# Most influential American movies (since 1960) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2002, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866 "2002-06-01T06:16:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/1 "2002-06-01T06:16:17Z")
I am not a student of the cinema (and I’d be embarrassed to list some of the films I’ve never seen). Yet, even from my naive perspective, a few movies stand out as having been hugely influential, i.e. they spawned legions of imitators, or broke new ground, or established new standards, etc.). I can’t comment intelligently on foreign cinema (at least not pre-1970), so I’ll confine my choices to American-made films. 1. [Bonnie and Clyde (1967)](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0061418): This is the film that introduced graphic violence to the movies. Peckinpah would extend things in The Wild Bunch a few years later, but he was just building on what Penn did here. Slow motion carnage (seen from many angles), _lots_ of blood, gruesome deaths of innocent bystanders… It all started with Bonnie and Clyde. The film was also a pioneer in bringing the anti-hero to the mainstream. I mean, really, murdering bank robbers as human beings? with feelings? (and with a near comic songtrack)? 1. [MASH (1970)](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0066026): At a time when Vietnam was still very much a war, Robert Altman gave us permission to laugh at death, the army, and authority in general. We were even allowed to hear the “F” word (and roar with approval). After MASH, nothing would ever be sacred on the silver screen again. And, MASH also provided us with more anti-heroes, consolidating the cinematic trend of the late '60s. Remarkably, MASH gave birth to a TV series that was even more successful than its progenitor. Hollywood and the networks took notice. 1. [Animal House (1978)](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0077975): In case there was any doubt, National Lampoon’s Animal House confirmed that appeal to “youth” (with gross, scatological humor, premarital sex, drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll) would now be a driving force in Hollywood. Barely a dozen years after American kids joined their families in reverence while watching The Greatest Story Ever Told, those same kids, now teenagers, would howl as John Belushi “popped a zit”. And Animal House beget Porky’s, which beget Porky’s II, and Porky’s Revenge, which beget Fast times at Ridegemount High, which beget the Revenge of the Nerds, etc, which beget Police Academy, which beget Police Academy 2, … Police Academy 6, etc. (I think you get my point). So, what are your choices for some of the most influential American films post 1960? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/2 "2002-06-01T06:28:47Z")
Argh, I cannot believe that you didn’t mention Star Wars, the film that destroyed literate, adult cinema in America for well over a decade. My God, once Hollywood executives realized that teenage boys would pay first-run prices to see the same movie over and over again, it was all over. Ever since Star Wars, movies have reverted to the pre-1970’s fashion of emphasising plot over character, a sharp good/evil distinction over moral ambiguity, scenery over dialogue, and a whole plethora of ills that set American cinema back 10 years. The blockbuster mentality The simplification of dialogue and plot The emphasis on sensory overload rather than emotional or intellectual overload Movies have gotten better since _Heathers_ re-opened the door a little bit for moral ambiguity, but for a period of about 10 years, from 1978 to 1987 films generally sucked… especially the popular ones. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/3 "2002-06-01T07:44:16Z")
The Matrix. If I never see another bullet time ripoff I’ll die happy. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/4 "2002-06-01T07:52:21Z")
\*\* Jaws \*\* … ushered in the idea of mega-blockbusters. \*\* The Godfather \*\* see \*\* The Sopranos \*\* and everything in between. \*\* Pulp Fiction \*\* a buncha things, but most obviously non-linear storytelling. \*\* Midnight Cowboy \*\* did for sexual themes what Bonnie & Clyde did for violence. \*\* Close Encounters of the Third Kind \*\* introduced the now expected view of friendly, lovable aliens, virtually unknown previously. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/5 "2002-06-01T07:54:12Z")
I think **The Lion King** showed that animation was a force to be reckoned with. **Braveheart** was an amazing epic that spawned lesser wannabe’s like The Messenger and Gladiator. Also spawned many spoofs and possibly (imo) influenced battle scenes from Lord of the Rings. **Matrix** - as someone already said, it’s only been three years since the Matrix and _how_ many other films have copied it? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/6 "2002-06-01T09:17:16Z")
Bonnie and Clyde Midnight Cowboy Deep Throat Jaws Star Wars (damn it to everlasting hell) National Lampoon’s Animal House Pulp Fiction The Matrix ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/7 "2002-06-01T11:04:34Z")
I think I’d put **The Little Mermaid** before **The Lion King**. Although I could even see a good arguement for **An American Tale**. **Boyz N the Hood** or **New Jack City**? Or do they occupy the same place? Both seemed to have a major impact. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/8 "2002-06-01T11:21:41Z")
