We all have those movies that we can quote by heart. The ones that, if you look close enough, are built into your personality. These movies are usually the ones we grew up watching. There’s something about rewatching a childhood favorite that feels like you are back in your childhood home, and that is a feeling I love to go back to whenever I have had a stressful day. Here are four of my comfort movies that transport me back to my ten-year-old self.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Set in the Viking village of Berk, this film follows Hiccup, the son of the village chief, who is expected to become a dragon slayer like everyone before him. Instead, he befriends a rare dragon by the name of Toothless and learns that maybe there is a different way to approach dragons. As a kid, this movie taught me that empathy is an amazing skill that I should use to my advantage. Hiccup doesn’t fit into the position he should, but he doesn’t let it stop him from becoming the best person he can. As a kid who has always felt out of place, this meant everything.
Tangled
Rapunzel, a princess with magical hair, has spent her life hidden away in a tower by Mother Gothel, who found Rapunzel as a baby. When Flynn Rider, a local thief, finds her in that tower, Rapunzel finally decides to take her life into her own hands and explore what she’s always wanted to know more about: the lanterns that always appear on her birthday. Her longing to see the world, to this day, resonates on a personal level with me. I’ve grown up with dreams that feel so impossible to chase after, but seeing Rapunzel go after her dreams always reminds me that I can also chase my own. Tangled is a movie that reminds me that sometimes the scariest step is the most important.
Dead Poets Society
At a strict all-boys school, English teacher John Keating inspired his class through poetry, encouraging them to “seize the day” and think for themselves, even when it challenges authority. This film made me fall in love with the idea of expressing myself through art. It validated the creative ambition that, as a kid, I didn’t know how to express. This film always makes me want to write, draw, act, or anything else that can let myself fully indulge into my love for the arts. This movie has always been a reminder that I can choose passion over the pressure of the generic “safe” life paths. I can always watch this movie and be reminded that I should never underestimate the power of what I can do.
Monsters, Inc.
In the city of Monstropolis, monsters generate power by scaring children. When a little girl named Boo accidentally enters their world, top scarer Sulley realizes kids aren’t as dangerous as he was taught. As a kid, this movie made the fear of monsters feel small. As an adult, this movie reminds me that kindness is a strength. This movie is the perfect comfort watch because it’s entertaining every single time. It’s colorful, funny, and always leaves me in a better mood.
Rewatching childhood comfort movies isn’t about being stuck in the past, it’s about connecting with parts of yourself that have always been there. These four film don’t just entertain me, they shape my values, teaching me about empathy, courage, creativity, and so much more. Growth doesn’t mean outgrowing your favorite childhood stores, it means understanding them more deeply.
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