If you’re a real film buff, chances are you’re not just watching the latest buzzy box office releases. Instead, you’re always on the hunt, scouring Letterboxd, best-of lists, and cult film blogs for both iconic and lesser-known movies on which to feast your eyes. That’s where SBS’s Eras Collection hub comes in: starting in the 1930s and spanning nearly a century to the present day, this collection of collections is a veritable trip through film history, featuring star directors and actors from Alfred Hitchcock to Pedro Almodovar, Meryl Streep, and Nicolas Cage. Plus, it’s not just focused on Hollywood, allowing you to sample genres from French new wave to Hong Kong martial arts movies. Here’s a range of highlights from across the decades.
'50s: To Catch a Thief
There’s no such thing as a bad Hitchcock film, and this 1955 nugget from his golden era is a classic mix of romance and thrills, bolstered by the era’s biggest stars. Former jewel thief John Robie (an ever-dapper Cary Grant) is living a restorative life in the sun-kissed south of France, until a string of burglaries places the spotlight of law enforcement on him. To clear his name, he hopes to stake out the cat burglar who’s framing him, but has to negotiate a complex romantic liaison with glamourous American tourist Frances (Grace Kelly) as he does it. The palpable chemistry between the two leads (not to mention the luxurious period costume design) makes To Catch a Thief both an immersive experience and charming time capsule. Sure, it’s one of Hitchcock’s lighter movies, but that makes it a great entry point for anyone wary of heavier-duty fare such as Psycho.
To Catch a Thief will be streaming at SBS On Demand from 5 September.
'60s: A Hard Day's Night
Arguably the first mockumentary to grace the world’s screens, this 1964 release follows a fictionalised version of the Beatles (all played by themselves) as they prepare for a major show in London. Expect no shortage of wacky escapades, as the band flee from crazed fans, while juggling unexpected twists like Paul’s out-of-control grandfather and George being roped into filming a low-grade clothing ad. It’s energetic, joyful, and silly in the best way possible, and unsurprisingly, there’s a wonderfully jangly soundtrack that’s entirely composed of Beatles songs, with a formidable combination of hits like “She Loves You” with deeper cuts. Fun fact: A Hard Day’s Night may well have inspired the blockbuster 1997 Spice Girls movie, Spice World, which follows a similar trajectory with a tongue-in-cheek, self-referential style.
A Hard Day’s Night is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
A Hard Day's Night
Musical comedy • 1964
Musical comedy • 1964
'70s: The Avenging Eagle
An excellent example of Hong Kong’s wuxia film genre, which merges martial arts such as kung fu with historical Chinese fantasy, The Avenging Eagle is a short but sweet 90 minutes of action, with no shortage of artfully choreographed fight scenes to get your blood pumping. The plot centres on Chik Ming-Sing (Ti Lung), a member of a gang of orphans trained to be hard-nosed killers. After being injured in a fight, he starts to reassess his choices, yearning for a peaceful family life — but to get that, he has to team up with one of his gang’s victims, Cheuk Yi-Fan (Alexander Fu) to take down the gang that raised him. More than just a fight film (although those scenes are exquisite), it’s a thoughtful rumination on redemption, war, and peace, with rounded characters that may have tough exteriors, but plenty of substance.
The Avenging Eagle is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
The Avenging Eagle
action • Martial arts • 1978
action • Martial arts • 1978
'80s: Sophie's Choice
If you’ve ever heard the term “Sophie’s choice” to refer to a decision with only bad outcomes, it stems from this 1982 movie (which is an adaptation of a book by the same name). Here, novelist Stingo (Peter MacNicol) moves to Brooklyn, where he encounters neighbour Sophie (Meryl Streep), an Auschwitz survivor, and her psychologically disturbed boyfriend Nathan (Kevin Kline). As he befriends Sophie, he learns more about her traumatic history but finds himself entangled between the two, as the ever-erratic Nathan unravels before his eyes. A profoundly moving film that provides poetic insight about the entwined natures of trauma and love, Streep’s heartfelt embodiment of Sophie is truly awe-inspiring (and earned her the Best Actress Oscar for her work). For another Meryl Streep marvel in the Eras Collection, consider watching 2007’s .
Sophie’s Choice is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Sophie's Choice
drama • 1982
drama • 1982
'90s: Drop Dead Gorgeous
This dark comedy about a teen beauty pageant gone horribly wrong has become a cult classic for its campy acting and delightfully over the top plot. As aspiring TV reporter Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst) prepares for the Sarah Rose Cosmetics American Teen Princess Pageant in the Minnesota farm town of Mount Rose, a series of suspicious accidents start befalling other entrants and their loved ones — and all eyes fall on Becky (Denise Richards), a local rich kid whose mum is dead-serious about winning. The coterie of bizarre characters makes Drop Dead Gorgeous into a devilishly weird yet funny tapestry of small-town life, it’s a tongue-in-cheek take on some of the trashiest human traits.
Drop Dead Gorgeous is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Drop Dead Gorgeous
comedy • 1999
comedy • 1999
'00s: Ten Canoes
A masterpiece of Indigenous Australian cinema, showcasing both Indigenous folklore and the landscapes that contributed to it in one majestic package. The first movie filmed entirely in an Indigenous language (Yolngu), Ten Canoes centres around brothers Minygululu and Dayindi. As Dayindi becomes interested in Minygululu’s wife, the pair go on an extended hunting and gathering trip, on which Minygululu tells a long, haunting story of a similar case of adultery (and the accidental retribution which followed) from many years before. Despite the serious subject matter, it’s a whimsical film and also a marvellous ode to oral storytelling traditions. It’s capped off by astonishingly beautiful cinematography of the plains, bush, and wetlands of Arnhem Land.
Ten Canoes is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Ten Canoes
adventure • Comedy drama • 2006
adventure • Comedy drama • 2006
2010s-present: Official Competition
For a film that takes on the film industry itself, look no further than this Spanish dramedy. Elderly businessman Humberto Suarez (José Luis Gómez) is worried about his posthumous legacy, so he decides to channel his riches into a high-concept art house flick that will garner awards. But when he hires oddball director Lola (Penélope Cruz) who uses increasingly bizarre coaching tactics with her actors and crew, and arrogant actor Félix (Antonio Banderas), this dream of Hollywood prestige starts to come off the rails. A fantastic satire of the industry, no targets are spared from Official Competition’s at-times dark humour, from pretentious directors to egotistical actors and foolish festival voters.
Official Competition is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Official Competition
comedy • 2021
comedy • 2021
Discover gems from international film history at SBS On Demand's , which includes films from the 1930s onwards, through the very different decades of filmmaking that followed.
MORE TO EXPLORE
Top new series coming to SBS On Demand in September 2024
