I love going to the movies. The overpriced popcorn, drinks and tickets (unless you’re in Stillwater, thank the Lord for student discounts) are all worth it when you finally get to see that one movie EVERYONE has been talking about. 

It’s crazy to think about how much the movie industry has evolved since we were children. The special effects and large movie budgets are through the roof, but they all go into making the experience even better. 

While I am a huge fan of some of the movies that have recently come out, some of my favorite memories are from family movie nights when I was growing up. It was hard to narrow down, but here are some of the best from our childhood.

Clueless

This movie is one of my all-time favorites, and it’s not just because I literally want to be Cher Horowitz. 

Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash and Brittany Murphy star in one of the best films to come out of the 90’s. Cher and Dionne, the two most popular girls in the valley, take on the challenge to give new girl, Tai, a makeover. 

In the process, they also help two teachers at their school find love, and eventually find boyfriends for themselves as well. Fun fact, this movie is based on the novel, Emma, by Jane Austen. Who knew that at all of those sleepovers, we were actually becoming more cultured? 

The Land Before Time

These movies were probably the reason that I called dinosaurs “Longnecks,”  “Three-horns,” “Spiketails,” and “Sharptooths,” instead using their scientific names.  The adventures of Littlefoot, Duckie and Petrie, as they stir up trouble in “the great valley” in each of the movies, are some of my favorite movie memories. The Land Before Time series will leave your heart feeling full and wishing that dinosaurs were not extinct.

Smart House

Though this movie never made it to theaters because it was a Disney Channel movie, it is one that will never get old. I’m still holding out for someone to invent a house where the walls will change colors at the touch of a button, clean up the mess from a party by sucking all the trash off the floor, and serve me breakfast at my command. Sorry, Siri, there are just some things that you will never be able to do. 

The Parent Trap

I’m still upset that Lindsay Lohan isn't actually a twin and that I never found my long-lost, British sister at summer camp. But, I’ll always be grateful for Hallie and Annie’s incredible skills in tricking their parents into falling in love again. Even though we all know that we secretly wished their hottie dad, played by Dennis Quade, would have ended up single.

I hope this week’s blast from the past brought back the fondest of memories--if you haven’t seen any of these movies, you are completely missing out. 

Either way, I highly suggest you drop what you’re doing, drive to your local movie rental store (RIP Blockbuster) and spend the rest of your evening watching the movies that shaped your childhood, whatever they may be. Don’t forget to rewind the VCR before you return it!