What do you think makes a classic, classic? Is it its memorable dialogue, even a single line from a movie that has become immortal? Or is it the cinematic mastery of the director, or the artistry and beauty of the actors? Or does the film owe to the plot itself, with a captivating story that people from any generation, race and era can relate to? More often than not, it is a combination of all these ingredients. 

Which movies of this generation do you reckon will become classics in the future? What are the movies that have been released in the last 15 years or so that will be treated by our future generations in the same manner as we treat great films from decades ago? 

Star Showbiz places its bet on five films.

TITANIC 

With so many highly acclaimed movies of James Cameron, Titanic is just the tip of the ice-berg. If there is any secret formula of making a movie classic, James Cameroon knows it and has applied it well in the 1997 movie, Titanic. 

It had perfect recipe for a great film, with all the useful ingredients. Romance; Poor boy falls in love with rich girl. Drama, Suspense, Tragedy, it had them all. There is none who cannot connect with the emotions depicted in this movie. The cinematography and the music have also been breathtakingly beautiful. And the world will never forget the hallmark "I'm flying!" pose of Kate and DeCaprio standing on the edge of the ship with their hands spread.      

INTERSTELLAR 
The audience of the '60s saw the birth of '2001: A Space Odyssey'. And we have seen the birth of Interstellar. The former is now a classic science fiction – 'cli-fi', as they say. And Interstellar will also have that honour.

The science fictions are very different from each other in several ways. For example, A Space Odyssey was a slow-paced story whereas Interstellar is driven by the race against time to save the planet.

But both milked on the human thirst for space exploration, the presence of superior beings out there and the little-understood ways and notions of the universe.  

Given that 2001: A Space Odyssey is now a classic, we can predict with some certainty that Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, released in 2014, will become a classic too. 

THE MATRIX
What if I tell you that everything in the world is a lie, that we are living in a simulated reality? Fascinating, right? So how can you not like The Matrix series, which is based on the premise that sentient machines, in order to subdue the human population, have created a virtual reality which is perceived as the true one by most people?  

Just to be clear, The Matrix is not about something that the audience has never seen before. The notion of Man vs. Machine is nothing new. Conspiracies about a force secretly dominating the world, too, continues to be the topic of countless documentaries.  

But such beautiful portrayal of these subjects has been made in The Matrix that the series became a major success. It also created a line of similar movies where the reality is questioned. 

The Matrix is not just a sci-fi flick. It is an action movie as well. It popularised the visual effect, 'bullet time'.  

THE LORD OF THE RINGS

"The world is changed: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, I smell it in the air. Much that once was, is lost, for none now live who remember it" – When you have a movie that starts with such captivating words, you know that you have hours of 100 percent entertainment in front of you.

The fantasy series takes you to another world, and through inspiringly beautiful visual effects, creates a lasting impression.

The Lord of the Rings has bagged a staggering number of awards.  

THE DARK KNIGHT
This Batman movie is our pick amongst superhero movies. It's not entirely for the superhero, though. Sure, Christian Bale did an excellent job in playing Bruce Wayne, but what got the most cheers was the performance of Heath Ledger as the villain and arch-rival, The Joker. 

The movie itself is a captivating one no doubt, but Ledger's performance goes up the roof, making it one of the most memorable performances by any actor in the 21st century so far. 

SHREK 
Before the release of Shrek, almost all animated films featuring fairy tales were based on a tried and true formula of a charming prince and a damsel in distress. But this theory was thrown out the window with Shrek's innovative new formula. An ogre, a kickass fiery princess, a non-stop chattering donkey, and constant mockery of popular fairy 
tales proved to be an instant hit amongst audiences of all ages. No matter how many animated movies come out, you can be sure that Shrek will stand the test of time.

By Himadri