Zach is a freelance writer who has been active in media since 2009. In the more than a decade and a half since he moved to New York City to pursue a career in the industry, he has covered everything from pop culture and tech to food and New York City life and almost everything in between.
His work has appeared in Thrillist, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, GQ, VinePair, Inside Hook, Forbes, Parents, Hop Culture, Gawker, and myriad other websites covering a wide range of topics from travel and food to the wine and spirits world, including as a reviewer for Liquor.com. He is also a Certified Cicerone® and serves on numerous tasting and judging panels, including the New York International Beer Competition and Ultimate Spirit Challenge.
Besides writing, Zach supplements his writing with entrepreneurial endeavors as the owner of two award-winning bars and restaurants in Manhattan. He's also an active hospitality educator and consultant, providing knowledge and training curriculums both in-house and for hire around New York City. He has appeared as an expert on nationally syndicated television shows, web series, and podcasts including Thrillist's "Best (and the Rest)," Heritage Radio Network's "Beer Sessions Radio," and more. In 2021, he signed on as the co-host of Back of House’s first podcast, So You Want To Run a Restaurant, which highlights conversations with owners, operators, and luminaries from the hospitality industry.
Anyone old enough to remember having to lug around a CD case knows how convenient music streaming apps like Spotify are. The service boasts over 100 million songs in its catalog, making it possible to carry an entire world of music right in your pocket. But while the app is available for free, users can also opt to pay a little extra to improve the experience, ax ads, and add a few features. Even better, those who do subscribe can expect a little more than just ad-free music and better controls when they log in. Read on for the little-known freebies included in Spotify Premium.
Music streaming apps have spoiled us so much that it's now frustrating when we can't listen to the songs on demand. But ironically, the times when you can't access the internet or a cell network—such as on an airplane or on a drive with limited service—are often when you want your music the most.
Fortunately, those who pay the $10.99 a month for Spotify Premium (or $5.99 for students) can avoid this issue. Members can download an unlimited number of songs, podcasts, and audiobooks for listening offline. It's the best way to ensure you can blast that perfect tune whenever you want.
2. Access to more music
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Music streaming apps have spoiled us so much that it's now frustrating when we can't listen to the songs on demand. But ironically, the times when you can't access the internet or a cell network—such as on an airplane or on a drive with limited service—are often when you want your music the most.
Fortunately, those who pay the $10.99 a month for Spotify Premium (or $5.99 for students) can avoid this issue. Members can download an unlimited number of songs, podcasts, and audiobooks for listening offline. It's the best way to ensure you can blast that perfect tune whenever you want.
Spotify isn't just good for listening to music from your favorite artists: The app is also a source for your favorite podcasts and a selection of audiobooks.
Typically, free users still have to purchase any novels or nonfiction titles they want to listen to. But Spotify Premium users have access to over 150,000 different books as part of their membership. According to a press release from the company, the plan includes 15 free hours of listening per month.
4. Access to higher sound quality
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If you've shelled out for a decent pair of headphones, you're going to want your music to sound as good as possible. But if you're hoping to get that crisp, clean experience with free Spotify, you're likely going to be left a little disappointed.
While there is no true high-quality music file format on the platform like there is on other services, there's a significant bump up for those who pay to listen. According to The Sound Guys, free users can expect a bitrate of 160kbps on the mobile and desktop apps, while Spotify Premium subscribers get twice that. And while the extra data points might not seem like much to the untrained ear, they're an absolute necessity for any audiophile.
5. Ability to listen along with friends
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Just because you're not with your best friends doesn't mean you can't jam out together. While all Spotify users have access to a decent number of social perks, Premium subscribers can set up a virtual party with their besties, making it possible to build and edit playlists in real-time, pick the order of songs, and skip or repeat songs as much as needed.
Ever since the late 90s, low-carb diets—those that drastically limit the number of carbohydrates one consumes—have been at the forefront of the weight-loss industry. Though the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that carbohydrates should make up 45 to 65 percent of your total daily calorie intake, a low-carb diet usually means eating 100 grams or less of carbohydrates per day.The theory goes that by pushing your body into a state of ketosis, a metabolic state in which you burn fat instead of glucose, you'll drop more pounds. To enter such a state, people who follow low-carb diets will typically forego added sugars, grains, refined carbohydrates such as those found in cookies or crackers, fruit, some vegetables, and more.
However, a 2023 meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open has found that not all low-carb foods are created equally when it comes to weight loss. Those researchers reviewed data from three large prospective cohort studies that included over 123,000 subjects and determined that low-carb diets that focused on high-quality macronutrients from healthy plant-based foods were associated with less weight gain. Meanwhile, low-carb diets centered on animal-sourced proteins, fats, or refined carbohydrates were associated with more weight gain.
