You know that feeling when you’re walking out of a movie theater, everyone’s a little tired, there’s a pungent smell of stale popcorn filtering the halls still, and then once things start to feel a little real again, you make your way to the bathroom? Well, you’re in the bathroom, and you’re looking at yourself in the thumbprint-stained mirror dumbfounded because you just watched the most beautiful cinematic masterpiece of your life. Now, what movie did you just watch? I can almost guarantee you it’s going to be one of the movies I’m about to list. Here’s my list of the top 5 movies I feel everyone should REALLY watch!
- Lady Bird
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Sigh, I wish this wasn’t such a stereotypical movie for young women, but yes, every girl NEEDS to watch Lady Bird. Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, the movie Lady Bird follows the story of the strong-willed and deeply opinionated Christine Mcpherson. We follow Christine, or “Lady Bird,” as she navigates her relationship with her mother and goes through the obvious ups and downs of high school for a post-9/11 Californian girl. I know that this movie might not seem like the most exciting, but sit down, pop some popcorn, and get ready to go hug your mom. This movie will change you and how you look at your family.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
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Coming in as one of my all-time favorites, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a must-see. The writing in this movie alone should have you absolutely hooked. This sci-fi romance (yes, you read that correctly) follows the messy yet beautiful relationship of Joel Barish and Clementine Krucynski. The memories that flood back to Joel about Clementine and how each memory is displayed will make you wish you never broke up with your boyfriend. If you didn’t just come out of a relationship, then do yourself a favor and watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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Listen, I am the first to say that the book is ALWAYS better than the movie, but I don’t think I can say that for The Perks of Being a Wallflower. For starters, we have a fantastic cast, including Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. This movie screams high school in the most wonderful and nostalgic way I can think of. Without giving too much away, this movie follows Charlie, a socially awkward teenager, starting high school and meeting his soon-to-be senior best friends Sam and Patrick. This movie touches on bullying, love, maintaining friendships, abuse, mental health, and so much more. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t go watch The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
- Silver Linings Playbook
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“You gotta pay attention to the signs. When life reaches out a moment like this, it’s a sin if you don’t reach back. It’ll haunt you for the rest of your days like a curse.” I mean, come on, just with that line by itself, you should want to watch Silver Linings Playbook just to see what they could possibly be talking about. This incredible film follows Pat Solatano, played by Bradley Cooper, as he tries to get back on his feet after losing his wife to another man and spending time in a mental institution. After moving in with his parents, Pat meets Tiffany, played by Jennifer Lawrence, and she offers to help him get his wife back. The complicated and hysterical relationship formed between Pat and Tiffany is one that’ll simply warm your heart. Please, go watch Silver Linings Playbook.
- Booksmart
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Last and certainly not least, we have Booksmart. We’re definitely taking a less serious turn here with this movie, but nevertheless, this high school comedy film is one for the books. I think we can all agree that we’ve seen way too many coming of age movies (*cough* The Perks of Being a Wallflower *cough*) and sometimes, after a while, they start to seem a little dramatic. High school can’t be all that bad, right? Booksmart follows two hilarious best friends, Amy and Molly, while they spend their last night before graduation seeking out a party. This movie is filled with the realities of high school while still keeping it entertaining and downright laughable. If you want to remember why you DID like high school, then please, go watch Booksmart!