The Best Movies That Defined the Boomer Generation

“Grease” is a classic musical comedy-drama set in the 1950s, telling the story of two high schoolers, Danny and Sandy, who fall in love against the backdrop of teenage life in California. Featuring iconic musical numbers and a memorable cast of characters, “Grease” is an enduring classic.

“Gremlins” tells the tale of a young man who receives a strange creature called a Mogwai as a Christmas gift. It spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. The story follows the young man and his friends as they attempt to stop the gremlins from taking over their town.

Murphy stars as Axel Foley, a Detroit cop who travels to Beverly Hills to investigate the murder of his best friend. With the help of two bumbling detectives, he uncovers a major crime syndicate, leading to a thrilling and comedic showdown.

“Sixteen Candles” is about a teenage girl, Samantha, who is trying to navigate the highs and lows of turning 16 while her family is preoccupied with her older sister’s wedding.

Ford stars as the daring archaeologist of the title, embarking on a perilous mission to save his kidnapped friends from an evil cult in an ancient temple in India. Along the way, he faces peril, puzzles, and deadly traps as he attempts to survive and rescue those he loves.

This classic coming-of-age movie features Macchio as a young karate student who learns martial arts to defend himself against bullies, with Morita as his wise teacher. The film deals with themes of friendship, perseverance, and the power of self-improvement. “The Karate Kid” has remained a beloved classic over the years, inspiring multiple sequels and remakes.

“Carrie” is a 1976 horror film based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. It follows high school student Carrie White as she discovers and struggles to control her telekinetic powers. The film is widely recognized for the iconic scene in which she unleashes her powers in a fit of rage. It has become a classic in the horror genre and has spawned numerous follow-ups

This iconic film tells the story of an underdog boxer from Philadelphia (Stallone) who finds unexpected victory through perseverance. The movie was hugely influential in America, becoming a symbol of hope and determination for American movie-lovers. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won three, including Best Picture. Numerous sequels have followed.

Belushi and Aykroyd star as Jake and Elwood Blues, two blues musicians who reunite to save an orphanage from foreclosure. Along the way, they are pursued by the police, a rival band, and the Nazis. The movie is filled with humor, memorable musical numbers, and cameos from some of the biggest stars of the time.

This classic adventure-comedy features a group of young friends who search for an old pirate’s lost treasure. Along the way, they encounter a variety of obstacles, including a notorious criminal family, and must rely on their wits and courage to make it out alive. The film is filled with memorable characters and exciting action.

“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” is a classic science fiction film, following a young boy who helps an alien stranded on Earth find his way home. Along the way, the two develop a bond of friendship and learn the importance of family and humanity. The film has remained popular for decades and is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time.

A classic superhero movie, “Superman” tells the story of a powerful alien sent to Earth to protect its inhabitants from evil. The movie follows the iconic hero as he battles villains, deals with human relationships, and fights for justice. The film features thrilling action sequences, an iconic soundtrack, and performances that still resonate with audiences today.

In this horror classic, a priest attempts to rid a young girl of demonic possession. It is widely regarded as one of the scariest movies ever made, and features intense and disturbing sequences that remain some of the most memorable in film history.

Teenagers are terrorized by the ghost of Freddy Krueger, a disfigured serial killer who hunts them in their dreams, in this Wes Craven masterpiece. The movie is considered to be one of the most influential horror films ever made, and is credited with helping to popularize the slasher movie genre.

Wilder stars as an eccentric and mysterious candy maker in this classic musical fantasy film. After five children win a contest to enter his chocolate factory, they embark on a whimsical and magical journey filled with singing and dancing Oompa-Loompas, gigantic edible treats, and a few unexpected surprises.

In “A Christmas Story,” Ralphie, a nine-year-old boy, attempts to convince his parents to buy him a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The film has since become a cult classic and is now a staple of American popular culture, remembered for its nostalgic portrayal of the boomer generation’s childhood and its quotable lines. It is also widely remembered for its tongue-on-the-flagpole scene.

In this romantic comedy-drama, Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate, finds himself torn between the beautiful young Elaine Robinson and his older lover, Mrs. Robinson – Elaine’s mother. Benjamin’s journey of self-discovery and his ultimate choice won the hearts of viewers in the ’60s, and continue to do so today.

This coming-of-age comedy-drama follows five high school students from different social groups who spend a Saturday in detention and come to realize that they are all more than just their respective stereotypes. “The Breakfast Club” is widely considered to be one of the greatest teen films of all time.

