What To Watch In Quarantine
Here’s your official COVID-19 watchlist.
Well, things are getting kind of bad. It’s looking like we may be essentially quarantined for upwards of three months. And if we have the luxury to telecommute or the misfortune of being temporarily or permanently laid off, we are, for the most part, stuck at home. This means time to intake content! Invite your family, significant others, or roommates to the living room for a movie night! Start a new show! Or host a Google Hangout with your closest friends and watch a movie together in real-time!
Need suggestions? I’ve got you covered for every mood you might feel during this global crisis. Feel free to hit me up on Twitter or I.G. (@Liviosah) with a short message about how you feel, and I’ll send you personalized recs! I promise I’ll answer — my schedule suddenly freed up. And be sure to check out The Ridiculous People Podcast if you get tired of looking at screens.
Another fun development: Chrome recently released an extension called Netflix Party that allows you to watch things remotely with your friends!
Don’t let anyone tell you entertainment isn’t essential. Whether you want to lean into the whole virus thing or escape, no one can dictate how you should be handling things right now. The only way out is through, so do what you have to do (within reason, of course.)
PRO-TIP: If you don’t have these services, a lot of them offer a free trial! Or, you know, just steal a password. Up to you.
MOODS
- If you want to freak yourself out about a virus
- If you want to freak yourself out about something that’s not a virus
- If you want to forget about the real world
- If you want to ponder your own mortality
- If you want to think about the apocalypse
- If you just want to laugh
- If you just want to cry
- If you want to get woke
- If you totally forgot there’s an election
- If you have cabin fever
- If you want to watch something you’ve never heard of
1. If you want to freak yourself out about a virus
Contagion
Oof. Contagion saw this coming. I re-watched it in early February before COVID-19 got to the U.S. and found it to be incredibly realistic. I had no idea. TRIGGER WARNING: This movie will scare the living shit out of you. But it’s a well-made and exciting look at the world response to a deadly virus at every level. Watch on CINEMAX.
Outbreak
Outbreak is like Contagion’s weird older cousin that watches conspiracy theory videos on YouTube live. An Ebola-like virus comes to a town in California, and Dustin Hoffman has to stop it before the government uses it as a bio-weapon. A fun watch, but notable are the differences between this 90’s flick and hyper-realistic Contagion. Watch on NETFLIX.
Osmosis Jones
I’ll say it: this movie is borderline brilliant. It’s fun, educational, and politically relevant, and The Red Death bears a somewhat terrifying resemblance to COVID-19. It’s both escapist and timely; it’ll somehow freak you out and comfort you at the same time. Bill Murray is extra gross, too, so that’s fun. And 10/10 for Laurence Fishbourne’s performance as our favorite virus. Watch on STARZ.
Children of Men
A favorite of mine with some dark real-world undertones. Two decades after a virus renders humanity infertile, the world has descended into chaos. Until Clive Owen and his estranged wife, Julianne Moore, find a young refugee woman who may be the species’ last hope. Watch on HULU.
Train to Busan
This movie is incredible. It’s Speed meets Dawn of the Dead meets Snowpiercer. A zombie-creating virus is released on a moving train in South Korea. Highly recommended. Watch on NETFLIX.
28 Days Later
This virus turned people into zombies *that can run.* Watch on HULU.
12 Monkeys
A mind-bending pandemic/time travel movie about a man sent back to the 1990s to stop a deadly pandemic. And it’s Terry Gillam, so it’s kind of batshit. Watch on SHOWTIME.
I Am Legend
More running zombies that are also vampires kind of! This time, Will Smith is ostensibly the last man on Earth. The fun twist is that the virus was initially developed as a potential cure for cancer that went very, very wrong. Watch on FUBO TV.
Perfect Sense
An epidemiologist and a chef (Ewan McGregor) fall in love while a mysterious pandemic robs humans of their five senses. This one is weird and kind of heartbreaking, but also a beautiful look at humanity in times of crisis. RENT.
World War Z
I know there are problems with this movie, but I think it’s fun! And it’s interesting to imagine how world governments would respond to a zombie outbreak. Watch on FX or HULU w/ LIVE TV.
How To Survive A Plague
This documentary chronicles AIDS activists in the 80s, standing up for their health and human rights in the face of complete apathy toward the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A historical masterpiece too few people know about. RENT.
