Viewers enjoy movies for their ability to elicit laughter, tears, suspense, and joy. From action-packed thrillers that feature adrenaline-pumping scenes and comedies offering a light-hearted escape to horror films that deliver spine-chilling entertainment and fantasy that transports viewers to imaginative worlds, movies cover a range of genres. Oh, and let’s not forget romantic movies which evoke a plethora of emotions as they explore the complexities of love and relationships. From America’s first film, 1903’s The Great Train Robbery, through the present, filmmaking has evolved into a multi-billion dollar enterprise with titles from A to Z. We’re going to skippity-do-dah past the first 24 letters of the alphabet to present 24/7WallSt.’s list of 51 movies that start with Y. Continue reading to learn about our 10 favorites!

Y Tu Mamá También

• distributor/director: 20th Century Fox/Alfonso Cuarón
• year released: 2001
• genre: coming-of-age/road film

If we’re being pedantic, Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother Too) is the only entry on our list that actually starts with Y. A Mexican coming-of-age drama, Y Tu Mamá También follows the journey of two teenage friends, Julio (Gael García Bernal) and Tenoch (Diego Luna). The story takes an unexpected turn when they embark on a road trip with an older woman, played by Maribel Verdú. As the trio travels through the Mexican countryside, the film explores themes of friendship, love, and death. Y Tu Mamá También is raw and honest in its portrayal of the characters’ experiences, as well as its social and political commentary. The film was generally well-received, garnering critical acclaim. Y Tu Mamá También was nominated for Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival and the Academy Awards, taking home the prize at Venice.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Source: John Kropewnicki / Shutterstock.com

• distributor/director: Warner Brothers /Michael Curtiz
• year released: 1942
• genre: Patriotic Biographical Musical

Yankee Doodle Dandy is a classic American musical film that depicts the life and career of George M. Cohan, a renowned American playwright, composer, and actor. James Cagney stars as Cohan in a role that displays his versatility as an actor. Yankee Doodle Dandy features memorable musical numbers, including the eponymous song Yankee Doodle Dandy and Give My Regards to Broadway. Cagney’s performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, while the film nabbed Best Sound Recording and Best Music Oscars. Yankee Doodle Dandy is a classic, showcasing the talents of James Cagney in a role that is considered his finest.

Year of the Comet

Source: solarseven / Getty Images

• distributor/director: Columbia Pictures/Peter Yates
• year released: 1992
• genre: romance/adventure

Year of the Comet is a romantic adventure film that revolves around a rare and valuable bottle of wine.
The film stars Tim Daly as Oliver Plexico, an ambitious young wine expert, and Penelope Ann Miller as Margaret Harwood, a British museum employee. Margaret discovers the bottle of wine, which Oliver is hired to help transport from Scotland to a buyer in London. However, they soon find themselves caught in a web of intrigue and danger as others seek to claim the valuable wine for themselves.
Year of the Comet combines elements of romance, comedy, and adventure. William Goldman, screenwriter and author (The Princess Bride), brought his characteristic blend of humor and narrative flair to the project. While the film didn’t achieve significant commercial success, it has gained a small,bt dedicated cult following.

The Yearling

Claude Jarman Jr feeding deer in a scene from the film ‘The Yearling’, 1946. (Photo by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty Images)

• distributor/director: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Clarence Brown
• year released: 1946
• genre: family drama/western

The Yearling is a 1946 American film based on Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’s novel of the same name.
Set in Florida in the late 19th century, The Yearling tells the story of a young boy named Jody Baxter (Claude Jarman Jr.) and his bond with a deer he adopts as a pet. The film explores themes of family, nature, and the challenges of growing up. Gregory Peck plays Jody’s father, Penny Baxter, and Jane Wyman portrays Jody’s mother, Orry. The family faces various hardships, including their struggle for survival in the wilderness. The film beautifully captures Florida’s landscapes.
The Yearling received critical acclaim and was a commercial success. It won two Academy Awards: one for Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration in Color and a special Oscar for Outstanding Child Actor, awarded to Claude Jarman Jr. After growing up in front of the camera, Jarman began working backstage, as the director of the San Francisco International film festival for several years before opening a travel agency.

