15 iconic movies turning milestone years in 2026 that deserve a rewatch

The cinema is taking us on a trip down memory lane, with several iconic films celebrating milestone anniversaries this year. From Harry Potter, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara to The Omen and La La Land, there’s no shortage of beloved classics to revisit. Consider it your cue to rewind, relive and rediscover the films that have stayed with us long after the credits rolled.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: 25 years of Hogwarts magic

It's been 25 years since the world stepped into platform 9 ¾  and met the boy who lived. Since then, Harry Potter has grown from the beloved books and film frenchies into a cultural phenomenon, dividing the people around the world into the four houses of Hogwarts. This makes the 25th anniversary in 2026 more than just a milestone; it is a celebration of a world an entire generation grew with. 

2. Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara: The road-trip classic turns 15 

A movie that encouraged every trio to go to Spain, Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara has become more than just a film. It turned road trips into a rite of passage, made La Tomatina festival a part of our bucket lists and gave an entire generation a new definition of friendship., freedom and living in the moment. Fifteen years after its release, the film continues to feel like the ultimate blueprint for friends’ getaway making its anniversary all the more special. 

3. Taxi Driver: 50 years of “You talkin’ to me?

A movie that made “You talkin’ to me?” one of cinema’s most recognisable lines, Taxi Driver turns 50 in 2026. Martin Scorsese’s 1976 classic, starring Robert De Niro as the troubled Travis Bickle, explored loneliness, isolation and alienation against the gritty backdrop of New York City. Five decades later, its portrayal of a man increasingly disconnected from the world around him continues to resonate, securing the film’s place as one of cinema’s most enduring cultural milestones.

4. The Omen: The nightmare still continues after 50 years 

Few horror films have made a child’s innocent smile quite this terrifying. When The Omen arrived in 1976, it introduced audiences to Damien, the seemingly sweet child at the centre of one of cinema’s most chilling stories. Now, 50 years later, Richard Donner’s horror classic remains a benchmark for supernatural cinema, with its unsettling imagery and sinister take on childhood still etched into pop culture.

5. Jerry Maguire: The ultimate love story turns 30

A movie that made “You had me at hello” one of the most unforgettable lines in rom-com history, Jerry Maguire turns 30 in 2026. The 1996 classic gave us a romance that was messy, heartfelt and refreshingly imperfect, while Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger made Jerry and Dorothy’s relationship one audiences could root for. Three decades later, the film still feels like the kind of love story we return to for its big feelings, unforgettable moments and reminder that sometimes, choosing what truly matters is worth more than success.

6. Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India: 25 years of cheering for the underdogs

 What started as an impossible bet became one of Indian cinema’s most unforgettable victories. Released in 2001, Lagaan brought together cricket, colonial India and an unlikely group of villagers who had everything to lose and one match to win. Twenty-five years later, the film still has the rare ability to make us cheer for a story we already know the ending to, proving that a great underdog story never really gets old.

7. Dil Chahta Hai: 25 years of the OG friendship blueprint 

Before ZNMD was a thing, Dil Chahta Hai was the film with epitomised the friendship trio's ultimate holiday. Released in 2001, Farhan Akhtar’s directorial captured friendship, growing up, love and the messy transition into adulthood in a way that felt refreshingly real. Twenty-five years later, the Goa road trip, iconic soundtrack and unmistakable bond between Akash, Sameer and Sid still feel like a blueprint for friendship, making the film’s milestone in 2026 all the more nostalgic.

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8. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham: 25 years since the Raichands reunited 

The Raichands had the house, the clothes and the family drama, but Poo had something every girl wanted, the confidence to walk into a room and own it. When Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham released in 2001, Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Poo quickly became the girl everyone wanted to be, from her unapologetic attitude to her iconic outfits and unforgettable “who is he?”. Twenty-five years later, the film remains a defining piece of 2000s Bollywood nostalgia, bringing back an era of larger-than-life families, dramatic romance and characters that became cultural icons in their own right. 

9. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha: 25 years later, Tara Singh still rules 

Some films became hits; Gadar became an emotion. Released in 2001, the Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel starrer gave us Tara Singh, one of Bollywood’s most unforgettable heroes, along with the iconic “Hindustan zindabad tha, zindabad hai, zindabad rahega” and songs like Main Nikla Gaddi Leke. Twenty-five years later, its larger-than-life romance, action and nostalgia still hit just as hard.

10: La La Land: The musical favourite turns 10

A film that made falling in love look like a song and a dance, La La Land turns 10 in 2026. Damien Chazelle’s 2016 musical gave us Mia and Sebastian, a love story caught between ambition and romance, while trying to make it in a city built on big dreams. From City of Stars to its bittersweet final moments, the film became a modern classic that still makes us wonder about the people and paths we leave behind.

11. Mission: Impossible: 30 years of Tom Cruise defying gravity  

Thirty years, six impossible missions and one Tom Cruise who still refuses to slow down. Mission: Impossible turns 30 in 2026, marking three decades since Ethan Hunt first took on the IMF’s most dangerous assignments. From impossible stunts to the iconic Mission: Impossible theme, the franchise has made high-stakes action a whole lot more thrilling, and proved that Ethan Hunt is nowhere near ready to retire.

12. Don

Shah Rukh Khan didn’t just play Don; he made the role his own. Farhan Akhtar’s 2006 crime thriller turns 20 in 2026, with SRK bringing swagger, charm and a darker edge to the iconic character. From the sharp suits to the unforgettable “Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi, namumkin hai,” the film gave us a villain we couldn’t help but root for, and a version of Don that still feels unmistakably SRK.

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13. Chup Chup Ke: 20 years of absolute chaos 

Some films become favourites slowly, and Chup Chup Ke is one of them. Released in 2006, the Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan comedy found its audience over the years, with its chaotic characters, ridiculous situations and endlessly quotable moments turning it into a comfort watch. Twenty years later, it remains one of those films we can stumble upon on TV and somehow end up watching till the end.

14. Dangal: 10 years of Dangal, still worth going back to 

A movie that proved that “chhoriya, chhoro se kum nahi.” Dangal turns 10 in 2026, marking a decade since Aamir Khan’s sports drama introduced audiences to Geeta and Babita Phogat and their journey from the wrestling mat to the world stage. Beyond the medals and matches, the film became a powerful reminder that girls deserve the same chance to dream, compete and make their families proud.

15. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: 10 years of complicated romance 

Some love stories are about getting the person, others are about learning to let them go. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil turns 10 in 2026, taking us back to Ayan’s unrequited love, Alizeh’s friendship and the complicated space between the two. With songs like Channa Mereya and Bulleya becoming heartbreak anthems, the film remains a nostalgic reminder that not every great love story gets a happy ending.

From Harry Potter’s magic to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’s friendships, K3G’s family drama and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’s heartbreak, 2026 is proving that some stories only get better with time. These milestones aren’t just about the number of years that have passed, they’re about the characters, dialogues, songs and moments that stayed with us long after the credits rolled. And if this year has shown us anything, it’s that nostalgia never really goes out of style.

Text by Iraa Verma

Edited by Sabrina Mathews