A Look Back at the Most Iconic Films of the Decade
The 1960s was a decade of change and transformation, marked by social and political upheavals that shaped the world we live in today. It was also a golden era for cinema, with some of the most iconic films of all time released during this period. From space odysseys to romantic comedies, the 1960s had it all. In this article, we take a look back at the top 20 movies of the decade that continue to captivate audiences and inspire filmmakers to this day. Join us on a trip down memory lane and relive the magic of these cinematic masterpieces.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood, this visually stunning masterpiece explores the mysteries of the universe and the future of humanity.
Fun Fact: Stanley Kubrick won an Oscar for Best Special Visual Effects – his only individual Academy Award.
Author Notes : This isn't a film that spoon-feeds its audience with clear answers or easy explanations. Instead, it challenges you to engage with it on multiple levels. Overall, "2001: A Space Odyssey" is a thought-provoking and visually stunning work of science fiction for 1968.
The Graduate (1967)
Directed by Mike Nichols and starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, and Katharine Ross, this coming-of-age story follows a recent college graduate who struggles to find his place in the world and falls in love with an older woman.
Fun Fact: Anne Bancroft said that for many years after doing the movie, men would tell her that she's the first woman they had sexual fantasies about.
Author Notes: "The Graduate" is more than just a successful film - it captured the zeitgeist of a generation. Its themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the search for meaning resonated with young people that question the values of mainstream society. In many ways, "The Graduate" was a harbinger of the cultural revolution that hadn't happened yet.
Psycho (1960)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh, this classic horror film tells the story of a young woman who becomes the victim of a psychotic killer at a remote motel.
Fun Fact: Psycho is the first American film to show a toilet on screen. It's also the first American film in which we hear a toilet being flushed.
Author Notes: Overall, "Psycho" set the standard for generations of horror and suspense filmmakers to come. Hitchcock really mastered suspense in this film leaving you the viewer shaken and spellbound. Brilliant!
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Directed by Robert Mulligan and starring Gregory Peck, this powerful drama is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a lawyer defending a black man in a racially charged small Southern town.
Fun Fact: To Kill A Mockingbird is Clark Kent's favourite movie in the Superman comics.
Author Notes: Pecks portrayal of Atticus Finch captured deep sense of empathy and compassion, and his performance serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of overwhelming opposition.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Directed by David Lean and starring Peter O'Toole, this epic biographical film follows the life of T.E. Lawrence, a British army officer who played a key role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
Fun Fact: Although many of us picture Peter O’Toole when we think of Lawrence of Arabia, the real man behind the story was, in fact, Thomas Edward Lawrence. He was born in 1888 and died in 1935.
Author Notes: One my favourite scenes is when Lawrence leads his army of Arab rebels in a daring attack on the Ottoman-held port city of Aqaba. It's a thrilling moment of triumph for Lawrence and his allies.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, this beloved musical tells the story of a young governess who becomes the caregiver for the seven children of a widowed naval captain in Austria.
The Sound of Music won five Oscars in 1965, including Best Picture.
Fun Fact: The real-life von Trapp family, whom the story is based, actually made a cameo in the movie. During the song "I Have Confidence", the family can be seen walking past Julie Andrews while she sings in the park. This brief appearance was the only time the real von Trapp family members appeared in the film.
Author Notes: For myself the most memorable and iconic scene from the movie is the opening scene, where Julie Andrews sings the title song "The Sound of Music" while twirling and dancing on a hilltop in the Austrian Alps. The scene is visually stunning, with breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains and green meadows.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach, this classic spaghetti western follows three gunslingers as they compete to find buried treasure during the American Civil War.
Fun Fact: The first 10 and a half minutes of the movie doesn’t have a single line of dialogue.
Author Notes: The final showdown between the three main characters in the cemetery brings a fitting end, As the trio circle each other, waiting for someone to make the first move, The tension builds to a crescendo until finally, with a burst of violence, the standoff is resolved.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Directed by Arthur Penn and starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, this crime drama tells the story of a young couple who embark on a bank-robbing spree across the American Southwest during the 1930s.
Fun Fact: Thinking the film wouldn't make any money, Warner Bros. offered Beatty a ridiculous deal: $200,000 salary, plus 40 percent of the gross. which made Beatty extremely rich when it grossed $50 million adjusted for inflation that's $430 million in 2023
Author Notes: The movie's climactic scene, which features Bonnie and Clyde being ambushed by law enforcement is brutal and graphic, with slow-motion shots of the bullets tearing through the couple's bodies is Fantastic and fitting.
The Wild Bunch (1969)
Directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring William Holden and Ernest Borgnine, this violent western is about a group of aging outlaws who plan one last heist before retiring from a life of crime.
Fun Fact: Director Peckinpah was a serious heavy drinker and enjoyed giving the cast a really hard time abut in a fun loving manner earnings him respect.
Author Notes: Children's massacre scene: is one of the film's most shocking moments, a group of children unwittingly trigger a trap set by a corrupt Mexican general, which results in their massacre by machine gun fire. The scene is disturbing and haunting, and it underscores the film's themes of violence and moral ambiguity.
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Directed by John Schlesinger and starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman, this gritty drama is about a naive Texan who moves to New York City and becomes a male prostitute, forming an unlikely friendship with a con artist.
Fun Facts: Jon Voight was cast only after the original actor Michael Sarrazin was fired.