The Walking Dead
Based on the graphic novels, this iconic series is a hallmark of the zombie genre. Watch on NETFLIX or AMC.
Last Man on Earth
The show, though the movie is fun as well. A virus that **STARTS IN THE YEAR 2020** wipes out most of humanity, except a bunch of loveable misfits who seek companionship in the face of extinction. Watch on HULU.
Pandemic: How To Prevent an Outbreak
Where was this a month ago? Watch on NETFLIX.
2. If you want to freak yourself out about something that’s not a virus
Rosemary’s Baby
We’re all stuck at home! What if your neighbors are Satanists?! Watch on NETFLIX.
The Fly
You know the deal: Jeff Goldblum turns into a giant fly-monster. This movie has some crazy body horror, mostly because the effects were all practical. At least the virus doesn’t do this to us, right? Watch on STARZ.
Hereditary
This movie f**ked me up the first time I saw it. Probably because I was trying to see The Incredibles 2, but it was sold out. Watch with the lights off if you’re trying to get scared. Watch on AMAZON.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
This movie kept me up for days when I was a kid. Now it’s all a little cheesy, but don’t tell me you didn’t think of that song as you fell asleep after you re-watched it. Watch on VUDU with ads.
The Thing
A group of scientists discovers a horrifying creature that literally turns them inside-out. More great body horror and thought-provoking ending. Watch on STARZ.
The Strangers
Cooped up alone in your house? I have a great idea — watch a home invasion horror movie! Watch on STARZ.
Funny Games
Another home invasion movie, but this one is **witty.** The 1997 German original is fantastic, as is the shot-for-shot 2007 American remake. TRIGGER WARNING: Pretty much everything. This movie is pretty perverse — it’s not for everyone. Watch the original on KANOPY and the CRITERION CHANNEL; watch the remake on VUDU with ads.
The Exorcist
Hailed as one of the scariest movies of all time, why not hunker down and think about the Devil in these trying times? Watch on PHILO? Idk, just RENT.
The Witch
This film follows the plights of a puritan family exiled to the woods. This is one you really have to pay attention to — it’s written in the speech of the 1600s. I recommend subtitles. Watch on NETFLIX.
Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer
This is not an easy watch, particularly for cat lovers or people with souls. But once you do get into it, you can’t stop watching. The 4-part docu-series tells the story of a group of armchair detectives — people who try to solve crimes using the internet — who discover a man who tortures and kills kittens on camera. Then, he does the same with a human being. This is one of the best true crime documentaries I’ve ever seen. But be warned: it will keep you up at night. Watch on NETFLIX.
American Horror Story (Season 1)
This campy but also chilling season is the perfect fun haunted house content to watch while you’re cooped up. TRIGGER WARNING: School shooter. Watch on NETFLIX or HULU.
The Haunting of Hill House
This was such a great series. It explores the psyche as well as the supernatural. More haunted house content for you to wonder what that weird creaking in the middle of the night is. As if we don’t have enough to be afraid of. Watch on NETFLIX.
Twin Peaks
Not everyone will like this series, but those who like it *will love it.* This eerie and surreal David Lynch show follows an FBI agent who travels to a mysterious town to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. Watch on SHOWTIME.
The Twilight Zone
A classic. For semi-virus-related content, check out season 1, episode 17: “The Fever.” Watch on NETFLIX or HULU.
3. If you want to forget about the real world
The Lego Movie
This movie is fun, irreverent, sweet, motivating, and a little nostalgic. You’ll have “Everything Is Awesome!!!” stuck in your head for days, which is a bit ironic. RENT.
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
A little better if you have a big T.V. and maybe a little marijuana. This masterclass in animation is an excellent take-your-mind-off-everything movie. It follows Miles Morales, an Afro-Latino teenager from Brooklyn who gains the powers of Spider-Man. Dope soundtrack, too. Watch on NETFLIX.
Singin’ in the Rain
What a f**king delightful movie. It never gets old. Gene Kelly is a treasure. Watch this movie. RENT.
Little Miss Sunshine
A fantastic movie about family, optimism, and the American Dream. Also a road trip movie, so you can imagine you’re not in your house. Watch on STARZ.
