Are you searching for some timeless treasures guaranteed to give you thrills and chills? Then, we’ve got you covered. These 15 classic black-and-white films are sure to hold your attention.
1. Double Indemnity (1944)
Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity will shock you with its plot. Walter (Fred MacMurray) is an insurance agent caught in the charm of Phyllis (Barbara Stanwyck). She convinces Walter to pull off a murder to gain cash. However, only some people can be trustworthy in a game involving money.
2. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
A hilarious satire, Dr Strangelove, will have you rolling on the floor. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the actor Peter Sellers plays multiple roles, including the doctor, President Merkin, and a British officer. War approaches as a crazy U.S. general announces a nuclear attack on the U.S.S.R., sending military generals into a clumsy state of panic.
3. 12 Angry Men (1957)
You will love Sidney Lumet’s masterpiece if you like law and order. This film doesn’t go far from its title. Twelve white judges in a jury room heated with arguments. All are trying to prove whether or not a Black, working-class boy is guilty of murdering his father for inheritance money.
4. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
In a peaceful black-and-white world, John and Pear reside with their loving widowed mother. In contrast, evil-natured preacher Henry (Robert Mitchum) sets his eyes on the widow. His plans for marriage have sinister reasons. Watch this horrific character unfold his tricks on the kids trying to save their mother from peril.
5. The Big Sleep (1946)
Philip (Humphrey Bogart) is a careful and witty detective in a film by Howard Hawks. The mystery unfolds as he meets the cunning Lauren Bacall in a blackmail case involving the wealthy Sternwoods. This movie will keep you on your toes with suspense, deception, and sharp-tongued banter!
6. Lord of the Flies (1963)
A rather dark recommendation on the list is Lord of the Flies by Peter Brook, based on a classic novel. The movie’s brutalist theme of human nature is portrayed by young boys stranded on a deserted island. Their survival attempt follows until, shockingly, Jack (Tom Chapin) turns on one of his friends.
7. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962)
A mystery takes place in this movie by Robert Aldrich. Baby Jane ( Bette Davis), a former child star, has to live with paralyzed sister Blanche (Joan Crawford), with an acting history. Both sisters spiral about Blanche’s accident in the crumbling mansion that left her jobless. Time transports the jealousy and memories of the sisters into the truth.
8. Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte (1964)
Another Robert Aldrich film will stun you with its psychological suspense. Charlotte Hollis (Bette Davis) ‘s husband dies in a house the night they were to be wed. Charlotte, with blood on her dress, is blamed for the murder. Years later, the house is being demolished. Now Charlotte interferes to find the truth.
9. All About Eve (1950)
Backbiting drama, Joseph Mankiewicz’s story has a star cast of Bette Davis as Margo Channing, Miss Casswell (Marilyn Monroe), and Eve (Anne Baxter). A famous theater actress, Margo, becomes competition to a cunning fan, Eve. Watch as Eve puts down the actress’s character in the brutal world of fame. Jealousy, hate, and sharp words form this exciting plot.
10. Psycho (1960)
The horror genius Alfred Hitchcock puts Janet Leigh playing Marion Crane in the daunting Bates Motel. Marion is selfish, hiding in the motel after stealing her boss’ money. In a place she thinks is safe, weird motel owner Norman (Anthony Perkins) gives an eerie feeling. Indeed, this is an iconic thriller to watch.
11. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
This is a severe film directed by Robert Mulligan. It takes on the captivating story of a Black man accused of assaulting a White woman during times when racism was high. Atticus (Gregory Peck) is the man’s defendant who solves the case with the help of his daughter (Mary Bedham).
12. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
If you’re into old Hollywood drama, this movie by Billy Wilder is an insight. Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) is getting back into acting with the help of writer Joe Gillis (William Holden). The movie convinces viewers that Joe can deceive Norma. Still, things twist and turn till reality and delusion cannot be separated. Norma is entangled in her acting past, which slowly turns into madness.
13. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Another movie for the horror geeks. George Romero pulls all the stops by setting the foundation of zombie movies. The dead return as the living, tearing flesh in black and white. Horrified, a group of survivors take refuge in a farmhouse. Watch this pure form of human fear in a cinema classic.
14. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Returning from war, soldier Raymond (Laurence Harvey) gets welcomed as a hero. Marco (Frank Sinatra), his friend, seems suspicious of him. Suspecting communist influence, he begins uncovering the truth. This movie by John Frankenheimer shows manipulation and hidden antagonists dictating an assassination.
15. The Haunting (1963)
This last movie by Rober Wise is meant to keep you up at night. Beware, as scientist Dr. John (Richard Johnson) enters the abandoned Hill House. The doctor also brings two women, Eleanor (Julie Harris) and Theodora (Claire Bloom), to witness psychic activity but starts to hear and see things that science can’t prove.
12 Black and White Scary Movies Boomers Admitted Scarred Them for Life
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15 Movies From the 1980s That Suck So Bad You Probably Forgot They Existed
The 1980s produced many cultural landmarks that shaped modern cinema. The decade was full of cinematic invention, from thrilling action films to iconic comedies and revolutionary sci-fi.
Among the treasures that have earned their way into the halls of fame, there is a collection of films so lackluster and dull that you may have forgotten they existed. This trip back in time will see 1980s movies so terrible you might have forgotten they existed.
22 Films Guaranteed to Make the Hair on the Back of Your Neck Stand Up
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10 Musicians and Bands From the ’70s That Still Deserve Your Attention Today
The 1970s was an incredible decade for music. So, I know dozens of singers, songwriters, and bands deserve their spots on this list. But I was an MTV baby who didn’t discover this great music until later in life. So, I have selected the musicians and bands that I personally love today.
26 Underrated Films From the ’90s That Never Make Best Lists
The 1990s are known for iconic blockbusters. Nonetheless, there are a ton of underrated films that are typically overlooked while revisiting the classics. Here are some of the most seriously underrated films of the 90s. Do you agree?