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- It is always hard to predict how a movie will be received when it is released. But then there are movies that are so good and speak to something so timeless that it becomes clear they will be remembered for years to come. There are movies from 20 years ago that fans now look at as classics, and likewise, Redditors predict these modern movies will stand the test of time.
It's impossible to know what movie will be considered a classic 20 years from now. Films that were hugely successful at the box office can easily slip out of people's consciousness, and films that bombed can find huge audiences when they hit streaming services. There have been many examples of both over the decades.
But Redditors still have their own opinions about which ones could be held in such high regard and be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of The Godfather and Citizen Kane. Between groundbreaking action movies, profound period dramas, and the most stressful crime thriller ever, these movies could reach "classic" status.
Updated on August 25, 2022 by Colin McCormick:
It is always hard to predict how a movie will be received when it is released. But then there are movies that are so good and speak to something so timeless that it becomes clear they will be remembered for years to come. There are movies from 20 years ago that fans now look at as classics, and likewise, Redditors predict these modern movies will stand the test of time.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
- Available on HBO Max and Netflix
Denis Villeneuve further helped to cement his reputation as one of the most visually impressive filmmakers around with Blade Runner 2049, The legacy sequel stars Ryan Gosling as a replicant Blade Runner who looks into his own mysterious origins, leading him to seek out Rick Deckard.
Interestingly, the movie seems to have followed the first movie in failing at the box office only for its reputation to gradually grow from there. Redditor Akephalos- goes so far as to say it is, "Arguably better than the original, which is staggering."
Nightcrawler (2014)
- Available on Netflix and Roku
Though Jake Gyllenhaal has played villainous characters many times before, perhaps none of them were as unsettling as his role as Lou Bloom in Nightcrawler. Lou is an ambitious yet dangerous man who attempts to make a name for himself as a freelance video journalist.
The movie has become seen as a complex look at a deeply disturbed protagonist, similar to iconic movies like Taxi Driver. Redditor Icetp20 admits that "Gyllenhaal’s performance and the overall tension of the film make it something of a classic for me."
John Wick (2014)
- Available to rent on Apple TV
Initially, there was not a lot of attention surrounding the action movie John Wick. But it has grown into one of the most popular franchises around. Keanu Reeves stars as the titular hitman who returns to his former life to take revenge on the man who killed his dog.
With two sequels and a third on the way, the impact of John Wick is quite evident, but there are some who feel it will truly stand out in its genre in years to come. Redditor Predanther12 feels they can "see this movie 20 years down the road being seen as THE classic action movie."
Drive (2011)
- Available to rent on Apple TV
Though many people assumed Drive would be a typical fast-paced action-crime story with lots of car chases, it ended up being something much more unique. Ryan Gosling stars as the nameless stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver, eventually being pulled into a dangerous scheme.
From the music to the style to the violence, Drive stunned audiences and seems to gain more fans with each new year. Redditor robknob85 points out that it reminded me of the no-bullsh*t crime flicks of the 70s."
Annihilation (2018)
- Available on Paramount+ and Hoopla
After making his acclaimed directorial debut with Ex Machina, Alex Garland followed it up with a more challenging sci-fi movie. Annihilation stars Natalie Portman as a scientist who joins a team to investigate a mysterious extraterrestrial sphere into which her husband recently disappeared.
Though the movie wasn't a box office success, its ideas have stuck around long after other blockbusters have come and gone. Redditor jedipaul9 claims the movie is "the stuff cult followers will discuss for years to come."
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
- Available on HBO Max
Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the most entertaining movies released in the past decade, and Redditors think it deserves to be called a classic. OuterInnerMonologue mentions that "it’s on my annual rewatch list." Fury Road is a fascinating movie because, even though it's the fourth movie in a series, the previous films don't have to be watched in order to understand this one. And, if anything, it's more Furiosa's story than it is Max's.
It is one of the rare movies that was able to successfully reinvent its franchise, making Mad Max more popular than ever. And while the Furiosa prequel will have a hard time living up to its legacy, fans are excited to return to this world.
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
- Available to rent on Apple TV
The Place Beyond the Pines is almost like three shorter anthology stories strung together that all connect at the very end. The movie is brilliantly written, as it's a truly melodramatic, soap-opera-esque crime drama, and that makes it so singular in the genre.
Even though most think the film falls apart in its third act, Pristine_Influence65 posits that they "seriously don't understand how this film doesn't get more recognition." It's hard to figure out why Pines wasn't a huge success at the box office, as it was positively reviewed and has starring roles from bankable actors Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper.
