12 Movies from the 1960s That Remain Enjoyable to Watch

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

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

      Here they are, without any specific order.

      **Valley of the Dolls (1967)**

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      We didn't claim to compile a list of the greatest films of the 1960s — just the most entertaining ones.

      While *Lawrence of Arabia* may carry more weight and significance than *Valley of the Dolls*, you'll likely have a lot more fun with this extravagant adaptation of Jaqueline Susann's sensational bestseller.

      Featuring Barbara Perkins, Patty Duke, and Sharon Tate as young women navigating the entertainment world, they find themselves resorting to pills due to the pressures and undesirable men surrounding them. It faced harsh criticism, yet it serves as a vibrant snapshot of the supposedly carefree, yet often dark, 1960s. Watching it reminds us of the promising cinematic career Sharon Tate should have had.

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

      **The Apartment (1960)**

      Credit: United Artists

      Throughout this sharp comedy, you'll keep remarking: They filmed this in 1960? Its premise — a young clerk lending his apartment to executives for covert encounters with vulnerable women — is grim even by today’s standards.

      Yet, the movie remains enjoyable, as you'll quickly find yourself rooting for the charming Shirley MacLaine and the reluctantly heroic Jack Lemmon. There’s a modern metaphor here about challenging authority.

      MacLaine, Lemmon, director Billy Wilder, and screenwriter I.A.L. Diamond reunited three years later for *Irma la Douce*, which reflected some themes from *The Apartment*.

      **Breathless (1960)**

      Credit: Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie

      This classic by Jean-Luc Godard serves as a critique of cinema itself — the storyline feels almost trivial, and the jump cuts reveal its artificiality — or you can simply relish it as an effortless jaunt through Coolsville. Each frame is stunning.

      *Breathless* feels cooler than anything produced today and remains one of the most pertinent films of the 1960s. Notably, acclaimed director Richard Linklater recently released a film about the making of *Breathless*, titled *Nouvelle Vague*, currently streaming on Netflix.

      **Psycho (1960)**

      Credit: Paramount

      *Psycho* will dispel any notions that old movies are boring and tedious. It’s an enticing thriller from the start: Janet Leigh's Marion Crane is a good girl gone bad, stealing from her drunken boss to escape to her no-good boyfriend in the Arizona desert. Then, she encounters the film's titular character.

      While the explanatory conclusion may disappoint, the pace is swift right until the end. Consider that when *Psycho* premiered, many people were unaware of what a psycho actually was.

      *Psycho* made sure they wouldn't forget.

      **West Side Story (1961)**

      Credit: United Artists

      A soaring musical filled with genuine emotional depth, *West Side Story* (directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins) envelops you in a whirlwind of color, dance, and song that sweeps away any feelings of gloom.

      The incredible cast features Richard Beymer as Tony, Rita Moreno as Anita, and Natalie Wood as Maria.

      Inspired by *Romeo and Juliet*, it’s a remarkable film from start to finish.

      **Lolita (1962)**

      Credit: MGM

      This film epitomizes a type of movie that likely wouldn’t be produced today. We can't even publish the title without triggering filters on some platforms that host our stories. However, the movie is enjoyable due to how deftly director Stanley Kubrick blends dark humor, tragedy, and drama while staying within acceptable bounds.

      Based on the supposedly unfilmable Vladimir Nabokov novel, which notably avoids using any profane language, it stars James Mason as the pitiful Humbert, who unwarrantedly seeks understanding and sympathy for his deplorable desires and is met with disdain — especially from the viewers. However, Kubrick masterfully allows the facts to stand on their own, avoiding overt manipulation of our emotions.

      Sue Lyon, who was 15 at the film's premiere, portrays the 12-year-old title character with grace and vitality, conveying the tragic nature of her situation without resorting to melodrama. Meanwhile, Peter Sellers delivers a burst of wicked fun as Quilty, Humbert’s main adversary, who is just as despicable but even sneakier.

      **A Hard Day's Night (1964)**

      Credit: United Artists

      A total delight, this film chronicles 36 hours in the chaotic lives of John, Paul,