Out of all fields of learning, film students arguably have the most fun way (and cheapest, too) to educate themselves: by watching more movies. But it’s not that simple. While there’s something to learn from every film, some have the power of transforming your creative perspective. In fact, watching old movies is practically essential when it comes to studying film. Let’s take a look at the top 10 must-watch movies every film student should study in no particular order.
List of must-watch movies every film student should study
1) The Godfather (1972), dir: Francis Ford Coppola
Any list of must-watch movies every film student should study has to start with The Godfather. Adapted from Mario Puzo’s novel, the film has cemented itself as the greatest of all time among proponents of cinema. Everything about this movie deserves to be studied: the performances by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, the dark cinematography, the iconic background score and more.
THE GODFATHER is a Perfect Movie pic.twitter.com/hat6X6knKd
— Cinema Connoisseur (@MovieEndorser) September 21, 2023
Most movie adaptations from books, anime, or video games often fail to live up to their source material these days. On the contrary, Coppola demonstrated how to make a movie that outdoes all expectations. Interestingly, even after writing the script for The Godfather, Mario Puzo wanted to learn screenwriting. He bought a book and the first chapter said, “Study Godfather I.”
2) Citizen Kane (1941): dir: Orson Welles
Before The Godfather, there was Citizen Kane. It still remains one of the greatest films of all time and the film that changed Hollywood for the better. Citizen Kane is a bible on how to write a biographical film for a character that is not even real. For this reason, it’s an invaluable addition to this list of must-watch movies every film student should study.
The most surprising fact about the movie is it was the director’s first ever feature film. Apart from writing, directing and producing it, Orson Welles plays the titular character of Charles Foster Kane. Despite being a critical success, the movie did not earn much at the box office at the time of its release. Regardless, its legacy and longevity remain unparalleled.
3) Rashomon (1950), dir: Akira Kurosawa
Imagine making a movie that redefines traditional storytelling and narrative structure to such an extent that a film theory concept is named after it. Yes, the case in point is the Rashomon effect named after this iconic Japanese film. Therefore, it’s a no-brainer that Rashomon is among the top 10 must-watch movies every film student should study.
Rashomon is essentially a series of different accounts of the same story told by different people. With each new story, more dots get connected and presumptions get shattered. The film also stars some iconic actors often seen in other Kurosawa movies. This includes Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, and Minoru Chiaki.
4) Psycho (1960), dir: Alfred Hitchcock
While horror movies and thrillers had been around in the mainstream even before the 60s, Alfred Hitchcock revolutionized them. Psycho practically rewrote the rules of horror and became a groundbreaking achievement in cinema. The film has inspired countless other movies till date which revolve around a mysterious slasher with a twisted psyche.
Film students should study Psycho to understand how to create a tense atmosphere on screen. At the time of its release, the film changed the accepted levels of violence and sexuality in American films. It’s also a great gateway film for other Hitchcock classics like Vertigo, Rear Window and Dial M for Murder.
5) The 400 Blows (1959), dir: François Truffaut
It’s practically impossible to be a film student and not have heard of the French New Wave movement. Well, here’s the film that started it all. Originally called Les quatre cents coups in French, The 400 Blows is the most influential coming-of-age film ever made.
The 400 Blows #infourshots pic.twitter.com/0dZ9r3Wmhg
— In Four Shots (@InFourShots) September 27, 2023
In fact, Truffaut went on to make four more films over the years with the semi-autobiographical main character Antoine Doinel (played by Jean-Pierre Léaud). Just like Welles and Citizen Kane, The 400 Blows is Truffaut’s debut feature film. Prior to it, the director was banned from the Cannes film festival. On his return, he won the Best Director award for this film.
6) 12 Angry Men (1957), dir: Sidney Lumet
Courtroom dramas form their own unique subgenre and 12 Angry Men is the film that established it. The movie is almost entirely set inside a single room with a dozen members of a jury deliberating upon a verdict. The jurors’ final decision has to be unanimous as a convicted teenager’s life hangs in the balance.
The film is a masterclass on how to write compelling dialogue and create suspense. In fact, until the end, the jurors’ names are not revealed and it would still have us invested. For this reason and more, 12 Angry Men deserves to be on any list of must-watch movies every film student should study.
7) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), dir: Stanley Kubrick
How can any great movie list possibly exclude a film by Stanley Kubrick? Visionary filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson and Richard Linklater are often quoted saying that they went to ‘the Stanley Kubrick film school,’ which reflects his influence on world cinema. It’s hard to pick just one movie from his iconic filmography. So, let’s just go with his magnum opus.
"The most important parts of a film are the mysterious parts – beyond the reach of reason and language."
— Stanley Kubrick
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Director: Stanley Kubrick pic.twitter.com/kLcrtc6Lny— DepressedBergman (@DannyDrinksWine) September 19, 2023
While most films on this list of must-watch movies every film student must study established filmmaking conventions, 2001: A Space Odyssey is the ultimate rule-breaker. With near-perfect predictions about space travel and artificial intelligence, the film remains more relevant than ever. Even Barbie’s opening scene was a homage to this masterpiece.
8) Taxi Driver (1976), dir: Martin Scorsese
No film studies list can be complete without including a film from the greatest living movie director of our time. Taxi Driver stands tall in Scorsese’s filmography mainly thanks to the way it explores ‘God’s lonely man,’ Travis Bickle (played by the legendary Robert de Niro). In fact, Quentin Tarantino calls it the greatest first-person character study ever committed to film.
The film won the Palme d’Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival and put Martin Scorsese on the global map of cinema. Taxi Driver’s success also needs to be studied because the film was a major crowd puller despite its graphic depiction of violence and mature themes like child prostitution.
9) Pather Panchali (1955), dir: Satyajit Ray
Before Truffaut started making the Antoine Doinel series of films, Satyajit Ray had made the Apu trilogy in the East. The first film Pather Panchali was a landmark film that inspired many directors around the world including Scorsese and Coppola. Akira Kurosawa once said, “Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon.”
Pather Panchali is the perfect looking glass for a glimpse at what pre-Independence India used to be like. The film captures the true essence of growing up in a harsh village backdrop and poverty. It’s no wonder that Pather Panchali is a must-watch movie every film student should study.
10) Reservoir Dogs (1992), dir: Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino famously quoted that he never went to film school, only films. While Pulp Fiction might be more popular, Reservoir Dogs is a testament to his mind-blowing style even in his first-ever film. The movie redefined the idea of non-linear storytelling and mixed dark humor with blood-riddled action sequences.
Reservoir Dogs (1992) pic.twitter.com/wBZd92pPuV
— Emir Han (@RealEmirHan) September 15, 2023
The director made this film on his own money, which he earned from selling his script for True Romance. Reservoir Dogs became a cult classic, not just among cinephiles, but also aspiring filmmakers waiting for their big break in the industry.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s end this list with an iconic Scorsese quote to get you started on your film education: “Study the old masters. Enrich your palette. Expand the canvas.”
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