Paddington 2
Someone on Reddit said that “Paddington 2 is the Dark Knight of talking animal family movies,” and I couldn’t agree more. Confession time: I never saw the first Paddington. But the second one is a goddamn masterpiece. I don’t even want to tell you the plot. Just watch it. Watch on SLING TV or FUBO.
Black Panther
I know we all saw this one, but what a fantastic escapist movie. Everything about Wakanda, aside from the isolationism, is wonderous. Make sure to plug in your speakers so you can get the full impact of the bumpin’ soundtrack. Watch on DISNEY+.
Fighting With My Family
This movie had no business being as good as it is. Florence Pugh plays a young wrestler from a family of wrestlers who gets the opportunity to try out for the WWE. The cast includes Nick Fost, Lena Heady, Stephen Merchant (who is also the director,) and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. It’s based on a true story, too — there’s a documentary of the same name that I have not seen, but looks impressive! Watch on AMAZON.
Ever After: A Cinderella Story
My roommate just watched this, and I forgot how great it was. Leonardo DaVinci makes an appearance! Danielle pushes the Prince’s politics further to the Left! Anjelica Huston was in it! It also doesn’t hurt that Prince Henry dresses like Harry Styles. Watch on CINEMAX.
Space Jam
I mean, what is there to say? Watch on NETFLIX.
Back In Time
This doc is all about Back to the Future. The writing, making of (which is insane) and the fans. Why not rent the original trilogy while you’re at it?(Part III is on Netflix.) Watch on HULU.
Love Island (U.K.)
This show makes no sense. A group of hot singles is put in a villa in Spain/South Africa, and if they stay in a couple, they win £25,000. In between, there are no rules. Producers bring in people seemingly at random. There are suddenly audience votes. Sometimes they go full Stanford Prison Experiment and make the Islanders pick one to kick off. You *will* need subtitles, and even then, it may not help. I had to Google what a “chin-wag” was. Anyway, it’s a perfect reality show. Season 5 is fantastic. Watch on HULU.
Sex Education
Remember that kid from Hugo whose god-given name is Asa Butterfield? He now stars in a new-ish show on Netflix about a teenager who starts a sex advice company at his school. A lot of people criticize the show for being too sexually advanced, if you will, for teens, but I like to think of it as taking place in an alternate universe where we’re all open about sexuality at a much younger age and thus, healthier as adults. DISCLAIMER: This show is *very* British. Watch on NETFLIX.
Derry Girls
This sitcom follows four teenage girls in 1990s Ireland. It’s hilarious and takes place during “The Troubles,” i.e., that period in Ireland when the IRA was a thing. So it gets pretty real. DISCLAIMER: This show is *very, very, VERY* British. Yanks, you will need subtitles. Watch on NETFLIX.
4. If you want to ponder your own mortality
Timelapse of the Future: A Journey to the End of Time
This one’s not a movie. It’s a video mashup by Melodysheep, a.k.a. John D. Boswell, a filmmaker, composer, and editor. This 30-minute video will take you from the 21st Century through trillions of years, featuring some of our favorite scientists and astrophysicists talking us through the death of the universe. It has a way of making your problems seem a little smaller. Watch HERE.
Magnolia
This is one of those multiple-stories-that-converge-into-one movies like Love, Actually and Valentine’s Day, but masterfully done. It follows seemingly unrelated people in the San Fernando Valley throughout one day as they search for love and meaning. Watch on NETFLIX.
Donnie Darko
This weird and spooky Jake Gyllenhaal piece makes us ask the question, would the world be better off without me? I recommend the director’s cut. Watch on TUBI TV (disable your ad blocker.)
The Big Sick
Ok, Ray Romano was terrific in this movie?? It’s based on the true story of how comedian Kumail Nanjiani met his wife, Emily Gordon, who suddenly gets a mysterious infection and has to be put into an induced coma. Like most good comedies, it’s kind of depressing. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry …that’s it! Those are all the emotions! Watch on AMAZON.
Blade Runner
Harrison Ford plays Harrison Ford, but maybe he’s a robot? That’s not a spoiler, I promise. But this movie makes you think about what life really means. You also get a little bit of the apocalypse, as a treat. Watch on NETFLIX.
Free Solo
Who doesn’t think about the fragility of their own lives while watching a man climb a 900-meter rock with no harness?! Watch on HULU.
