Learn the Art of Filmmaking Through These Inspiring Movies

How do you learn more about filmmaking?

Most filmmakers learn by watching those who came before them. Watching movies helps you understand the craft better.

When you watch the work of master directors, cinematographers, and actors, you gain more insight into what it takes to produce a quality film.

Before enrolling in film school, check out this essential list of 30 films every film student should see.

1. Vertigo

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Vertigo often tops the films all inspiring filmmakers must see.

Released in 1958, Vertigo is a psychological thriller about a former police detective suffering from acrophobia and vertigo.

Vertigo was the first movie to use the dolly zoom. Hitchcock used the camera technique to recreate the disorientation experienced by the main character. The film is a master class in how to build tension. 

Martin Scorsese also lists Vertigo as one of his favorite films.

2. Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane is often considered one of the best films of all time. Director Orson Welles and writer Herman J. Mankiewicz create a powerful narrative that continues to amaze critics and new generations of filmmakers.

When the movie was released in 1941, almost every aspect of the film was original and groundbreaking.

The cinematography, story structure, pacing, editing, and music were all innovative at the time. There was nothing else like Citizen Kane at the time, making it an important part of film history.

3. Tokyo Story

Tokyo Story has a slow pace, low camera angles, and other elements breaking tradition. It also captures a unique time in Japanese history when the country embraced Western ideals and discarded traditions, which is also reflected in the story.

The plot follows a retired couple visiting their children in post-war Japan. The children treat the parents as burdens.

The film is now considered essential viewing for its ability to showcase emotions without being melodramatic.

4. The Godfather

The Godfather is one of the films every filmmaker should see due to the realism of the characters, who are brought to life by a well-rounded cast. Marlon Brando won an Academy Award for his performance, which he turned down.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather is considered the quintessential gangster film.

However, it treats the Italian-Americans in the story with more respect than earlier movies about the mob, allowing the audience to sympathize with the characters despite their horrific deeds.

5. Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia is a beautiful film with sweeping landscapes. It won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, and Best Music.

Peter O’Toole was also nominated for Best Actor, but the technical aspects are why film students need to watch this movie.

6. 8 ½

8 ½ is a movie about the struggles of being a movie director. It was also written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Federico Fellini.

The unique premise finds the director fantasizing about his past loves while dealing with his career challenges.

David Lynch lists 8 ½ as one of his top three favorite films of all time, and he even made a series of lithographs dedicated to the film.

7. The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption is an interesting film adapted from Stephen King’s novel and directed by Frank Darabont. It mostly takes place in a prison, yet it is incredibly inspiring.

The film has a sense of hope and wonder despite the dark setting and the horrible injustices committed against some characters, mostly due to the powerful script and the lead actors’ performances.

Cinematographers will recognize and appreciate the work of Roger Deakins.

8. Mean Streets

While every Martin Scorsese movie should be considered essential viewing for film students, Mean Streets is one of the most important works in Scorsese’s career. The plot is thin, but the performances and direction are extraordinary.

Despite his supporting role, Robert De Niro is the standout star of the movie.

However, the unique photography in the film is also worth paying attention to. The fight scene in a billiard hall is especially notable for its realism, as the camera keeps you focused on the action without distracting cuts or closeups.

9. Bicycle Thieves

“Ladri di Biciclette,” or Bicycle Thieves, is the story of a poor father searching for a stolen bicycle in post-war Italy.

The movie showcases the despair and devastation caused by war. The region is economically depressed, and many cities were partially destroyed.

The movie captures the atmosphere of post-war Europe and the hardships Europeans faced as they tried to rebuild. The movies are also touching and heartwarming due to the connection between the father and the son at the center of the story.

10. Pulp Fiction

After receiving acclaim for Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino released Pulp Fiction. The movie helped revolutionize the film industry, ushering in a new era of young filmmakers with unique visions.

Quentin Tarantino’s story is an example of how to learn filmmaking by watching movies. Tarantino did not attend film school. He was an avid movie buff who turned his love of films into a successful career.

Pulp Fiction manages to combine several stories into a non-linear movie. Along with a unique script, the film highlights how music can elevate a scene.

If you want to learn to develop strong characters and dialogue, study Quintin Tarantino.

