Great Movies That Take Place In The '60s
The '60s is one of the best settings for films because the decade marked a true change in America and around the world. The top 1960s period movies feature characters fighting for equal rights, coping with the horrors of the Vietnam War, and just trying to make it through the everyday struggles of middle-class life. This is a list of 1960s period movies featuring everything from Catch Me If You Can to Across the Universe to Girl, Interrupted. These are just a few of the best movies that take place in the '60s.
What films will you find on this list of movies based in the 1960s? Maybe you'll vote Taking Woodstock to the top of the heap. Set at the most famous music festival of all time, a young man learns more about himself and the town which played host to the epic event. The Doors is another music-centric movie that represents the 1960s aesthetic. If you are looking for some sixties-era laughs and romance, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery has you covered. Other good movies featured on this 1960s period movies list include Moonrise Kingdom, A Single Man, and Riding in Cars with Boys.
Which movies set in the 1960s deserves the top spot on this list? Help us decide by giving your favorites a vote up to help them get to the top of the list.
- 1Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard
- Released: 2011
- Directed by: Tate Taylor
This heartwarming drama showcases the lives and struggles of African-American maids working for white families in 1960s Mississippi. With stellar performances from Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone, the film is an emotional exploration of race, friendship, and civil rights during a crucial period in American history.
- 2Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken
- Released: 2002
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
In this thrilling cat-and-mouse game, Leonardo DiCaprio plays a young con artist posing as various professionals, pursued by Tom Hanks' tenacious FBI agent. Set in the swinging '60s, this film captures the spirit of the decade with colorful sets, costumes, and a groovy soundtrack.
- 3Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat
- Released: 1973
- Directed by: George Lucas
A nostalgic gem directed by George Lucas, this film follows a group of high school friends on their last night in their hometown before heading off to college. Set in the early '60s, this classic coming-of-age story is filled with sock hops, drag races, and an unforgettable soundtrack.
- 4Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio
- Released: 1983
- Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Based on the iconic novel by S.E. Hinton, this coming-of-age story follows a group of young "greasers" navigating the trials of adolescence in a 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma neighborhood. With an all-star cast including Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, and Tom Cruise, this film captures the essence of teenage rebellion in a bygone era.
- 5Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea Duvall
- Released: 1999
- Directed by: James Mangold
In this powerful drama, Winona Ryder plays a young woman who is committed to a mental institution during the 1960s. With a haunting performance by Angelina Jolie, the film explores the challenges faced by women battling mental illness in a time of societal change and upheaval.
- 6Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin
- Released: 2005
- Directed by: James Mangold
This biographical drama follows the life of iconic musician Johnny Cash (played by Joaquin Phoenix) from his early days in Arkansas to his rise to fame in the 1960s. Reese Witherspoon's Oscar-winning performance as June Carter adds depth and heart to this compelling story.
