Coolness is a phenomenon that contains several contradictions: It’s both meaningless and profound, subjective and undeniable, ephemeral and, in the case of movie stars like Steve McQueen, eternal. Though no one has ever bothered to deny McQueen’s effortless magnetism, he has also managed—like so many pop culture phenomena once assumed to be unforgettable—to be a little bit forgotten. These two classic McQueen films, a heist caper and one of the great action thrillers of all time, are evidence of the actor’s immortal charisma, and also of the melancholy truth that even the best pop stuff can fall between the cracks of cultural memory if you’re not careful. by Sean Nelson