1

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Based on Margaret Mitchell's bestselling novel of the same name, this emotional depiction of Civil War and Reconstruction-era Georgia follows the impoverished Scarlett O’Hara as she strives to overcome the reality of post-war Southern U.S .

With a massive budget and as one of the first films to use Technicolor, the movie broke attendance records and is considered to be one of the greatest American films.

2

Stagecoach (1939)

One of the many Westerns directed by the legendary John Ford, Stagecoach not only cemented John Wayne as an A-list actor but also elevated the concept of the Western film.

Considered a "perfect textbook of filmmaking" by Orson Welles, its characters and plot have often been described as an extraordinary representation of American archetypes and of the nation's ongoing struggle for political equality.

3

Citizen Kane (1941)

Orson Welles’s first film, and considered by many to be the greatest film of all time, this semi-biographical drama follows the life of Charles Foster Kane, loosely based on several American tycoons.

Welles’s filmmaking style featured new and innovative techniques that would later become standard in the industry. Filmed in just 82 days, the film was a critical success despite being suppressed in the media.

4

12 Angry Men (1957)

Adapted from a Reginald Rose play, this legal drama critiques the American jury system through the portrayal of 12 jurors as they deliberate whether to convict or acquit a teenager charged with murder, in a case where reasonable doubt exists.

The debate among the jurors, which leads them to question their values and morals, becomes a study of 1950s America and the dangers of mob mentality.

5

Psycho (1960)

A horror classic by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho follows the encounter of a secretary on the run with a disturbed mother-and-son motel owners. Despite its controversial subject matter, the film was a resounding success, becoming Hitchcock’s most financially successful movie.

Considered to be the first slasher film, it is one of the most influential horror movies of the 20th century , inspiring several sequels and remakes.

6

The Graduate (1967)

An atypical romance-drama for the time, The Graduate was a success because it captured a generational break with its anti-heroic main character, who was disillusioned with the prior generation’s worldview.

Supported by innovative film techniques and featuring several Simon & Garfunkel songs, the film changed how music and marketing were used in cinema.

7

All the President’s Men (1976)

Based on the Watergate scandal and the journalists who investigated it, this film is considered a landmark political thriller.

A massive success, both critically and commercially, All the President’s Men won four Academy Awards and is considered one of the best portrayals of investigative journalism .

8

The Breakfast Club (1985)

One of the most influential teenage movies of its time, The Breakfast Club was a huge success despite its low budget and limited production.

Its deconstruction of the mainstream high school stereotypes, along with its discussion of adolescent concerns and insecurities, made the film an all-time classic coming-of-age story.

9

Schindler's List (1993)

Based on the life of Oskar Schindler, a German factory owner who saved the lives of thousands of Jews during World War II, Schindler's List is considered a cinematic masterpiece that depicts a harrowing story with compassion and humanity.

A resounding critical and commercial success, the film has been praised by survivors and scholars alike for its role in raising global awareness of the Holocaust.

10

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Following a group of soldiers on a mission to locate and retrieve the last surviving son of a family during World War II, this film was praised for its authenticity, especially its opening sequence depicting the Omaha Beach landing on D-Day.

Widely considered to have redefined the war film genre , Saving Private Ryan distanced itself from other movies that glorified and idealized World War II, showcasing the suffering and struggles of individuals during the conflict.

1

Lassie: TV’s Most Loyal Friend

Image: Kanashi

Lassie is the ultimate hero in a fur coat. The famous Rough Collie first appeared in a 1938 short story before becoming the star of her own TV show. Week after week, Lassie showed audiences how a dog’s loyalty and bravery could save the day.

Maybe she was alerting her family to danger or helping strangers; in any case, she was always there to lend a paw. Lassie’s adventures inspired generations of viewers and cemented her place as a true American icon. She was a devoted friend with a loving nature and a natural instinct to know when to act. She became more than just a dog; she became a family member to millions.

2

Rin Tin Tin: From Battlefield to Box Office

Image: Christoph Schmid

Rin Tin Tin’s journey is one for the history books. He was rescued by a soldier during World War I. This German Shepherd was brought to America and became a Hollywood sensation in no time.

With his expressive eyes and fearless nature , Rin Tin Tin starred in over 25 silent films, performing stunts that left audiences in awe—can you believe that? He helped shape the early days of cinema and became a household name of its own.

Rin Tin Tin was more than a movie star, he was a hero in his own right, and that is what guaranteed his name is still popular today.

3

Toto: The Little Dog with a Big Heart

Image: Paul Cuoco

Toto, Dorothy’s loyal companion in The Wizard of Oz , may have been small, but he was packed with personality. A Cairn Terrier named Terry actually played Toto in the iconic 1939 film, winning hearts with her expressive face and boundless courage.