In “Scarface,” Cuban refugee Tony Montana rises to the top of Miami’s criminal underworld. Along the way, he faces off with rival drug lords and the authorities. The film was praised for its intense violence and iconic performances from Pacino and Pfeiffer.

Legendary horror-film master Carpenter offers a film about a group of scientists who encounter a shape-shifting alien organism in Antarctica. The thing slowly assimilates and kills the scientists while they struggle to survive and find a way to stop it. The film was praised for its atmosphere, tension, and special effects.

The final installment of the original Star Wars trilogy, “Return of the Jedi” concerns Luke Skywalker’s journey to the forest moon of Endor, where he confronts Darth Vader and the Emperor in an epic battle for the fate of the galaxy. Along the way, he is joined by his friends, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and the rest of the Rebel Alliance, as they attempt to destroy the second Death Star. The movie culminates with a thrilling space battle and a spectacular celebration of the Rebels’ victory.

A psychotic killer, Michael Myers, stalks and kills teenage babysitters on Halloween night in the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois. The movie was a commercial success and spawned a successful franchise with several sequels and remakes. It is considered one of the most influential horror films of all time.

Kubrick’s unforgettable horror film stars Nicholson as an aspiring writer who takes a job as an off-season caretaker for a remote Colorado hotel. The secluded location and supernatural events within the hotel slowly drive Nicholson’s character mad, leading to a terrifying climax.

Inspired by aviation-disaster-themed blockbusters like the Airport franchise, the Zucker Brothers turned out this hilarious parody, based around Ted Striker, a former war pilot struggling to land a passenger jet. With its star-studded cast, “Airplane!” offers a unique take on the genre.

This groundbreaking film left an indelible mark on American cinema. It was one of the first science fiction movies to explore the idea of artificial intelligence. The film’s visual style and atmosphere also helped to redefine the genre, and it has been cited as an influence on many modern science fiction films.

This comedy-fantasy follows three eccentric parapsychologists who start a ghost-catching business in New York City. The movie was a huge box-office success, and has been credited with ushering in a new wave of supernatural-themed comedies and gaining a cult-like following.

A dystopian crime film adapted from the Anthony Burgess novel of the same name, “A Clockwork Orange” centers around Alex, a charismatic and dangerous teenage delinquent, as he commits a series of heinous crimes and is subjected to a controversial form of psychological rehabilitation to reform him. Themes of free will, morality, and the consequences of violent behavior are explored in the film.

“2001: A Space Odyssey” was a revolutionary piece of cinema that was a major influence on the American culture of the time. It showed the public a vision of the future that was both awe-inspiring and deeply unsettling. It was a film that helped to shape the attitudes of the boomer generation, giving them a greater appreciation of the unknown and the power of technology. The movie’s success was a major milestone for the science fiction genre, demonstrating that such films could be serious, thought-provoking works of art.

Italian director Leone, best-known for his so-called Spaghetti Westerns, turned his attention here to a group of Italian-American gangsters in New York City between the early 1900s and 1968. It was highly acclaimed upon its release, becoming a classic of the crime film genre. Nominated for several Academy Awards, it won a BAFTA for Best Cinematography.

This is the story of three steelworkers from Pennsylvania who serve in the Vietnam War and how their lives are changed by their experience. The movie was highly influential in America, exploring themes of patriotism, masculinity, and the psychological after-effects of war. It won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is often cited as one of the greatest films of the 1970s.

“Dog Day Afternoon” tells the story of a bank robbery gone wrong, and the hostage situation that ensues. It was a critical success, and its cultural impact was immense, considered one of the most influential films of the 1970s for its treatment of such issues of the period as economic inequality, law enforcement, and systemic racism. I

The original “summer blockbuster,” “Jaws” tells the story of a great white shark terrorizing a small island town as its inhabitants try to survive the summer. The movie is renowned for its groundbreaking use of foreboding music and dazzling cinematography, and its iconic tagline, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

A major critical and commercial success, “Annie Hall” was widely credited with helping to popularize a new brand of personal, introspective comedy in American cinema. It is renowned for its clever dialogue and poignant look at relationships and growing up during the boomer generation. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Diane Keaton, and Best Original Screenplay for Woody Allen.

A biographical sports drama film, “Raging Bull” follows the life of real-life professional boxer Jake LaMotta, depicting his struggles with his inner demons and how his destructive behavior affected his relationships and career. The film was a critical and commercial success, and was nominated for eight Academy Awards.

