8 Best Classic Movies on Netflix You Must Watch

In today’s information-saturated world, movie recommendation articles are everywhere, yet most remain at the surface level. True classics, however, are like the deep ocean—every rewatch reveals new treasures, inviting us to slow down and savor their reflections on philosophy and humanity.

The films that still move us after decades have long transcended simple entertainment; they’ve become a shared spiritual wealth of humankind. These works are not just vessels for stories but crystallizations of thought, carrying the creators’ profound contemplation of life, death, love, and faith.

That’s why I’ve chosen to dive into a few of my favorite classics, analyzing them in depth in hopes of connecting with readers who have also been deeply touched by these works. All of them are available—or once were available—on Netflix. If a title is no longer streaming there, I’ll note alternative ways to watch.

The Godfather: Power and Family

Recommendation Index: ★★★★★

Available on Netflix in: Germany, India, Italy, South Korea, and more

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb Rating: 9.2/10

If gangster films have an untouchable peak, it has to be The Godfather. Centered on the Corleone family, the film captures the intricate interplay of power, family, and human nature with a calm yet weighty tone. Spanning across a generation, it reflects the transformation of American society and the evolution of the underworld.

Two aspects captivate me most. The first is the legendary montage at the end—Michael’s baptism vows intercut with the brutal assassinations he orders. The sacred and the profane collide in one of cinema’s most unforgettable sequences.

The second is Coppola’s refusal to grant viewers a “God’s-eye view.” The film never spoon-feeds us characters’ motives through narration or forced dialogue. Instead, its restraint elevates storytelling to a new artistic height.

Far beyond a violent mob tale, The Godfather is a profound exploration of the irreconcilable conflicts between power, family, and morality. In this capitalist parable, everyone is both victim and perpetrator—a reflection of human complexity at its truest.

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton

Year: 1972

Genre: Crime, Drama

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C’è ancora domani: Rebellion and Liberation

Recommendation Index: ★★★★★

Available on Netflix in: France, Switzerland

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

While The Godfather is hailed as an immortal classic in film history, its heavy patriarchal undertones have sparked increasing debate in recent years. That’s why I wanted to include a very different kind of work here—Paola Cortellesi’s directorial debut, C’è ancora domani (There’s Still Tomorrow).

Told from a female perspective, this black-and-white film portrays the awakening of an ordinary Roman housewife in 1946. It became a box-office phenomenon in Italy, sweeping six David di Donatello Awards, and tells—gently yet powerfully—a timeless story of dignity, courage, and women’s autonomy.

What makes this film truly remarkable is its subtle, non-didactic approach to feminism. Cortellesi captures the nuances of women’s psychology with striking precision. Delia, the protagonist, is not depicted as a flawless heroine, but as a woman who hesitates, fears, and struggles—making her journey all the more real.

Set in Rome during Italy’s first national referendum and the first time women could vote, the film’s backdrop is both political and personal. When Delia gazes at herself in the mirror, her eyes flicker with an indescribable light—a moment of questioning the established order.

Though rooted in post-war Italy, the issues it raises—domestic violence, educational inequality, economic dependency—still persist in different forms today. Cortellesi holds up a mirror of history to reflect our present. And when Delia finally casts her vote, it is not just a victory for Italian women in 1946, but a tribute to all women who continue to fight for equality.

Director: Paola Cortellesi

Cast: Paola Cortellesi, Valentino Lorenzo, Romina Braconi

Year: 2023

Genre: Drama, Historical

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Life is Beautiful: Love and War

Recommendation Index: ★★★★★

Available on Netflix in: Italy, Germany, France, and other European regions

Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Roberto Benigni’s Life is Beautiful remains one of the most debated masterpieces in cinema history. Set against the Holocaust, it dares to approach humanity’s darkest chapter through the lens of comedy.

The film follows Guido, a young Italian Jew, and Dora, a schoolteacher, from their whimsical romance to their life as a family under the shadow of World War II. The first half is lighthearted and witty, showing how Guido’s charm wins Dora’s heart. But once the Nazis rise to power, the story shifts dramatically into tragedy.

At its core, Life is Beautiful is a tribute to the redemptive power of imagination. In the face of horror, Guido creates a parallel world for his son—an illusion that shields him with innocence and hope. This act of imagination is not an escape from reality but a defiance of it at its highest form.

Blending comedy and tragedy, the film delivers a gentle yet profound message about resilience and the strength of love. When every weapon is stripped away, when resistance seems futile, love becomes the last fortress. As its title suggests, even in the darkest of times, life can still be “beautiful” because of love.

Director: Roberto Benigni

Cast: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini

Year: 1997

Genre: Drama, Romance, War

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Time and Life

Recommendation Index: ★★★★

Available on Netflix in: Germany, South Korea, Canada, and more

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

When people think of Brad Pitt, beyond his high-profile romances with Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie, one film that truly defines his career is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This masterpiece elevated him from Hollywood heartthrob to a serious actor, securing his place among cinema’s greats.

Director David Fincher, with his signature precision, transforms this almost fairytale-like story into something both weighty and poetic. The streets of New Orleans, the ashes of war, the shadows of time—all take on a haunting historical texture under his direction.

What moves audiences isn’t simply the novelty of “reverse aging,” but how the premise mirrors humanity’s universal struggles. Time runs backward in Benjamin’s life, yet it forces us to reconsider the meaning of time itself. Love, mismatched by age, becomes even more pure. Death, brought forward, makes every encounter more precious.

