The majority of films made today are terrible, I’ll be the first one to say it. Films like The Fast and the Furious and Transformers despite their financial success are critically panned for being unoriginal. Unfortunately, great films are often passed over, particularly by my generation.

Now I’m not speaking about classic films such as Gone With the Wind and Ben-Hur, which are great films, but often are over stated by their long standing recognition. I’m talking about culturally relevant films that our generation seldom experiences.

The majority of kids will recognize names like Steven Spielberg or Tom Hanks but may never have heard names like Stanley Kubrick or Joe Pesci. This list is in no particular order, yet they’re all of equal importance.

The Usual Suspects 

Made in 1995, The Usual Suspects has become a favorite of the generation in which it was made, but has often been passed over in recent years. Starring Kevin Spacey and the little known Gabriel Byrne, five criminals are called in for a line up at the police station, setting off a series of events leading to a shocking final conclusion. Spacey’s performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

For a generation obsessed with suspense and action, this movie hits on all cylinders. Spacey is electric, his portrayal will leave you in utter awe as the credits roll.

Kramer vs. Kramer 

Starring film icons Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, this Best Picture winning film from 1979 is one that is seldom given the credit it deserves. The first film of it’s kind, Streep and Hoffman play a divorced couple struggling over the custody of their child. In an eye opening performance, Hoffman gives us prime insight into the life of a single parent, garnering a Best Actor Award for the performance.

For a generation that has seen a divorce rate higher than any before, a film like this allows our generation identify with not only the troubled children and adults alike.

Reservoir Dogs

Director Quentin Tarantino is famous for films like Pulp Fiction and Django: Unchained, but few remember his first film, Reservoir Dogs. Famous during this time, actors like Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel and Michael Madsen, have since lost their fame. Their performances in this classic heist film however, will be remembered for years to come.

A cult classic from the past, Reservoir Dogs should be appreciated by a whole new generation of film fanatics because of it’s plot structure and unparalleled character acting.

Raging Bull 

Most people our age recognize Robert De Niro unfortunately as the disgruntled father-in-law from Meet The Parents. More seasoned film watchers will remember him from Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter, Goodfellas, and of course this classic boxing film. Widely considered to be superior to Rocky, Raging Bull earned De Niro a Best Actor Award and was rated as the 4th best film of all time by The American Film Institute.

Almost a forgotten film over the years,  Raging Bull should be recognized as the best sports biography of all time.

The Babadook 

Coming out just last year, this future horror classic has redefined the way we watch scary movies. With the array of mediocre horror films being made in recent years, this film is a breath of fresh air for people who like to be scared. Winner at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, this spine-tingling tale about a children’s book that consumes a family’s life is one to be remembered and is already widely considered to be among the greatest horror films of all time.

Most horror films are terrible, wasted effort coupled with cheap jump-scares in two hours or less. The horror of The Babadook is a breath of fresh air for real horror fans.

Miller’s Crossing 

The Coen Brother’s are famous for directing films such as The Big Lebowski and No Country For Old Men, this cult classic is often forgotten. Once again starring the forgotten Gabriel Byrne in an impressive performance, Miller’s Crossing takes a comedic take on the organized crime genre. Rejected after it’s initial release, the film has since developed into a cult classic and a favorite among Coen Brothers fans.

Often overshadowed by the crime classic Goodfellas, Miller’s Crossing is equally effective at capturing the dark humor and noir of  the organized crime world. 

Apocalypse Now 

Beat out for Best Picture by the aforementioned Kramer vs. Kramer, this realistic war film spares no details of the gruesome life on the front-lines of battle. Show stopping performances by the likes of Robert Duvall and Marlon Brando made this film an instant classic, a stalwart in the wide array of great war films. Director Francis Ford Coppola was masterful as always, more known for his work on The Godfather.  

The original war classic, Apocalypse Now is a visually shocking film. The performances throughout will feel almost too real; sure to open the minds of younger movie fans.

The Deer Hunter 

The staggering chemistry between De Niro and Christopher Walken in this picture from 1978 is something everyone should experience at least once. A film far ahead of its time, it tackled the issue of veterans struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder before the condition even had a name. Walken’s performance as a war-torn Vietnam soldier garnered him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

With veterans returning home nearly everyday, this dark classic will shed some much needed light on the horrors of war so that a younger generation can understand.

Stand By Me 

This coming of age classic from 1986 chronicles the journey of four young boys on a journey to find the body of a deceased friend. The late River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Jerry O’Connell, and Corey Feldman are moving as four childhood friends, all going on to have successful acting careers. Adapted from a Stephen King story, Stand By Me is the author’s favorite film adaptation of his writing.

This heartfelt childhood story is relate able to any generation, but the current one should reflect on it now before they are fully grown.

The Godfather 

Widely considered to be the greatest film of all time, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather has become a timeless classic. An ensemble cast of Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Robert Duvall carry this organized crime film, setting the standard for the genre. Followed by two sequels, The Godfather’s legacy in cinema is unparalleled and should be enjoyed by a younger generation.