The history of Hollywood can be broadly divided into several distinct eras, each marked by key technological advancements, evolving storytelling styles, and shifts in cultural attitudes. The following list organizes some of the most influential films into these pivotal periods, showcasing the evolution from the silent screen to the modern cinematic landscape.

The Silent Era (1920s)

This period is defined by the absence of synchronized sound, with films relying on title cards, visual storytelling, and musical accompaniment.

• Nosferatu (1922)
• Sherlock Jr. (1924)
• The Gold Rush (1925)
• Metropolis (1927)

The Golden Age of Hollywood (1930s – 1950s)

This era, which began with the advent of “talkies,” saw the rise of the studio system, the introduction of the Production Code, and the creation of iconic genres like screwball comedies, film noir, and classic musicals.

• City Lights (1931)
• M (1931)
• King Kong (1933)
• Duck Soup (1933)
• It Happened One Night (1934)
• Modern Times (1936)
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
• Gone with the Wind (1939)
• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
• Stagecoach (1939)
• His Girl Friday (1940)
• The Philadelphia Story (1940)
• Citizen Kane (1941)
• The Maltese Falcon (1941)
• Casablanca (1942)
• Double Indemnity (1944)
• It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
• The Big Sleep (1946)
• Bicycle Thieves (1948)
• The Third Man (1949)
• All About Eve (1950)
• Sunset Boulevard (1950)
• A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
• Strangers on a Train (1951)
• The African Queen (1951)
• High Noon (1952)
• Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
• Roman Holiday (1953)
• Shane (1953)
• On the Waterfront (1954)
• Rear Window (1954)
• Seven Samurai (1954)
• Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
• Giant (1956)
• The Searchers (1956)
• 12 Angry Men (1957)
• Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
• Paths of Glory (1957)
• Vertigo (1958)
• Ben-Hur (1959)
• North by Northwest (1959)
• Some Like It Hot (1959)

New Hollywood (1960s – 1970s)

A cultural and artistic shift in filmmaking. Directors gained unprecedented creative control, leading to gritty, complex, and often cynical films that reflected a changing society.

• Breathless (1960)
• La Dolce Vita (1960)
• Psycho (1960)
• Spartacus (1960)
• Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
• To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
• Dr. Strangelove (1964)
• My Fair Lady (1964)
• Doctor Zhivago (1965)
• The Sound of Music (1965)
• Persona (1966)
• Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
• The Graduate (1967)
• 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
• Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
• Easy Rider (1969)
• Midnight Cowboy (1969)
• Patton (1970)
• A Clockwork Orange (1971)
• The Godfather (1972)
• The Exorcist (1973)
• Chinatown (1974)
• The Godfather Part II (1974)
• Jaws (1975)
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
• Network (1976)
• Rocky (1976)
• Taxi Driver (1976)
• Annie Hall (1977)
• Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
• The Deer Hunter (1978)
• Grease (1978)
• Alien (1979)
• Apocalypse Now (1979)

The Blockbuster and Independent Film Era (1980s – 1990s)

This period saw the rise of the high-concept blockbuster, driven by special effects and large budgets, while simultaneously witnessing the flourishing of the independent film movement as a creative counter-balance.

• Raging Bull (1980)
• The Shining (1980)
• Blade Runner (1982)
• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
• Gandhi (1982)
• Amadeus (1984)
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
• Platoon (1986)
• Stand by Me (1986)
• Goodfellas (1990)
• The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
• Reservoir Dogs (1992)
• Schindler’s List (1993)
• Forrest Gump (1994)
• Pulp Fiction (1994)
• Heat (1995)
• Fargo (1996)
• Fight Club (1999)

The Contemporary Era (2000s onwards)

Defined by digital filmmaking, the proliferation of CGI, and the dominance of franchise films, this era also sees a continued embrace of international cinema and streaming services.

·  Gladiator (2000)

·  Spirited Away (2001)

·  Finding Nemo (2003)

·  The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

·  No Country for Old Men (2007)

·  Up (2009)

·  Toy Story 3 (2010)

·  Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

·  Inside Out (2015)

·  Parasite (2019)

·  Godzilla Minus One (2023)