Schwarzenegger plays the title character here – a cyborg assassin sent back in time to 1984 to kill a woman whose unborn son will lead humanity in a future war against machines. The movie was a major commercial and critical success, becoming an iconic sci-fi classic and launching a multi-million dollar franchise.

Taxi Driver is a 1976 American psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese. It stars Robert De Niro as a troubled Vietnam War veteran who works as a taxi driver in New York City. His growing frustration with the corruption and immorality of the city leads him on a vigilante mission of redemption and justice. The film was critically acclaimed and received four Academy Award nominations. It has since become an iconic cult classic.

In this classic crime caper film, Redford and Newman star as two con men who plan an elaborate revenge scheme to swindle a crime boss. They must also use their wits, charm, and luck to stay one step ahead of the law as they carry out their plans. The movie won seven Academy Awards and has been praised for its sharp dialogue and clever plot twists.

This is the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s life and death, following the great composer through his career as a young musical prodigy, his struggles with society’s expectations, and his eventual untimely death. “Amadeus” won eight Oscars and was nominated for six more.

In one of his most memorable roles, Nicholson stars as private detective Jake Gittes in this neo-noir mystery film. Gittes investigates a case involving a wealthy and powerful family in 1930s Los Angeles, uncovering corruption and sexual scandal in the process.

This highly influential comedy classic follows King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they search for the elusive Holy Grail. Its absurd humor and witty writing made it an instant hit, and it is still beloved by audiences to this day. The movie has been credited with launching the Monty Python troupe into international fame.

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope is an iconic space opera that follows the journey of Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca as they battle the Empire in order to restore freedom. Along the way, they enlist the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi and use the Force to fight against the Empire’s forces. The movie has become a classic and is loved by generations of fans.

In “Back to the Future,” teenager Marty McFly (Fox) is sent back in time to 1955 in a time machine created by his eccentric scientist friend, Dr. Emmett Brown (Lloyd). The movie became a cultural phenomenon and captivated a generation of young people by exploring themes of time travel, family, and friendship. It was the highest grossing movie of 1985 and won several awards, including an Oscar for Best Sound Effects Editing. The movie’s popularity continued to soar after its release and it remains a beloved classic to this day.

An epic Spaghetti Western, this film tells the story of a mysterious revenge-driven gunslinger on his quest to find a bandit who killed his brother. With epic cinematography and a memorable score, the movie has become a classic of the Western genre.

When the crew of a commercial spaceship investigates a distress signal from a distant planet, a horrific intruder comes on board. The film was groundbreaking in its use of special effects and its exploration of themes such as extraterrestrial life and the unknown. Stunning visual effects and a suspenseful plot make it an enduring classic among younger generations as well.

Loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s classic novel “Heart of Darkness,” “Apocalypse Now” is set during the Vietnam War, when an army officer, Captain Benjamin Willard, is sent on a mission to find and terminate the renegade Colonel Walter Kurtz. The film features an iconic soundtrack and surreal visuals to portray the horror and intensity of war and the psychological toll it takes on those who fight.

The film that introduced the titular archeologist-adventurer, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” follows Jones as he attempts to find the Ark of the Covenant – the legendary sacred Biblical artifact – before the Nazis do. Along the way, he encounters booby traps, rival archaeologists, and supernatural threats. He also demonstrates why you should never bring a sword to a gunfight.

Based on the Ken Kesey novel of the same name, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” stars Nicholson as Randle McMurphy, a criminal sent to a psychiatric hospital, where he clashes with the oppressive Nurse Ratched and rallies the other patients to take on the hospital’s authoritarian regime. The film won numerous awards, including five Academy Awards, and is considered a classic of American cinema.

“The Empire Strikes Back” was the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy. It follows the Rebel Alliance’s struggle against the Galactic Empire as they face Darth Vader and the Dark Side. The movie features memorable moments, including the introduction of Yoda and the iconic line “No, I am your father”. It is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time.

“The Godfather: Part II,” the first of two sequels to the classic 1972 original, follows Michael Corleone, now the head of the Corleone crime family, as he attempts to expand his empire while dealing with the increasing pressures his power brings.

One of the landmarks of late 20th-century cinema, “The Godfather” concerns the Corleone family, originally from Sicily, focusing on patriarch Vito Corleone and his son Michael as they navigate the world of organized crime in New York City. The movie was a box office sensation and critical hit, and was considered groundbreaking for its portrayal of the Mafia in a partially sympathetic light. It has been credited with inspiring generations of filmmakers.