Amidst finals, the only thing that is currently getting me through is knowing that I will be watching all of these movies once the exams are over. They all have a special place in my heart so if you haven't seen them yet, I would definitely recommend watching them over the holiday season!
1. "Brooklyn" (2015)
This is the film that I think of every time someone asks me what my favorite movie is, and for the most part, people don't know what movie I'm talking about. It's about a woman who travels to Brooklyn from a small town in Ireland during the 1940s. It's a story, dealing with the internal conflict of both missing her home and making the best of new opportunities.
2. "Baby Driver" (2017)
This movie is beautiful inside and out. I saw it three times in the theater when it was released, and I honestly would go see it a million more times. The acting is phenomenal, the storyline is intense and has a bunch of twists and turns, and the soundtrack is hands down the best I've ever seen. Edgar Wright, the director, is truly a genius for making this masterpiece of a film.
3. "Gifted" (2017)
Chris Evans is not just known for his super strength and leadership as Captain America. In this homey drama, he plays an uncle to an adorable little girl who happens to be intelligently gifted. It's a beautiful story about family, and I highly suggest watching it.
4. "Love, Simon" (2018)
As a loyal fan of the book, I would have to say this is one of my favorite adaptations ever. It's very cheesy and romantic, but it's a rom-com so what else do you expect?
The main character, Simon Spier, is the purest human being you will ever come across in entertainment history, and he absolutely deserved the happy ending that he got. (Spoiler alert).
5. "The Edge of Seventeen" (2016)
As an angsty seventeen-year-old, I found this movie very relatable and hilarious. The main character goes through some hardships, but still acts as a comedic relief with her awkward tendencies. I definitely recommend.
6. "Game Night" (2018)
This is by far my favorite comedy that came out this year. If I had a nickel for every time I laughed in the theater, I would have a lot of goddamn nickels. If you end up getting sick of watching Elf's hilarious one-liners over the break - which I honestly can't imagine happening - this movie will definitely fill its shoes.
7. "Catching Fire" (2013)
GiphyThis one will forever be my guilty pleasure that shouldn't be considered a guilty pleasure. By far the best book and movie in the series, Catching Fire made me fall in love with the characters even more and revamped the whole entire premise while still making it fresh and exciting.
8. "Creed" (2015)
I grew up obsessed with the Rocky movies. Thank you, mom and dad, for dragging me to the theater when the last Rocky installment came out. I was hesitant about walking in, but then I came out forever changed. As an elementary school girl, I had a Rocky 3 poster on my wall - that's how committed I was.
Most of the time, when producers try to bring a series back to life, it fails. But that was not the case for the first Creed installment. It had heart, familial elements, and unconditional support, and that's what made it successful. It felt like another Rocky film, but with a new leading man.
You know the movies that stick with you after you leave the theater. The ones that you think about constantly after the credits roll. These are just some of the ones that apply to me. I saw all of these in that dark room with the projector screen beaming down on me, surrounded by people, and all of them filled me with writer's adrenaline. Inspiring me to write a film that impacts people like these eight did for me.
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