Prisoners (2014)
- Available on Hulu
Director Denis Villeneuve has become known for his sci-fi epics such as Blade Runner 2049 and Dune, both of which will undoubtedly be considered classics in 20 years' time. But while the sci-fi-obsessed director is fully invested in the Dune universe right now, he does have a filmography that's full of crime thrillers too.
ColdCruise points to 2014's Prisoners as Villeneuve's best and one that will be looked at as a classic just like his sci-fi movies. The Redditor posits that "as Villeneuve's star rises, more people will go back and retroactively praise this film for its excellent plot and wonderful performances..."
Phantom Thread (2017)
- Available on Netflix
Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson has hopped between genres throughout his career, whether it's an LA noir, a period thriller, or a drama about a Scientology-like cult. But despite having such vastly different premises, they're all thematically very similar. All of Anderson's movies follow powerful elder statesmen who have women influencing their very actions from the sidelines, and Phantom Thread is the very best example of that.
Phantom Thread might be the ultimate PTA-directed movie, as it follows a 1950s dressmaker's (literally) toxic relationship with his muse, who often poisons him just so she can take care of him. Yearsreeling thinks it'll be considered a classic because it's "a legendary final performance from Daniel Day-Lewis."
Licorice Pizza (2021)
- Available on Prime Video, Epix and DIRECTV
Licorice Pizza is another PTA-directed movie. And just like the rest of them, the '70s-based coming-of-age movie is more of a character study full of inner conflicts than it is narratively driven. However, the film has more setpieces than any of the director's other movies. The thrilling scene where Alana steers the truck backward down a hill is the closest fans will ever get to an action sequence from Anderson, which is why it stands out in his filmography.
Bretmeraki notes that "honestly, Licorice Pizza was phenomenal. I could see that movie having some major staying power." It'll also be remembered for the fact that it's the debut of two very talented newcomers, Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)
- Available on Fubo TV and DIRECTV
Few writer-directors have more instant classics than Quentin Tarantino. Between the ultra-violent Reservoir Dogs, the trend-setting Pulp Fiction, and the revisionist historical epic Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino's movies will be studied in film school for decades. And Mr_Monty_Burns thinks his most recent movie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is another classic.
The Redditor claims that they've "already heard many people talk about how much better it gets with subsequent viewings, and it's only been a couple of years." It's one of the most rewatchable movies in years, as it follows charismatic BFFs Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth who simply go about their daily lives. And it's one of the most exciting love letters to Tinsel Town.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
- Available on Fubo TV, FX Now, DIRECTV and Sling
It's a testament to how beloved of a character Peter Parker is that fans don't feel remotely fatigued by the constant stream of Spider-Man-related material. Between literally three variants of Spider-Man showing up in No Way Home and the extremely successful PlayStation series, Marvel's Spider-Man, there's still room for an animated movie.
The 2018 movie has deliriously dazzling and groundbreaking effects, and it's completely original in the animation landscape. And Stopmakingsents thinks that within 20 years' time, Into The Spider-Verse will reach classic status, "especially if the superhero trend finally begins to wind down and allow it to stand apart from other comic book movies of this era."
Tenet (2021)
Available to rent on Apple TV
It isn't the movie's premise or its mesmerizing action sequences that makes NoHandBananaNo think Tenet will be a classic within 20 years, but because of its release. The Redditor posits that "from a film history perspective, I think people will probably use Tenet to talk about the pandemic's effect on cinemas."
The movie plays with time in a wild way and fans have had to watch it more than once to understand what is going on. But it is hard to deny the spectacle, thrilling ideas, and amazing set pieces that Nolan crafts in this action-packed ride.
Uncut Gems (2019)
- Available on Peacock Premium
Classic movies are generally ones that have uplifting endings, whether it's The Shawshank Redemption or Titanic. However, Kavalkasutajanimi thinks that the intense and exhausting Uncut Gems will be considered a classic in 20 years' time. The Redditor believes that "Uncut Gems is the best American film in the last 12 years."
The story of a gambling addict who jumps from one bad decision to the next as his debts pile up is considered one of the most nerve-wracking movies ever made. Whether it's regarded as a classic in years or not, the movie will definitely be remembered for Adam Sandler's surprisingly great dramatic performance.
Silence (2016)
- Available on Prime Video, Paramount+, Epix and DIRECTV
Director Martin Scorsese had an incredible 2010s, as he released two landmark movies, The Wolf of Wall Street and The Irishman. But in between those two huge films, the filmmaker directed a more modest movie about Jesuit priests. Maaseru explains that Silence "has really gone unnoticed, but I feel it is among Scorsese's best modern work."
While Silence never found a huge audience, many movies are considered classics today that were bombs at the box office when they were first released. The Shawshank Redemption and Fight Club are just two examples of that. And the 2016 movie still has plenty of time to find a much bigger viewership.