The Good Place
Yeah, this is a Mike Shur series, but it illuminates some seriously profound philosophical theories. Four people wake up in the afterlife. Unfortunately, that’s all I can say without giving it away but just watch it. Watch on HULU or NETFLIX.
Rick and Morty
This series is as dumb as it is smart. Don’t let the fans ruin it for you — it’s a genuinely fun and hilarious adventure series. While it has its hits and misses, it allows you to embrace some nihilistic thoughts while still making you feel like everything is going to be alright. Top characters: Mr. Meeseeks, Mr. Poopybutthole, and Squanchy. Watch on HULU.
True Detective (Season 1)
In Louisiana, two homicide detectives investigate the death of a sex worker, leading them to a series of murders. It’s one of the best crime series in recent memory, plus it explores fascinating themes of masculinity, religion, and philosophical pessimism. Watch on HBO.
Watchmen
This series is head and shoulders above the 2009 movie, in my humble opinion. It brings in historical events like the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 when white mobs violently attacked Black residents and businesses. This could just as quickly go into the “woke” section, but it’s also a phenomenal escapist thriller. Watch on HBO.
5. If you want to think about the apocalypse
This Is The End
This comedy was underrated. While it is a little too inside-baseball for some, the self-aware jabs at the central actors are well-done and amusing without being too meta. It tells the story of a party at James Franco’s house that goes wrong when the rapture happens. Spoiler alert: none of Franco’s celebrity friends get raptured because rich movie stars are terrible people. RENT.
Mad Max: Fury Road
This action epic garnered critical acclaim for its feminist storytelling, environmentalist undertones, and practical effects. Charlize Theron plays Furiosa, a bad-ass truck driver in post-apocalyptic Australia who frees a corrupt warlord’s concubines. This jumpstarts a 2-hour chase sequence that will leave you breathless (don’t worry — it’s excitement, not the coronavirus!) RENT.
Cloverfield
Shaky-cam aside, this movie was great. If you’re looking for a fresh kaiju (giant monster) movie, this is the one. And there’s plenty of fun mythology to dig into. If you’re hungry for more Cloverfield content, check out 10 Cloverfield Lane. (Officially speaking, The Cloverfield Paradox is not cannon.) Watch on NETFLIX; RENT 10 Cloverfield Lane.
War of the Worlds
Ok, this movie is kind of silly. But those giant alien pods were pretty scary at the time! And it’s kind of fun that SPOILER ALERT: the aliens end up getting taken out by viruses in the end. Watch on HBO.
Planet of the Apes
It’s weirdly fun to imagine what will happen after humans go extinct, right? Maybe apes will start riding horses; I don’t know. The great thing about this movie is that the remakes are good, too! RENT the original, watch the remakes on HBO.
Take Shelter
Michael Shannon starts dreaming about the apocalypse and, without explanation, begins building a storm shelter for himself and his hearing-impaired daughter. Is he crazy, or just getting prepared? Relatable. Watch on SHUDDER or CRACKLE (disable your ad blocker.)
Snowpiercer
A film by Parasite director Bong Joon Ho, this allegory for the class system takes place on a moving train, which houses the last bastions of humanity after a second ice age. It hits a little too close to home right now, but worth a watch if you haven’t seen it. Watch on NETFLIX.
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
An asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, and nothing can be done to divert it. After his wife leaves him, a mild-mannered man and his intrepid neighbor go on a road trip to find true love. It’s an interesting exercise to consider what you would do in a similar situation, and ultimately presents a beautiful alternative to nihilistic pessimism. Watch on STARZ.
Good Omens
This is a wild show. Michael Sheen and David Tennant play an angel and a demon, respectively, who team up to prevent the apocalypse. It’s an entertaining watch, especially if, like me, you’re obsessed with apocalyptic literature and lore. Watch on AMAZON.
6. If you just want to laugh
Duck Soup
Physical comedy holds up. Duck Soup is a classic Marx Brothers film about a tiny fictional nation, Freedonia, that goes bankrupt, somehow rendering Groucho Marx as the new president. There’s banter, slapstick, and even a revolution. Watch on HULU w/ LIVE TV.
Big
Tom Hanks is alright as of right now! But if you want to honor him in the best way possible, watch Big. Especially poignant for New Yorkers stuck in their apartments. Remember FAO Schwarz!? Watch on HBO.