Yellow Submarine

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

• distributor/director: United Artists/George Dunning
• year released: 1968
• genre: animated musical fantasy

Yellow Submarine is a psychedelic and visually innovative film that brings the music of The Beatles to life in a fantastical and surreal way. The story is set in the underwater paradise of Pepperland, which is threatened by the music-hating Blue Meanies. The Beatles—John, Paul, George, and Ringo—are recruited to save Pepperland and bring music back. They embark on a journey in the eponymous yellow submarine, encountering various surreal and whimsical characters along the way.
Yellow Submarine features animated sequences set to Beatles songs, including classics like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, All You Need Is Love,  and, of course, Yellow Submarine. The film’s animation style is distinctive, characterized by vibrant colors, psychedelic imagery, and a unique blend of animation techniques. While The Beatles themselves did not provide the voices for their animated doppelgängers, their music is prominently featured throughout the film. Yellow Submarine is a cult classic for its groundbreaking animation, creative storytelling, and the timeless music of The Beatles.

Yesterday

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 12: Himesh Patel attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images)

• distributor/director: Universal Pictures/Danny Boyle
• year released: 2019
• genre: romantic musical comedy

Yesterday stars Himesh Patel as Jack Malik, a struggling musician who, after a brief and mysterious worldwide blackout, discovers that he is the only person who remembers The Beatles and their music. Seizing the opportunity, Jack begins performing The Beatles’ songs as his own, gaining widespread acclaim and fame. As Jack rises to stardom, he grapples with the moral and personal implications of taking credit for the iconic music. The screenplay, written by Richard Curtis, is based on an earlier screenplay by Jack Barth. In Barth’s version, Jack doesn’t find fame.

Yogi Bear

• distributor/director: Warner Brothers Pictures/Eric Brevig
• year released: 2010
• genre: family-friendly comedy

Grab your pic-a-nic baskets and head over to Yogi Bear, based on the classic animated series The Yogi Bear Show, which was wildly popular in the 1960s. In the movie, the iconic Hanna-Barbera characters Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo are brought to life through a combination of live-action and computer-generated imagery (CGI).
Yogi Bear (voiced by Dan Aykroyd)and Boo-Boo (voiced by Justin Timberlake) attempt to save Jellystone Park from being closed. Yogi’s schemes lead to humorous and chaotic situations. Yogi Bear is a family-friendly film that blends comedy, adventure, and nostalgia for fans of the original cartoon series.

Young Frankenstein

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

• distributor/director: 20th Century Fox/Mel Brooks
• year released: 1974
• genre: comedy/parody

Young Frankenstein, a beloved classic, is a parody of  Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and its various film adaptations.
The film’s protagonist, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder), is initially reluctant to embrace his family’s legacy. However, Frederick travels to Transylvania after inheriting his grandfather’s estate and once there, he becomes entangled in experiments to reanimate the dead. The film hilariously exploits the themes of scientific experimentation and identity. Young Frankenstein is a mix of slapstick, wordplay, and sight gags. The film boasts an all-star cast, with the actors delivering brilliant, iconic performances. Young Frankenstein is the fan-favorite here at 24/7 Wall St. Oh, sweet mystery of life!

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

• distributor/director: United Artists/Lewis Gilbert
• year released: 1967
• genre: spy thriller

Author Roald Dahl (James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The BFG) wrote the screenplay for this James Bond thriller. You Only Live Twice is the fifth installment in the James Bond series, starring Sean Connery as the iconic British secret agent. The plot revolves around Bond’s investigation of the hijacking of American and Soviet space capsules. The film incorporates Cold War tensions in Bond’s encounters with iconic villains. The character Blofeld makes his first full appearance in You Only Live Twice, complete with his distinctive Nehru jacket and white cat. The dramatic ninja assault on Blofeld’s lair and the thrilling space capsule recovery mission are but two of the riveting scenes that are synonymous with the Bond franchise.

