(Credit: Netflix)

Netflix’s streaming engine doesn’t stop rolling, which explains why viewers stay up to date with contemporary entertainment despite its cutthroat reputation. Yet, before Netflix dipped its toes deep into original productions, entertainment still thrived in what many believe to be the golden age of Hollywood.

While, like Netflix, Tinseltown remains in a constant flux, the streaming era has undoubtedly made repeat viewing easier than before. To enjoy a blast from the past, the audience no longer needs to turn to dusty VHS tapes or go through cinematic archives to summon a throwback marathon. Netflix has made things literally that easy.

All you need to do is jot down your favourites and check the Netflix availability. And there, you have everything ready at hand’s distance. Although the fast-forward world of streaming has spoiled people with never-ending choices, Hollywood has given them just enough movies that stand the test of time.

So, on today’s episode of what to watch next on Netflix, we’re giving Netflix original productions a much-needed break to watch five throwback movies that get better with age.

Five throwback movies to watch on Netflix

The Age of Innocence (Martin Scorsese, 1993)

What makes a movie timeless may vary from audience to audience. But ask whoever you may, The Age of Innocence always makes viewers feel right at home, regardless of the year you discover or rewatch it. Based on Edith Wharton’s Pulitzer-winning 1920 novel, the historical drama stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, and Michelle Pfeiffer in their prime.

The Age of Innocence tells the classic story of a prosperous New York City attorney who finds himself torn between duty and desire, focusing on two unlikely women, the traditionalist May Welland and the non-conformist Ellen Olenska. Trapped inside a rigid, unwritten code of conduct, the characters represent a world where social expectations bow down to individual agency.

The 1993 film features outstanding performances from three of the biggest Hollywood figures. But most importantly, it takes a historical piece grounded and highly regarded in the world of literature to comment on the universal aspects of society and nature that resonate with the audience unmistakably, even today. The Age of Innocence was always ahead of its time, despite its periodical roots. But anyone who thinks it’s just another love story needs to watch it before Netflix removes it on October 1st.

Mask (Chuck Russell, 1994)

Every actor has a career-defining role in their resume. For Jim Carrey, Mask is undoubtedly the one. Based on John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke’s comic book series, the superhero comedy stars Carrey as the iconic Stanley Ipkiss, AKA The Mask. Unlike superhero films that reek of conscious saviour syndrome, Mask’s protagonist is an out-of-luck bank teller who discovers a magical mask that transforms him into a green-faced troublemaker, powered with the ability to change things around him animatedly.

The 1994 film perfectly showcases Carrey’s brand of physical comedy, which solidified his status as a comedic superstar in the era. Mask additionally utilises groundbreaking CGI effects, considered completely ahead of its time. Besides Carrey’s unforgettable performance, the film introduces Cameron Diaz.

While the comedy is packed with cultural references of the 1990s, from classic cartoons and slapstick humour to the zoot suit and jazz music, it stands the test of time thematically and visually. Although viewers might pass it off as another fantastical take on Hollywood with a superhero spin, once you read between the lines, it should look like wishful thinking from the perspective of those who have felt powerless and underestimated.

Django Unchained (Quentin Tarantino, 2012)

Nobody enjoys a forever momentum in Hollywood. But if you’re Quentin Tarantino, that’s a different story. Tarantino’s movies have a way of etching themselves in Tinseltown’s Hall of Fame, whether it’s Inglourious Basterds, the Kill Bill films, or the relatively recent Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Another film that easily fits the bill of a timeless pick is Django Unchained, the American revisionist Western film he wrote and directed in 2012.

Django Unchained revolves around a slave under the tutelage of a bounty hunter whose only goal in life is to reunite with his wife. While Tarantino had long been inspired by the genre, in approaching the film, he consciously subverts the terrifying period of American history to ensure a cathartic sense of justice. He utilises the subgenre famous for its action and violence to narrate an emotional story that stays long after the credits roll.

The film is anchored by exceptional actors, including Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio. Although it undoubtedly leans into Tarantino’s hallmark styles, such as non-linear storytelling, anachronistic soundtrack, and stylised action sequences, it’s also a work of art that has continued to spark debates and discussions due to the sensitive subject matter it addresses over the years since its release.

October Sky (Joe Johnston, 1999)

Dreaming big will never go out of style, nor will October Sky. The 1999 film is based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a boy from a coal mining region in West Virginia, who pursued rocketry inspired by the launch of the Sputnik satellite. The biographical drama showcases the power of perseverance and fulfilling one’s dreams against all odds, a concept that remains universally inspirational through time.

Joe Johnston does a terrific job with the incredible worldbuilding, where the keen sense of detail is palpable. But it’s the young Jake Gyllenhaal who steals the show with his powerful delivery. October Sky non-hesitantly celebrates the impact of education and ambition to show a destiny that’s entirely man-made, underscoring the importance of breaking the cycle. Although it’s been over two decades since its release, it doesn’t struggle with maintaining its momentum even now.

The Big Short (Adam McKay, 2015)

To complete the throwback movie marathon on Netflix, you can always end it with The Big Short, which tells three concurrent stories in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis in the US. While some films have techniques and stories that are ahead of their time, what makes The Big Short timeless is the thematic relevance that stands out even today.

Despite the controversial and sensitive subject matter, The Big Short offers an outsiders vs insiders perspective to peel back the layers of unchecked greed, deregulation, and the disengagement between Wall Street and Main Street. Complete with an ensemble cast of Hollywood superstars like Christian Bale and Brad Pitt, The Big Short offers a striking blend of comedy and tragedy.

It has always been more than a historical drama that intends to make the comfortable uncomfortable. So, if you want to watch a movie that never feels outdated, take the high road with this one.