Shaun of the Dead
This is a great virus comedy. I mean, who wouldn’t want to hunker down at the pub during a zombie apocalypse? Watch on STARZ.
Airplane!
This movie is riotous. It’s a parody of 70s disaster movies about a drunkard pilot who has to save a plan full of food-poisoned passengers. Watch this with friends or roommates, if you can — it’s endlessly quotable. If you can’t, maybe schedule a virtual movie night! Watch on SHOWTIME.
In Bruges
This isn’t a family film, but it is damn funny. Two hitmen have to travel to Bruges, Belgium to hide out, and Colin Farrel f**king *hates* it. Americans might need subtitles. Watch on CINEMAX.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
This kind of humor isn’t for everyone, but I highly recommend giving it a try. Spoofing medieval epics and the very story of King Arthur, the Monty Python crew are the Knights of the Round Table, who go on a quest to find the famed Holy Grail and hopefully not get arrested. Watch on NETFLIX.
Space Balls
If you like Star Wars, you have to watch Space Balls. Maybe with a glass of the alcohol of your choice. Or some cough syrup, depending on your situation. Other recommended Mel Brooks movies: Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and of course, The Producers. Watch on STARZ; RENT Blazing Saddles.
Office Space
Isn’t it nice to not have to deal with weird office politics for a little while? Hey, we have to find a silver lining wherever we can. RENT.
Sister Act
This is Whoopi Goldberg’s most exceptional work — yeah, I said it. A Vegas showgirl goes into witness protection as a nun. There are singing nuns, there are dancing nuns, nuns are running from the mob, and the Pope visits. If you want a double feature, follow it up with Sister Act II: Back in the Habit! It’s worth it for that poppin’ rendition of “Joyful Joyful.” Watch both on DISNEY+.
Bridesmaids
Because in real life, the wedding season is postponed. Watch on HBO.
Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
I’m a little biassed on this one (check my resume.) But this truly is a fabulous special. I wouldn’t exactly call it stand-up — more like a digitally-enhanced one-person show. Watch on NETFLIX.
John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch
Honestly, all of Mulaney’s Netflix specials are great. But this one is the most recent. Don’t forget about Oh, Hello on Broadway! Watch all on NETFLIX.
7. If you just want to cry
The Farewell
This should’ve been nominated for an Oscar. Lulu Wang’s directorial debut explores family, death, and returning to one’s roots. Both heartwarming and heartwrenching. RENT.
Shoplifters
All the trailers for this Japanese drama said this movie would emotionally break you. They’re right. And it’s worth it. Watch on HULU.
La Vita É Bella (Life Is Beautiful)
Oof. If you don’t already know, this is a movie about a Jewish-Italian bookshop owner who’s taken to a concentration camp with his young son. The shop owner decides to completely shield his son from the horrifying realities of the Holocaust by framing the whole thing as a game. It is abundantly sad. But a stunning film. Watch on CINEMAX.
Lilo & Stitch
Ok, hear me out on this one. This movie starts with a little girl whose parents both died. Her older sister is struggling to support her. The government wants to take her away. *She literally has no friends.* Then an adorable but destructive alien who also has no friends comes into her life and finds home **ONLY TO BE TAKEN AWAY AGAIN.** It’s devastating. Only sociopaths don’t cry during this movie. Watch on DISNEY+.
If Beale Street Could Talk
A poetic adaptation of the James Baldwin novel, this film is a beautiful and lyrical exploration of Black love and injustice. Watch on HULU.
First They Killed My Father
This is the true story of Loung Ung, a Cambodian human rights activist whose life is destroyed by the invasion and subsequent rule of the brutal Khmer Rouge. Her siblings are sent to labor camps, and she is trained to be a child soldier. It’s not fun, but it’s important. Watch on NETFLIX.
Room
A woman who was abducted by a very evil man raises her son in a single room. One day, they escape. It’s a very dark film, often uncomfortable to watch, but ultimately it’s life-affirming. Watch on NETFLIX.
Moonlight
This is a gorgeous film. Barry Jenkins’ hood opera follows the childhood, adolescence, and adulthood of a young Black man as he navigates masculinity and sexuality. Watch on NETFLIX.