Read on for the 10 worst low-carb foods when you want to move the needle on the scale.
In general, processed meats are best avoided for your health because they're high in sodium and trans fats—both of which are unhealthy for your heart. Experts say they can also contribute to weight gain despite being low in carbohydrates.
Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, a preventive cardiology dietitian at Entirely Nourished, says this is true regardless of type: Sausages made of processed beef, pork, chicken, or turkey can all slow movement on the scale.
"These are low in carbs but high in salt, which can lead to water retention and bloating, potentially hindering weight loss efforts," she explains.
2. Low-carb cookies or crackers
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If you eat low-carb cookies or crackers in the place of more traditional pre-packaged snacks, this may help you lose weight. However, experts note that these are still highly processed and can be labeled misleadingly, leading to slowed progress.
"Although these may be low in carbs, they are often higher in fat and total calories since they often use ground nuts and seeds in them," points out Liz Weinandy, RD, a registered dietitian at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
She notes that rather than eating low-carb processed foods, it's better to eat healthy carbs from natural sources—for instance, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
"Time and time again, studies show those who eat more plant foods have better health and lower risks for many chronic diseases," the dietitian says. "A better approach would be to lower the amount of ultra-processed carbs," even those that are labeled as being low in carbohydrates.
If you've been on TikTok lately, you may have noticed the viral trend of the "carnivore diet," a restrictive meal plan in which dieters eat only meat and other animal products, such as eggs and dairy. However, experts say that not only is this a heart health hazard, but it may also backfire when it comes to weight loss.
"Fatty red meat, like ribeye steak, contains significant amounts of saturated fat, which can increase insulin resistance and inflammation, thereby hindering progress toward weight loss goals," says Routhenstein.
The dietitian notes that deli meats are also poor additions to your weight loss diet: "Processed meats like salami are high in saturated fats, sodium, and preservatives, which can contribute to weight gain and cardiovascular problems."
4. Low-carb cocktails and beer
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When you want to lose weight, it's a good idea to cut back on your alcohol consumption. But simply switching to low-carb cocktails or beer at your previous volume is unlikely to yield the results you're after.
"Even low-carb alcohol still has calories in it, and these can add up," says Weinandy, noting that alcohol slows down the metabolism. "Most beverages with calories, if consumed regularly, can thwart weight loss efforts. This is why water and calorie-free tea and coffee is recommended over any sugary beverage."
When you're following a low-carb diet, it's best to reach for high-quality oils and fats to cook with—for instance, extra virgin olive oil.
"Butter, although it doesn't contain carbs, is calorically dense and high in saturated fat, which can impede weight loss goals by contributing to excess calorie intake," says Routhenstein.
6. Cheese
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Most types of cheese contain few or no carbs—but that doesn't mean they'll necessarily result in weight loss.
For instance, cream cheese—despite being low in carbs—is rich in saturated fats and calories. "Excessive consumption of cream cheese may lead to weight gain and negatively affect heart health," warns Routhenstein.
Condiments are often a hidden source of calories—which is why they can easily sabotage your weight loss goals if not portioned out carefully.
"Just one tablespoon of mayonnaise, about the size of your thumb from the tip to where it meets your palm, is 100 calories," notes Weinandy. "It's easy to use two to three tablespoons on a single sandwich. Low-carb? Yes. Low calorie? No!"
8. Whipped cream
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Whipped cream contains only 1.75 grams of carbohydrates per quarter cup, yet Routhenstein warns against it.
"Whipped cream is low in carbs but high in saturated fats and sugars, which can lead to weight gain and increased risk of heart disease when consumed in excess," she says.
9. Nuts and seeds
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Nuts and seeds can be a nutrient-dense snack that helps keep you fuller for longer. However, they're also calorie-dense—and this can lead to weight gain if you don't consider portion control.
"Nuts and seeds are powerhouses of nutrients, containing many different micronutrients such as magnesium, zinc, selenium, and fiber. However, they are high in fat and calories, too," says Weinandy.
She notes that though nuts contain healthy, monounsaturated fats, including Omega-3 fatty acids, the calories will still add up and can prevent weight loss.
10. Artificial sweeteners
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Though it's a good idea to minimize sugar on any diet plan, some experts say that replacing it with artificial sweeteners can backfire.
"Research is mixed on sugar substitutes, with some studies showing they can help with weight loss and others showing no benefit or even worse—that they may increase appetite. There may even be a larger negative to using these, though. There is concern they may negatively affect the gut microbiome, and over time, this can affect many aspects of our health," warns Weinandy.
