of its release for excessive gore. It was, however, a massive success that was met with a standing ovation after it premiered at the Fulton Theatre in Pittsburgh. Interestingly, though it set the precedent for modern zombie movies, the word “zombie” is never uttered once on screen.
11. The Odd Couple
What if two people who are total opposites become roommates? The Odd Couple answers that question to hilarious effect. Felix, played by Jack Lemmon, is compulsively neat while Walter Matthau’s Oscar is a slob. As the two friends move in together, friction (and hilarity) ensue. Rotten Tomatoes rated it one of the best comedy films of all time, and it also made the American Film Institute’s 2000 list of the “Top 100 Funniest American Movies.” One viewing of this classic movie proves that it deserves those accolades and even more!
12. Psycho
Is there a more iconic movie soundtrack than that of Psycho? Even Alfred Hitchcock agreed, later stating that “thirty-three percent of the effect of Psycho was due to the music.” Psycho was not only the highest-grossing film of Hitchcock’s career, but it was the first true horror movie the acclaimed director ever made. Not bad for his first foray into the genre!
13. The Sound of Music
We can thank Dame Julie Andrews for yet another classic movie from the 1960s! This musical movie is still so popular that the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles hosts an annual Sound of Music Sing-A-Long, with costume contests and appearances from the on-screen and real-life von Trapp children. Sadly, one member of the on-screen von Trapp family didn’t enjoy their role. Christopher Plummer, who plays Georg Von Trapp, nicknamed the movie “The Sound of Mucus” and likened working with Dame Julia Andrews to “being hit over the head with a big Valentine’s Day card, every day.” Despite his somewhat callous statement, he and Andrews remained friends until his death.
13. West Side Story
West Side Story was the top-grossing film of 1961, bringing in a whopping $43,656,822. This musical film is based on a stage play with the same title, itself a reimagining of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Full of catchy music and unforgettable dance numbers, West Side Story took home 10 Academy Awards, including the much-coveted Best Picture. Throughout filming, the actors purportedly wore out 200 pairs of shoes, applied more than 100 pounds of make-up, split 27 pairs of pants, and performed in 30 different recording sessions.
15. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were once involved in one of the most bitter rivalries in Hollywood history, spanning decades. (To learn more about that, we recommend that you check out Ryan Murphy’s Feud!) Fortunately for fans of this movie, the two actresses were able to put aside their differences long enough to film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Principal shooting only took one month to complete, a testament to the two veteran actresses. That’s not to say that there wasn’t any friction on the set. According to Jay’s Classic Movie Blog, Davis may or may not have intentionally kicked Crawford in the head, though, as the author notes, “to what degree is highly disputed.” Meanwhile, Crawford also strapped a special weightlifting belt under her robe to make it harder for Davis to drag her out of her bedroom in a later scene. Still, the film was a box office smash and is widely regarded as a cult classic today.
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Originally published October 16, 2024
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