Good Will Hunting
I know, I know, it’s cliché, but come on. It’s an emotional movie. Watch on HULU.
8. If you want to get woke
When They See Us
This Ava Duvernay 4-part miniseries chronicles the trials of the Central Park Five: Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, and Korey Wise. These teenagers were coerced into false confessions and served time for a sexual assault they did not commit. TRIGGER WARNING: This is a tough watch, especially for Black men. You *will* cry during episode 4 — like, the entire time. Watch on NETFLIX.
The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
This is a new-ish Netflix original docuseries about the tragic and brutal torture and murder of an 8-year-old boy. Yeah, it’s rough. It goes into the abuse, which happened at the hands of Gabriel’s mother and her boyfriend, as well as the systemic failings of Child Protective Services and almost every adult around him. It’s hard to watch, but a story that not enough people know about. Watch on NETFLIX.
Unbelievable
Another Netflix miniseries adapted from a true story. This one is based on a news article called “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” that recounts a series of Washington state and Colorado rape cases. The series centers around a young woman who is coerced by the police to withdraw her report of sexual assault. Two female detectives then take on the case. The cast is stellar, particularly Toni Colette, Merrit Weaver, and Kaitlin Dever. Watch on NETFLIX.
O.J.: Made In America
Hey, there are no sports! Watch this documentary about O.J. Simpson instead! Seriously, this is one of the best documentaries in recent history. It provides a lot of necessary context for understanding the O.J. case. It brings in fame, race, and the social unrest at the time, painting a full picture of the media hype and the split public reaction to the trial. Watch on ESPN.COM.
Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer
The creator of this docuseries, Trish Wood, was inspired by Made in America. This time, she reframes the Ted Bundy murders through a gendered lens, highlighting the women’s liberation movement and centering the survivors and families of his victims. Watch on AMAZON.
Who Killed Malcolm X?
This series examines the alleged coverup surrounding the murder of Civil Rights icon Malcolm X. Many of Malcolm X’s surrogates have long claimed that the two men jailed for his assassination were wrongfully convicted, and the real culprits got away with the help of law enforcement. If you like true crime and coverups, you’ll love this. Watch on NETFLIX.
For Sama
This Oscar-nominated documentary follows a young woman who films her home city of Aleppo as it crumbles around her. Over five years, she falls in love, marries, and gives birth to her daughter, Sama, all while the Syrian Revolution rages on. It’s a no-holds-barred firsthand account of war from a female perspective. RENT.
Dirty Money
This anthology series of mini-docs exposes various facets of white-collar crime. From corruption to fraud to so-called “creative accounting,” each episode centers around a different scandal or scammer, from HSBC to Martin Shkreli to President Trump himself. Highly recommended: the Jared Kushner episode in season 2. Watch on NETFLIX.
Sorry To Bother You
This anti-capitalist surreal indie flick is a beautiful mess. If you haven’t seen it yet, now is the time. It’ll make you see race, class, revolution, the corporatization of our bodies, and horses in an entirely different light. This movie takes a sharp turn about halfway through. You’ll see. Watch on HULU.
Get Me Roger Stone
Horray, Roger Stone actually went to jail! Wanna know why? Watch on NETFLIX.
The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson was a transgender activist who was found floating in the Hudson River. This documentary examines her life, impact, and mysterious death. Watch on NETFLIX.
Thank You For Smoking
This satirical comedy skewers the tobacco lobby and lobbyists in general. It follows a silver-tongued and morally bankrupt big tobacco rep who fights a national anti-smoking campaign, all while trying to be a good role model for his young son. Watch on HBO through the end of the month.
9. If you totally forgot there’s an election
The Great Dictator
This is one of my all-time favorite movies. Chaplin portrays a fantastic spoof of Hitler and Mussolini. Laugh-out-loud funny. RENT.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
If you haven’t seen this already, now is a great time to watch. This Kubrick classic has been described as “A film about what could happen if the wrong person pushed the wrong button — and it played the situation for laughs.” Remember when our biggest worry was a potential nuclear war? I can’t tell if this is better or worse. Watch on CRACKLE (disable your ad blocker.)
All The President’s Men
A truly fantastic film about the Washington Post reporters who uncovered the Watergate scandal. Starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as fun 70s detectives! Watch on HULU w/ LIVE TV or RENT.
