While it's easy to get caught up in all of the new movies available on Netflix, whether that be Netflix original or the latest releases coming from movie theaters, the Netflix library is also filled with classic movies. Whether it's an all-time favorite that you're eager to rewatch or a well-known title that you need to scratch off your must-watch list, Netflix has a bountiful slate of classic movies to look through. We're here to help with our own recommendations of the best classic movies on Netflix right now.

Now we should be clear about what we're talking about when we say classic movies. The best way to tell if a movie is truly a classic or not is time, so we made the call to only include movies that were 10 years or older (so nothing post-2015 made the cut). With that parameter, our list features award-winning movies, box office hits and both signature and early work of iconic stars and directors.

Find out what titles made our list of best classic movies on Netflix and why directly below.

The Age of Innocence (1993)

Fans of Martin Scorsese know the director is not afraid to show violence in his movies, but it may surprise people that the movie he considers to be his most violent is The Age of Innocence, a period drama love triangle set in 19th century New York's high society. The violence that Scorsese refers to is being done behind is "emotional and psychological violence" that is "refined," as Daniel Day-Lewis' Newland Archer who finds himself caught between his fiance (Winona Ryder) and her cousin (Michelle Pfeiffer). It may not be the first Scorsese movie you think of (that one is probably another Scorsese movie we have below), but The Age of Innocence is a well thought of entry from the master director by many. Available: US only

American Gangster (2007)

Even when Denzel Washington is bad he is so darn good. In American Gangster, the Oscar-winner plays drug kingpin Frank Lucas as he builds his empire in Harlem (another interpretation of Frank Lucas is currently playing out in Godfather of Harlem season 4). Paired with Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe as the dogged cop looking to take Lucas down and an ensemble of recognizable faces all on their game, American Gangster is a fantastic crime drama to watch at any time. Available: US only

American Graffiti (1973)

George Lucas' legacy will forever be hitched to Star Wars, but his career first took off with something about as far away from the sci-fi classic as you can imagine. American Graffiti tells the story of a group of high school friends cruising about town in the early 1960s before they set about the next phase of their lives. The movie earned five Oscar nominations (including Best Picture and Best Director for Lucas) and is on the American Film Institute's top 100 American movies of all time. Available: US only

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Ron Burgundy is kind of a big deal. One of Will Ferrell's most beloved and quotable comedies, Anchorman is more than a one-man show, as Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner and the late Fred Willard, along with the slew of cameos, bring wildly fun antics in this story of a 1970s news anchor in San Diego. The sequel is also streaming on Netflix right now, if you're interested. Available: US only

Animal House (1978)

There are definitely elements of Animal House that haven't aged particularly well, but the college comedy that was the first movie made by the creatives at National Lampoon remains a hilarious romp on campus. A large part of that is the performance by John Belushi, but the ensemble is great from top to bottom (including Kevin Bacon in his first movie role). Animal House is the college comedy that all others in the genre are judged on, and for my money no other one has eclipsed it. Available: US only

Annie (1982)

This one is a bit of a nostalgia pick, as Annie has one of the first non-Disney musicals that I can remember watching. With an great cast that includes Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Ann Reinking, Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters and Aileen Quinn as Annie, it's hard not to be charmed by the iconic songs "Tomorrow" or "It's a Hard Knock Life." Available: US only

Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

There are two types of war movies: those that show the horrors of battle, and those that depict the trials that come after the battles are over for those that fought in them. Born on the Fourth of July is the latter, featuring one of Tom Cruise's best performances (that arguably should have won him an Oscar) in this true story of how a Vietnam veteran's sense of patriotism evolved after being injured in the war. I think it's a superior movie to Oliver Stone's other Best Picture-winning Vietnam movie, Platoon. Available: US only