Poor Things (2023)
Seeing this in theaters with friends was a magical experience. I may seem like I’m exaggerating my love for this movie, but my friends can attest that I came out of the theater literally skipping and giggling with glee. An absurd coming of age story starring Emma Stone, Poor Things is an Oscar nominated Frankenstein re-telling about empowerment, sexualization and the way that we grow as human beings. If you want a visually beautiful film unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, watch Poor Things.
Bottoms (2023) and Shiva Baby (2020)
Both comedies by Emma Seligman, Bottoms and Shiva Baby surround queer topics and life’s awkwardness. Bottoms is a highschool comedy starring a hilarious Ayo Edebiri and a socially awkward Rachel Sennott. (As an Ayo Edebiri fangirl, I highly recommend.) Shiva Baby, also starring Sennott, has a darker and more cynical tone but remains hysterical. It takes place almost entirely at a shiva (a period of mourning for a relative in Judaism), where the main character is tormented by her ‘Sugar Daddy’ and ex-girlfriend.
Lady Bird (2017)
Famously directed by icon Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird is an extremely popular coming-of-age film taking place in California. The movie revolves around a teenager who has named herself ‘Lady Bird,’ and is rounding the corner of her senior year of high school to her first year in college. The movie strikes a chord with many teenage girls who are unsure of their path in life and struggle with their family dynamic. One of my favorite movies of all time, I cannot recommend Lady Bird enough.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
I have to include this masterpiece in my list. The three stars of the movie just recently had a reunion at the 2024 SAG awards, proving the film’s timelessness. While it could be seen as a chick-flick by some, The Devil Wears Prada is much more than that, it is a story about working to get to the top and the moral dilemmas one must grapple with in the face of newfound influence. Not only that, but it heavily revolves around the controversies in the fashion industry such as weight and status. Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly is iconic and I find myself quoting her lines to myself nearly every day. “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.”
The Watermelon Woman (1996)
The first known film directed by a gay Black woman- The Watermelon Woman was groundbreaking when it came to women in film. Cheryl Dunye plays herself in a fictional semi-documentary about a 1940s film star. Dunye, who works at a video store, is desperately searching for an unnamed Black actress in a film. Both herself and her fictionalized character are filmmakers, wanting to bring Black lesbian stories into the spotlight. Though there was harsh backlash, The Watermelon Woman is now honored in the Criterion Collection. If you’re looking for a funny, iconic and aesthetically pleasing film, I highly recommend.
Alien (1979)
One of the most iconic horror movies of all time focuses on the bravery of Ellen Ripley, a crewmember on a spaceship. Ripley (played by Signourney Weaver) challenged the ‘final girl’ trope before it even became one. This horror movie revolves around Ripley and her capabilities, proving herself again and again to be the only seemingly competent character. As the title suggests, the movie is about an alien and the horrors it brings to a claustrophobic spaceship. There are so many iconic and amazing scenes in this movie, if you enjoy horror it’s a must-watch.
