Short TV shows with consistently great episodes from start to end are perfect for binge-watching with their with compelling and thrilling plots. No LGBTQ+ movie in recent times has garnered as much critical and commercial attention as Jane Campion’s Power Of The Dog. For a long time, Netflix had coveted a film that had ‘Oscar contender’ written all over it, and with Power Of The Dog, the streaming giant had just that. French director Celine Sciamma’s filmography is bursting at the seams with classic stories and 2019’s Portrait Of A Lady On Fire is up there with her very best work. Before Jane Campion brought period LGBTQ+ cinema into the mainstream with Power Of The Dog, Sciamma’s dazzling film was a nuanced hit with critics. Along with Barry Jenkins’s Moonlight and Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain, Todd Haynes’ 2015 film, Carol, starring Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett, launched LGBTQ+ cinema out of the underground and into the bright lights of the mainstream.
The concept of “dream-sharing” introduced sophisticated ideas about consciousness that inspired discussions about philosophy and psychology while influencing a wave of sci-fi films focused on similar themes. Although sex work is technically illegal (albeit somewhat decriminalized) in New York City, she seems to have a somewhat normal job—until one night, when she gets close to Vanya, a new client. The story progresses like “Cinderella,” except the prince is the mediocre son of a Russian oligarch. But when Vanya’s parents find out about the marriage, the love story is over. Of all the sex workers depicted in films, the titular protagonist of Anora—a movie that deserves at least three of its five Oscars—might be one of the few who actually feels like a worker.
There’s a great biopic about Alcott yet to be made, but, in the meantime, this 2019 adaptation of her most influential work pays tribute to the writer in smart ways. These five films represent just a fraction of Christopher Nolan’s contributions to cinema but illustrate how he has continually pushed boundaries while engaging audiences at emotional levels as well as intellectual ones. His commitment to innovative storytelling is unmatched; each project challenges conventions within filmmaking making him one-of-a-kind filmmaker whose work will be studied for generations.
Avatar (2009) Time will tell how truly game changing Avatar will be remembered, but it’s easy to see it’s immediate impact. 3D cinema is seemingly here to stay and Avatar made it cool to wear the glasses. The power of cult classics lies not only in their ability to entertain but also in their capacity to foster community among viewers who share a passion for unconventional storytelling. This sense of community and shared passion has contributed to the lasting impact of cult classics, allowing them to continue inspiring and influencing new generations of filmmakers and fans. Critics argue that an overreliance on sequels and franchises can stifle creativity and lead to formulaic storytelling. Nevertheless, blockbusters remain a dominant force in the industry, shaping audience expectations and influencing trends in filmmaking.
“I could think back to my first time being in a movie theater watching ‘Jaws’ at 11 years old. And I remember like it was yesterday – popcorn went this way, and the top 10 movies soda went this way, and the audience screamed. And that’s a very unique and different experience.” Set in matriarchal Barbieland, the film finds Margot Robbie’s Barbie doll escaping into the real world to discover both her own worth as an icon and the limitations placed on her that she’s never understood. After a couple of cameos, Ruth shows up in the final act to put a button on her creation’s journey, both in the movie and in the real world. A full-length biopic about the creation of Mattel (and Handler’s IRS issues) could doubtless be fascinating, but couldn’t possibly do a better job of relaying her cultural impact.
Movies That Changed Hollywood Forever
The first film stinger, however, came from the original Ocean’s 11, which showed Sinatra, Davis, and the rest of the crew sauntering down a street in Las Vegas. Compared to the modern-day “stingers” that seek to surprise to viewers, this was pretty mild, but without Ol’ Blue Eyes roaming down the boulevard, we might have never seen Samuel L. Jackson telling Robert Downey Jr. about The Avengers Initiative. It gave us hobbits, and elves and dwarfs, and it taught us that they are not at all the same thing. You might think that the sequel is a modern innovation, but you would be wrong.The first known sequel, The Fall of a Nation, was produced and directed by Thomas Dixon Jr. in 1916. Released only one year after DW Griffith’s epic, The Birth of a Nation, and less than 10 years since the release of the first full-length feature film.
Being the visionary that he was, Stewart had his salary tied to the gross of the film. Sure, we owe all our modern blockbusters – from Avengers to Transformers – to Jaws, but in reality most blockbusters are pale imitations of the pacing and character work that made Jaws such a force to be reckoned with. Though Jaws will always be the movie that legitimately kept people out of the water, its greater legacy will be that it spawned a new type of movie, and has left Hollywood trying to catch up ever since.
Dunkirk showcased Nolan’s masterful use of sound design and editing techniques to create an immersive war experience unlike any other seen before in cinema history. By telling three interwoven stories across land, sea, and air during World War II from different perspectives—each playing out over varying lengths of time—Nolan crafted tension like never before experienced by viewers during war films. This approach shifted how war stories were told on screen emphasizing realism over traditional heroism. Nudity has been a part of cinema since its inception, but for a long time, filmmakers had to wrestle with restrictive morality-based policies such as the Hays Code. In the 1960s, however, movies were beginning to challenge those restrictions on sex and nudity.
movies that changed cinema
Like a spider laying hundreds of eggs, Hollywood caught the superhero bug and started hatching everything it could as fast as audiences could handle. In the years that followed Spider-Man many films went bust – Daredevil, The Hulk, Cat-Woman – but even more caught on and turned into franchises that live on to this day. When work on the trilogy began, director Peter Jackson undertook one of the most ambitious film shoots of all time, with work on the series spanning eight years and all three movies filmed simultaneously.
The Power Of The Dog
Since Harry Potter, all sorts of franchises have cottoned on to the idea of squeezing one more payday from a movie franchise. Whether you think it’s a good idea probably depends on which end of the cash cow you’re on. When the film was presented at The Sundance Festival, the actors were all listed as either Missing or Deceased. IMAX had been experimenting with 3D film-techniques since the mid-1980s, and a few movies and documentaries had played with the medium. Disney, too, dabbled in 3D, but none of the movies that were produced were notable in any way.
The introduction of synchronized sound in the late 1920s transformed the industry, giving birth to the “talkies” and allowing filmmakers to explore new dimensions of storytelling. The journey of cinema is a fascinating tale that spans over a century, marked by innovation, creativity, and cultural shifts. From its humble beginnings in the late 19th century, when moving pictures were a novelty, to the sophisticated storytelling and visual effects of today, the evolution of cinema reflects broader societal changes and technological advancements.
The Golden Age of Hollywood emerged in the 1930s and 1940s, producing iconic films that have become cultural touchstones. This era not only showcased the artistry of filmmaking but also highlighted the power of cinema as a medium for social commentary and reflection. The evolution of cinema is not merely a timeline of technological advancements; it is a rich tapestry woven with the threads of human experience, creativity, and cultural expression. While it wasn’t the first Western, “The Great Train Robbery” encapsulated the innovations made in the earliest days of narrative filmmaking. Ironically, Edwin S. Porter directed this ode to the Old West in New York and New Jersey.
It’s an impossible assignment to declare the ten most important movies ever made. Any attempt will be limited by such a short scale, and inevitably neglect manifold movies that have changed cinema as any on this list. Winchester ’73 (1950) You’re probably wondering why an obscure Western is so high on this list. In 1950, James Stewart (one of the biggest stars in the world) realized that he could make more money if he broke his studio contract and made the unheard of move to become an independent. Universal immediately jumped on the chance of having the star in their new film but couldn’t afford his asking price.