1. For when you’re excited to get to work
Mulan
A Disney classic, pumping you up is what Mulan does best. You’ll be more ready than ever to hit the books after singing (yelling) along to “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”!
Mad Max: Fury Road
If you’re not in the mood for Disney, maybe some action will get you going – and what better movie to fulfill your needs than one of the best new action movies of our time? Tom Hardy stars as Max, a survivor in a post-apocalyptic wasteland who must team up with the badass Furiosa (played by an intimidating and exceptional Charlize Theron) on an epic, huge-scale car/motorcycle/oil rig chase across the desert. The adrenaline is real.
2. For when you’re questioning all of your life choices
The Princess Bride
One of the best all-around movies ever made (non-negotiable). TPB is pure entertainment and the perfect combination of fantasy, romance, action, adventure and comedy/parody. Forget all about school and exams for a couple hours as you follow Princess Buttercup and Westley through the most quotable movie of all time (also non-negotiable).
Heart and Souls
This feel-good movie with a young Robert Downey Jr. is begging to cheer you up. He plays a young man with four guardian angels who passed too early and won’t leave him alone until they each fulfill a purpose before they can be sent to the afterlife. As these guardian angels aren’t physical beings, sometimes they must take over RDJ’s body, which (obviously) yields hilarious results.
3. For when you have literally zero motivation left
Legally Blonde
What’s a movie list for university students without Legally Blonde? This iconic Reese Witherspoon film where she stars as Elle Woods, a girl who goes to Harvard just because, well, she can, never loses its appeal or inspirational message. You’ll want to get back to studying just to make Elle proud.
The Social Network
In a more serious tone, let The Social Network remind you that you, too, a socially awkward and (at times) unreasonably selfish university student, can be the inventor of the next Facebook.
4. For when you’ve studied as much as humanly possible
Dazed and Confused
This movie about high school students on their last day of school in the mid-70’s will make you nostalgic for a time you were never around to experience. Dazed and Confused features hazing, drinking, and outlandish rituals you’ll wonder if your parents ever took part in. Also, this is the first occurrence of Matthew McConaughey’s infamous”Alright, alright, alright” line. Pat yourself on the back for all that studying with a glance into the simpler times of 70’s-era high school.
Heathers
Heathers is great for when you’re over cliques, society, or just school in general. When a girl goes a little overboard in attempt to get revenge on a snobby group of friends, you’ll find Heathers to be a worthy distraction from those dreaded exams with its offbeat satire and bizarre (but humourous!) social commentary.
5. For when you’ve finished all your exams
Grease
Grease can be watched at any time, in any mood, but you’ll never enjoy it more than once you’ve finished exams and you can sing along to every song without having to worry about finishing up any leftover readings afterwards. Being done with exams is almost as good as flying away in a magic car with a young John Travolta, waving goodbye to all your jealous friends.
22 Jump Street
Finally, celebrate all your hard work with this comedy staple (which you can probably already quote in its entirety). Arguably just as good as the one that came before it, but takes place in university. So, you know. We can all relate.