Ten films from 1957 now widely regarded as classics

Collider has compiled a list of ten films from 1957 now regarded as classics, noting the year combined robust Hollywood studio craftsmanship with international filmmaking that pushed into philosophical, psychological and existential territory.

The selections range across genres and countries: Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men tops the list — a confined courtroom drama about twelve jurors that was released April 10, 1957 (runtime 97 minutes) and was directed by Lumet from a script by Reginald Rose — while Stanley Kubrick’s Paths of Glory, Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries, Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood, David Lean’s The Bridge on the River Kwai, Federico Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria, Leo McCarey’s An Affair to Remember, Alexander Mackendrick’s Sweet Smell of Success and Jack Arnold’s The Incredible Shrinking Man are also highlighted with brief summaries of their themes and tones.

The list underscores how 1957 produced enduring films that vary from bitter war dramas and noir to intimate character studies and ambitious Shakespeare adaptations; the outlet points to the continuing influence and reputations of these titles and notes specific impacts cited in the summaries, such as Wild Strawberries’ influence on later directors and Sweet Smell of Success’ initially alienating tone.

Key Topics

Culture, Wild Strawberries, Sidney Lumet, Ingmar Bergman