The best part about redecorating is shopping for everything from cozy linens to elegant table decor to funky accent chairs. But ask anyone who’s ever spearheaded an interior design project before; home decor doesn’t come cheap—especially when you have your eyes set on trendy pieces from Crate & Barrel or have a taste for the luxurious finishes of là Pottery Barn. However, according to Walmart shoppers, the retailer has home decor dupes for these high-end brands that would leave even Rachel Green impressed. And best of all, they’re up to $1,000 cheaper. Keep reading to see what Walmart shoppers are adding to their carts.
Made from a natural blend of jute, cotton, and wool, this floral accent rug from Walmart is $276 cheaper than its Pottery Barn version. The handwoven, frayed rug comes in a variety of sizes, whether you’re looking for a new doormat or something to position under the living room couch.
“You’re sleeping on Walmart…they are giving us the budget decor,” said one Walmart shopper on TikTok before showing off her dupe find. “It is under $20.”
She noted that the 2’x3’ rug is the perfect “doormat version,” “bathroom version,” or even “kitchen sink version.”
2. Dupe for Crate & Barrel's Swivel Accent Chair
Walmart
“Can you even believe this bird cage swivel chair is from Walmart? It looks super high-end and expensive, but it’s super affordable,” raved one TikToker.
With its lightweight, curved frame and upholstered linen fabric, this swivel chair belongs in any room of the house. Crate & Barrel sells a similar version for $1,299, but Walmart shoppers can get the dupe for just $274.
At the time of publication, the Lillian Swivel Birdcage Chair was sold out, but Walmart shoppers can sign up to be notified when it restocks.
3. Dupe for Pottery Barn's Diamond Quilt
Walmart
Is your bedroom in need of a major refresh? Swapping out old bedding for new linens, like Pottery Barn’s Belgian Flax Linen Diamond Quilt, that are weighted or a different color or texture can transform your space. Luckily for Walmart shoppers, the retailer has a dupe that’s almost 80 percent cheaper.
“I found these Better Homes & Gardens Diamond Quilts for only $55, compared that to the Pottery Barn Diamond Quilt sets that are $299,” said one TikToker.
You can never have too many vases, and now, Walmart shoppers can score a dupe for the trendy Acacia Wooden Vase from Pottery Barn for just 19.88. That’s a $439 price difference!
5. Dupe for Pottery Barn's Reed 4-Drawer Dresser
Walmart
Pottery Barn is beloved for its minimalist furniture, but redecorating can rack up a hefty bill—and fast. That’s why many shoppers are turning to Walmart for bedroom furniture like the Modern Farmhouse 4-Drawer Chest, which is a dupe for the Pottery Barn Reed 4-Drawer Dresser —and it costs $980 less. Walmart customers can even score the same dresser in a rustic white design for even less than the polished wood version.
It feels like 2024 simply won’t let up with health scares, with the onset of bird flu, rising COVID cases, and foodborne illness. Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is sounding the alarm on yet another troubling trend: an increase in human parvovirus cases. While people who contract the seasonal respiratory virus are often asymptomatic, there are certain signs and symptoms you should keep an eye out for.
In an Aug. 13 Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory, the CDC noted the increase in parvovirus B19 (also known as fifth disease) in the U.S. There was an earlier uptick in reported cases in 14 European countries.
Roughly 50 percent of adults have detectable parvovirus B19 antibodies (signaling a past infection and presumed protection against reinfection) by the time they’re 20, and more than 70 percent have them by 40. However, new data from the CDC revealed that the proportion of people of all ages with IgM antibodies—which indicate a recent infection—increased between 2022 and 2024. The greatest increase was observed in children between the ages of 5 and 9.
The virus is “highly transmissible in respiratory droplets,” and people working in schools with children are at a higher risk of infection. Some students and staff are infected during school outbreaks, while others are infected after “household exposure.” The illness can also be transmitted from a mother to a fetus during pregnancy or through certain kinds of blood and plasma transfusions. However, the CDC notes that “transfusion-associated parvovirus B19 infection is extremely rare.”
Those infected with parvovirus B19 might not show any symptoms, but when they do appear, they’re typically mild and appear in two phases. During the first phase, people may experience a fever, myalgia (muscle pain), and general malaise roughly a week after being infected. On its page outlining parvovirus B19, the CDC notes that headache, cough, sore throat, rashes, and joint pain can also occur. People are most contagious during this phase, which typically lasts five days.
During the second phase, adults may have a rash on the trunk of the body and joint pain, while kids often develop a “characteristic facial rash,” also known as a “slapped cheek” appearance. This may also be followed by a net-like rash and joint pain. When the rash shows up, children are no longer contagious.