11. The Shining

Stanley Kubrick is known for his distinct visual style, which is most evident in The Shining. Thanks to the creepy visuals and Jack Nicholson’s performance, it is also considered one of the most terrifying blockbuster films.

The movie takes place almost entirely in a large hotel during the off-season.

The cinematography and set design keeps you on edge throughout the movie, including several unforgettable cinematic moments.

12. Good Will Hunting

Good Will Hunting is frequently included in lists of films to study in film school due to its screenplay.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won an Academy Award for the best original screenplay in 1998.

The screenplay for Good Will Hunting is an example of maintaining focus. The story rarely treads too far from the main plot.

The script also features one of my favorite monologues of all time uttered by the late Robin Williams in what may be his best performance of all time.

However, this almost wasn’t the case. The original script included a subplot involving Matt Damon’s character working for the US government.

The scenes would have involved action sequences. Based on Rob Reiner and William Goldman’s advice, Damon and Affleck decided to drop the subplot and focus on the characters.

13. Seven Samurai 

Seven Samurai by Akira Kurosawa is frequently listed as one of the most inspiring movies for filmmakers.

The movie was remade in America as The Magnificent Seven and likely influenced other movies, including the original Star Wars.

The movie features rich characters and original cinematic artistry that stand out over six decades later. The visual style was unique.

The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

14. City of God

City of God is the story of two adolescents growing up in the slums of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s. One of the kids becomes a photographer, while the other becomes a local drug kingpin.

However, the movie is notable for its realism. The audience feels like they are walking through the favelas with the characters.

The movie has an epic scope, powerful imagery, and amazing direction. Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles captured phenomenal performances from a group of mostly untrained actors.

15. Apocalypto

Apocalypto, directed by Mel Gibson, delivers an action-packed journey with minimal dialogue. The characters also speak in the Indigenous Yucatec Maya language.

Instead of relying on dialogue, the film uses visual storytelling to propel the story forward.

The story is about a young warrior attempting to find his wife and child following the massacre of his tribe. The movie is relentless as it follows the warrior.

While the run time is 139 minutes, the film’s quick pace and dramatic scenes keep you glued to the screen until the credits roll.

Students can learn about editing from this film, as it is carefully cut to maintain a sense of urgency throughout the entire runtime.

16. Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049 showcases what a cinematographer can achieve with a blank canvas.

Set in the not-too-distant future, Blade Runner 2049 is a sequel to Blade Runner (1982), which helped define the cyberpunk subgenre.

The setting gives the cinematographer Roger Deakins and director Denis Villeneuve free reign to compose breathtaking scenes.

Like Stanley Kubrick’s work, Denis Villeneuve uses symmetry and balance to guide the audience through expansive set pieces.

17. Casablanca

Directed by Michael Curtiz, Casablanca is one of the top-rated movies ever. The plot involving a love triangle is relatively straightforward.

However, the performances help elevate this movie. It stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman at their best.

Overall, Casablanca is a technical masterpiece. The movie benefited from the experienced director, composer, cinematographer, screenwriters, and great performances from the actors.

Any film student needs to see Casablanca.

18. Joker

Joker stands out for a variety of reasons, including the cinematography.

Cinematographer Lawrence Sher expertly recreated the look of films from the 1970s, several of which directly inspired this movie.

The filmmakers borrowed heavily from Taxi Driver, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon when establishing the movie’s style.

Along with the direction of photography, the movie is worth watching for Joaquin Phoenix’s Academy Award-winning performance as the Joker.

The movie is a psychological study of a villain, and Phoenix keeps you captivated from the start to the end.

19. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a blueprint for how to make a successful adventure film.

It introduces the characters and quickly establishes their personalities. Written and directed by John Huston, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre follows three men searching for gold in the Sierra Madre mountains.

The movie features action, bandits, and betrayal. It is also a character-driven story, using adventure to test the characters.

20. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a groundbreaking film directed by Steven Spielberg.

After a close encounter with a UFO, a man’s life gradually unravels. The performance by Richard Dreyfuss is relatable, which helps the audience get drawn into the story.

The movie is also notable for its complex storylines. Along with following Richard Dreyfuss’s character, the film follows the efforts of scientists to contact aliens.

Steven Spielberg keeps the complicated plots from becoming muddled throughout the lengthy film.

Did you know that Close Encounters is pretty accurate in depicting the UFOs and who’s running the show behind the scenes, given the recent UAP revelations?

