Most Influential movies and TV Shows
by DOMSociety | created - 26 Jun 2011 | updated - 23 Oct 2011 | PublicThis is a list of the movies and TV show that have influenced other movies and have found their way into the culture. From Jaws (we are going to need a bigger boat) to Battlestar Galactica (Frack this) many TV shows and movies have left their mark. If I left any out please say so.
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1. Jaws (1975)
PG | 124 min | Adventure, Mystery, Thriller
When a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Cape Cod, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary
Votes: 659,360 | Gross: $260.00M
"We are going to need a bigger boat" How many times have you heard that or a variation of it.
2. Superman (1978)
PG | 143 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
An alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.
Director: Richard Donner | Stars: Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando
Votes: 187,514 | Gross: $134.22M
It is hard to remember, but before this movie superheros were just for young children. it is because of this movie we now have all of the other super hero movies.
3. Forbidden Planet (1956)
G | 98 min | Adventure, Sci-Fi
A starship crew in the 23rd century goes to investigate the silence of a distant planet's colony, only to find just two survivors, a powerful robot, and the deadly secret of a lost civilization.
Director: Fred M. Wilcox | Stars: Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen, Warren Stevens
Votes: 53,195 | Gross: $3.00M
Named by Gene Rodenberry as one of the infuences behind Star Trek
4. Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009)
TV-14 | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.
Stars: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, James Callis
Votes: 175,541
I am listing the New version of the show because it lasted longer than the fracking original so more people are aware of it.
5. Psycho (1960)
R | 109 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock | Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin
Votes: 718,199 | Gross: $32.00M
I do not remember any direct quotes, but I do remeber a number of writers and directors saying it was this movie that influenced theirs.
6. Alien (1979)
R | 117 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
The crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Votes: 950,498 | Gross: $78.90M
The original Alien is a masterpiece almost more a psychological thriller than a Sci-Fi movie.
7. The Cosby Show (1984–1992)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Romance
The goings-on in the life of a successful African-American family.
Stars: Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe
Votes: 36,354
Bill Cosby showed that an African American family is more than just the stereotype in a time when most African Americans on TV were either poor living in the projects or the latest perpetrator to be arrested on the cop show. I remember all the heat the show got because he removed the African from African American.
8. The Daily Show (1996– )
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy, News, Talk-Show
A comedy news show featuring humorous takes on top stories.
Stars: Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, Roy Wood Jr.
Votes: 48,184
Take a look at the casts of this show over the years and compare it to the current hits on TV and Movies. John Stewart is a King maker in the entertainment world.
9. Rocky (1976)
PG | 120 min | Drama, Sport
A small-time Philadelphia boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the world heavyweight champion in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect.
Director: John G. Avildsen | Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers
Votes: 628,359 | Gross: $117.24M
A story about a boxer who lost in the end written by an actor nobody (at the time) that went on to gross around a quarter of a billion dollars.
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Approved | 83 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Exiled into the dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother, a princess is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make her part of their household.
Directors: William Cottrell, David Hand, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, Ben Sharpsteen | Stars: Adriana Caselotti, Harry Stockwell, Lucille La Verne, Roy Atwell
Votes: 215,390 | Gross: $184.93M
The first attempt at making a cartoon the feature and not just the opening act to a movie.
11. The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986–2011)
TV-PG | 60 min | News, Talk-Show
Oprah Winfrey hosts a live audience talk-show with celebrity guests and discusses daily stories.
Stars: Oprah Winfrey, Nate Berkus, Gayle King, Chris Rock
Votes: 5,430
TV talk shows owe their existence to Oprah Winfrey. No she did not invent the medium what she did was raise the class and integrity to a level Springer could not match.
12. Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a suburban boy, family and friends.
Stars: Jerry Mathers, Hugh Beaumont, Barbara Billingsley, Tony Dow
Votes: 9,345
This show went on to become one of the most referenced by the people who hate the suburbs.
13. Rear Window (1954)
PG | 112 min | Mystery, Thriller
A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his Greenwich Village courtyard apartment window and, despite the skepticism of his fashion-model girlfriend, becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock | Stars: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter
Votes: 522,007 | Gross: $36.76M
How many times has this movie been remade?
