This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Notre Dame chapter.
Once you’ve finished the last episode of your favorite guilty pleasure show on Netflix, it may feel like the world as you know it is coming to an end. What else will you do to fill up the copious hours of your day now that Gossip Girl is over? What else are summers for other than binge watching Orange is the New Black? Don’t worry, I am here to supply some Netflix alternatives. From documentaries to classic films, you won’t be bored with this list.
Documentaries are a great way to keep you learning during the summer months. I know it’s the last thing you want to be doing during these sweet months of freedom, but the right documentaries are usually eye-opening and they know how to keep your attention. It’s a way of learning without actually trying too hard.
My first recommendation is Blackfish, which is about the treatment of whales at SeaWorld. Just be warned, animal lovers, like myself, will not make it through this documentary without shedding a tear. The next documentary that I suggest is called More Than Honey and it examines the downward spiral of honeybee populations. It was very interesting and eye-opening. If you prefer lighter educational films, check out Katy Perry: Part of Me. Pop sensation Katy Perry instantly rose to the top of my favorite celebrities after viewing this movie about her life and fame.
I will admit to being a lover of the classics. Audrey Hepburn has to be the one person I would love to meet if I could go back in time. I am disappointed that Roman Holiday is no longer on Netflix, but Charade easily stole my heart. There is something so whimsical about older movies and Charade is full of quirky suspense and an ending that will leave you in shock. Classic films are amazing because you never know what you’re going to see while watching them. They seem to take more unpredictable twists than all of the movies nowadays, none of the cookie-cutter rom-com drama.
My all time favorite movie that I found on Netflix is A Little Bit of Heaven. Starring Kate Hudson, who finds out she has terminal cancer, the movie is about her struggle to cope and live with looming health issues. This film seems like it would be even more depressing than The Fault in Our Stars, but I promise it’s so happy and cheerful that it makes you want to find a friend like Kate Hudson simply because she lives her life with such an optimistic attitude.
I know it doesn’t seem like it right after finishing a series, but life does go on once they end. There are other ways to waste away hours staring at your computer screen – not trying to hate on the Netflix binges, because they definitely have to be my favorite hobby at the moment. This summer has been scheduled around work, spending time with friends, and curling up in my bed to TV/movie marathons. Netflix is always there for you, am I right? Don’t be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone and check out some of the other amazing things that Netflix has to offer you.