21. Breathless

As with many of the must-see movies for filmmakers, Breathless broke new ground when released and has influenced countless directors and cinematographers. It is a 1960 French film written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard.

Breathless is the most influential movie from the French new wave cinema of the 1960s. The movie had a bold visual style that Western audiences had not yet seen.

It also featured numerous jump cuts, which heightened some scenes’ tension and sense of urgency.

22. Patton

Patton won seven Academy Awards, which is enough of a reason for film students to watch it. The movie won Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Actor awards.

However, George C. Scott turned down the Best Actor award for his portrayal of General George S. Patton. Scott didn’t believe in competition and awards because every piece of art should be considered unique.

Patton is an epic movie that traces the general’s career from a major defeat in Tunisia through victories in North Africa and Italy. The movie does not attempt to make the audience sympathize with Patton. It instead presents the general as a stubborn military leader.

23. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is another film students must watch if they ever plan on adapting a novel.

Released in 1975 and based on the novel of the same name, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest puts the audience in the mental hospital with the other patients.

Throughout the film, you feel the characters’ emotions due to a combination of fantastic direction, set design, cinematography, and actors’ performances.

The movie’s sadistic asylum nurse, Mildred Ratched, later spawned the spin-off series Ratched (2020) on Netflix.

24. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back is often considered the greatest film in the Star Wars franchise. It includes many storytelling elements that film students can learn from.

It is a character-driven story that allows its protagonists to grow, fail, and learn from their mistakes.

The Empire Strikes Back is also unique for defying expectations, with unexpected plot twists that blew the audiences’ minds in 1980 when it was initially released.

Check out some rare behind-the-scenes footage here.

25. Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot routinely tops the list of the greatest comedies ever. It starred Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon. Curtis and Lemmon play fugitives on the run who disguise themselves as women in an all-female band.

The movie blends genres, including romantic comedies, crime capers, buddy films, and musicals. It also delivers a strong message of acceptance and tolerance. These features help the movie remain relevant over 60 years after its release.

26. District 9

District 9 is one of the top films for film students due to the innovative techniques employed by director and writer Neill Blomkamp.

The movie includes a combination of film styles, including found footage. The filmmakers also found a way to make the computer-generated aliens appear lifelike.

Instead of giving the movie a glossy sheen, the filmmakers kept the visual style gritty and realistic.

This helps mask some of the limitations of CGI. Applying grain and other effects helps blend the CGI creatures into the real world.

27. Titanic

Titanic is one of the top-grossing movies of all time, making it an essential viewing for aspiring filmmakers. While critics argue that the story has not held up well over the years, Titanic remains an amazing filmmaking achievement.

Titanic is one of the most expensive movie productions of its time. It is one of the last Hollywood blockbusters to feature massive set-pieces built to scale instead of relying solely on CGI.

28. This Is Spinal Tap

Directed by Rob Reiner, This Is Spinal Tap helped define the mockumentary genre of films. The movie follows a fictional English rock group during a US tour to promote a new album.

Critics mostly praised the witty dialogue, which was entirely improvised. However, film students should also appreciate the mockumentary style of filmmaking. Rob Reiner manages to keep the audience interested in the antics of a fake band by humanizing them.

29. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

The Lord of the Rings trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, easily belongs on the list of essential films for filmmakers to study. The trilogy shows how to adapt novels to screen in a way that pleases fans of the original work while appealing to a wider audience.

The films also feature heavy use of special effects, especially during carefully choreographed fight scenes and battles featuring thousands of real and computer-generated extras.

30. Hoop Dreams

The only documentary on this list, Hoop Dreams follows two student-athletes and their pursuit to become professional basketball players. The International Documentary Association (IDA) ranked it as the greatest documentary of all time.

Released in 1994, Hoop Dreams was originally planned as a 30-minute short. The filmmakers chronicled the two young athletes for eight years, recording over 250 hours of footage.

Hoop Dreams is a great example of how to edit years of footage into a compelling story that clocks in at just under three hours.

Conclusion

So that’s it. Thirty great movies to watch for different reasons if you want to learn filmmaking on your own.

These are just the beginning, and every movie can teach you something–even the bad ones.

But if you want to learn filmmaking from the best, these are the perfect place to start.

Did you know you can take online masterclasses with A-list directors, actors, and screenwriters?

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