1. Schindler’s List 1993，IMDB Rating: 9.0, IMDB Votes: 1465578, ID: 0108052 Photo by goodfon.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 ‘Schindler’s List’ is a poignant depiction of the Holocaust, masterfully directed by Steven Spielberg. The film’s black-and-white presentation intensifies the stark reality of the Holocaust, while Liam Neeson’s powerful performance as Oskar Schindler adds depth to the narrative. This film is a testament to humanity’s capacity for both evil and redemption.
2. Young Frankenstein 1974，IMDB Rating: 8.0, IMDB Votes: 170440, ID: 0072431 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 ‘Young Frankenstein’ is a delightful parody of classic horror films, brilliantly directed by Mel Brooks. The film’s black-and-white format pays homage to its source material, enhancing its comedic impact. With its witty dialogue and memorable performances, ‘Young Frankenstein’ offers a hilarious take on the Frankenstein mythos.
3. Some Like It Hot 1959，IMDB Rating: 8.2, IMDB Votes: 285757, ID: 0053291 Photo by picryl.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Some Like It Hot is a delightful comedy that explores themes of identity and love in a humorous and engaging manner. The film’s black and white format adds a layer of charm and nostalgia, enhancing the comedic elements. Its witty dialogue and memorable performances make it a classic worth revisiting.
4. Arsenic and Old Lace 1944，IMDB Rating: 7.9, IMDB Votes: 75350, ID: 0036613 Photo by picryl.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Arsenic and Old Lace is a dark comedy that masterfully blends humor with elements of suspense. The film’s black and white cinematography complements its macabre themes, creating a unique viewing experience. Its eccentric characters and unpredictable plot twists make it a standout film in the genre.
5. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 1962，IMDB Rating: 8.0, IMDB Votes: 62674, ID: 0056687 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a delightful, laugh-provoking affair that often explodes into hilarity. It’s a lurid melodrama of hate, revenge, and murder, a high-class horror film, with virtuoso performances from Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The film begins in the days of vaudeville, with Baby Jane Hudson as a child star, and evolves into a story of two sisters sharing a dilapidated mansion.
6. It’s a Wonderful Life 1946，IMDB Rating: 8.6, IMDB Votes: 503011, ID: 0038650 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 It’s a Wonderful Life is a classic American film that improves with age. The film tells the story of George Bailey, a small-town hero whose life changes forever when he falls out of copyright protection and into the public domain. The film is more than a great movie; it is a gathering of all the lessons of the emerging era of sound.
7. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1939，IMDB Rating: 8.1, IMDB Votes: 122246, ID: 0031679 Photo by picryl.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a charming, absorbing drama that combines timeliness with current topical interest and a patriotic flavor. The film tells the story of a young man with high ideals and principles who is appointed a senator by his state. The film is a testament to the power of community and defiant optimism.
8. Roman Holiday 1953，IMDB Rating: 8.0, IMDB Votes: 148816, ID: 0046250 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Roman Holiday is a charming romantic comedy-drama that is as funny as it is beautiful. The film tells the story of a touring European princess who takes off for a night while in Rome. The film sets the standard for the modern romantic comedy and is a testament to the luminous performance of Audrey Hepburn in her American debut.
9. All About Eve 1950，IMDB Rating: 8.2, IMDB Votes: 139883, ID: 0042192 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 All About Eve is a timeless masterpiece that explores ambition, betrayal, and the often cutthroat nature of show business. The film brilliantly portrays the rivalry between aging Broadway star Margo Channing and her seemingly innocent fan, Eve Harrington. It’s a compelling drama that highlights the fleeting nature of fame and the destructive power of envy.
10. The Thin Man (1934) 2017，IMDB Rating: 0.0, IMDB Votes: 0, ID: 11137686 Photo by worldhistory.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 The Thin Man (1934) is a murder mystery that’s more about the personal styles of the actors than the murder itself. The film is based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett, one of the fathers of noir. It was one of the most popular films of 1934, inspired five sequels, and was nominated for four Oscars (best picture, actor, direction and screenplay). The dialogue is so droll and insinuating, so knowing and innocent at the same time, that it hardly matters what the characters are saying.
11. Sunset Blvd. 1950，IMDB Rating: 8.4, IMDB Votes: 238621, ID: 0043014 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Sunset Boulevard is a portrait of a forgotten silent star, living in exile in her grotesque mansion, screening her old films, dreaming of a comeback. It’s also a love story, and the love keeps it from becoming simply a waxworks or a freak show. The movie cuts close to the bone, drawing so directly from life that many of the silent stars at the movie’s premiere recognized personal details.
12. Modern Times 1936，IMDB Rating: 8.5, IMDB Votes: 261692, ID: 0027977 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Modern Times is a unique film that stimulates the emotions as well as the intelligence. It’s a roadtrip romantic comedy to end all, with two central performances that are iconic and a legacy that has reverberated though almost a century. The dynamics of constant reproach and attraction between the characters owes a lot to ‘Much Ado About Nothing’s’ pair of Benedick and Beatrice.
