This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Eli Casas. Find them on Instagram at @elicasasnow. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
We are all counting down the days until spring break! This semester is not even over; I’m not crying, you’re crying, but this break will serve us well. I suggest having a movie night to feel all the feelings, so a mix of genres will be helpful. I’m talking rom-coms, thrillers, comedy, and more! I need it all! So, I have a few movies in mind. Why not share some incredible throwback movies with you all? You may have forgotten that some of these movies exist, but we all love nostalgia.
Rom-Coms 101
Starting strong, “Pretty Woman,” starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, is an iconic, absolute must-watch throwback movie! If I could describe this movie, it’s a different take on love. The movie is about a sex worker who meets a successful businessman, and they eventually develop a romantic but complicated relationship.
Switching gears a bit, if you’re looking for a movie with multiple storylines taking place simultaneously but are all connected somehow, this is the one! “He’s Just Not That Into You” is about couples and single individuals finding themselves and evaluating their relationships. Spoiler alert: the cast is excellent, from Jennifer Aniston to Bradley Cooper and Scarlett Johansson! Of course, that’s a few, but trust me, the entire cast is all-around chef’s kiss!
Okay, maybe you’re not into multiple storylines simultaneously happening because it’s confusing the first time! Not to worry, there are plenty of rom-coms to choose from, like “10 Things I Hate About You.” This film has the right amount of romance and comedy. How can we not fall in love and ship a movie with Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger? This coming-of-age movie is about two young people falling in love unexpectedly, the romance starts with undisclosed pretenses, Ledger’s Character Patrick, was hired to court Stiles’s Character, Kat.
Talking about unexpected romances, “Shallow Hal” takes switching perspectives to a whole new level! What’s better than a romantic comedy? One starring with Jack Black, rom-coms hate to see him coming. Okay, picture this, an extremely shallow guy who only cares about exterior beauty unknowingly enters a state of mind where all he can see is everyone’s inner beauty. Doesn’t get more beautiful than that!
Let’s continue staying on a beautiful note and going down memory lane. From the vault of nostalgia, this wouldn’t be a throwback movie list without “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry” starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James. This isn’t your typical love story where two best friends fall in love, it’s about showing up for your best bud and having a small lie turn into a huge commitment for the entire public to see. Don’t worry, there is romance along the way, just not between these two!
Cue In The Laughs!
What’s a rom-com without romance? Well, It’s just a comedy! Get ready to laugh with some of this list’s most nostalgic classic comedy movies!
There is no better way to quench your thirst for fond comedy movies from the past than “The Waterboy,” starring Adam Sandler as Bobby Boucher. With passions such as water and his mom, Boucher learns how to become more independent and immersed in society as he goes off to play college football.
However, if you’re looking for plain-out goofy, “Dumb and Dumber” is just that! Lloyd Christmas and his bestie Harry Dunne get into real trouble as they embark on an adventure to return a suitcase full of money. Starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, both bring their characters to life in this goofy comedy.
For this next one, I’m going to hold your hand while I say this, 2006 was 19 years ago! Can you believe that? Well, believe it, “Stranger than Fiction” came out in 2006 starring Will Ferrell, and it’s strange! Harold Crick (Ferrell) wakes up one day and hears someone narrating his life, which is bizarre to him as he lives a simple, boring life. Spoiler alert! Crick is doomed, and the narrator unknowingly decides his fate day by day.
Cause This Is Thriller, Thriller Movie Night…
The ellipsis was mostly for suspense because these thrillers aren’t scary but filled with moments that keep you on the edge!
“Beetlejuice” Beetlejuice, and I won’t say it a third time to keep us all safe, lol; if you know, you know! After a couple dies, their spirits are unable to leave their home, which is fine and dandy until a new family moves in. The couple begins to feel trapped and attempts to scare the new homeowners away. Let’s say Tim Burton did his thing with this film!
I don’t watch many horror or thriller movies, but “Disturbia,” starring Shia LaBeouf, is filled with drama, mystery, and suspense! Essentially, this young and troubled teenager is placed on house arrest for misbehaving at school, and he takes on different hobbies from home. Eventually, he becomes so bored that he starts spying on all his neighbors, paying attention to their routines. One day, he notices something off-putting about one of his neighbors. Soon enough, he begins to focus all his attention on this neighbor… who is potentially a murderer?! I guess you will have to watch to find out if he is!
Bonus Throwbacks: Watch For More Nostalgia
The following movies are of different genres. They all make you feel emotions, and I said we were aiming for a list of movies with all the feelings!
I must warn you that before you watch “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, you should be prepared to gain a new perspective on love. This movie makes you realize that sometimes you love someone so strongly that erasing them from your memory after things end isn’t possible, not even scientifically. The characters Joel and Clementine fall in love, things end, and they decide to undergo a medical procedure to erase each other from their memories. No spoiler alerts for this one! You have to watch it!
I bet the character Matilda Wormwood from the movie “Matilda” would have loved to forget her neglectful parents, lol. All jokes aside, this movie is funny and interesting. Not even halfway through, Matilda discovers her magical powers! Fun fact: Danny DeVito plays Mr. Wormwood in the film.
Although I could go on and on about throwback movies, helping you remember all the nostalgic ones, I’m going to leave with one last one for now. “Good Will Hunting” is about an intelligent young man who is up to nothing but has so much potential. His mind works so advanced he can solve difficult math equations the same way someone plays a video game effortlessly. The cast consists of Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Robin Williams, to name a few. It’s lighthearted in all the right ways but filled with drama at all the right moments.
I trust I have left you with enough throwback movies to watch this spring break! Happy watching!
What are some throwback movies to watch this spring break that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments below.
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