14. Dragnet (1951–1959)
TV-14 | 30 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Sgt. Joe Friday and his partners methodically investigate crimes in Los Angeles.
Stars: Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Olan Soule, Vic Perrin
Votes: 2,365
The archetype for most cop shows. A format where the crime is the story rather than the characters lives. Think Law & Order.
15. Thirtysomething (1987–1991)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance
Seven tricenarians living in Philadelphia struggle with everyday adult angst.
Stars: Timothy Busfield, Polly Draper, Mel Harris, Peter Horton
Votes: 3,046
Love it or hate it this show took the whinny format movies of the times and created a format for whinny introspective self-absorbed people everywhere. Think Grays anatomy, Private Practice, ER, or any other show like that.
16. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–2015)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
In Las Vegas, a squad of forensic investigators are trained to solve crimes by meticulously examining the evidence. They employ advanced technology and their rationality to detect the perpetrators.
Stars: William Petersen, Laurence Fishburne, Ted Danson, George Eads
Votes: 89,102
CBS should just change its name to the CSI Network who many versions do they have? From CSI came NCIS, Criminal Minds and the many shows formulated like it.
17. Sesame Street (1969– )
TV-Y | 55 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
On a special inner city street, the inhabitants, human and muppet, teach preschool subjects with comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.
Stars: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Caroll Spinney, Jerry Nelson
Votes: 15,378
Learning with felt
18. American Bandstand (1952–1989)
TV-G | 90 min | Music, Talk-Show
Dick Clark hosts a daily to weekly dance show that features the latest hit music for the attending teens to dance to. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs.
Stars: Dick Clark, Charlie O'Donnell, Peaches Johnson, Stan Rodarte
Votes: 396
This show introduced both Rock & Roll and integration to white America Note: I could not find the listing for Bandstand without the word new.
19. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
PG | 102 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz, and embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others' wishes.
Directors: Victor Fleming, King Vidor | Stars: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr
Votes: 428,584 | Gross: $2.08M
This movie like a few others transcends time and is true Americana.
20. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992)
TV-14 | 105 min | Comedy, Talk-Show
Host Johnny Carson performs comedy routines and chats with various celebrities.
Stars: Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, Doc Severinsen, Skitch Henderson
Votes: 4,242
Every talk show host wants to be like Johnny.
21. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
PG | 130 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
Director: Frank Capra | Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
Votes: 499,093
Call it sappy call it overplayed because of a copyright snafu this movie became a Christmas tradition.
22. All in the Family (1971–1979)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
A working class man constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.
Stars: Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers
Votes: 18,658
This show showed a different side of America and during its run influenced the culture of the times. Archie was a racist with an old fashion way of looking at things that no longer fit in the America of the times; if it ever really did.
23. Casablanca (1942)
PG | 102 min | Drama, Romance, War
A cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.
Director: Michael Curtiz | Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains
Votes: 605,940 | Gross: $1.02M
It could be the invention of cool or the idea of the protagonist not getting the girl.
24. Gunsmoke (1955–1975)
TV-PG | 60 min | Western
Marshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in rough-and-tumble Dodge City.
Stars: James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis
Votes: 8,748
The essential western drama originally a radio drama.
25. An Affair to Remember (1957)
Not Rated | 115 min | Drama, Romance
A couple falls in love and agrees to meet in six months at the Empire State Building - but will it happen?
Director: Leo McCarey | Stars: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Richard Denning, Neva Patterson
Votes: 33,068
Classic chick-flick and mentioned in many other movies.
26. Twilight (I) (2008)
PG-13 | 122 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance
When Bella Swan moves to a small town in the Pacific Northwest, she falls in love with Edward Cullen, a mysterious classmate who reveals himself to be a 108-year-old vampire.
Director: Catherine Hardwicke | Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Sarah Clarke
Votes: 487,540 | Gross: $192.77M
As much as I hate this movie (which is a lot) it is hard to deny the impact it is having in the culture.
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