13. It Happened One Night 1934，IMDB Rating: 8.1, IMDB Votes: 113377, ID: 0025316 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 It Happened One Night is a classic romantic comedy that brought in a new era of Hollywood film-making. It’s a story of a spoiled heiress rebelling against her mogul dad and marrying a celebrity aviator. The dynamics of constant reproach and attraction between the characters owes a lot to “Much Ado About Nothing’s” pair of Benedick and Beatrice.
14. The Philadelphia Story 1940，IMDB Rating: 7.9, IMDB Votes: 74405, ID: 0032904 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 The Philadelphia Story is an intelligent, sophisticated, classic romantic comedy-farce. Its screenplay is a witty, sparkling, and bright adaptation of Philip Barry’s Broadway hit play. The film is a timeless social commentary, giving its audience insight into the era’s worries and thoughts regarding employment and capitalism.
15. The Night of the Hunter 1955，IMDB Rating: 8.0, IMDB Votes: 98791, ID: 0048424 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 The Night of the Hunter is a haunting masterpiece that beautifully combines elements of horror and film noir. The film’s chilling narrative and expressionistic visuals create a nightmarish world where good and evil battle. The performances, especially Robert Mitchum’s portrayal of the sinister ‘Reverend’ Harry Powell, are compelling. Despite its initial failure, it’s now considered one of the greatest American films. It’s a must-watch for its unique storytelling and visual style.
16. The Apartment 1960，IMDB Rating: 8.3, IMDB Votes: 198936, ID: 0053604 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 The Apartment is a brilliant blend of comedy and drama set against the backdrop of corporate America in the 1960s. The film tells the story of C.C. Baxter, a lonely office worker caught in a web of deceit and manipulation. The performances, particularly Jack Lemmon’s portrayal of Baxter, are exceptional. The film’s critique of corporate culture and its exploration of loneliness and love make it a timeless classic worth watching.
17. Paper Moon 1973，IMDB Rating: 8.1, IMDB Votes: 53023, ID: 0070510 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Paper Moon is a charming comedy-drama that tells the story of a con man and a young girl during the Great Depression. The film’s strength lies in its balance of humor and poignancy, and the remarkable performance by Tatum O’Neal, who won an Oscar for her debut. Despite its comedic facade, the film delivers a blistering commentary on society and its inhabitants. Its engaging narrative and memorable performances make it a classic worth watching.
18. Rebecca 1940，IMDB Rating: 8.1, IMDB Votes: 148024, ID: 0032976 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Rebecca, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is a haunting masterpiece that explores the shadow of a former wife on a young woman who marries a widower. The film’s suspense and gothic thrills are amplified by the brilliant performances of Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. The film’s black and white cinematography enhances its atmospheric tension, making it a classic worth watching.
19. On the Waterfront 1954，IMDB Rating: 8.1, IMDB Votes: 166609, ID: 0047296 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 On the Waterfront is a powerful exploration of conscience and corruption on the New York docks. Marlon Brando delivers a heart-wrenching performance as a longshoreman who stands up against union corruption. The film’s black and white aesthetic heightens the gritty realism of the dockside setting, making it a compelling watch.
20. Double Indemnity 1944，IMDB Rating: 8.3, IMDB Votes: 168868, ID: 0036775 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Double Indemnity (1944) is a classic film noir that tells the story of an insurance salesman who gets entangled in a murderous scheme. The film’s narrative is intriguing, filled with suspense and seduction. It’s a film that explores the dark side of human nature and the consequences of greed. The performances by Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck are compelling, and the film’s unique visual style adds to its allure. It’s a timeless piece that continues to captivate audiences with its complex characters and gripping plot.
21. The Manchurian Candidate 1962，IMDB Rating: 7.9, IMDB Votes: 80425, ID: 0056218 Photo by picryl.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 The Manchurian Candidate (1962) is a political thriller that explores the concept of brainwashing. The film follows the story of a soldier who is programmed to become an assassin. The film’s narrative is filled with tension and a cynical spin, making it feel astonishingly contemporary. The performances by Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey are excellent, and the film’s exploration of political manipulation and paranoia is thought-provoking. The Manchurian Candidate is a classic that continues to resonate with modern audiences.
22. The Philadelphia Story 1940，IMDB Rating: 7.9, IMDB Votes: 74405, ID: 0032904 Photo by staticflickr.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 The Philadelphia Story (1940) is a classic romantic comedy that focuses on the love triangle between a socialite, her ex-husband, and a reporter. The film is known for its witty script, spotless direction, and excellent performances, particularly by Katharine Hepburn. It’s a film that explores love and marriage with humor and sophistication. The Philadelphia Story is a timeless classic that continues to charm audiences with its engaging characters and clever dialogue.
22 Black and White Movies That Will Make You Forget Color Exists
