A Ranking of Random Classic Movies
- Sheehan Planas-Arteaga
- Sep 19, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 23, 2025
I've been watching classic movies recently. Here's what I think of them.
My last year or so of movie-watching has been dedicated to classic movies. My goal is to get rid of the “you haven’t seen that???” reaction that makes it seem like I live under a rock. I feel like I’ve watched a pretty decent breadth of films, both new and old and across various genres. I can thank my dad and grandfather for that. But still, there will always be the ones that slip through the cracks.
The ranking below is comprised of the classic movies I’ve recently given due attention to. As a whole, I can say the classic genre (what I arbitrarily define as well-regarded films over 25 years old), lives up to the hype.
Here’s what I thought of some of the classics, ranked from worst to best.
Raging Bull (1980)
Never has a main character had less redeeming qualities than Jake LaMotta, played by Robert De Niro. It is as if Martin Scorsese said to the viewer, “hey, want to see the life story of the biggest piece of shit who ever lived?” Joe Pesci is great, and gets to show off more range than he normally does.
PG Score: 5.5/10
Heathers (1988)
What an insane movie. I thought I was signing up for a light-hearted, John Hughes-type high school dramedy. Instead I got murder. It felt like I was in Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” music video at times. The themes have not aged well; I imagine this was just considered dark comedy at the time. It was made pre-Columbine, so give Heathers a hall pass, no pun intended.
PG Score: 6/10
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Had me in the first half, not gonna lie. I was all-in. I was grasping the plot well enough, while being amazed by how Stanley Kubrick was able to pull off some of the visuals without special effects. Guy was a magician. Then the final act became an abstract painting that completely punted on the payoff the rest of the movie set us up for. Don’t get it. I don’t know if I’m even supposed to get it. What the fuck was that?
PG Score: 6.75/10
Papillon (1973)
A tremendous performance from the two leads, Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, especially McQueen, whose suffering while in prison is a brutal thing to watch. It’s just a little too slow. You’ll probably need to watch something cheerful afterwards.
PG Score: 7/10
Scarface (1983)
A big chunk of my family is Cuban and I’m born and raised in Miami; I can tell you with absolute certainty that Al Pacino’s accent is one of the worst ever put on screen. Still entertaining because of the action and style, though.
PG Score: 7/10
Slap Shot (1977)
Paul Newman and his rag-tag hockey team produces some hilarious bits. Michael Ontkean’s character, who is effectively the co-protagonist, is too much of a douche to root for most of the time. And I genuinely don’t understand how the ending is supposed to make him more likable. I needed less of him and more of the Hanson brothers. But the movie is funny. That’s what matters most.
PG Score: 7/10
Point Break (1991)
Really cool. Awesome surf, fight, chase, and shootout scenes. Some of the plot points and dialogue is over the top, as you’d expect from this kind of movie. But Point Break gives you what you came to see, thanks to Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze.
PG Score: 7.25/10
The Color of Money (1986)
Major brownie points for avoiding the annoying tendencies of sequels: incessant call backs, a near-identical plot, etc. It doesn’t have the mystique of The Hustler, but Paul Newman’s still got it and Tom Cruise plays off him well as a brash, talented pool player.
PG Score: 7.5/10
Out of Africa (1985)
This epic was veering into being boring, but Meryl Streep and Robert Redford (RIP) kept me engaged. Two masters of their craft weaving through a tragic love story together.
PG Score: 7.5/10
Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
Every scene is a skit in itself. If Monty Python’s immature, witty, joke-a-minute style is your thing, you’ll love Life of Brian. Remember, always look on the bright side of life.
PG Score: 7.75/10
Goodfellas (1990)
Scorsese tends to give us honest depictions of people’s lives, which is great. But it can be boring. Goodfellas does a great job with atmosphere and character development; the no-cut Copacabana scene deserves it's legendary status. But the plot really dragged in the second half.
PG Score: 7.75/10
His Girl Friday (1940)
It’s mesmerizing watching Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell say their lines so quickly and rhythmically. It's almost like a dance. People don’t act like that anymore, but the snappy plot of His Girl Friday is a fun look back at how movies were once made.
PG Score: 8/10
Thelma & Louise (1991)
An iconic feminist film, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon take us on a wild ride that culminates in a shocking ending. Brad Pitt is a stud, not much more you can say, and Christopher McDonald is hilarious whenever he’s on screen.
PG Score: 8/10
Erin Brockovich (2000)
Can’t help but rally behind Julia Roberts, a paralegal who won’t take no for an answer. Aaron Eckhart’s character could’ve been fleshed out a bit more, as he kind of just sits around and either does Julia’s (Erin’s) bidding or complains about not getting attention. Julia and Albert Finney carry this film.
