If you think this summer’s hot, Hollywood proves it could be a lot more intense with two films that bring out some truly unpredictable behavior. Pop these on for a night of sweltering entertainment in the Big Apple, but be sure to keep a fan nearby.

Do the Right Thing

Spike Lee’s breakthrough hit focuses on a powder keg of characters over the course of one unbearably roasting day in Brooklyn that builds to a shattering, unforgettable climax. Lee earned an Oscar nomination for his screenplay, which proves to be a showcase for a wild gallery of characters and quotable dialogue.

Rear Window

One of Alfred Hitchcock’s best-loved suspense masterpieces is this bravura thriller with photographer James Stewart, confined to his Chelsea apartment during a heat wave thanks to a broken leg, suspecting one of his neighbors might be up to something murderous. If the tension alone doesn’t keep your heart racing, the brilliant costumes by Edith Head definitely will.  

The history of the Visual Effects category at the Oscars is filled with major, game-changing achievements that altered the way we watch movies. In fact, two Oscar-winning films you can watch right now are ideal for pairing up to see how the ‘90s proved to be one of the most important decades in the category’s history. 

The Matrix

The Wachowskis’ mind-bending fusion of sci-fi, philosophy, symbolism, and full-throttle action electrified audiences upon its summer release and is still causing ripple effects today. From bullet time to intricate mechanical concoctions, it remains a benchmark for visualizing the impossible on film. 

Jurassic Park

This pioneering mixture of practical effects and CGI brought a whole new level of realism to Steven Spielberg’s tale of genetically engineered dinosaurs running amok on an island intended for tourists. After this double feature, check out the video of the actual Oscar win, featuring Elijah Wood getting the envelope from a very special guest star.  

Countless films have been adapted from bestselling novels, and usually they stick more or less to the source material in order to please readers in the audience. However, on a few occasions, the films will actually shift gears so much the story goes into a different genre—and the results can be exhilarating. Try pairing up these unique adaptations, both prime examples of how reading the book definitely does not equal seeing the movie. 

Fletch

Gregory Mcdonald’s popular 1974 mystery novel spawned a long-running series about irreverent reporter Irwin M. Fletcher, who keeps stumbling into dangerous plots involving murder and the criminal underworld. When it came time to bringing the book to the screen, Chevy Chase was cast in the title role and delivered one of his best-loved films complete with countless classic one-liners and outrageous disguises. 

American Psycho

Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 novel caused a firestorm of controversy with its depictions of extreme brutality committed by entitled yuppie Patrick Bateman to such a degree that many believed a film version would be impossible. However, director Mary Harron delivered a potent curveball by turning the tale into a brilliant dark comedy of manners that skewers ‘80s pop culture and Manhattan’s financial elite as seen through the pathological eyes of Christian Bale in a star-making performance. 

While most of us are cooped up indoors, it’s important to keep our minds active – even when it comes to our entertainment. This pairing—complete with some good laughs and all-time classic performances—fits the bill.

The Sting

Good luck trying to outwit this con-artist classic starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford as a couple of grifters out to pull the ultimate job against the gangster who wronged them. Between the plentiful plot twists and snappy banter, you’ll be engaged from start to finish during this classic that nabbed multiple Oscars including Best Picture. 

Gosford Park

Before revolutionizing TV with the hit series Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes won the Oscar for Original Screenplay for this mixture of wily whodunit and biting commentary on social class. Robert Altman shepherds an incredible cast including Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, and Clive Owen through a murderous weekend getaway that will keep you guessing all the way through.