Many of the greatest films of all-time beg their audiences to take them seriously, which can sometimes be a challenge when many viewers simply go to the cinema in order to find populist entertainment that serves as a distraction from their daily lives. Although there is a time and place for “guilty pleasures” that can be enjoyed in an ironic way, seriously impactful dramas have the potential to resonate with audiences for generations, and inspire future filmmakers to pick up the craft.