Author Notes: Hoffman's performance in "Midnight Cowboy" earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. It's not hard to understand why after his many performances during the 60's.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Directed by George Roy Hill and starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, this western comedy follows two notorious outlaws who flee to South America after a string of robberies.
Fun Facts: Newman did his own bicycling stunts—because the stuntman couldn’t.
Author Notes: The standout performance in the movie is undoubtedly given by Paul Newman, who delivers a charismatic and unforgettable portrayal of Butch Cassidy. The performance is both charming and roguish, as he masterfully captures the character's wit, humor, and bravado.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Peter Sellers, this satirical black comedy is about a nuclear crisis that unfolds between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Fun Fact: Dr. Strangelove doesn't exist in the original book.
Author Notes: Sellers' performance in "Dr. Strangelove" is a significant reason why the film remains a classic today, as it captures the absurdity and danger of the Cold War era with biting satire and dark humor.
Easy Rider (1969)
Directed by Dennis Hopper and starring Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson, this countercultural road movie is about two hippies who travel across the United States on motorcycles, encountering various social and political issues along the way.
Fun Fact: Fonda tried to get Hopper fired before the movie was even written as none of the actor actually liked each other.
Author Notes: Nicholson's portrayal of George Hanson is a significant reason why "Easy Rider" remains a classic today. His performance captures the sense of freedom, rebellion, and disillusionment that defined the counterculture movement of the 1960s.
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
Directed by Richard Lester and starring the Beatles, this musical comedy follows the band as they navigate fame and perform their hit songs in London.
Fun Fact: A teenage Phil Collins appears in the audience during a scene set to “You Can’t Do That,” but it was cut from the film.
Author Notes: The film features some iconic musical performances, including the title track "A Hard Day's Night" and "Can't Buy Me Love." The Beatles' performances in the movie helped solidify their status as the biggest band in the world.
The Birds (1963)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Tippi Hedren and Rod Taylor, this horror-thriller depicts a series of unexplained and violent bird attacks in a small California town.
Fun Fact: At the UK premiere in London, there were six penguins, two flamingos, and fifty red cardinals and starlings in attendance.
Author Notes: Hedren's performance is particularly impressive given that "The Birds" was her first major film role. She expertly conveys Daniels' transformation from a spoiled socialite to a determined survivor, as she becomes more and more involved in the mysterious bird attacks.
The Hustler (1961)
Directed by Robert Rossen and starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, this sports drama is about a talented pool player who seeks to challenge the reigning champion while dealing with personal demons and a manipulative mentor.
Fun Fact: Paul Newman Played most of his own shot throughout the movie which was impressive considering he had never played pool beforehand.
Author Notes: Newman's portrayal of "Fast Eddie" Felson is a tour de force, as he expertly conveys the character's arrogance, vulnerability, and desperation.
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Directed by Norman Jewison and starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, this crime drama is about a black detective who is falsely accused of murder and teams up with a white sheriff to solve the crime in a racially divided Mississippi town.
Fun Fact: Rod Steiger was asked to chew gum when playing the role of Gillespie and subsequently went through 263 packs of gum during the shooting of the film.
Author Notes: Poitier's performance is a masterclass in acting, as he expertly conveys Tibbs' intelligence, dignity, and strength. His scenes with Rod Steiger, who plays the town's sheriff, are particularly memorable, as the two actors play off each other with incredible chemistry.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey, this political thriller depicts a former prisoner of war who is brainwashed by communist forces to become a sleeper agent and carry out a political assassination in the United States.
Fun Fact: Sinatra Broke his wrist while filming which consequently ruled him out of playing Dirty Harry which paved the way for Clint Eastwood to feature.
Author Notes: For Myself the standout performance in the movie is undoubtedly given by Angela Lansbury, Her portrayal of Mrs. Iselin is a significant reason why "The Manchurian Candidate" is considered one of the greatest political thrillers of all time.
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg and starring Paul Newman and George Kennedy, this prison drama is about a rebellious inmate who refuses to conform to authority and inspires his fellow prisoners to resist the system.
Fun Fact: Newman Had to learn the banjo from scratch as The director felt that Cool Hand Luke’s character would benefit from playing a somber song.
Author Notes: Truly outstanding performance by Newman, Furthermore the short speech by Captain played by Strother Martin is one of the best movie line ever.
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Charlton Heston, this science fiction film is about a group of astronauts who crash-land on a strange planet where intelligent apes have become the dominant species and humans are treated as slaves.
Fun Facts: The makeup process required more than 100 skilled makeup artists.
Author Notes: "Planet of the Apes" had a significant cultural impact, influencing the science fiction genre and popularizing the concept of a dystopian future. Heston's performance captures Taylor's shock, anger, and frustration at the situation he finds himself in, and he is able to convey a deep sense of determination and defiance in the face of the apes' cruelty and oppression.
We hope you enjoyed our list of the top 20 movies of the 1960s, featuring timeless classics that have left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. These films continue to inspire and entertain audiences around the world, proving that great storytelling and compelling performances never go out of style. Stay tuned for our next list, where we will take a look back at the most iconic movies of the 1970s, a decade that brought us some of the most groundbreaking films in history. Thank you for joining us on this journey through cinema history.
Up next: Top 20 Movies of the 1970s | Relive the Most Revolutionary Films of the Decade.