Today's world is dominated by movies and the culture they provide. Modern productions have a new degree of magic that adds to the viewer's experience and leave nothing to be desired visually, as the quality is unmatched.

However, most films of the past don't require the modern touch of computerized special effects and don't rely on the cash-grab reboot of some older franchise. The originality and singularity of these films rely mostly on in-depth storylines and character development, which are the formula for making a pleased audience.

Some old movies may seem a bit cheesy due to older special effects or just the time gap between their production and today, but most still manage to stand alone as classics in a modern Hollywood-led society. Here's a list of the top ten movies that will never run out of steam, no matter how old they get.

1. Ghostbusters

One of the most well-known movies of the eighties, Ghostbusters brings together an all-star cast of comedians to fight some of the most recognizable villains in cinema history. People worldwide are familiar with both the monsters and ghosts from the film along with the catchy theme song that repeats through most of October. This movie makes for a great watch with family or friends and showcases the brilliance in mixing fear and laughs in a time when that hybrid genre didn't exist.

2. Footloose

Paramount Pictures

Another movie recognized more by the theme than the actual film, Footloose is a timeless classic with a deeper underlying message. Teaching about leaving the old and adopting the new, the dancing classic combines the perspective of a vibrant youth with an enjoyable soundtrack to put together the movie that defined a decade. The cast and crew both create a metaphorical environment that deals with the issue of the age gap between teens and their parents when this stress was at an all-time high. The movie touches ground that seems taboo in almost a friendly way, which is respectable in an industry defined by making profits based on what people are allowed to see.

3. Halloween (1978)

Compass International Pictures

1978's Halloween is justifiably the most recognized horror movie of all time. This terrifying slasher changed the shape of the genre and led audiences to a completely different image of what horror could be. Halloween portrays the mastery of Carpenter in using suspense over gore and showcases his ability to bring his vision to the big screen. The film's spirit was created in whole by Carpenter, as he directed, cast, and scored it himself, and many argue that the single director's touch in so many parts of the movie makes it his definitive piece. The eeriest part of the film is the simplicity of it; from the repetitive central theme to the white Captain Kirk mask, fear is instilled in the audience through Carpenter's motiveless killer. This movie is the face of the genre and makes one holiday even more horrifying than it was before the franchise's beginning.

4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Paramount Pictures

Ferris Bueller's Day Off is another movie credited with the influence of a generation. John Hughes' cult classic also helps to address the issues of the day with youth and their parents through the relatable teenage characters. The chemistry of Ferris Bueller and Cameron Frye creates an act as opposites and make the construct for the entire film's dissonance and resolve. The unforgettable scenes like the Ferrari ride and Ferris' run home make the film a wistful blast from the past for anyone watching.

5. Raiders of the Lost Ark

Lucasfilm

Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most brilliant ideas from the mind of Steven Spielberg and one of the most outstanding performances by Harrison Ford. As a historical fiction masterpiece, the first installment of the Indiana Jones series establishes Ford's suave as he leads the iconic double-life of a history professor and whip-wielding hero. Just the originality of the film is enough to earn it a spot on the list as Indy battles Nazis over the Ark of the Covenant. The idea may sound strange on paper, but the film goes to show that anything Spielberg touches is golden. With an expert crew behind the camera and a slew of accomplished actors on screen, Raiders of the Lost Ark makes for a wild ride through a wild story, with one of the most iconic action heroes of all time ruling the picture.

6. Back To The Future

Universal Pictures

Robert Zemeckis' Back to the Future is another timeless classic that has held its grip on Hollywood, despite its age of 32 years. The film's iconic Marty McFly and Doc Brown made on-screen chemistry look easy, regardless of their oddly different personas. The rest of the film's plot also had a sort of taboo sense to it, but the magic of the time-traveling Delorean added a sense of anticipation and fun to watching the movie. Zemeckis' use of nostalgia in the year of its release targeted not only children in the movie theater but their parents. The sentimentality of the fifties made its way onto the screen through the use of time travel and flushed audiences of all ages into the theaters. The race against time Marty runs to unite his parents makes for some serious intensity in a movie with an overall happy tone and shows the rest of Hollywood what a time-travel movie should look like.

7. Jaws

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Jaws, Steven Spielberg's breakout film as a director, is an example of a well-composed film and a director's perseverance through hardship. The movie went 159 days over production, and producers were threatening to remove Spielberg from the crew and can the idea. However, through the complications, Spielberg and his crew persevered and finished one of the most imaginative summer blockbusters of all time. This film still keeps beach-goers out of the ocean today, and its abundance of realistic New England characters manage to deliver believable dialogue accompanied by a monster that just might be out in the open sea.

8. The Empire Strikes Back

Lucasfilm

The sequel to A New Hope ultimately tops the rest of the Star Wars franchise to date. The Skywalker storyline can be said to reach a climax in Empire rather than the third installment due to its singularity and strength in character development. Some of the most memorable scenes in film history like the Hoth battle, Cloud City, and the reveal of Darth Vader being Luke's father make this cinematic masterpiece unforgettable. The Empire Strikes Back was a huge success and closed on one of the biggest cliffhanger endings in history, leading the audience deeper into the world of the Force and showing Hollywood what criteria a sequel should reach.

9. Jurassic Park

Universal Pictures

Based on Michael Crichton's novel of the same name, Jurassic Park was a film ahead of its time. This movie followed the cross-genre of science fiction and horror and relied heavily on the scientific discoveries of the day to develop a story that looked like it could be on the news in the near future. This movie was one of the most awe-inspiring of its time, as it was the first movie to combine the effects of animatronics with the CGI to create seemingly living, breathing dinosaurs that are comparable to the special effects of today. The writers develop convincing reasoning for the existence of dinosaurs and authentic relationships between characters that draw in the audience and help to build the tense atmosphere throughout the entire runtime. Jurassic Park smashed the box office domestically and worldwide, leading to the birth of one of the biggest franchises of all time and one of the biggest followings of any fan base in cinema history.

10. The Terminator

Orion Pictures

When it hit the big screen in 1984, The Terminator made the world shutter as it showed a seemingly unstoppable force pursuing a seemingly helpless woman while throwing the fate of the planet into the balance. James Cameron's brilliance in making The Terminator is unmatched as he builds the fear of being targeted by a cold killer. The casting of bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator is brilliant as he towers over the rest of the cast, along with the casting of Linda Hamilton as Sarah, who is a relatively regular person put into a dire situation. The contrast of the two makes for an extreme "cat-and-mouse" scenario, and the humanity of Sarah Connor next to the two-dimensional Terminator makes her seem even more helpless. The introduction of Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese, who attempts to defend Sarah, also helps put to scale just how unstoppable the Terminator is. All in all, this movie is as thrilling as it is original and delivers a sense of chill that will follow the audiences after the film is over.

In an age where directors and production companies are running out of ideas, turning to the past may be the best way to find some of the most exciting and original content to watch. While some of today's productions have their own sense of individuality, there's nothing quite like turning back the clock a decade or two and finding a classic that won't ever fall out of style. Films like the ones listed are few and far between, and as these directors take their hand out of the arena, it looks like new directors are going to have to rise and deliver for cinematic audiences.

The future still looks bright for film, as blockbuster franchises like the MCU are paving the way for new film adaptations. However, looking at the past of cinema is a great way to learn more about more about its past, and also how to make great movies in the future.