Brooklyn SciFi Celebrates Classic Movie Day
National Classic Movie Day is celebrated annually on May 16th to honor iconic films from the golden age of cinema. To celebrate, Brooklyn SciFi will host a special online streaming presentation of a classic SciFi Film on May 16th! Tell us your top five favorite classic Sci-Fi films and we'll send you an email reminder for the event.
What Makes a Movie a Classic?
Brooklyn SciFi is defining classic Sci-Fi as any 20th-century science fiction genre film created between the 1920s and 1999.
In film history, “classic” usually refers to movies from Hollywood’s so‑called Classical Era, roughly the late 1910s through the early 1960s, when studios relied on strong storytelling, clear character motivations, and largely invisible editing techniques.
Scholars often narrow this further to the period between the late silent era and the early 1950s, while everyday usage is looser and can include later favorites that have stood the test of time in terms of influence, critical respect, and audience affection.
What Makes a Movie a Classic?
There is no wrong or right answer, but generally speaking, it is a formula of time, visual and storytelling significance, and lasting relevance.
The U.S. National Film Registry selects movies that are at least ten years old and considered “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” based on public nominations and expert review.
Similar programs in other countries look at a film’s influence on later work, representation of national history or identity, artistic innovation, and continued public interest when choosing which classics to highlight and protect.