You’ve Got Mail

Source: Greg Brave / Shutterstock.com

• distributor/director: Warner Brothers/Nora Ephron
• year released: 1998
• genre: romantic comedy

Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, You’ve Got Mail reunites the duo after their successful collaboration in Sleepless in Seattle (1993). You’ve Got Mail is a modern adaptation of the 1940 film The Shop Around the Corner. The story concerns  Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) and Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan), business rivals in the bookstore industry. Unbeknownst to them, Joe and Kathleen strike up an anonymous online friendship through email, unaware of each other’s real identities. As the two continue to communicate digitally, their professional rivalry intensifies in the real world. The title, You’ve Got Mail, is a nod to the familiar AOL email alert that was popular at the time. Ping!

51 Films that Start with Y

Number	Title	Year Released	Genre
1.	Y Tu Mama Tambien	2001	Mexican road film/coming-of-age story
2.	Yaarron Ka Yaar	1977	Indian drama
3.	Yacht of the Seven Sins	1928	German silent film
4.	The Yacoubian Building	2006	The most expensive Egyptian film made to date (2024)
5.	Yahşi Batı	2010	Turkish comedy
6.	Yakada Pihatu	2003	Sri Lanken action drama
7.	The Yakuza	1974	Sydney Pollack’s neo-noir crime drama starring Robert Mitchem
8.	Yale vs. Harvard	1927	Our Gang comedy
9.	Yalghaar	2017	Pakistani biographical drama
10.	The Yank	2014	American independent comedy
11.	Yankee Buccaneer	1952	American technicolor adventure film
12.	The Yankee Clipper	1927	American silent adventure film
13.	Yankee Doodle Dandy	1942	American biographical musical starring James Cagney
14.	Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie	2009	Filipino comedy
15.	Year of the Carnivore	2009	Canadian romantic comedy
16.	Year of the Comet	1992	American romance/adventure
17.	Year of the Dragon	1985	American neo-noir crime drama
18.	Year of the Horse	1995	Jim Jarmusch documentary featuring Neil Young
19.	The Yearling	1946/1994	Family drama/western
20.	The Yellow Rose of Texas	1944	American Western starring Dale Evans and Roy Rogers
21.	The Yellow Sea	2010	South Korean action thriller
22.	Yellow Submarine	1968	Animated film featuring the Beatles
23.	YelowBrickRoad	2010	American horror film
24.	Yes Day	2021	American family comedy
25.	Yesterday	2019	American romantic comedy
26.	Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow	2011	Filipino drama
27.	Yo Ho Ho	1981	Bulgarian drama
28.	Yo-Yo	1965	French comedy
29.	Yogi Bear	2010	American live-action/animated comedy
30.	You Again	2010	American comedy
31.	You Can’t Kill Stephen King	2012	American comedy/horror spoof
32.	You, Me, and Dupree	2006	American comedy featuring a B-list cast
33.	You Only Live Twice	1967	British spy film featuring Sean Connery as Agent 007: James Bond
34.	You People	2023	American romantic comedy directed by Kenya Barris
35.	You, Your, Yours	2018	Japanese romantic comedy
36.	You’ll Never Be Alone	2016	Chilean drama
37.	You’ll Never Get Rich	1941	Musical comedy starring Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire
38.	You’re Fired	1919	Silent comedy film
39.	You’re Gonna Miss Me	2005	Documentary
40.	You’re in the Army Now	1941	Comedy
41.	You’re Never Too Young	1956	Jerry Lewis/Dean Martin comedy
42.	You’ve Got Mail	1998	Romantic comedy
43.	Young Bess	1953	Biographical drama
44	Young Doctors in Love	1982	Comedy/spoof
45.	Young Einstein	1988	Australian comedy
46.	Young Frankenstein	1974	Mel Brooks comedy
47.	Young Guns	1988	Western
48.	Young Sherlock Holmes	1985	Mystery/adventure
49.	Yours, Mine, and Ours	1968/2005	American family comedy
50.	Yuri’s Day	2008	Award-winning Russian drama
51.	Yves Saint Laurent	2014	Biographical drama

 

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