Though surreal in concept, the emotions it conveys are profoundly human. Every viewer can see themselves in Benjamin’s journey—our reluctance to let go of time, our longing for love, our fear of death, and our search for meaning. Wrapped in fantasy, the film’s heart is deeply real.

Viewing Tip
This is a film best experienced in stillness. Its slower pace allows every frame to breathe, inviting you to fully immerse yourself in its strange yet beautiful world. It’s also a movie worth revisiting; each viewing reveals new layers and insights.

Director: David Fincher

Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett

Year: 2008

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

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The Shawshank Redemption: Freedom and Hope

Recommendation Index: ★★★★★

Available on Netflix in: Italy, France, the Netherlands, Poland, and more

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb Rating: 9.3/10

Widely regarded as one of the greatest films in cinematic history, The Shawshank Redemption has held the top spot on IMDb’s rankings for years. It is a profound parable about hope, freedom, systems of control, and spiritual redemption.

Directed by Frank Darabont, the film uses a calm and restrained storytelling style to explore the struggles of humanity within prison walls. Though it underperformed at the box office upon release, it has since grown into a timeless masterpiece, embraced by audiences worldwide as a source of spiritual strength.

At its heart, the film is a celebration of hope and freedom. In Shawshank Prison, time is the sharpest blade—it dulls individuality and erodes the desire for freedom. Many, like Brooks, become so accustomed to the system that they lose the courage to live beyond it.

“Institutionalization” doesn’t only exist in prison; it represents any powerful order that erases individuality. Perhaps we all live within invisible Shawshanks, mistaking them for the limits of life. Andy’s story reminds us to keep something untouched by Shawshank within us—a book, a piece of music, or an unshakable belief.

Director: Frank Darabont

Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman

Year: 1994

Genre: Drama, Crime

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Detachment: Loneliness and Education

Recommendation Index: ★★★

Available on Netflix: No longer available (currently on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV)

Rotten Tomatoes: 74% | IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Detachment is a piercing critique of the American education system, with Adrien Brody delivering a haunting performance as Henry, a substitute teacher navigating the harsh realities of a troubled school.

Through stark and unflinching cinematography, the film captures both the defiance and disorientation of its students, as well as the exhaustion and resilience of teachers under systemic pressure. More than just a film about education, it is a profound reflection on broader societal issues.

What resonates most is the film’s sensitive portrayal of humanity. Every character carries hidden struggles and raw emotional conflicts. Though Henry appears detached on the surface, he deeply cares for the marginalized students, striving in his own quiet way to rescue their lost souls.

With its unvarnished realism and emotional depth, Detachment compels viewers to rethink the meaning of education and our shared social responsibilities. Brody’s powerful performance, paired with director Tony Kaye’s uncompromising vision, results in a film that is both thought-provoking and deeply humane.

Director: Tony Kaye

Cast: Adrien Brody, Christina Hendricks, Marcia Gay Harden, Lucy Liu, James Caan

Year: 2011

Genre: Drama, Education, Social Realism

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TRIANGLE: Fate and Reincarnation

Recommendation Index: ★★★★★

Available on Netflix: Not available (currently on Prime Video and Disney+)

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Triangle is a brilliant time-loop thriller built on an almost flawless logical paradox. Like drawing a circle—you see the starting point clearly, but once the circle is complete, the beginning becomes impossible to identify.

Set aboard a mysterious ocean liner, the film creates a suffocating closed world through layer upon layer of suspense. Director Christopher Smith masterfully structures the narrative so that each loop peels back new truths, delivering fresh shocks with every cycle.

Melissa George’s gripping performance conveys the despair, resilience, and shifting emotions of her character, making each repetition feel distinct. By weaving the myth of Sisyphus into a modern psychological thriller, the film explores profound questions of fate, redemption, and eternal recurrence.

Director: Christopher Smith

Cast: Melissa George, Liam Hemsworth

Year: 2009

Genre: Mystery, Horror, Thriller

💡 Want to revisit this mind-bending cycle of fate anytime? With GamsGo, you can add it to your watchlist at a fraction of the cost.

Rashomon: Truth and Human Nature

Recommendation Index: ★★★★

Available on Netflix in: Japan

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon is a timeless masterpiece that examines the relativity of truth and the complexity of human nature through four conflicting accounts of a murder by a bandit. Beyond showcasing the artistic heights of Japanese cinema, it also introduced the influential concept of the “Rashomon Effect” in storytelling.

By presenting multiple versions of the same event, the film reveals how individuals reconstruct memory based on their own perspective and self-interest. Kurosawa’s masterful use of light, shadow, and camera work lends credibility to each account—while simultaneously exposing their contradictions.

Through its groundbreaking narrative structure and striking cinematography, Rashomon challenges viewers to question what “truth” really means. Even today, this 1950 classic resonates with contemporary relevance, reminding us—especially in an age of information overload—to think critically about the nature of reality.

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori
Year: 1950
Genre: Drama, Mystery

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Conclusion

Cinema is called the seventh art because it doesn’t just capture an era—it reflects the human soul. Classics that transcend language and borders are more than stories; they are mirrors revealing humanity’s deepest desires, loneliness, and hopes. The true power of art lies in its ability to let us glimpse light even in the darkest of times.

Today, discovering these treasures of the human spirit no longer requires a difficult search. Platforms like Netflix, HBO, and Disney+ bring together countless timeless films, while GamsGo makes them more accessible than ever. With less spent, you gain a wider world of cinema—where art and storytelling can take root in your everyday life.

👉 Don’t let these classics pass you by. Start your viewing journey with GamsGo, and let masterpieces continue to accompany you through the flowing light and shadow.