Timeless Classics: Top 5 Forgotten Movies That Are Still Relevant Today

Cinema is perhaps the most influential (and the most profitable) branch of art. At the same time, not all movies are memorable. These five, however, have been relevant and popular for decades and are likely to remain so.

Network (1976, 8.1 on IMDb)

Available on: Amazon Prime

This satirical black comedy is the best example of what clickbait is and how it has shaped the media for decades. Following Howard Beale, a respected evening news anchor at the fictional UBS Network, the movie tells the story of how his uninhibited black swan rant on the air about the unfairness of life, after being informed that he's going to be fired in a few weeks, caused the ratings to skyrocket. As a result, the network decides to keep him around and turn him into a cash cow until he's no longer needed.

Amadeus (1984, 8.4 on IMDb)

Available on: Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime

Loosely based on Alexander Pushkin's play Mozart and Salieri, this historical biopic about the fictional rivalry between Mozart and Antonio Salieri explores the nature of human envy. Following Salieri, who was the number one composer at the court of Joseph II, the film shows how he was overshadowed by Mozart's musical genius and the lengths he was willing to go to get rid of his opponent.

Casablanca (1942, 8.5 on IMDb)

Available on: Max, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime

One of the best films about World War II, Casablanca doesn't feature epic battles or great victories. Instead, this romantic drama centers on the love story between Rick Blaine, an American expatriate living in Vichy-controlled Casablanca, and Ilsa Lund, the wife of a Czechoslovak resistance leader whom Rick must help escape the city. Though times have changed, the movie is still a relevant lesson about sacrifice and making a hard choice between one's own desires and what is right.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966, 8.8 on IMDb)

Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime

Filmed primarily in Spain, this classic spaghetti western from Italian filmmakers delves into the history of the American Civil War as it follows three seasoned outlaws who must join forces to recover stolen gold. The task seems difficult enough, but the characters soon realize that they'd better keep their guns with them at all times during their mission in the war-torn country.

Although it seems like a meaningless western, the movie helps you realize the value of trust in relationships.

12 Angry Men (1957, 9.0 on IMDb)

Available on: Apple TV+, Amazon Prime

One of the greatest legal dramas of all time, this movie revolves around the members of a jury who must decide the fate of a young boy accused of murdering his father. As the case unfolds, the twelve rack their brains to decide if there is enough evidence to sentence the boy to death.

The movie raises many issues, but most importantly, it makes you think about the power society has over the individual, and the importance of free thought and expression, even if you're one against the rest of the world.