10 Movies Every Film Buff Should Have Seen Already

5. Vertigo (1958)

In the realm of movie directors, no one is as famous as Alfred Hitchcock, whose vast legacy spans over half a century. The Master of Suspense built a direct relationship with audiences through self promotion and TV appearances, creating a lasting legacy whose impact on pop culture is truly immeasurable. What other director has had not one but two Hollywood biopics filmed about his life in recent years? While movies like Psycho and North By Northwest are the most renowned in Hitchcock filmography, critics regularly proclaim Vertigo to be the directors masterpiece, despite being a critical and commercial flop upon its initial release. Vertigo contains many of Hitchcock's signature tropes, including icy blonde women, staircases and the execution of the perfect murder, but academics and psychoanalysts alike have pored over readings of the film for decades, elevating Vertigo to the top of every film lecturers list. No other mainstream director has tackled the nature of voyeurism in such depth, exploring the satisfaction that audiences gain from objectifying both women and men. Other films like The Birds and Dial M For Murder are perhaps more immediately enjoyable, but the beauty of Vertigo is that it rewards multiple viewings like no other movie in the auteurs repertoire, encapsulating everything that made Hitchcock the greatest British director of all time. If you haven't seen Vertigo yet, prepare to second guess the next blonde you meet. Further Recommendations: Psycho (1960), Chinatown (1974), Inception (2010)