The best part of being a film fanatic is rediscovering something previously forgotten, and going back to experience the same flood of emotions we felt the first time. Sometimes these films still hold, with age and knowledge providing even more appreciation for eternal classics. Other times we’re left confused or cringing, wondering how old movies were ever popular, and why we loved them in the first place.

Standing the test of time in the filmmaking world is a difficult task that few can truly achieve. It’s often not a production goal, and keeping relevant in a rapidly evolving modern age can be difficult to predict. Still, it raises some interesting questions about which films and which elements of films have successfully navigated the decades, and what it is that contributes to their seemingly everlasting appeal.

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Sociocultural context

Perhaps the broadest contributing factor to whether a film stands the test of time is its place within a sociocultural context. It depends on how well the themes and ideas resonate, even if it’s set in a time most of the audience can’t identify with. The biggest standouts here are love stories, like 1942’s Casablanca (Michael Curtiz; pictured at the top of this article). Difficult decisions between love and duty are an unfortunately intrinsic part of human history, and Casablanca’s adept handling of this balancing point has solidified it in the worldwide zeitgeist, as explored by The Conversation.

This same focus on appealing to sociocultural interests today is often addressed more directly in both thematic and practical senses, with modern forms of media engaging in ways they predict will stand the test of time. Online casinos are some of the biggest standouts here, as demonstrated by games like the IGT slots lineup. Slots are already developed to be as technologically accessible as possible over many different devices, so leaning on long-lasting themes and concepts means taking a similar approach. In this instance, titles like television series Wheel of Fortune and Ghostbusters (Ivan Reitman, 1984) adopt popular properties as their inspiration to draw players in, while others lean on established slot symbols like lucky 7s, bars, and playing cards. The context within this landscape is thus easier understood, aiding in recognition and appreciation.

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Avoiding effects

The other big component that we hear generates complaints about classic films not holding up is special effects. Effects are also challenging to judge, however, because of how widely each person’s suspension of disbelief can vary. Some people can look at the stop-motion in 1963’s Jason and Argonauts (Don Chaffey) and still be fascinated by what was accomplished with the technology of the time. Others will see effects that they consider inferior to low-budget modern TV offerings, and be pulled from the experience.

Being drawn out of the experience is generally mitigated as we draw closer to photorealism with VFX, but this is still difficult to judge without the benefit of hindsight. Having once thought the monkeys in the original Jumanji looked photo-realistic, we’re not sure how the best of the modern-day will eventually hold up.

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Ultimately, the most important component of whether a movie stands the test of time is the viewer. It’s about their knowledge, what they find interesting and important, and their internalised standards of accuracy of technical effects. Have a conversation with your friends and family about which movies do and don’t stand the test of time, and see just how much some of the answers shock you. Also, maybe remember Grandpa’s age with some of his answers.