7 Star Films

Arthur Penn’s Little Big Man (1970) is a sprawling, unconventional Western that deconstructs the mythology of the American frontier while blending satire, tragedy, and pathos. Based on Thomas Berger’s 1964 novel, the film is part comedy, part epic, and part revisionist history, offering a panoramic view of 19th-century America through the eyes of its eccentric protagonist.

Released in 1978, Straight Time is a gritty, uncompromising crime drama directed by Ulu Grosbard (with uncredited early direction by Dustin Hoffman). Adapted from Edward Bunker’s semi-autobiographical novel No Beast So Fierce, the film presents a harrowing portrait of recidivism, alienation, and the crushing weight of a society unwilling to forgive.

Directed by Hal Ashby and released in 1978, Coming Home is a poignant and politically charged drama that addresses the psychological and emotional aftermath of the Vietnam War. Starring Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, and Bruce Dern, the film presents a deeply personal exploration of love, loss, and transformation against the backdrop of national disillusionment.

Directed by Hal Ashby and released in 1973, The Last Detail is a quintessential example of American New Wave cinema—gritty, unsentimental, yet brimming with humanity. Adapted from Darryl Ponicsan’s novel by Robert Towne (who later wrote Chinatown), the film stars Jack Nicholson in one of his most celebrated performances.

Released in 1970 and directed by Bob Rafelson, Five Easy Pieces is a landmark of American New Wave cinema. Starring Jack Nicholson in the performance that cemented his reputation as one of the era’s most compelling actors, the film is a searing character study of alienation, class conflict, and the restless search for identity.

Directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 1974, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore is a poignant, character-driven drama that weaves together themes of female independence, resilience, and the search for identity.

Don Siegel’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) is a landmark in American science fiction and horror, a chilling allegory of conformity, paranoia, and the fragility of individuality. Released during the height of the Cold War, the film has often been interpreted as a metaphor for the Red Scare, McCarthyism, or the fear of ideological subversion. Yet its power endures because of its taut storytelling, claustrophobic atmosphere, and relentless tension.

George Stevens’s A Place in the Sun (1951) is one of the most powerful romantic dramas of mid-century American cinema, a haunting exploration of ambition, passion, and moral collapse. Based on Theodore Dreiser’s monumental novel An American Tragedy (1925), itself inspired by a real murder case, the film updates Dreiser’s tale to post-war America and captures both the glittering promise and the destructive undercurrents of the “American Dream.”

Delbert Mann’s Marty, released in 1955 and based on Paddy Chayefsky’s teleplay, is one of those rare Hollywood films that finds poetry in the ordinary. Unlike the widescreen westerns and grand epics of the mid-1950s, Marty strips cinema down to its simplest essence: two lonely, unglamorous people meeting and discovering they deserve love.

Directed by John Sturges and released by MGM in 1955, Bad Day at Black Rock is a taut and haunting blend of western and film noir. Set in a remote desert town just after the Second World War, it functions both as a gripping thriller and as a powerful social critique of racism, small-town corruption, and the corrosive effects of fear.

Directed by Mike Newell and written by Richard Curtis, Four Weddings and a Funeral is a quintessential British romantic comedy that became an unexpected global success and a defining film of the 1990s. With its charming ensemble cast, witty script, and heartfelt exploration of love and friendship, the movie helped reinvigorate the romantic comedy genre while introducing audiences worldwide to the quintessentially British blend of humor and sentimentality.

Sliding Doors is a romantic drama with a unique twist of magical realism, directed and written by Peter Howitt. Released in 1998, the film has become a cult favorite for its clever premise, exploration of fate versus chance, and the charismatic performance of Gwyneth Paltrow in a dual narrative role.

Jonathan Demme’s Philadelphia is a landmark film in American cinema, both as a poignant courtroom drama and as one of the first major Hollywood movies to tackle the AIDS crisis and homophobia head-on.

Cameron Crowe’s Jerry Maguire, released in 1996, is a rare film that successfully blends romantic comedy, sports drama, and character study into a compelling story of personal and professional redemption. Anchored by Tom Cruise’s charismatic and multifaceted performance, the film explores themes of integrity, love, loyalty, and the true meaning of success in a world often driven by money and superficiality.

Shakespeare in Love (1998) is a romantic period comedy-drama directed by John Madden and written by Marc Norman and acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard. It is a film that blends historical fiction, romance, and meta-theatrical wit, resulting in a work that not only entertains but also pays homage to the timeless power of storytelling and the stage.

Directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, Days of Thunder is a high-octane sports drama that captures the thrill, danger, and ego-driven world of NASCAR racing. Released in 1990, the film was designed as a star vehicle for Tom Cruise, reuniting the actor with the creative team behind Top Gun (1986).

Taylor Hackford’s An Officer and a Gentleman is one of the most enduring romantic dramas of the 1980s, blending military rigour, personal transformation, and passionate romance into a story of self-discovery and love.

Garry Marshall’s Pretty Woman is one of the most enduring romantic comedies in Hollywood history, a modern-day Cinderella story that combines charm, humour, and heart. Released in 1990, the film became a cultural phenomenon, launching Julia Roberts to superstardom and re-establishing Richard Gere as a romantic leading man. More than three decades later, Pretty Woman continues to captivate audiences with its winning combination of fairytale romance and 1990s Los Angeles glamou

oel Schumacher’s Flatliners is a visually striking and psychologically charged thriller that blends science fiction, horror, and morality play into a unique cinematic experience. Released in 1990, the film stars Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin, and Oliver Platt as a group of ambitious medical students who dare to flirt with death itself.

Herbert Ross’s Footloose is one of the defining films of 1980s popular culture—a high-energy mix of music, rebellion, and small-town drama that turned Kevin Bacon into a household name and produced a soundtrack that has become iconic in its own right. Released in 1984, the film blends the coming-of-age genre with the feel of a musical, delivering a story about youth, freedom, and the transformative power of dance.