There are plenty of "Top 10" lists on the web, and I typically find the objectivity of subjective arts to be pointless at times. So, instead of attempting to explain why a certain ten movies are better than hundreds of others, I've compiled a list of films from the following decade that I think should be more widely viewed by cinephiles worldwide. So, let's keep it loose and our minds open to what each of these movies has to offer.
10. Rififi
If you are a fan of the heist or crime genre, this is a must-see. If you need a quick sell, the movie follows the planning, execution, and fallout of a jewelry store heist. A lesson in pacing and editing, it takes its time building the stakes and setting up the perfectly executed burglary sequence. I will often find myself rewatching the second act of this movie just absolutely in awe of how captivating silence can be.
9. The Gunfighter
During the golden age of Western films, no one expected Gregory Peck to star in a masterful deconstruction of both the genre and masculinity. Set primarily in one location, the film explores how a reputation can be dangerous and how the cowboy hero can never escape the idea of the gunslinger archetype. Severely undermentioned in discussions I've seen talking about this era of the western, Peck's portrayal of Ringo is understated and quiet while showcasing the silent rage boiling beneath the surface of a man who can't outrun his infamy and live the life he dreams of.
8. The Seventh Seal
For many cinephiles, this is one of the first foreign language films that they'll enjoy adding to their list of greatest movies ever made. I think for that reason, it has earned a reputation among people who haven't seen it as classically pretentious. So, The Seventh Seal is on this list simply to let those who have dismissed it for those reasons know that you should absolutely watch it. One of the more existential and depressing movies I've enjoyed watching—an endorsement I don't give lightly.
7. The Night of the Hunter
If you could choose to direct a single movie and then die, you would be hard pressed to find a better option than The Night of the Hunter. What Charles Laughton was able to craft in his movie is incredible: haunting, creepy, and evil. Robert Mitchum's preacher is as close to the devil himself as I can imagine a character to be. If you're looking for a movie that explores how dark humanity can get, this is the movie on this list for you.
6. North by Northwest
The 1950s were a decade of changes in the film industry. Color film was becoming more accessible, and long-time directors were opening up to its use as the future standard. So, it's no surprise that Alfred Hitchcock produced multiple of the best-looking color films of the decade between Rear Window and our sixth entry, North by Northwest. A fantastic spy thriller and mistaken identity mystery, any fan of the James Bond films will feel right at home with the tone and aesthetic displayed here—simply some of the most fun you can have while watching a movie.
5. All About Eve
I've never seen a movie where I've been more entertained by a group of people that I absolutely despise; there's nothing redeemable about them. All About Eve offers audiences a look into fame, envy, deceit, age, resentment, and makes for a great double-feature paired with Sunset Boulevard. Of all the entries on this list, I think this movie has the best overall acting throughout the cast. Everyone gives an A-class performance here, so it's no surprise that it won Best Picture. Also, how can an Academy Award-winning film be on the list of movies more people should watch? Well, more people should watch it, that's why!
4. Singin' in the Rain
The musical genre has always waxed and waned in popularity with extreme peaks and valleys. Currently, with the release of Wicked, it feels like musicals could be back on the upswing, so there's no better time to brush up on the history. One of the most gorgeous color pallets in film history, Singin' in the Rain. Vibrant and lively and exploding with kinetic energy in every scene, this movie will leave you breathless by proxy after watching the dance numbers that are pulled off here, especially the one for "Make 'em Laugh".
3. Godzilla
I respect giant monsters and there's none better than the King of Monsters. I know a lot of people dismiss Godzilla—and the entire kaiju genre as campy kids' movies—except that presumption dismisses a large percentage of them. Godzilla is a very dark movie with horrifying imagery; a far cry from the goofy tones that later entries came to be known for. This movie terrified me as a child because I couldn't handle the radiation burn victims and the sad children's chorus singing in the background. What I'm getting at is that you should not write this movie off, period. Any horror fan should appreciate what this movie did, and any history buff should appreciate the message this movie expresses. Messages about being anti-war, anti-bureaucrat, and one exceedingly cynical view about humankind's capacity to create weapons of mass destruction.
2. Ikiru
A quiet reflection of life and what it means to live. While Seven Samurai is considered Akira Kurosawa's magnum opus and proved his ability to create sweeping epics set in feudal Japan, his capacity for smaller stories of humanity always strikes me to the core. Are you living your life in a way that brings you and others joy? What would it take for you to make actual change? I think Akira Kurosawa is the greatest director of all time, and I hope his deep and true love for humanity shines in movies like Ikiru.
1. Anatomy of a Murder
I am an absolute sucker for courtroom drama. A good lawyer tells the truth, but a great lawyer tells a story, and Jimmy Stewart's Paul Biegler knows that better than any other. This movie is sharp, clever, jazzy, provocative, and shockingly progressive. It centers around a murder trial, but the genius of this movie is the fact that the question surrounding the trial isn't whether or not the suspect did it—it's if his actions are defensible. We know the man Biegler is defending committed the murder; that is one of the few stone-solid facts the movie presents. So, how do you defend a man who we know committed murder? Well, to find out, you'll just have to watch one of my favorite movies of all time and my number one recommendation on this list.
Honorable Mentions: Every decade produces hundreds of movies worth our time, and often, our best directors will make multiple great movies during that same period. So, for one reason or another, these movies aren't going to make my top 10, but I would be dumb not to acknowledge them.
A Streetcar Named Desire - A blueprint on how to adapt a stage play to the silver screen and a breakout performance by Marlon Brando.
Seven Samurai - Arguably Akira Kurosawa's greatest work and one of the greatest movies any director has ever made.