There are movies we look back on that really define classics of film. Like “Star Wars,” “Breakfast Club,” “Clueless,” “Forrest Gump,” all movies that have carried through generations, still iconic to this day. I decided to create a list of specific films that I think will be remembered for years and years to come. Defining the past 10 years of movies for our generation. Of course there will be dozens of works that are not included but will always remain timeless.  

• “Barbie”

“Barbie” directed by Greta Gerwig, left people in absolute awe all over the world. Taking a beloved character and giving them a story with such power and depth. Everything about “Barbie” was so memorable: the vibrant colors, clever musical numbers, and the politically relatable plot. In years to come this movie’s vibrancy will never fade. I think women specifically will be able to find some piece of this movie’s meaning in their heart forever. What makes this movie a true classic is how there was a world shortage of pink paint to do the work on the set alone. 

• “Ladybird”

“Ladybird” directed by Greta Gerwig feels like history captured in film. What it’s like to be finding yourself in a world where you’re insecure and don’t know what direction you’re heading in as a naïve high schooler. It’s not afraid to show how often family relationships could affect your decisions in life, and sometimes you just have to follow your dreams despite others opinions. “Ladybird” has a timeless story, and even teenagers in 35 years will say, “Hey, I can relate to that.” 

• “Hamilton”

“Hamilton,” a musical opera created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is truly a work of art. Taking historical individuals and giving them intricate songs that describe the events that made them who they are. It’s interesting to see such a take on history, having these past public figures sing rap songs and break it down. Even though it initially sounds bizarre it’s something unique that can’t really be compared to anything else you’ve seen before. I’m thankful every day that the original cast went back one last time to film a stage version on Disney+. 

• “Five Nights at Freddys” 

“Five Nights at Freddys,” directed by Emma Tammi, was already so anticipated because of the culture surrounding it. Whether you like this movie or not, people will never forget about the game or the film. Objectively it’s not even a bad movie, and the fan-base has kept it thriving since day one. It’s always interesting to see things brought to life, especially with such quality, and with the amount of popularity it has, it will be taking over Spirit Halloween aisles forever. 

• “Knives Out”

“Knives Out” directed by Rian Johnson, is our generation’s modern day clue. It’s a thoughtful story line that captures you in anticipation and confusion. It’s hard not to feel emotionally connected to characters in the movie as the mystery slowly unravels in front of your eyes. There’s many familiar faces in the film like Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Ana De Armas, and Daniel Craig. Some movies wouldn’t be what they are if the people playing the roles did not make it memorable. Every time I finish watching it I think about how someone even came up with the plot. 

• IT (2017) 

“IT” 2017 directed by Andres Muschietti, was a reboot of the already iconic tv miniseries “IT” created in the 1990s. Many reboots struggle to capture the same essence of a movie, but honestly this one did it better. You can feel the true bond that the actors have in the movie, really feeling like they were all each other had or wanted. The story of “IT” is so much more than a scary clown, and it’s easy to see that. The ending of the movie will make you feel such a mix of emotions you thought a scary movie would make you feel. 

• “Elvis” 

“Elvis” is a biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann that captures a perspective on the life of the one and only Elvis Presley. This film had a unique way of mixing modern and classic music together. One of my favorite things about it is they weren’t afraid to add a little color to the movie considering most things are just plain dull to look at nowadays. Despite whether Presley was a good person or not, the story that was told was something that people will never forget. Elvis was a huge part of music history and the movie captured that. 

• “The Great Gatsby”

“The Great Gatsby” was a work of classic literature written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, then later adapted into film by director Baz Luhrmann. “The Great Gatsby” captures what the roaring ’20s would be like to its fullest capacity. When people watch this movie it will convince them to dream of attending a party that is as grand as Gatsby’s. This movie is timeless because of the unique filming techniques and story line that drives you to form an opinion towards the characters’ decisions. 

• “John Wick”

“John Wick” is an action movie directed by Chad Stehelski, that follows an emotional and violent story of an ex-hitman returning for one last kill, so he thinks. This movie gives people the action they so desperately crave in film. John Wick is like a modern day “Rambo” or “Terminator.” Just him being an absolute beast at the thing he does best. The story is one that you can get invested in leading you through the trilogy of all the movies wondering what impossible event John Wick manages to survive next. 

• “The LEGO Movie”

“The LEGO Movie,” directed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord, is a film that makes a mark in film history. It brought something to life that is so dearly loved and cared about which is LEGO. Everybody loves LEGO and will continue to, making the watch experience even better. There’s something so bright and fun about the film, even having a recognizable editing style making it look like a true LEGO realm. Anyone of all ages will find this movie fascinating and funny for decades to come.