12 Timeless Films from the 1960s That Remain Enjoyable to Watch Today

      Not every classic film remains enjoyable — some can feel more like a task.

      However, the following movies from the 1960s continue to be a delight to watch even after all these years.

      Presented here, in no specific order.

      **Valley of the Dolls (1967)**

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      We didn’t claim this was a list of the greatest films from the 1960s — just the most entertaining.

      While Lawrence of Arabia might be regarded as superior and more significant than Valley of the Dolls, you’ll find more enjoyment in this scandalous, extravagantly over-the-top adaptation of Jacqueline Susann’s sensational bestseller.

      Starring Barbara Perkins, Patty Duke, and Sharon Tate as young women trying to succeed in the entertainment field, they succumb to pill addiction due to the pressures and untrustworthy men around them. Although it received harsh criticism, it serves as an excellent time capsule reflecting the supposedly vibrant — yet often grim — 1960s. Watching this film evokes thoughts of the promising cinematic career Sharon Tate could have had.

      It’s interesting to note that the esteemed critic Roger Ebert wrote the screenplay for the film's 1970 sequel, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, after collaborating with Russ Meyer on the story.

      **The Apartment (1960)**

      Credit: United Artists

      You’ll find yourself repeating: They created this in 1960? Its premise — a young clerk loans out his apartment to executives who use it for discreet affairs with vulnerable women — is bleak even by today’s standards.

      Yet the film remains enjoyable, as you quickly find yourself cheering for the charming Shirley MacLaine and the reluctantly heroic Jack Lemmon (above). A stark modern metaphor about resisting the oppressive powers is hard to miss here.

      MacLaine, Lemmon, director Billy Wilder, and screenwriter IAL Diamond came together three years later for Irma la Douce, which revisits some of the same themes as The Apartment.

      **Breathless (1960)**

      Credit: Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie

      Jean-Luc Godard’s classic serves as a critique of cinema as a form — the storyline is almost inconsequential, and the jump cuts reveal the artifice of it all — or you can simply enjoy it as an entertaining journey through Coolsville. Every frame is visually stunning.

      Breathless remains one of those vintage films that feels cooler than anything currently available.

      It’s also among the most relevant films of the 1960s today — the acclaimed Richard Linklater is working on a film about the creation of Breathless, titled Nouvelle Vague.

      **Psycho (1960)**

      Paramount

      Psycho will dispel any notions that older films are boring and tedious. It’s a gripping thriller from the start: Janet Leigh’s Marion Crane is a seemingly good woman who steals from her drunken boss to escape into the Arizona desert with her unreliable boyfriend. Then she encounters the film's titular psycho.

      While the expositional ending may disappoint, the pacing keeps the tension high until the final moments. Consider that at the time of its release, many viewers didn’t even know what a psycho was.

      Psycho ensured they wouldn’t forget.

      **West Side Story (1961)**

      Credit: United Artists

      An emotionally charged musical, West Side Story (directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins) is a vibrant mix of color, dance, and song that will transport you from any gloomy feelings.

      The outstanding cast includes Richard Beymer as Tony, Rita Moreno (right) as Anita, and Natalie Wood (left) as Maria.

      Inspired by Romeo and Juliet, it’s breathtaking from start to finish.

      **Lolita (1962)**

      Credit: MGM

      This is truly an example of a film that wouldn’t be made today. We can’t even mention its title without triggering filters on some websites that share our articles. However, the film is enjoyable due to how director Stanley Kubrick gracefully balances dark humor, tragedy, and drama while remaining within acceptable bounds.

      Adapted from Vladimir Nabokov’s notorious novel, which famously refrains from using explicit language, it stars James Mason as the pitiable Humbert, who seeks understanding and sympathy for his distasteful desires, only to be met with revulsion — especially from the audience. Yet Kubrick skillfully avoids being heavy-handed or instructive — the facts speak for themselves.

      Sue Lyon, who was 15 at the film's premiere, portrays the 12-year-old title character with grace and depth, conveying the tragic nature of her situation without resorting to melodrama. Peter Sellers brings a jolt of malicious fun as Quilty, Humbert's chief adversary, who is just as despicable but more cunning.

      **A Hard Day's Night (1964)**

      Credit: United Artists

      A thoroughly charming depiction of 36 hours in the hectic lives of John, Paul, George