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

Updated on

Ghezal Amiri

Ghezal Amiri

JustWatch Editor

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!

Netflix
Disney Plus
Amazon Prime Video
Apple TV+
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Crunchyroll
fuboTV
HBO Max
HBO Max Amazon Channel
MGM+ Amazon Channel
Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
Peacock Premium
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
Kanopy
The CW
Hoopla
Fandango At Home
Youtube TV
Starz
Fandango at Home Free
Criterion Channel
PBS
FXNow
JustWatchTV
Tubi TV
FlixHouse
Microsoft Store
Sun Nxt
AMC
AMC Theatres
Fandor
Curiosity Stream
NBC
MGM Plus
Freeform
Philo
A&E
Lifetime
Shudder
Acorn TV
Screambox
Sundance Now
GuideDoc
BritBox
MUBI
Netflix Kids
ALLBLK
History Vault
MyOutdoorTV
WWE Network
Pure Flix
Lifetime Movie Club
PBS Kids Amazon Channel
Cinemax Amazon Channel
Hallmark+ Amazon Channel
PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel
MZ Choice Amazon Channel
Pluto TV
BYUtv
HiDive
VIX
Night Flight Plus
Retrocrush
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
TCM
TNT
Bravo TV
Food Network
BBC America
IndieFlix
TLC
HGTV
Investigation Discovery
Science Channel
Animal Planet
Discovery
Travel Channel
Here TV
VH1
DreamWorksTV Amazon Channel
Flix Premiere
TBS
AsianCrush
Revry
DOCSVILLE
Spectrum On Demand
OXYGEN
Hi-YAH
tru TV
DisneyNOW
WeTV
ARROW
Plex
Plex Live TV
Plex Player
WOW Presents Plus
Magellan TV
BroadwayHD
The Oprah Winfrey Network
Cranked Up TV
Filmzie
MovieSaints
True Story
Martha Stewart TV
DocAlliance Films
OnDemandKorea
Darkroom
Hoichoi
iQIYI
Metrograph
Public Domain Movies
Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads
Eternal Family
Fawesome
Eventive
Cultpix
FilmBox+
aha
ShortsTV Amazon Channel
Takflix
Klassiki
Starz Amazon Channel
Netflix Standard 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
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+ 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
Jolt Film
Regal Cinemas
Harkins Theatres
B&B Theatres
Marcus Theatres
YouTube Free
Kino Film Collection
Tubi TV Live
Pluto TV Live
Cineverse LiveTV
Strand Releasing Amazon Channel
Peacock Premium Plus
ALLBLK Amazon channel
Vix Gratis Amazon Channel
Apple TV Plus Amazon Channel
Motorvision TV Amazon Channel
Stingray Classica Amazon Channel
Stingray Djazz Amazon Channel
Stingray Karaoke Amazon Channel
Acaciatv Amazon Channel
Adultswim Amazon Channel
Alchemiya Amazon Channel
All warrior network Amazon Channel
Amebatv Amazon Channel
Aspire TV Amazon Channel
BeFit Amazon Channel
Best tv ever Amazon Channel
Best of British Tv Amazon Channel
Baeble Amazon Channel
Best Westerns Ever Amazon Channel
Broadway HD Amazon Channel
Brown Sugar Amazon Channel
BR Sports Amazon Channel
Cartoon Network Amazon Channel
BFI Player Amazon Channel
MTV Hits Amazon Channel
Cinefest Amazon Channel
HBO Max  CNN Amazon Channel
The Coda Collection Amazon Channel
Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel
Daily Burn Amazon Channel
Daring Docs Amazon Channel
Dekkoo Amazon Channel
DocCom Amazon Channel
DocuramaFilms Amazon Channel
Dove Amazon Channel
Dox Amazon Channel
Hidive Amazon Channel
Echoboom Amazon Channel
Cocina ON Amazon Channel
Fear Factory Amazon Channel
Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel
Fitfusion Amazon Channel
FlixLatino Amazon Channel
Food Matters Amazon Channel
Fuse+ Amazon Channel
Grokker Yoga & Fitness Amazon Channel
Hi-YAH Amazon Channel
Indie Club Amazon Channel
IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel
Here TV  Amazon Channel
FilmBox Live Amazon Channel
Hopster Amazon Channel
Gaia Amazon Channel
France Channel Amazon Channel
IndiePix Unlimited Amazon Channel
Doki Amazon Channel
Kocowa Amazon Channel
Kartoon Channel Amazon Channel
Kidstream Amazon Channel
Kino Film Collection Amazon Channel
Magnolia Network Amazon Channel
Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel
Monsters and Nightmares Amazon Channel
Marquee TV Amazon Channel
MHz Choice Amazon Channel
MyOutdoor TV Amazon Channel
Outside TV Features Amzon Channel
OWN Amazon Channel
Panna Cooking Amazon Channel
Passionflix Amazon Channel
Pinoy Box Office Amazon Channel
PBS America Amazon Channel
PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel
PBS Living Amazon Channel
PixL Amazon Channel
Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel
REELZ+ Amazon Channel
Revry Amazon Channel
Ryan and Friends Plus Amazon Channel
Science Amazon Channel
Sensical Amazon Channel
ZenLIFE by Stingray Amazon Channel
Sweatflix Amazon Channel
TCM Amazon Channel
Demand Africa Amazon Channel
The Surf Network Amazon Channel
Toku Amazon Channel
MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel
True Royalty Amazon Channel
FUEL TV+ Amazon Channel
AeroCinema Amazon Channel
BongFlix Amazon Channel
Destiny Image TV Amazon Channel
Dreamscape Kids Amazon Channel
FidoTV Channel Amazon Channel
Green Planet Stream Amazon Channel
Kundalini Yoga TV Amazon Channel
Learn How to Run Amzon Channel
Sleep Sounds & Meditation Amazon Channel
The Titanic Channel Amazon Channel
Watchit.Kid Amazon Channel
Wellness Plus by Psychetruth Amazon Channel
Yoga International Amazon Channel
Yoga and Fitness TV Amazon channel
Yoga Download Amazon Channel
Young Hollywood Amazon Channel
Vemox Cine Amazon Channel
Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel
Xive TV Documentaries Amazon Channel
XLTV Amazon Channel
Docsville Amazon Channel
Yipee Kids TV Amazon Channel
Yoga Anytime Amazon Channel
Planet Earth Amazon Channel
Paramount+ Originals Amazon Channel
Paramount+ MTV Amazon Channel
ITV Amazon Channel
Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
Pongalo Amazon Channel
TVCortos Amazon Channel
MTV Plus Amazon Channel
UP Faith & Family Amazon Channel
Tastemade Amazon Channel
The Great Courses Amazon Channel
Viaplay Amazon Channel
Qello Concerts by Stingray Amazon Channel
Noggin Amazon Channel
FOUND TV
Stupid Co
Gaiam TV Yoga & Fit
Kocowa
History
HBO Max  Amazon Channel
dAnime Amazon Channel
RetroCrush Amazon Channel
ScreenPix Amazon Channel
Mometu
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 disturbed, aging Southern belle moves in with her sister for solace — but being face-to-face with her brutish brother-in-law accelerates her downward spiral.

  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

    Disciplined Italian composer Antonio Salieri becomes consumed by jealousy and resentment towards the hedonistic and remarkably talented young Viennese composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

  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 offices Christmas Party, 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

    When American writer Mark Halliday visits the very married Margot Wendice in London, he unknowingly sets off a chain of blackmail and murder.