10 Must-Watch Movies for Aspiring Filmmakers- Mindler Blogs

Filmmaking is a flavorful blend of storytelling, direction, writing, cinematography, accounting, and analysing personalities. A career in filmmaking, however hard  it may seem, is one of the most glamorous and exciting professions. It is a field where knowledge of one subject is never enough. To become a filmmaker, one needs many varied skills along with the acumen to put them to good use, at the perfect time.
A combination of technical expertise, artistic ideas, business acumen, expression of thought, relationship management, and high order thinking and organisational skills, critical & creative thinking is a mark of a true filmmaker.
The global film industry has seen many  talented filmmakers birth masterpieces that are truly an inspiration to the aspiring filmmakers of today.
Here are 10 movies that will ignite your creativity and inspire you throughout your filmmaking career. Read ahead to re-discover the industry’s jewels.
 
10 Must-Watch Movies For Aspiring Filmmakers
1. Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Based on Stephen King’s novella- Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, the movie Shawshank Redemption is a global sensation for its incredible storyline, adaptation, and artistic ideas on all factors of filmmaking. It has been acclaimed worldwide with many awards.
Directed by Frank Darabont, the movie is about Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a banker who is falsely imprisoned in Shawshank for murdering his wife and her secret lover. In prison, he befriends Red (Morgan Freeman), and together they plan the prison’s most difficult escape.
 
2. Fight Club (1999)
The story of Fight Club revolves around the life of an insomniac (Edward Norton), who meets Tyler, a soap salesman (Brad Pitt), and together they form a fight club for men who are tired of their daily routine. Their relationship goes downhill when Marla (Helena Bonham Carter) attracts the attention of Tyler.
The movie is based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk and is directed by renowned filmmaker David Fincher. The film won many awards for its direction, cinematography, and gripping performances by the amazing actors.
 
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3. Hereditary (2018)
An American psychological horror film, directed by Ari Aster, starring Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, and Gabriel Byrne, Hereditary is one of the most globally applauded horror movies.
The unsettling screenplay, gradual build-up, spine-chilling ending, and the effects of the film make a lasting impression on the audience, making the film a definite entry in the must-watch list.
The story revolves around the Graham family that is haunted by the mysterious presence of their dead grandmother, and her secret that changes their lives forever.
 
4. Citizen Kane (1941)
Citizen Kane has been touted as the “greatest movie ever made” since its release in 1941. Orson Welles’s directorial debut was awarded many accolades for the incredibly innovative storytelling, a unique and uncommon way of narration, editing, and many other aspects.
The influential classic has inspired many filmmakers to take chunks of its story to create their masterpieces. Citizen Kane is a fascinating biographical portrait of Charles Foster Kane, a complex man who rose from obscurity to scaling new highs of life.
 
5. Pyaasa (1957)
Directed by the Orson Welles of India, Guru Dutt, the film Pyaasa is an eternal entry in the must-watch list of every film student, or enthusiast. The film is an achievement for the Hindi film industry and a gift to the world. It is to date an inspiration for filmmakers touted as a masterpiece of cinema.
Starring Guru Dutt and Mala Sinha, the movie is about Vijay, a poet who experiences the dark side of society once he is assumed to be dead and gains popularity posthumously.
 
6. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Ranked 10th on the world’s greatest films, Pulp Fiction is an American black crime comedy directed by Quentin Tarantino, a popular filmmaker, actor, and producer. Like most of his films, Pulp Fiction is a dark comedy with a unique screenplay and a tightly woven storyline.
Starring John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurmon, and Samuel L. Jackson, the movie is popular in all aspects from cast to cinematography. It is the story of 3 men, and the decisions they make in their lives that weave a series of entertaining incidents, and an unforgettable ending.
 
7. Psycho (1960)
A horror filmmaker’s inspiration, and the scariest psychological thriller of all time, Psycho is directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock based on the novel by Robert Bloch.
The story of Psycho revolves around Marion Crane, a secretary who steals $40,000 from her employer, and elopes with her boyfriend Sam Loomis. Tired, and in an attempt to avoid the police, they check-in at the Bates Motel where they meet businessman- Norman Bates, a taxidermy enthusiast who is dominated by his mother.
 
8. Black Friday (2003)
Black Friday, directed by Anurag Kashyap is based on the novel Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts by Hussain Zaidi. The movie has an elite cast, starring Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Pavan Malhotra, and Zakir Hussain.
The story is about the events that led to the bomb blasts that occurred in Bombay in 1993, the different perspectives of the people related to the blasts, and the following police investigations.
 
9. God Father (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is based on the international bestseller and classic of the same name by Mario Puzo. The crime drama is acclaimed to be the most influential film, with the best star cast ever.
The film is a narration about an Italian crime dynasty in New York, the Corleone family. The plot circles around patriarch Don Corleone (Marlon Brand), striving to transform his son Micheal (Al Pacino), from an unwilling family outsider to a merciless mafia boss, and to take over the empire.
 
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10. Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Directed by Sergey M. Eisenstein, the silent film is to date regarded as gold in international cinema. It was released to pay tribute to the Russian revolutionaries that took an active part in the revolution in 1905.
The film is based on the mutiny started by the Russian sailors against their dominating superiors, and their attempts to influence the population of Ukraine to join hands.
The film ends with the rise of communism during the revolution of 1917.
 
Conclusion
Are you an aspiring filmmaker? We have a career guide to success, ready for you!
Mindler is an ed-tech organisation that provides career counselling services to students from class 8th to college graduates. We aim to throw light on the path towards their passion with professional assessment and analysis.
Interested? Join Mindler’s Career Counselling Online to jumpstart your filmmaking career today!
We are excited to offer a  Filmmaking Virtual Internship Program to help you hone your skills and pursue your passion for film. This Program is a great opportunity to gain valuable experience, learn from industry professionals, and build your portfolio.