**Alien** really brought a new aspect to the whole sci-fi/horror scheme of things. **Night of the Living Dead**. Not only did it create and define the zombie genre, but it was also the first movie with a black person playing a \ strong, leading role amongst a bunch of white people. ---
**Author:** ![KoalaBear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47c2d/32.png) [@KoalaBear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KoalaBear)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/9 "2002-06-01T14:04:46Z")
_ **Psycho** _ (1960) – speaks for itself. _ **Pink Flamingos** _ (1972) – two families at war for the title of “filthiest people alive.” Still shocking after 30 years. _ **Network** _ (1976) – Disturbingly prescient satire of a television network that would _kill_ to achieve a 20 share/30 rating. Probably the most literate screenplay in the history of American cinema. _ **Fargo** _ (1996) – A Japanese woman apparently [**froze to death**](http://www.inq7.net/ent/2001/dec/11/ent_3-1.htm) in a misguided attempt to find the buried loot. Now _that’s_ influence. _ **American Beauty** _ (1999) – I thought the movie’s tag line _“look closer”_ was marketing drivel until I saw the movie and discovered a big piece of myself – and several other people I know – inside. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/10 "2002-06-01T14:29:38Z")
**Tron** , first movie to rely on excessive amounts of computer generated backgrounds and environments. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/11 "2002-06-01T14:37:08Z")
Based entirely upon the fact that **KoalaBear** beat me to three of the five movies I was coming in here to mention (the other two having been also already mentioned), I am going to make every effort to see _Pink Flamingos_ as soon as possible. Welcome to the Boards! ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/12 "2002-06-01T14:42:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Elvis Rojo \* > \*\*\*\ ***Night of the Living Dead**. Not only did it create and define the zombie genre, but it was also the first movie with a black person playing a \ strong, leading role amongst a bunch of white people. \*\* **Night of the Living Dead** (1968)? See Sidney Poitier’s Oscar-winning role in **Lillies of the Field** (1963) and his performances in **To Sir, With Love** (1967) and **In the Heat of the Night** (1967). ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/13 "2002-06-01T14:53:20Z")
Many excellent choices. I agree, in particular, with the influence of **Star Wars** , **The Godfather** , and **Midnight Cowboy**. And, I think that **Stoid** ’s point about **Close Encounters** was astute. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/14 "2002-06-01T14:57:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > \*\* Close Encounters of the Third Kind \*\* introduced the now expected view of friendly, lovable aliens, virtually unknown previously. \*\* A trope that has played itself out, all but countered by the mysterious and malign aliens of **The X-Files**. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/15 "2002-06-01T15:04:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JohnT \* > \*\*Ever since Star Wars, movies have reverted to the pre-1970’s fashion of emphasising plot over character, a sharp good/evil distinction over moral ambiguity, scenery over dialogue, and a whole plethora of ills that set American cinema back 10 years. \*\* I think you do an incredible disserve to pre-1970s movies. I would characterize them just the opposite. Think of what are commonly considered classics of the cinema – _Gone With the Wind, Citizen Kane, Casablanca, The Children of Paradise, All About Eve, The Searchers_. They are all about how character _is_ what creates plot. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/16 "2002-06-01T15:41:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\* > > A trope that has played itself out, all but countered by the mysterious and malign aliens of **The X-Files**. \*\* Played itself out? They just re-released **E.T.** , and who can forget the joy of **Star Kid** and **Mac and Me**? Did I just say that? Oh, God… ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/17 "2002-06-01T16:04:48Z")
**American Beauty** **Shawshank Redemption** **Pulp Fiction** \*\* A Christmas Story\*\* y’know, Ralphie. \*\* Good Will Hunting\*\* \*\* Forrest Gump\*\* Scoff if you will, but I love them. Older movies don’t usually draw me in. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/18 "2002-06-01T16:06:43Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Slainte \* > **American Beauty > Shawshank Redemption > Pulp Fiction > \*\* A Christmas Story** y’know, Ralphie. > \*\* Good Will Hunting_\* > \*\* Forrest Gump\*\* > > Scoff if you will, but I love them. Older movies don’t usually draw me in. \*\* The question was what were the most _influential_ movies since 1960, not what were your favorites. ---
**Author:** ![the\_great\_dalmuti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b2d939/32.png) [@the\_great\_dalmuti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_great_dalmuti)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/19 "2002-06-01T16:26:26Z")
Not _the_ most influential, but one of the most influential was Woody Allen’s _Annie Hall_. It helped establish the idea that it’s “okay” for a movie to be completely dialog-driven, introspective, and deal with psychological themes. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866/20 "2002-06-01T16:36:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Elvis Rojo \* > \*\ ***Tron** , first movie to rely on excessive amounts of computer generated backgrounds and environments. \*\* While I’ll agree that Tron is influential, it’s because of this basic misperception. There is very little computer generated backgrounds and environments in Tron (the number I’ve seen is around seven minutes in all). Most of the effects used standard optical technology. Since the movie was so bad to begin with, no one wanted to see it twice to check. 😉 But “Tron as computer generated” is a movie marketing myth on the level of “Delaruentiis’s King Kong used a robot.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-influential-american-movies-since-1960/111866.md?page=2)