The CDC notes that people generally only require care during the acute phase and then recover completely. Complications like myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), hepatitis, and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) are rare. However, those without preexisting immunity to parvovirus B19 who are pregnant, those who have weakened immune systems, and those with a specific form of anemia can have “adverse health outcomes.”
The CDC recommends familiarizing yourself with the symptoms and its respiratory virus guidance, especially if you are at higher risk of severe disease. You should also seek medical care if you are pregnant and have been exposed to parvovirus B19 or show symptoms, as well as if you have an underlying condition and symptoms of the virus.
Netflix fans rejoice—the streaming giant just renewed two major shows. Supacell and The Gentleman will both be returning for season 2 after performing very well in their initial seasons. “The world of The Gentlemen is a little bit of me,” Ritchie previously told Netflix. “We’re looking forward to bringing fans back into that world, introducing new characters and their stories, and I am excited to be doing it with this extremely talented cast.” Here’s what to expect in season 2 of both hit shows.
According to the official description, Supacell is about “a group of five ordinary people who unexpectedly develop superpowers. They have little in common except for one thing: they are all Black South Londoners. It is down to one man, Michael Lasaki, to bring them all together in order to save the woman he loves.”
2. What's Next?
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Creator Rapman says he has a clear idea of what will happen on the show. “I’ve always had it [mapped out] to Season 3. I know how Season 2 ends,” he told Tudum. “I’ve got stuff planned for this story. I’ve had this in my head for years, so I’m ready to go.”
3. Just Getting Started
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Rapman says each of the five Supacell heroes is just getting started. “Supacell Season 1 is my Batman Begins. It’s a prequel of what they’ll be like,” he told Tudum. “Season 2 is when you really see what they become. That future you saw at the end of the pilot in London, that exact future doesn’t exist anymore. They’ve changed everything. It’s going to be interesting when we get into the writers’ room.”
4. What's The Gentlemen About?
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The Gentlemen, based on the Guy Ritchie movie of the same name, is coming back for another 8-episode season. “When aristocratic Eddie inherits the family estate, he discovers that it's home to an enormous weed empire — and its proprietors aren't going anywhere,” says Netflix in their official description.
5. What's Next?
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Even the cast are full of questions and speculations about what’s coming next. “It’d be fun to see the business spread a bit more,” Kaya Scodelario, who plays Susie, tells Tudum. “How do they take it to the next level? They’re very adamant about not getting into the chop game, so how do they then continue to build the empire? Where does that take them? How does the new structure of the business work practically?”
6. What About Susie and Eddie?
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Fans of the relationship between Susie and Eddie should be prepared for anything. “I think they’ve grown to love each other in their own way, but I think they’ll never fully trust each other because they are so different and they’re from such vastly different worlds,” Theo James told Tudum. “There’s a love between them, but ultimately they will never be from the same cloth.”
7. Supacell Rave Reviews
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Supacell scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and viewers alike raving about the show. “Though the excitement of supernatural abilities and the magic of science fiction ripple across the show, the series also explores major themes that disproportionately affect Black people, including human trafficking, extreme surveillance, pervasive global anti-Blackness and predatory medical practices,” writes Aramide Tinubu for Variety.
8. London Superheroes
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Other reviews highlight the unique aspect of having a superhero story take place amongst people of color in London. “This is not your typical superhero origin story, where preserving truth, justice and the American way is the primary concern,” Leila Latif writes for The Guardian. “Instead, the characters are operating in a society where the odds are stacked against them, and they are all struggling to make ends meet and avoid violence. Their priority is to use the unexpected new tools at their disposal to even the playing field.”
9. Cheeky Humor
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Fans of Guy Ritchie will know what to expect from The Gentlemen. “As you’d expect from the prolific and provocative filmmaker behind Snatch, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes movies, etc., The Gentlemen is filled with cheeky humor, sweeping camera movements, callbacks to previous plot developments and the occasional use of a graphic that spells out definitions and sometimes does some convenient math for us,” Richard Roeper says cia the Chicago Sun-Times.
What is it that makes a movie a timeless classic? “I’ve probably been asked that question more than any other. Everybody says, ‘So what makes a film a classic?’ And the answer to that is, I don’t know. It really depends,” TCM host Ben Mankiewicz tells CNN. “What I do know is that if you’re arguing about it, then I think we’re doing our job. This question is supposed to be argued over, and it’s supposed to be argued over passionately.” One of the hallmarks of an iconic movie is a powerful moment that not only makes the movie a must-watch, but comes to represent the film itself. Here are 20 unforgettable moments from iconic classic films that will make movie night special again.