PG Score: 8/10
Stand By Me (1986)
My first time seeing River Phoenix in a movie. Man, what could have been. This is an excellent bildungsroman, as each of the boys meets his own sort of crossroads in life, all in less than an hour and a half.
PG Score: 8.25/10
The Untouchables (1987)
Very good. Kevin Costner and Andy Garcia, who were far from their apex at the time, hold their own alongside giants like Sean Connery and Robert De Niro. Costner’s character’s wife gnawed at me, as her only function seemed to be sitting at home and being googly-eyed when he arrived, no matter the life-or-death level of danger they were clearly under. Surely they could’ve made her a little less basic and flat.
PG Score: 8.25/10
Manhattan (1979)
Atmospheric, tight, and with 10/10 dialogue, as you would expect from most of Woody Allen’s films. Mariel Hemingway does a great job, and in one of her first acting gigs, no less. It’s very obvious what aspects of Manhattan have not aged well, and Woody Allen’s neuroticism veered towards being too annoying at times, in my opinion. But it’s clear why Manhattan is a classic.
PG Score: 8.25/10
Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Pure, unadulterated fun. Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, and Jerry Reed are magnetic, especially Reynolds. Jackie Gleason is a little cartoony as the villain, but it doesn’t take away too much from the film. The simple, fast-paced story makes you want to buy a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am yesterday.
PG Score: 8.25/10
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
A western that’s certainly on the lighter side, as Paul Newman keeps it fun throughout, playing off Robert Redford’s grumpiness. Redford’s character is also the namesake of The Sundance Film Festival, founded by Redford. Fun fact. Butch and Sundance burn the candle at both ends and take us on an international adventure.
PG Score: 8.5/10
The Usual Suspects (1995)
You always hear about the ending. It was, in fact, all it was cracked up to be. I thought they should’ve built up the mystery of Keyser Soze a little earlier. You only start hearing about him more than halfway through the film. But apart from little things like that, and Benicio del Toro’s unintelligible line delivery, Kevin Spacey and the rest of the main cast deliver a dynamite crime mystery.
PG Score: 8.5/10
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
I see what all the fuss is about a young Marlon Brando. While everyone else is acting like they’re on the stage, Brando’s authentic approach is groundbreaking. Streetcar is atmospheric and emotional, in all the right ways.
PG Score: 8.75/10
The Hustler (1961)
The epitome of a tragic hero, Paul Newman’s Fast Eddie Felson is supported by the incomparable Jackie Gleason and George C. Scott, the latter of which is particularly good. Great pool. Great acting. Great story.
PG Score: 9/10
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966)
A true Western epic. A slow burn, but with such spellbinding shots, action, suspense, and three characters who could not have committed to their roles any further, it’s worth a watch. The score is legendary as well.
PG Score: 9/10
Citizen Kane (1941)
I get it. Often lauded as the greatest movie ever made, Citizen Kane is not that for me, but it is shocking how good it looks despite being released 84 years ago. The big reveal at the end didn’t quite match the level of build-up. But everyone should see Citizen Kane.
PG Score: 9/10
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Beautiful. Just a beautiful film. Not many superlatives don’t apply to Audrey Hepburn, and George Peppard does great alongside her; the movie doesn’t absolutely need her to be on screen, he can carry things as well. The subject matter was ahead of its time, though Mickey Rooney’s character is, obviously, regrettable. Really the only flaw.
PG Score: 9/10
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
It was as if every actor was trying to win an Oscar in this film. The dialogue is razor sharp and the high-stakes sales environment never loses steam. I would imagine it’s just as good on-stage as on-screen.
PG Score: 9.25/10
12 Angry Men (1957)
Simple plots with a limited scope seemed to be much more popular in years past. I like that style. 12 Angry Men is just 12 jurors debating a murder verdict, slowly revealing their own biases in the process until everything is on the table and the truth can finally be reached. Henry Fonda is brilliant, as is this movie.
PG Score: 9.25/10
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Paul Newman at the peak of his powers. The “Plastic Jesus” scene will tear you to bits. There are dozens of analogies to glean from this powerful story of a man who just refuses to be broken by the powers that be.
PG Score: 9.5/10
The Sting (1973)
I love a good heist film. The Sting is on par with Ocean’s 11, maybe a little better. Robert Redford and Paul Newman deliver in their second rendezvous together, and Robert Shaw is a superb villain. It’ll keep you guessing ‘til the end, the style is top-notch, and “The Entertainer” theme song is a nice touch.
PG Score: 9.5/10
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Holy shit. What a movie. The tension is palpable. Anthony Hopkins can’t be topped, and Jodie Foster goes toe-to-toe with him. I have no notes. It’s mysterious, it’s unsettling, it’s thrilling. Hannibal Lecter is an all-time villain and this is a perfect piece of art.
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