Essential movies

If someone who had never watched a film asked me for a short list of must-watch classics to get started, trying to include different eras, genres and sub-genres, these would be my suggestions (in no particular order).

Notable exclusions to watch once completed the list: The Leopard (Period drama); The Godfather Part 2 (Gangster movie); The Empire Strikes Back (Space opera); The Touch of Evil (Film noir); Rio Bravo (Classic western); The Magnificent Seven (Classic western); Once Upon A Time in the West (Spaghetti western); Aliens (Horror / Science fiction); The Birds (Horror / Thriller); Jurassic Park (Action / Adventure); The Thin Red Line (War movie).