Favorite film from each decade (2022 list)

[zen007]

Since this is a favorite film topic, anything goes including the greatest, the best, the weird & the guilty pleasures. Note a few rules below:

• You should have watched the films in the last 2-3 years (to keep the list relatively current).
• For a decade you list your favorite film, you should have watched at least 5 films from that decade. For e.g., I do not recall watching 5 films from the 1910s in the last 2-3 years, so would not list anything from that decade. The 2020s would be an exception since it is the current decade.
• Avoid repeating directors and film series, therefore, if you list a Kubrick film in one decade, don't list another Kubrick film for any other decade. Similarly, if you list a Mission Impossible for one decade, avoid listing another Mission Impossible film in another decade.

Of course, such lists are live documents so subject to change! ... What is your list?


From the top of my mind recall, the list of my favorite film from each decade (excluding 007 and Hitchcock films, which deserve their own threads for their large body of work & thus choices):

• 1920s: Metropolis (1927) - Set the visual grammar for Sci-Fi films. Captures German expressionism and a Gothic environment well.
• 1930s: Pepe le Moko (1937) - An example of poetic realism, and a film noir film before film noir films were termed as film noir.
• 1940s: Black Narcissus (1947) - A story of challenges faced by a group of nuns at a remote location in the Himalayas. Excellent cinematography and atmosphere in the film.
• 1950s: Seven Samurai (1954) - A timeless classic. Impressive every time.
• 1960s: Lawrence of Arabia (1962) - Technically, a brilliant film.
• 1970s: Godfather 1 (1972) & 2 (1974) - 70s is probably Francis Ford Coppola's decade. Listed both parts as I look at them as one long film split into two parts. Could have listed Apoclaypse Now (1979) too.
• 1980s: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - A trend-setting action-adventure film.
• 1990s: The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - Dr. Hannibal Lecter is an iconic character.
• 2000s: In the Mood for Love (2000) - A love story par excellence. Technically mesmerizing too.
• 2010s: Inception (2010) - A different concept where information can be stolen or planted in dreams.
• 2020s (so far): Dune (2021) - A modern masterpiece.

[Mister_Kidd]

20s - not really qualified to answer this one
30s - Frankenstein
40s - The Third Man
50s - Nights of Cabiria
60s - Once Upon a Time in the West
70s - Dawn of the Dead
80s - Big Trouble in Little China
90s - Pulp Fiction
00s - Mulholland Drive
10s - Grand Budapest Hotel
20s - Dune

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Mister_Kidd

20s - not really qualified to answer this one
30s - Frankenstein
40s - The Third Man
50s - Nights of Cabiria
60s - Once Upon a Time in the West
70s - Dawn of the Dead
80s - Big Trouble in Little China
90s - Pulp Fiction
00s - Mulholland Drive
10s - Grand Budapest Hotel
20s - Dune

Good to see films such as The Third Man, Nights of Cabiria, & the Grand Budapest Hotel!

[-JKR-]

Such a list is impossible for me to do. I'd lose my mind trying to single out only one movie per decade.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by -JKR-

Such a list is impossible for me to do. I'd lose my mind trying to single out only one movie per decade.

You could start with listing those that are at the top of the mind recall (and then fine tune the list if required).

[-JKR-]

Originally Posted by zen007

You could start with listing those that are at the top of the mind recall (and then fine tune the list if required).

It's just too much emotional turmoil for me.

[Beckford]

Films I'm Fondest of:

1910's: TIGRE REALE(Italy-Pastrone)
1920's: IT(USA-Badger)
1930's: tie:
OVER THE MOON(UK-Freeland)
GOLD-DIGGERS OF 1935(USA-Berkeley)
1940's: THE WICKED LADY(UK-Arliss)
1950's: GUN CRAZY(USA-Lewis)
1960's: tie:
THE MISFITS(USA-Huston)
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY(USA/UK-Kubrick)
1970's: THE BOY FRIEND(UK-Russell)
1980's: MY FAVORITE YEAR(USA-Benjamin)
1990's: STARGATE(USA-Emmerich
2000's: JCVD(Belgium-El Mechri)
2010's: THE FLORIDA PROJECT(USA-Baker)
2020's (so far): PINOCCHIO(Italy-Garrone)

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Beckford

Films I'm Fondest of:

1910's: TIGRE REALE(Italy-Pastrone)

First list w/ 1910s

[Kill Bren]

10s - L'Inferno
20s - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
30s - M
40s - The Third Man
50s - Seven Samurai
60s - The Good, The Bad and The Uly
70s - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
80s - Blade Runner
90s - Jurassic Park
00s - No Country for Old Men
10s - The Lighthouse
20s - Dune (Part I)

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Kill Bren

10s - L'Inferno
20s - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Originally Posted by UltraMario9

20s: Sunrise

Originally Posted by traths

1920's: Gold Rush

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

1920s: Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari

Originally Posted by Bugg

20's The Goldrush

Someone, please list Nosferatu

[spider-neil]

