It can be hard to predict which films will live on far past their year of release. Even the awards ceremonies can’t always be relied upon to point them out; there are plenty that haven’t quite retained the power that they had when they first came out. Some films will become classics, some will gather a cult following, but others may fall by the wayside. Sometimes, if whole film isn’t entirely memorable, there will be lines or moments that find their way to becoming iconic.
Like I said, it’s hard to predict, but going off of what films have endured in the past, there are a few you can be pretty sure of.
Classics
Certain films retain a title of ‘classic’. These tend to be quite mainstream films which can be predicted quite early on, or smaller films that perhaps took longer to find their audience. They are films that if you name them, practically everyone around you will have some idea of what you’re talking about, even if they haven’t seen them, or weren’t even alive when they were first released. They have had such great cultural impact and pop culture influence, that they are integrated into the social consciousness. Everyone assumes you’ve seen, or at least heard of, them.
Classics are often universally praised films for the most part, primarily those embraced by audiences; critics can fawn over a film, but if people don’t connect, it won’t endure. The ones that creep up are harder to predict, but you can look at past films that have grown steadily over time and match up traits. However, we can’t predict what the future holds and with that which films of today will connect with much greater resonance in the future; we can only guess.
Some of these have already been heralded ‘instant classics’, others seem on track to get there (there seems to be some kind of statue of limitations before a film can be called a classic). Here are my picks.
Damien Chazelle’s return of the movie musical was a smash hit with audiences and critics alike and turned in the kind of universal praise akin to that of classics past. It has the catchy tunes as another hook, but it was really the story that captured people’s hearts and gathered the kind of obsessive love that helps films to endure. It has a timeless feel (only the intrusion of iPhones give away its time period) and has proven deeply rewatchable to many, indicating that we will be happy to see it for years to come.
One of the year’s hits that seemed to come out of nowhere, Get Out has had a huge impact on pop culture and demonstrated the kind of social relevance (and resonance) that has seen it break out of the horror box. Hopefully, in the future, its commentary won’t be so relevant to real life, but as this representation of the current political climate in terms of race relations is wrapped up in a deeply entertaining horror-social-thriller, it is hard to see it slip out of the social conscious.
Excellent war films often find their way to classic status as they depict a part of our shared global history. Whilst Dunkirk is specific to the story of British troops, its sense of human spirit is universal and has been embraced globally. It’s unique narrative structure and level of craftsmanship across the board sets it apart from the more generic war films. It is also a depiction of one of the more inspirational tales from conflicts, something more likely to be re-watched.
Again, well-made war films often make their way to becoming classics. This one is also told in a more classic manner, which, for historical films, doesn’t serve as detrimental. Featuring another inspirational tale to come out of war, the film has some of the most intense war scenes in recent memory, but remains focused on the faith and astonishing power of one good man.
This will likely join the cannon of films that are agreed to be classics, but are ones you would only watch once or twice due to the devastating emotions. It was one of the most deeply heartbreaking films of the year and featured stunning performances, a powerful script, and a deeply human story; all lending it to the status of classic.
One of the most praised films of the year, and one that more and more audiences seem to be finding and connecting with, Call Me by Your Name has the feel of a timeless love story, which is layered further by the central character’s discovering of his sexuality. It plays out as a coming of age tale as much as a romance, and with its heart and quality, it looks like one that will endure.
The universally acclaimed sequel to the classic sci-fi quashed any fears of it being a mere money grab that would pander to the mainstream, with its perfect blend of faithfulness to the original, and new ideas. It seems to be following in the footsteps of its predecessor; it didn’t light up the box office, but it delighted fans. Time will tell, but the praise it garnered from those who saw it indicates it will take up a place right next to the original.
A box office smash that proved people are still afraid of clowns, this hugely entertaining hit seems destine for classic status due to the reactions it garnered from audiences. It seemed to blend the horror with a fairly funny coming of age film, ensuring that it went for more than cheap scares, but still providing enough nightmare material. Its likeable characters and story beyond the scares suggest this is one of the rare rewatchable horrors that will freak out audiences for years to come. Plus this seems to side on the good batch of Stephen King adaptations, most of which have become stone cold classics.
