Every year, some famous movie turns 50 years old or 25 years old, reminding you that you're getting older. 1999 was one of perfect non-animated action movies to watch as kids, turned 25. Mean Girls celebrating two decades since its release with the release of the musical movie was another instance that made me realize just how fast time flies.

Nothing makes me feel older than realizing that the first ever Star Wars movie will turn 50 a couple of years from now. It's surreal to think that the Force, Luke Skywalker, the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo, lightsabers, Princess Leia, stormtroopers, Darth Vader, and Obi-Wan have been a part of pop culture for nearly half a century. 2025 is no exception to this phenomenon either, with Andrei Tarkovsky's Mirror turning 50, The Breakfast Club — one of the best feel-good movies of the 1980s — turning 40, and Toy Story turning 30.

15 100 Years – The Gold Rush

Released On June 26, 1925

Charlie Chaplin rose to fame during the silent era of Hollywood with his unique brand of slapstick humor that he used to satirically address social evils. Chaplin is famous for playing The Tramp, who recurs in many of his long-form comedy sketches.

Written, directed, produced, and edited by Chaplin, The Gold Rush sounds like a tragedy of misfortunes from its plot. However, Chaplin uses comedy to undercut the tension and hilariously poke fun at the system that makes The Tramp miserable. I know he's a legend of old, but it's mind-blowing to realize The Gold Rush is a century old.

14 75 Years – Rashomon

Released On August 26, 1950

The unreliability of eyewitness s is known as the Rashomon Effect, and the name for this phenomenon has become rather common in today's lingo. Yet, though the term has been around for long enough to become a natural part of the language, it feels wild to think that 75 years have ed since Akira Kurosawa's film was released. One of the most essentially perfect legal dramas in movie history, Rashomon presents various eyewitness s of the murder of a samurai to explore how unreliable such reports can often be.

13 70 Years – Lady And The Tramp

Released On June 22, 1955

A mind-boggling fact is that Lady and the Tramp came out seven decades ago. References to the classic animated movie are peppered all over pop culture today, and it'll be impossible not to feel old when revisiting the movie on June 22, 2025 to celebrate its 70th anniversary. The graceful and beautiful animation of the dogs has aged much better than one might expect, and the titular characters are still rightfully treated as cultural icons.

12 65 Years – Breathless

Released On March 16, 1960

One of the most influential film movements in history was the French New Wave, and few movies from that era are as iconic as Breathless. It's unreal that it's been 65 years since Jean-Luc Godard's directorial debut feature premiered — that's an anniversary for film buffs all over the world to celebrate. Featuring prominent French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo's breakout role, Breathless reflects the themes of rebellion and reinvention that motivated the birth of the French New Wave movement and influences cinematic grammar even today.

11 60 Years – The Sound Of Music

Released On March 2, 1965

I don't a time when I didn't know the lyrics to "Do Re Mi" by heart. As one of the best musicals of all time, The Sound of Music has captured people's imaginations across generations. The catchy, heartfelt, and evocative songs, from "My Favorite Things" to "Edelweiss", are timeless classics. Julie Andrews became a household name for her performance, which earned the actor her second Best Actress Oscar nomination. The magical tale came out six decades ago today, but it makes me feel like I am six years old again when I rewatch it.

10 55 Years – The Aristocats

Released On December 24, 1970

One of the most recently announced Disney live-action remake confirmations was for The Aristocats, and it's hard to see how the movie magic could translate well into live-action. While the racist stereotypes in the character designs and the songs do require updates, there's a certain charm to the simplicity of The Aristocats' world.

The beautiful 2D hand-drawn animation gives the characters a specialized flair and their sassy ways have become iconic among Disney fans. It's almost impossible to believe that the film came out as long as 55 years ago.

9 50 Years – Jaws

Released On June 20, 1975

50th anniversaries of movies are always special, and that of the first blockbuster made by one of the most influential and beloved directors in Hollywood is that much more so. Jaws, which made Steven Spielberg a household name, came out half a century ago. The most iconic moments in Spielberg's Jaws live on in the collective memory of movie buffs all over the world. Spielberg is known to have practically invented the modern idea of a summer blockbuster with Jaws, and few other movies have such a cultural footprint.

8 45 Years – The Shining

Released On November 7, 1980

Stanley Kubrick is one of the most versatile directors in Hollywood history, and almost every film he's made redefined their respective genres. However, few of his movies had a bigger impact on cinema than The Shining, with memorable shots and cinematic techniques referenced in movies even today, four and a half decades later.

The tricycle scene, for instance, lives rent-free in my head. It is strange to realize that something with such a widespread presence in the cultural zeitgeist, whose impact can be seen everywhere in the films made recently, was released so many years ago.

7 40 Years – Back To The Future

Released On July 3, 1985

When it comes to cult classics from the '80s that reshaped people's imaginations and influenced their approach to storytelling, a handful of films are as iconic as Back to the Future. Almost every time-travel movie made in the years since its release references it, and it even became a successful Broadway musical. As a memorable 1980s movie associated with one song, it is impossible to listen to Huey Lewis and the News' Power of Love without thinking of Marty McFly on his skateboard. It's surreal to realize that he and Doc Brown were introduced to the world four decades ago!

6 35 Years – Home Alone

Released On November 16, 1990

One of the best Christmas movies without Santa Claus in it, watching Home Alone during the holidays is a formative memory for kids all around the world. While it seems like it's been around forever because everyone can recollect watching it, Home Alone feels just as recent because of how fresh that memory is. That's a testament to how charming this story of a naughty kid tricking home invaders in a Die Hard-like movie is. However, it's jarring to find out that Home Alone will be turning 35 this year.

Alongside Macaulay Culkin, who remains most famous for playing the protagonist in Home Alone, the movie also marks the acting debut of his brother Kieran Culkin, who recently won the Oscar for Best ing Actor in 2025 for his role in A Real Pain.