20s - Pass
30s - King Kong
40s - Casablanca
50s - The Bridge on the River Kwai
60s - Lawrence of Arabia
70s - Alien
80s - Aliens
90s - The Matrix
00s - The Dark Knight
10s - Ex Machina
20s - The Batman

[zen007]

Originally Posted by spider-neil

20s - Pass
30s - Pass
40s - Casablanca
50s - The Bridge on the River Kwai
60s - Lawrence of Arabia
70s - Alien
80s - Aliens
90s - The Matrix
00s - The Dark Knight
10s - Ex Machina
20s - The Batman

Nice list but repeated the director for 50s & 60s (Lean) ... Alien & Aliens are from the same series but the tone is different, similarly The Dark Knight & The Batsman, so both ok for the list

[UltraMario9]

20s: Sunrise
30s: City Lights
40s: The Red Shoes
50s: Rear Window
60s: Army of Shadows
70s: The Tenant
80s: Once Upon A Time in America
90s: Barton Fink
00s: Children of Men
10s: The Master
20s: The Worst Person in the World

[traths]

1920's: Gold Rush
1930's: Bringing Up Baby
1940's: Casablanca
1950's: Rear Window
1960's: Psycho
1970's: The Godfather
1980's: Platoon
1990's: Goodfellas
2000's: No Country For Old Men
2010's: Parasite
2020's: Promising Young Woman (so far)

[BladeRunner2007]

1920s: Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari
1930s: The Bride of Frankenstein
1940s: The Big Sleep
1950s: North by Northwest
1960s: Once Upon a Time in the West
1970s: Dawn of the Dead
1980s: Blade Runner
1990s: Army of Darkness
2000s: Kill Bill
2010s: Interstellar
2020s: Zack Snyder's Justice League

[steel_breeze]

Fun topic; way too stressful for me to participate since I could never choose between The Graduate and 2001:A Space Odyssey for the 60's or Close Encounters and Apocalypse Now for the 70's, to name a few impossible "Sophie's Choices"... but still an incredibly fun thread to follow.

I'm just happy that I've seen (and enjoyed!) every film on everyone's list so far, except:
1. Pepe le Moko -- just added to my Criterion Channel queue
2. Tigre Reale -- I'll need to track this down!
and
3. Worst Person In The World -- which I've heard is great and can't wait to see!

[Beckford]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

2. Tigre Reale -- I'll need to track this down!

It's on YouTube. A fantastic example of Italy's mid-teens craze for films built around the swooning emotional displays of hold nothing back divas.
"Tigre Reale" 's star, Pina Menichelli, is uniquely mesmerizing.

Lots of intriguing lists. Pleased to see mentions for unusual (but fully deserving) choices like "The Song of Bernadette"(40's), "The Tenant'(70's) and "Paddington 2 (2010's).

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Beckford

It's on YouTube. A fantastic example of Italy's mid-teens craze for films built around the swooning emotional displays of hold nothing back divas.
"Tigre Reale" 's star, Pina Menichelli, is uniquely mesmerizing.

Awesome; thanks! Already bookmarked it for later!

[Bugg]

20's The Goldrush
30's Gone With the Wind
40's The Song of Bernadette
50's Singin’ in the Rain
60's My Fair Lady
70's Manhattan
80's The Accidental Tourist
90's The Piano
00's Almost Famous
10's Victoria
20's Censor

[zen007]

A list exclusive to 007 & Hitchcock films:

• 1930s: The Lady Vanishes (1938) - Train films work for me
• 1940s: Rebecca (1940) - Many of my favorite films are from the 40s. Going with Rebecca because of the chemistry b/w Lawrence Olivier & Joan Fontaine. Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers is among the best villains. Notorious could have been listed too but will be going with a Cary Grant Hitchcock film in the 50s section (it is not North by Northwest but the other one).
• 1950s: To Catch a Thief (1955) - Cary Grant & Grace Kelly. The French Riveria. Can't ask for more but a glass of champagne.
• 1960s: Dr. No (1962) - Any 60s Bond film can be listed but the first one has a relatively high repeat value for me while scoring high on “Bondness” including the Caribbean as the location, a memorable villain & Bond girl, generous use of Bond theme, and so on
• 1970s: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) - A film that pushes the boundaries whether it is the stunt in PTS, the car underwater, or the finale at Atlantis after the battle at Liparus. And Jaws.
• 1980s: The Living Daylights (1987) - Dalton's performance as Bond which is relatively closer to the book. John Barry's score. Also the last big cold war Bond film released during the cold war.
• 1990s: The World Is Not Enough (1999) - Brosnan's best performance. Sopie Marceau as Elektra King. M in the field. A good score & some nice locations around the Caspian Sea. Action sequences could have been better.
• 2000s: Casino Royale (2006) - One of the top Bond films. Craig is impressive on debut.
• 2010s: Skyfall (2012) - Bardem's performance as Silva, cinematography, & also because the other option is SPECTRE
• 2020s (so far): No Time to Die (2021) - The one and only release so far. Like how it uses the poison garden concept from the book "You Only Live Twice". Segments in Matera & the Caribbean are impressive, along with the action sequence in Norway where cars, bikes, and helicopters fly all over the place.