Toto stuck by Dorothy through all of her Oz adventures. Regardless of his small size, his impact was completely the opposite! And we’re not just talking about the movie. Of course, in each scene, Toto showed loyalty and an instinct for getting into and out of trouble, much like our own beloved pets. But his bond with Dorothy was genuine, and fans could feel that connection. Toto’s spirit made him unforgettable, and he’s still celebrated as one of America’s favorite movie dogs.

4

Old Yeller: The Ultimate Frontier Hero

Image: Caleb Fisher

Only a few dogs stuck and became part of America’s identity like Old Yeller. Set in the rugged Texas frontier, his story was all about bravery, family, and love in a world that was nothing but harsh.

The big, yellow dog feared nothing. He didn’t back down from protecting his family from wild animals, sickness, and any threat that came their way. He taught the family he lived with about sacrifice and courage. And we all learned that too!

When you think of Old Yeller, you think of resilience, even though his tale is bittersweet. Even decades later, people remember Old Yeller as a classic story of love and loss.

5

Balto: The Husky that saved a village

Image: Chalo Gallardo

If a dog has a statue, he certainly must have earned it, right? Balto for sure did. His heroic journey is as inspiring as it is legendary.

Back in 1925, a diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska, needed urgent medicine, and Balto led the sled dog team through snow and freezing temperatures to deliver it. This brave Siberian Husky’s courage in the face of life-threatening conditions not only saved lives but also made him a hero.

Naturally, his success story spread across America, and New York’s Central Park even built a statue in his honor. Balto became the face of courage and teamwork, and his story has been immortalized in books, movies, and history.

6

Benji: Hollywood’s Lovable Underdog

Image: Johannes W

Has your heart melted already? We certainly have, like two dogs ago, but let’s keep it going with the next one on our list: enter Benji.

Benji charmed his way into American hearts in the 1970s with his scruffy, humble looks and sharp problem-solving skills . This mixed-breed dog starred in a series of movies where he often found himself rescuing people or outsmarting bad guys.

Benji wasn’t big or flashy, but he didn’t need that. He made up for it with his resourcefulness and charm. Viewers loved his quiet bravery and knack for getting out of sticky situations. And of course, that little charming face of him, duh!

7

Eddie: Frasier’s scene-stealing sidekick

Image: Egor Gordeev

Regardless of the director’s intention, dogs will always find a way to become the star of the show. Eddie is an example of that! The Jack Russell Terrier from the hit sitcom Frasier stole scenes with his hilarious antics and unforgettable stares.

In the series, Eddie kept Frasier on his toes, and audiences couldn’t get enough of him. His expressions were worth a thousand words, bringing both humor and heart to the show. The show was a hit, but this character made it relatable. Who hasn’t experienced the mischief of a furry friend? For such a small dog, Eddie made a huge impact and is still fondly remembered.

8

Hachiko: Loyalty That Knows No Boundaries

Image: Oskar Kadaksoo

Hachiko’s story isn’t just famous in Japan; it resonated deeply with American audiences, too. An Akita known for waiting for his owner each day at a train station, Hachiko continued his routine for years after his owner’s passing. How moving is that?

His loyalty became legendary and eventually inspired the American film Hachi: A Dog’s Tale , which introduced his story to US viewers.

If there was any doubt concerning the kind of bonds formed between a human and a dog, Hachiko got rid of all of them! Even in America, Hachiko is celebrated as a symbol of unwavering dedication.

9

Buddy: America’s first guide dog

Image: Brands&People

Speaking of special bonds, Buddy, a German Shepherd, changed countless lives in the 1920s by becoming America’s first official guide dog.

Her owner, Morris Frank, helped establish guide dog schools across the country, proving the incredible help dogs could offer to the visually impaired. Buddy’s intelligence and dedication paved the way for service dogs, and her influence continues to shape assistance programs today.

Her gentle guidance provided not only hope but also independence to many people with disabilities. Buddy’s groundbreaking work showed what dogs could do beyond companionship, which was an invaluable gift in itself!

10

Scooby-Doo: The Detective dog

Image: Dinu J Nair

America has more than just 10 beloved dogs, and the ones we’ve mentioned so far were all real-life dogs. But let’s not forget that cartoon dogs also hold a special place in America’s heart. Take Scooby-Doo, for example.

Scooby-Doo is a fun-loving Great Dane who has been solving mysteries with his human friends since the 1960s. Yes, he was a detective. And yes, he was also very much afraid all the time!

Scooby has become a cartoon favorite and has starred in countless TV shows, movies, and comic books. With his human friend Shaggy by his side, Scooby always stumbled upon clues that saved the day—usually with a few treats along the way. Scooby-Doo’s legacy as a cartoon icon endures, and he has lots of fans around the globe!

