Despite being known for its huge catalog of movies, the oldest Hollywood film onNetflixis only from 1973, and it’s definitely worth streaming. Some of thebest movies ever madecome from long before 1973. Absolute classics likeCasablancaorThe Wizard of Ozare decades older than the ’70s, and even newer classics miss the cutoff, likeThe Godfather, which was made in 1972. None of those classics are on the biggest streaming service in the world, but there was a time when thebest movies on Netflixincluded films that were nearly a century old.
At one point in time, Netflix was a safe haven for anyone who wanted to watch old or obscure movies. It offered a selection of films that physical video rental stores like Blockbuster or Family Video simply didn’t have the money or space to keep in stock. That was one of many reasons Netflix grew so popular in the first place, and how it ended up making a name for itself. Despite the streaming service’s roots of catering to cinephiles across America, the oldest English-language movie currently on Netflix is only 52 years old, but it’s still worth a watch half a century later.
Robert Redford & Paul Newman’s 1973 Movie The Sting Is The Oldest English-Language Movie On Netflix
A Few Bollywood Movies & A Documentary Are Older, But The Sting Is The Oldest Hollywood Movie On Netflix
As Bluesky userWill McKinleypointed out,Robert Redford and Paul Newman’s 1975 movieThe Stingis the oldest English-language film on Netflix. There are a few older entries on the site, but they include sixBollywood movies filmed in Hindi, such asKhoon KhoonandAmrapali, and real-life documentary footage of World War II. In fact, the early 1970s barely have any representation on the streaming service at all: the next oldest Hollywood films on Netflix are 1975’sThe Other Side of the Mountainand 1977’sHeroes. Evidently,The Stingis the most “classic” Hollywood film on the entire streaming service.
The Sting Is A Spiritual Predecessor To Ocean’s Eleven & Absolutely Worth Watching
The Sting Features An Enthralling Heist Story & Amazing Chemistry Between Redford & Newman
Though it’s the oldest movie on Netflix,The Stingis absolutely worth watching. In many ways,The Stingwas the inspiration for George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s classic heist movieOcean’s Eleven.It follows Johnny Hooker (Redford) and Henry Gondorff (Newman), two grifters who team up to scam mobster Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw) as revenge for killing one of their friends. Hooker and Gondorff hatch a convoluted but utterly brilliant scheme that’s full of twists, unexpected moments, and suspenseful reveals. It’s a treat to watch all the scammers work together flawlessly and see every piece of the puzzle fall into place in one fell swoop.
Paul Newman & Robert Redford’s Heist Movie Made Oscars History 51 Years Ago With 1 Of Its 7 Wins
Paul Newman and Robert Redford’s heist movie, The Sting, is not only acclaimed, but also forever changed the history of the Academy Awards.
Aside from its engaging and thrilling plot, there are plenty of reasons to loveThe Sting.Redford and Newman are an absolutely classic duo, and their chemistry inThe Stingwas some of the best they ever put to screen, bar onlyButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Hooker and Gondorff seem like they’ve been friends for decades, and they have such a great teacher/student dynamic that’s enchanting to watch. On top of that, due to its 1930s setting, all the set designs, costumes, dialog, and music inThe Stingare superb, and they transport audiences to a whole new time period.
Why Netflix Has So Few Older Movies Now
Original Programming Is More Profitable & More People Watch New Releases Over Classic Films
Unfortunately, there’s a fairly wide range of reasons Netflix has moved away from offering older films.The biggest reason is because Netflix has prioritized creating and housing its own original movies and shows over licensing classic films from distributors like Universal or Paramount. Since Netflix owns the rights to its original content, it can keep those projects on its site indefinitely, whereas it would have to continually pay licensing fees to offer films other companies own. It, like many things in this world, all comes down to money, and Netflix originals are simply more profitable than classic films.
It, like many things in this world, all comes down to money, and Netflix originals are simply more profitable than classic films.
On top of the allure of Netflix originals, older classics simply don’t have as much demand as new movies and shows do. When new movies and shows come out, they’re almost guaranteed to draw in millions of viewers simply by virtue of being a new project that audiences haven’t seen yet. Most people have seen a fair share of the classic movies in the world, so unless they have an errant desire to rewatchVertigo, only a few hundred people would watch it on any given day. New movies draw in new viewers, andNetflixhas seemingly decided to leave old films in the dust.
The Sting
Cast
The Sting is a 1973 film directed by George Roy Hill, featuring Paul Newman and Robert Redford as con artists who team up to execute a complex scam against a powerful mob boss. Set in the 1930s, the film intricately combines elements of suspense, deception, and humor. It was well-received for its engaging plot and period-authentic production design, going on to win multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
