101 Movies Everyone Must Watch at least Once in their Life (and How to Stream Them Online)

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The art of film is a powerful medium of storytelling that has captivated audiences for over a century. Read on to learn more about the power movies hold over us and find out where to stream 101 movies everyone must watch at least once in their life!

Through the use of camera techniques, visual effects, music and storytelling, filmmakers have the ability to transport viewers to new worlds. From established classics like Citizen Kane and The Godfather to modern blockbusters like The Avengers and Avatar, movies have the ability to leave a lasting impact on those who watch them. Movies not only entertain, but also educate and inspire audiences to think critically about the world around them.

There are certain movies that everyone must watch at least once in their life because of their impact on culture and their ability to provoke thought and emotion. Movies like Schindler's List, which tells the story of a businessman who saves the lives of more than a thousand Jewish refugees during the Holocaust, or The Shawshank Redemption, which explores the themes of hope and redemption, have resonated with audiences for decades. These movies have become a part of our collective cultural consciousness and continue to inspire new generations of filmmakers and audiences alike. Other movies, like the Star Wars franchise, have become cultural touchstones; inspiring generations of fans and spawning numerous sequels, spin-offs and works in other mediums. These movies serve as a testament to the power of film to entertain, inspire and challenge us.

Where to Watch the Best Movies Everyone Must Watch At Least Once in Their Life Online

Regardless of the genre, each of the following titles tells a compelling story, features memorable performances and has something important to say about the human experience. Whether you are a seasoned film buff or just starting to explore the world of cinema, these movies are essential viewing for anyone who appreciates the art of filmmaking.

Here are 101 movies everyone must watch at least once in their life and where to find them streaming in the United States!

Amazon Prime Video
Disney Plus
Apple TV Plus
Apple TV
Hulu
Crunchyroll
Netflix
fuboTV
Max
Max Amazon Channel
Epix Amazon Channel
Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
Peacock Premium
Kocowa
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ with Showtime
Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel
Starz Apple TV Channel
AMC Plus Apple TV Channel
Britbox Apple TV Channel
Paramount+ Amazon Channel
Discovery+ Amazon Channel
AMC+ Amazon Channel
The Roku Channel
Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
Starz Roku Premium Channel
AMC+ Roku Premium Channel
AMC+
MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel
YouTube Premium
YouTube Free
The CW
Hoopla
CW Seed
Fandango At Home
Starz
VUDU Free
Criterion Channel
PBS
FXNow
Tubi TV
Kanopy
Microsoft Store
Sun Nxt
Crackle
AMC
AMC Theatres
Fandor
Curiosity Stream
NBC
MGM Plus
Freeform
History
A&E
Lifetime
Shudder
Acorn TV
Screambox
Sundance Now
GuideDoc
BritBox
MUBI
Netflix Kids
Boomerang
ALLBLK
History Vault
Yupp TV
MyOutdoorTV
WWE Network
Pure Flix
Boomerang Amazon Channel
PBS Kids Amazon Channel
Lifetime Movie Club
Cinemax Amazon Channel
Hallmark Movies Now Amazon Channel
PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel
Viewster Amazon Channel
MZ Choice Amazon Channel
Spamflix
Pluto TV
BYUtv
HiDive
VIX
Night Flight Plus
Retrocrush
Classix
Dekkoo
Shout! Factory TV
OVID
Chai Flicks
Mhz Choice
Vice TV
Shudder Amazon Channel
MUBI Amazon Channel
BritBox Amazon Channel
AcornTV Amazon Channel
Fandor Amazon Channel
Screambox Amazon Channel
Sundance Now Amazon Channel
Adult Swim
USA Network
Fox
FlixFling
Bet+ Amazon Channel
Rakuten Viki
AMC on Demand
TCM
TNT
Bravo TV
Food Network
BBC America
IndieFlix
TLC
AHCTV
DIY Network
HGTV
Investigation Discovery
Science Channel
Destination America
Animal Planet
Discovery Life
Discovery
Cooking Channel
Travel Channel
Here TV
VH1
DreamWorksTV Amazon Channel
Flix Premiere
TBS
AsianCrush
Revry
DOCSVILLE
OXYGEN
Spectrum On Demand
Hi-YAH
tru TV
DisneyNOW
WeTV
ARROW
Plex
Plex Live TV
Plex Player
WOW Presents Plus
Magellan TV
BroadwayHD
The Oprah Winfrey Network
Filmzie
Dogwoof On Demand
MovieSaints
True Story
Martha Stewart TV
DocAlliance Films
OnDemandKorea
Hoichoi
iQIYI
Metrograph
Freevee
Public Domain Movies
Eventive
Cultpix
aha
FilmBox+
ShortsTV Amazon Channel
Bet+
Takflix
Klassiki
Starz Amazon Channel
Netflix basic with Ads
Cohen Media Amazon Channel
Popflick
ViX Premium Amazon Channel
Runtime
Fandango
Telemundo
Discovery +
Reveel
Ovation TV
Angel Studios
Cineverse
AD tv
Midnight Pulp
FYI Network
Xumo Play
National Geographic
Atom Tickets
Shahid VIP
DistroTV
myfilmfriend
Cinemark
Outside Watch
Cinepolis Cinemas
Full Moon Amazon Channel
Citytv
Univer Video
GlewedTV
Toon Goggles
A&E Crime Central Apple TV Channel
Acorn TV Apple TV
ALLBLK Apple TV channel
UP Faith & Family Apple TV Channel
Tastemade Apple TV Channel
Sundance Now Apple TV Channel
Shudder Apple TV Channel
ScreenPix Apple TV Channel
OUTtv Apple TV Channel
Lifetime Movie Club Apple TV Channel
Hallmark Movies Now Apple TV Channel
Eros Now Select Apple TV Channel
CuriosityStream Apple TV Channel
Cinemax Apple TV Channel
BBC Select Apple Tv channel
BET+  Apple TV channel
Carnegie Hall+ Apple TV Channel
IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel
HISTORY Vault Apple TV Channel
HISTORY Vault Amazon Channel
Carnegie Hall+ Amazon Channel
Lifetime Movie Club Amazon Channel
Film Movement Plus
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Troma NOW
Regal Cinemas
Harkins Theatres
B&B Theatres
Marcus Theatres
Kino Film Collection
Tubi TV Live
Pluto TV Live
Cineverse LiveTV
Strand Releasing Amazon Channel
Peacock Premium Plus
ALLBLK Amazon channel
Filters
  1. 12 Angry Men