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn," says Clarke Gable’s Rhett Butler before leaving Scarlett O’Hara, immortalized by Vivien Leigh, in this classic Civil War-era epic. You can only push a man so far, Scarlett!
2. The Godfather (1972)
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"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse,” says Marlon Brando’s Vito Corleone in this groundbreaking crime movie which was essentially the Godfather (sorry, I had to) of all the mob movies that followed. Brando’s bone-chilling threat of the line, so casually and quietly delivered, is truly ionic.
3. Casablanca (1942)
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"Here's looking at you, kid," Humphrey Bogart’s Rick Blaine says to Ingrid Bergman’s Ilsa, an improvised line that was not in the original script. Blaine says it in flashback, and when he tells her goodbye at the end of the movie (spoiler alert?). Truly the stuff romance is made of.
4. The Wizard of Oz(1939)
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"There's no place like home," uttered by Judy Garland’s Dorothy Gale, is one of the most beloved and quoted lines from a cherished classic movie. A close second is “only bad witches are ugly.”
5. Citizen Kane (1941)
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"Rosebud" is the last word uttered by Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) in what’s widely considered one of the best movies ever made. "Here's a man who might have been president. He's been loved and hated and talked about as much as any man in our time - but when he comes to die, he's got something on his mind called Rosebud. What does that mean?" says the newsreel editor in the movie.
6. Psycho (1960)
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"We all go a little mad sometimes," says Norman Bates, famously played by Anthony Perkins in a movie that ruined showers forever (thanks Alfred Hitchcock!). Perkins is delightfully deranged in this classic horror/thriller film.
7. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
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"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings,"says Henry Travers as the hapless angel Clarence in this classic Christmas movie. This perennial holiday favorite will make you happy at any time of year.
8. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
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"The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts," Peter O’Toole’s T.E. Lawrence says to Potter in this sweeping classic. The line perfectly encapsulates Lawrence’s attitude and eccentricity when Potter tries to follow Lawrences’ example and put out a burning match with his fingers.
9. Chinatown (1974)
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"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown," is one of the most memorable lines in cinema history, uttered by Lawrence Walsh (Joe Mantell) at the end of the movie. Bleak? Yes. Iconic? Also yes.
10. 12 Angry Men (1957)
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"I’m talking about somebody’s life here!" says Juror #8 in this intense, dialogue-driven courtroom drama. Henry Fonda gives a typically brilliant performance as the one juror who refuses to just casually send a man to his death.
11. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
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"I’m just crazy about Tiffany’s!" says Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly. Hepburn perfectly portrays Golightly’s vulnerability and sadness in this iconic romantic comedy.
12. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
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"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view," says Atticus Finch in this adaptation of Harper Lee’s timeless novel. Gregory Peck’s powerful performance as a lawyer trying to save an innocent man against all odds is heartbreaking and inspiring.
13. Vertigo
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“You shouldn't keep souvenirs of a killing. You shouldn't have been that sentimental,” says John ‘Scottie’ Ferguson, played by James Stewart. It’s moments like that which make Vertigo the perfect Hitchcock classic.
14. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
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"Get busy living, or get busy dying," says Andy Dufresne in a movie packed so packed with incredible lines and moments it’s hard to pick just one. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman give gripping performances in this movie about hope, friendship, and never giving up.
15. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
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"I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain," sings Don Lockwood, memorably played by Gene Kelly, in this iconic, timeless musical. Kelly’s performance was just one of many stunning musical and dance numbers in this beautiful and hilarious classic.
16. The Sound of Music (1965)
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"The hills are alive with the sound of music," sings Maria in one of the most stunning openings in film. The gorgeous Untersberg mountain is as much a character in this beloved musical as Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer are.
17. Rear Window (1954)
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“She's too perfect, she's too talented, she's too beautiful, she's too sophisticated, she's too everything but what I want,” says James Stewart’s L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies when discussing the luminous Lisa Carol Fremont, played to perfection by Grace Kelly. Another Hitchcock/Stewart classic.
18. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
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"I am big! It's the pictures that got small," says Gloria Swanson in an unforgettable turn as aging star Norma Desmond. This dark satire perfectly skewers the film industry—deservedly so.
19. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
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"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers," says tender, fragile Blanche DuBois in this Southern Gothic drama film adapted from Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh are magnificent.
20. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
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The line "the stuff that dreams are made of," is uttered by Humprey Bogart at his weary best. Bogart’s turn as private detective Sam Spade is considered one of his most iconic performances in this noir classic considered the greatest detective movie ever made.