1

Rosa Parks

Amid the fight against racial segregation in 1955, activist Rosa Parks rebelled against authority in an act of courage that went on to become a defining moment in America’s Civil Rights history . She was sitting on a bus alongside three other Black passengers when the driver asked them to give up their seats so a white passenger could sit. Parks refused to do it and was arrested.

This single act of bravery triggered the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which not only helped bring Martin Luther King Jr. to national prominence but also helped put pressure on the U.S. Supreme Court, which later upheld a lower court ruling that segregation on Montgomery’s public bus was unconstitutional.

2

Amelia Earhart

Looking back at Amelia Earhart's story is fascinating, but understanding the context in which she achieved those feats is even more incredible. She broke aviation records at a time when women were still not socially accepted in male-dominated fields .

Earhart became the first woman ever to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932, the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the U.S., and the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. Earhart tragically disappeared in 1937 during an attempt to become the first woman to fly around the world, though her legacy inspired countless people to pursue their dreams no matter their gender.

3

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman's life story is one of the clearest examples of heroism in this country’s history. She not only rejected the life she had been forced to live as an enslaved person and escaped to Pennsylvania in 1849, but she also gave up the safety she had found in the North and returned to the South to continue fighting for her people’s freedom .

Tubman is mainly known for being one of the conductors of the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped thousands of enslaved people escape to the free states and Canada. She also worked for the Union Army during the Civil War and became involved in the women's suffrage movement afterwards.

4

Helen Keller

How did a young girl who had lost both her sight and hearing due to a terrible illness become an accomplished writer, speaker, and activist? It all started with her teacher, Anne Sullivan, and her revolutionary approach by which she taught Helen to communicate using fingerspelling, relying on manual finger-spelling pressed directly into the girl’s palm.

This enabled Keller to learn Braille later and eventually speak, but that wasn’t enough for her, and she also went on to become the first deafblind person to earn a bachelor’s degree in 1903 (at Radcliffe College). Her story is not only about overcoming barriers, but about helping and inspiring others in similar situations to overcome them.

5

Susan B. Anthony

When it comes to the women’s suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony is a name that stands out. She was a relentless civil rights activist who challenged authority regardless of the consequences. In 1872, she deliberately voted in the presidential election even though women were not legally allowed to, and was arrested and tried.

She fought for women’s rights until her final days and, unfortunately, didn’t live long enough to see the fruits of her work, which came in 1920 with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, fourteen years after her death at age 86.

6

Eleanor Roosevelt

The First Lady who stepped up and refused to just be in the background : that’s Eleanor Roosevelt, someone who transformed her socially expected passive role into a much more active platform for social causes.

Using her position as a First Lady (from 1933 to 1945), she advocated for civil rights, women’s rights, workers’ rights, and the rights of people living in poverty, challenging the status quo. Among the many causes she participated in, Eleanor also chaired the UN Commission on Human Rights and played a key role in drafting the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

7

Clara Barton

Clara Barton, aka "The Angel of the Battlefield," was a central figure during the Civil War and was later responsible for saving thousands of lives through the creation of the American Red Cross .

She helped wounded soldiers, collected and distributed medical supplies to Union soldiers, and even went directly onto battlefields to care for troops. And after the war, she dedicated her life to helping people affected by disasters.

8

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou’s powerful and moving I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) was one of the first autobiographies by a Black American woman to achieve widespread recognition, and her story became a symbol of resilience and dignity .

Angelou worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement. She was also an actress and a singer, and in 2011, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

9

Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson’s story wasn’t widely known until the 2016 film Hidden Figures (where she was portrayed by Taraji P. Henson) , which introduced modern audiences to the fascinating contributions of this mathematician, whose calculations were crucial to some of the United States’ earliest crewed space missions and whose career helped break barriers for women and Black Americans.

Her work was partly responsible for the success of the Apollo missions (1969 to 1970) and the development of the Space Shuttle program through the 1970s and early 1980s, and while she wasn’t an activist, the fact that she became one of NASA’s most respected mathematicians challenged the norm and inspired social change.

10

Billie Jean King

The four biggest tennis tournaments are known as Grand Slams, and Billie Jean King racked up 39 — but that wasn’t even her best achievement. King’s biggest battle was against the inequalities women faced in sports , where she played a major role in turning things around.

She was responsible for the creation of the Women’s Tennis Association in 1973, co-founded the Virginia Slims Circuit, which provided professional opportunities for women in tennis, and played in the legendary "Battle of the Sexes," where she defeated Bobby Riggs in front of roughly 90 million viewers worldwide.