    12 Angry Men

    1957

    #1

    The defense and the prosecution have rested and the jury is filing into the jury room to decide if a young Spanish-American is guilty or innocent of murdering his father. What begins as an open and shut case soon becomes a mini-drama of each of the jurors' prejudices and preconceptions about the trial, the accused, and each other.

  2. 2001: A Space Odyssey

    #2

    Humanity finds a mysterious object buried beneath the lunar surface and sets off to find its origins with the help of HAL 9000, the world's most advanced super computer.

  3. A Clockwork Orange

    A Clockwork Orange

    1971

    #3

    In a near-future Britain, young Alexander DeLarge and his pals get their kicks beating and raping anyone they please. When not destroying the lives of others, Alex swoons to the music of Beethoven. The state, eager to crack down on juvenile crime, gives an incarcerated Alex the option to undergo an invasive procedure that'll rob him of all personal agency. In a time when conscience is a commodity, can Alex change his tune?

  4. A Streetcar Named Desire

    #4

    A fading southern belle moves in with her sister in New Orleans where her ferocious brother-in-law takes stabs at her sanity.

  5. Airplane!

    Airplane!

    1980

    #5

    An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.

  6. Amadeus

    Amadeus

    1984

    #6

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a remarkably talented young Viennese composer who unwittingly finds a fierce rival in the disciplined and determined Antonio Salieri. Resenting Mozart for both his hedonistic lifestyle and his undeniable talent, the highly religious Salieri is gradually consumed by his jealousy and becomes obsessed with Mozart's downfall, leading to a devious scheme that has dire consequences for both men.

  7. American Beauty

    American Beauty

    1999

    #7

    Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.

  8. Amour

    Amour

    2012

    #8

    Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has a stroke, and the couple's bond of love is severely tested.

  9. Apocalypse Now

    Apocalypse Now

    1979

    #9

    At the height of the Vietnam war, Captain Benjamin Willard is sent on a dangerous mission that, officially, "does not exist, nor will it ever exist." His goal is to locate - and eliminate - a mysterious Green Beret Colonel named Walter Kurtz, who has been leading his personal army on illegal guerrilla missions into enemy territory.

  10. Avatar

    Avatar

    2009

    #10

    In the 22nd century, a paraplegic Marine is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission, but becomes torn between following orders and protecting an alien civilization.

  11. Back to the Future

    #11

    Eighties teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, inadvertently disrupting his parents' first meeting and attracting his mother's romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by rekindling his parents' romance and - with the help of his eccentric inventor friend Doc Brown - return to 1985.

  12. Blade Runner

    Blade Runner

    1982

    #12

    In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.

  13. Casablanca

    Casablanca

    1943

    #13

    In Casablanca, Morocco in December 1941, a cynical American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications.

  14. Chinatown

    Chinatown

    1974

    #14

    Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.

  15. Citizen Kane

    Citizen Kane

    1941

    #15

    Following the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: 'Rosebud.'

  16. City Lights

    City Lights

    1931

    #16

    A tramp falls in love with a beautiful blind flower girl. His on-and-off friendship with a wealthy man allows him to be the girl's benefactor and suitor.

  17. Cool Hand Luke

    Cool Hand Luke

    1967

    #17

    When petty criminal Luke Jackson is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline, who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison's dreaded solitary confinement cell, "the box," make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.

  18. Deliverance

    Deliverance

    1972

    #18

    Intent on seeing the Cahulawassee River before it's turned into one huge lake, outdoor fanatic Lewis Medlock takes his friends on a river-rafting trip they'll never forget into the dangerous American back-country.

  19. Die Hard

    Die Hard

    1988

    #19

    NYPD cop John McClane's plan to reconcile with his estranged wife is thrown for a serious loop when, minutes after he arrives at her office, the entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists. With little help from the LAPD, wisecracking McClane sets out to single-handedly rescue the hostages and bring the bad guys down.

  20. Dial M for Murder

    Dial M for Murder

    1954

    #20

    An ex-tennis pro carries out a plot to have his wealthy wife murdered after discovering she is having an affair, and assumes she will soon leave him for the other man anyway.