The 1960s were packed with landmark films that still show up on every “greatest of all time” list. What gets lost in the shuffle are the movies that quietly shaped genres, influenced later directors, or became background noise on late-night TV. A lot of them are still fantastic. They are just not the ones people quote on social media every week.
If you have already worn out your copies of The Graduate and Lawrence of Arabia, it is time to dig a little deeper. Here are ten underrated 1960s movies you may have forgotten about, but are absolutely worth revisiting.
The Apartment (1960)
Yes, it won Best Picture, but outside of film buffs, The Apartment is far less watched than its reputation suggests. Billy Wilder mixes romance, office politics, and moral compromise into a story that feels surprisingly modern. Jack Lemmon plays an insurance clerk who lets his bosses use his apartment for their affairs, while Shirley MacLaine’s elevator operator tries to hold on to her sense of self. It is funny, melancholy, and quietly brutal about corporate culture long before that became trendy.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
The Innocents (1961)
Based on Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw, this psychological ghost story stars Deborah Kerr as a governess who begins to suspect that the children in her care are being influenced by dark forces. Shot in luminous black and white, it leans on atmosphere and suggestion rather than jump scares. Modern horror owes a lot to this film, but it rarely gets mentioned outside of genre circles.
Where to watch: Unavailable to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
The Hustler (1961)
Paul Newman’s “Fast Eddie” Felson is one of the great flawed protagonists of 60s cinema. The Hustler is not just about pool, it is about ego, pride, and the cost of wanting to be the best in a room full of sharks. The movie moves at a patient, confident pace that lets every loss and small victory land. For a neat piece of trivia, its sequel is The Color of Money from 1986, with Newman returning to the role opposite Tom Cruise. A lot of viewers never realize they are connected.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
The Haunting (1963)
Forget the CGI-heavy remakes. Robert Wise’s The Haunting is still one of the best haunted house movies ever made. A small group of guests gather in Hill House for a paranormal investigation, and the horror comes almost entirely from sound, shadow, and suggestion. The film’s careful use of framing and sound design makes it genuinely unsettling without showing very much at all.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Charade (1963)
Often called “the best Hitchcock movie Hitchcock never made,” Charade stars Audrey Hepburn as a recent widow and Cary Grant as the mysterious man who may or may not be helping her. Multiple men are after a fortune they believe she has, and the movie juggles romance, suspense, and playful banter with ease. Stylish, funny, and beautifully shot in Paris, it deserves a bigger modern audience than it has.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
Part fake documentary, part chaotic hangout movie, A Hard Day’s Night follows The Beatles through a whirlwind day of rehearsals, interviews, and escape attempts. The humor still works, the music obviously holds up, and the handheld, energetic shooting style would influence music videos and concert films for decades. Even if you know the songs by heart, the movie itself often flies under the radar.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
To Sir, with Love (1967)
Sidney Poitier stars as an engineer who takes a teaching job in a rough London school, only to find that winning over his students will require patience and respect that the system is not built to give them. The movie set the template for the “inspirational teacher” story years before it became a cliché. It is sincere without being saccharine and gives Poitier plenty of room to dominate the screen quietly.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
The Lion in Winter (1968)
Set during a tense Christmas gathering in 1183, The Lion in Winter is basically an all-time great family drama disguised as a historical costume piece. Peter O’Toole plays King Henry II, Katharine Hepburn plays Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their battles over succession, loyalty, and old grudges are ferocious. If you like sharp dialogue and complicated relationships, this is as good as it gets.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Seconds (1966)
John Frankenheimer’s unsettling sci-fi drama follows a middle-aged man who undergoes a radical procedure that gives him a new body and a new identity. At first, it seems like a clean slate. Then the cracks appear. Shot with distorted lenses and uneasy compositions, Seconds feels closer to a 1970s paranoia thriller than a mid-60s studio film. It flopped on release and has since been slowly gaining a cult following.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
The Great Escape (1963)
On paper, The Great Escape is a World War II prison camp movie. In practice, it plays like one of the most entertaining ensemble adventure films of its era. Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough lead a huge cast of Allied prisoners planning a massive breakout. Even if you know the outcome, the planning, tension, and character moments make it incredibly watchable.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Why These 1960s Movies Are Worth Revisiting
The 1960s are often reduced to a handful of iconic titles, but the decade’s real strength is how varied the films were. You had sophisticated adult dramas, smart genre experiments, and stylish star vehicles all existing side by side. These ten movies slipped out of the mainstream conversation, but they are still sharp, entertaining, and surprisingly modern once you give them a chance.
Where to watch: Available to stream; sold on physical media and digitally.
Fun Jug Media, LLC (operating TheNerdy.com) has affiliate partnerships with various companies. These do not at any time have any influence on the editorial content of The Nerdy. Fun Jug Media LLC may earn a commission from these links.
