In 1993, the AIDS/HIV epidemic had already been running rampant for decades, but it was still a taboo subject to discuss. The Tom Hanks-starring film helped to blow the doors wide open by not only examining the crisis itself through one man, but the overall culture of homophobia that the disease cultivated. The deft direction and sensitive writing helped to de-stigamatise one of the world’s most troubling epidemics, and made it easier for everyone to discuss it without having to whisper.

An inspiring and tragic story, the film puts a human face on a challenging subject through Hanks’ portrayal, and after audiences saw it at the time (relatively fresh to the nature of the illness), they were surely more sympathetic to those afflicted in the future.

It’s still something we’re contending with today – though recent developments are, of course, very promising – but Jonathan Demme’s stunning film only further highlights the human concerns at the forefront.