It seems bizarre to talk about superhero films as classics, as currently there are so many of them. I think the feminist aspect of Wonder Woman, as well as its blasting entertainment value, will help carry this over the edge. It will likely be rewatched most by the female audiences, and hopefully will become a film that we show young girls. Although hopefully, in no disrespect to the film, this will become less of a standout for its female focus; hopefully, it won’t be so obscenely rare in the future.
A smash hit tale of triumph over adversity connected with a huge audience this year with its engaging and inspirational tale. It was the opposite of dry, something a lot of true stories fall into being, and provided an upbeat tale that struck a chord even with modern audiences. I think it will endure not least due to the importance of its story, but the fantastic way in which the story was told.
The Oscar Best Picture winner for 2017, this was sorely underseen (perhaps due to a smaller release), but due to the awards publicity, seems to be garnering a growing audience. Now able to stand on its own and not just in competition, its universal themes of love and self-discovery seem like they will resonate with audiences in years to come.
Martin Scorsese’s passion project didn’t find its audience upon its release at the start of this year. However, it is an incredibly powerful piece that I think will grow to become a classic. Its epic scale is something usually found in the category of ‘classics’ and its meditation on faith is deep and meaningful; something that may be discovered as people can watch it from their own homes.
A few other films that I believe have the potential to become classics, or (hopefully) find a growing audience over the years are:
Cult Classics
In terms of cult classics, there were quite a few this year I can see reaching this genre. Cult classics can overlap with the mainstream definition of a classic, but tend to have a very loyal, focused group of fans, on top of the general appreciation.
These films are often a little more offbeat, or feature incredible details and Easter Eggs that lend them to obsessive rewatches. They’re also the kinds of films that people may tend to quote a lot.
Of course, the new Edgar Wright film would make this list. He is known for the phenomenal levels of detail in his films, iconography, quoteable lines and numerous Easter Eggs. His latest was no exception, and whilst I think this will likely become a classic in the general sense, it is also bound to be one that is quoted back and forth among friends, and about which piles of trivia can be spouted.
Steven Soderbergh’s return to cinema didn’t find the audience it deserves this year, but I think it is one that will find a very loyal following over time. With its slightly offbeat and quirky characters, combined with brilliant performances and terrific humour, it seems destined for cult status. Plus, with the general drop in quality of comedies in recent years, fans should be hanging on to the good ones.
One of the weirder and most unique films of the year, Colossal boasts the kind of out-there story that connects deeply with some, and alienates others. It is a comedy come monster movie; a niche genre, let’s just say. However, it seems bound to collect loyal fans over time, and maybe reach that kind of ‘midnight movie’ status.
For the number of superhero films we get, Logan stood out as taking a drastically different spin. It seems to be a move that paid off, and attracted viewers from even outside the superhero crowd. Whilst it is hard to see how the current decade-long superhero fad will endure, this one seems the most likely of the pack to keep a hold on its fans.
The Safdie brothers’ neon-bathed gritty crime thriller seems like the type of film that will be discovered on TV and DVD, and enter people’s favourite film lists. It takes a spin on the traditional botched heist film and plays out in an unconventional way; unconventional generally being what attracts a cult following.
This film was a smash when it was released and marked a return to form for M. Night Shyamalan. However, despite its wide-spread success, I think this is a film that will be watch casually by most fans, but be lauded by a certain few.
Iconic
Moments that will become iconic are hard to predict – who knows what will have collectively latched onto audiences’ brains, but there are a few things (especially shots) that already seem to have entered into iconography.
Get Out – Chris’ crying face in the hypnotizing scene
La La Land – The ‘What a Waste of a Lovely Night’ dance pose on all the posters
Moonlight – When Chiron washes blood off his face in the bathroom
Dunkirk – The shot of the soldiers on the mole, turning to gaze at a Messerschmitt
Manchester by the Sea – The scene when Lee and Randi meet again in present day
Logan – The final frame
Baby Driver – A lot of things including the car, Baby’s costume and the songs that will become inextricably tied to the film
Of course, these are all guesses. Who knows what will actually stick in our collective mind?
