Interesting question.

Classic films usually do tend to have an impact on the time they were released. Titanic is one of the latest classics and it was HUGE when it came out in the cinema. Not only by making lots of money but the story touched people, the soundtrack was everywhere (still is) and the actual movie itself was pretty epic.

Les Mis could be the same. People love it because it was a big hit on stage, the film is a touching film, the story is brilliant and something at the moment people can relate too, the acting is top rate and its been a sell out the last two weeks!

Its difficult to say why films I wasn't alive to see come out became big. Was The Wizard of Oz a huge success?

Films I'd like to be classic, or I'd like to think of as a classic is Con Air, The Green Mile, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, Armmageddon, James Bond and Godfather films even though I haven't seen them.....

Films that probably are going to be Classic? I dunno, as I said Les Mis, Promethus possibly will be, the way they played the hype for it and everything it is possible it could be remembered that way... Its difficult to tell. I'd say Avatar as well though after the big thing about 3D etc and now 3D is so mainstream I doubt it'll hold up for too long. Up! I'd like to think will become a classic.

ET is a classic!

But what makes ET a classic?

I think Anna has a point both ET and Titanic hit cinema's in a big way, it had an impact on our lives and nearly everyone you'll ever come in contact with will have at least heard of them. But then again some people think Saw will be the classic thriller. Who really knows.

I understand why you want to keep it going for another week, we have been quite quiet the last week and there are a lot of us really busy. To be fair I don't think anyone would mind it changing to a fortnightly thing anyway! I know it must be difficult to come up with ideas in only 7 days, and we hardly get some discussions in. One week only 2 of us will be online, the next everyone! Even if it went monthly I doubt people would mind!

That might be something to do this week, quote classics or post photos. Try and match it all up!

Well to be a classic it has to be iconic. It has to find its way into the cultural fabric of the time.

I for one think the purple people eater will always be a classic. People might disagree, but I think it was brilliant!

Well it is safe to say Will Smith has produced two iconic theme tunes, whther that will mean much in the long run is going to be seen in the future. Classic films? To laugh at maybe!

What about other media though? What about the "Classics" in books? I find most of them boring as hell to sit through, long winded and usually burdened with their own time. Harry Potter will be seen as our classic but even that is dire as hell at times. Films aren't always a product of their time but I feel books are.

But Harry Potter is critically acclaimed. Isn't that enough? It has a big part in our culture, made kids want to read and write and is a world wide phenomena! What more does it need to do to be a classic?

Though I agree it is nothing to do with popularity, Fifty Shades is a flash in the pan fad, but Harry Potter isn't.