Film & television

The Ladykillers premiered

The last great Ealing comedy, starring Alec Guinness, reached cinemas in 1955.

Rebel Without a Cause was released

James Dean’s defining film arrived in cinemas weeks before his death.

Colour television arrived in the UK

On 1 July 1967, BBC Two broadcast Wimbledon in colour — the first regular colour service in Europe.

The Jungle Book premiered

Disney’s last film personally overseen by Walt reached cinemas in October 1967.

James Bond returned in You Only Live Twice

Sean Connery’s fifth Bond film arrived in June 1967, complete with a volcano lair.

The Graduate arrived

Dustin Hoffman and "one word: plastics" hit cinemas in December 1967.

Jaws invented the summer blockbuster

Spielberg’s shark opened in June 1975 and changed how Hollywood sold movies forever.

EastEnders began

Albert Square arrived on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and never left.

Back to the Future

Marty McFly borrowed the DeLorean in July 1985 and time-travel cinema was never the same.

Rocky IV

Rocky fought Drago in November 1985 in one of the decade’s biggest hits.

Home Alone

Kevin was left behind in November 1990 and became the biggest family film of the decade.

Ghost

The pottery scene arrived in cinemas in 1990 and won Whoopi Goldberg an Oscar.

Friends began

The first episode aired on 22 September 1994. "The One Where It All Began".

The Lion King

Disney’s pride arrived in 1994 and became one of the biggest animated films ever.

Four Weddings and a Funeral

The highest-grossing British film to that point charmed the world in spring 1994.

Pulp Fiction

Tarantino’s second film arrived in autumn 1994 and reset American independent cinema.

Saving Private Ryan

Spielberg’s D-Day opening redefined war films in the summer of 1998.

Doctor Who returned

Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper brought the Doctor back on 26 March 2005.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The fourth film arrived in November 2005 as the series grew darker.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

C.S. Lewis’s winter kingdom reached cinemas in December 2005.

Inception

Nolan’s spinning top arrived in July 2010 and argued about endings ever since.

The King’s Speech

The story of George VI’s stammer premiered in 2010 and went on to win Best Picture.

Everyone watched Tiger King

In lockdown spring, the Netflix documentary became a global obsession almost overnight.