Wag the Dog
A spin doctor distracts from a presidential sex scandal by manufacturing a fake war. We’re not far off. RENT.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
This movie is an insane fantasy about humanity and reason in the U.S. Senate. Did you know that when it came out, it was considered “pro-communist” because it highlighted corruption in the government? Ha. Anyway, watch next time M*tch M*Connel does something f**ked up. Watch on CRACKLE (disable your ad blocker.)
V for Vendetta
In future dystopian England, a young woman named Evey meets a masked vigilante known as V and joins him to fight their oppressors. This movie has aged surprisingly well. That’s not necessarily a good thing. Watch on VUDU with ads.
In the Loop
The British government is f**ked, too! RENT.
Knock Down the House
This doc tells the stories of four women’s run for the U.S. Senate: Amy Vilela of Nevada, Cori Bush of Missouri, Paula Jean Swearengin of West Virginia, and of course, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. It’s vibrant, motivational, and will hopefully inspire more women like these trailblazers to take matters into their own hands and run for public office. Watch on NETFLIX.
Veep
Veep was weirdly prophetic in a lot of ways. A lot of people who work or have worked in government say it’s one of the most realistic shows on the topic. What’s troubling is that the show’s writers said they just tried to come up with the most ridiculous scenarios possible. So that’s how our government runs. Watch on HBO.
10. If you have cabin fever
The Shining
And you thought *you* would go crazy, all cooped up in your house. Watch on Philo, or RENT.
The Breakfast Club
Being stuck in a room isn’t so bad when you’re a bunch of loveable 80s teens! Watch on STARZ.
The Great Muppet Caper
A Muppet heist movie with songs that are so cheeky and self-aware, it’s almost annoying. Kermit and Fozzie are reporters who have to solve the mystery o the missing “baseball diamond.” Miss Piggy wants to be a model — go off, girl. Watch on Disney+.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
The kids all have off from school. Remember when days off were fun like this? Watch on NETFLIX.
Call Me By Your Name
Two young men share a beautiful romance in the 1980s over a summer in Italy. A great film if you want to imagine you’re falling in love in the Italian countryside. The soundtrack is worth a listen, too. RENT.
Ocean’s 12
George Clooney and the gang jet off to Europe to steal a Faberge egg. Or something. Honestly, I haven’t seen this movie in years, but I will definitely watch it in quarantine. I mean, it’s so European. And remember that part when the French thief has to dance his way through lasers? Anyway, why not watch the whole series while you’re at it? RENT.
Crazy Rich Asians
A wedding movie of epic proportions. A New Yorker finds out the man she’s about to marry is unfathomably rich, and his family does not approve of her. It’s a funny and glamorous rom-com that gets extra points for some much-needed representation. Watch on CINEMAX.
Groundhog Day
A feel-good movie about a guy who has to live the same day over and over again, which is exactly how being in quarantine feels. Watch on NETFLIX.
Booksmart
Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut feels like Superbad meets a super trendy music video by an artist you’re too old to have heard of. Two straight-A teen girls decide to party hard the night before high school graduation. Billie Lourde deserves an Academy Award for her role as Gigi. Watch on HULU.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
We’re not allowed to travel right now, but Peter Parker is. Watch on STARZ.
The Circle
You know, the social media reality show! The concept, albeit very weird, is fascinating: can people tell if you’re genuine on social media? And seeing as the contestants are confined to a room, it feels like solidarity. Are pod-based reality shows our future? Watch on NETFLIX.
11. If you want to watch something you’ve never heard of
Charade
I wish more people knew about this movie. It’s a hilarious spy caper a la Alfred Hitchcock starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. It’s as ridiculous as it is suspenseful, and the two leads are almost too charming. A warning: this film is from the 1960s. It may be considered “a little slow” for Millennial and Gen Z taste. Still, give it a try. Watch on AMAZON.
Mostly Martha
A German rom-com that inspired the American remake “No Reservations.” This one is much better, though. RENT.
Under the Skin
Scarlet Johanssen stars as an alien who hunts men by seducing them. Then she eats them (?) in a very trippy sequence involving a reflective pool of some kind of liquid. Don’t watch high, especially if you’re a dude. Watch on NETFLIX.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Two young Black men try to reclaim their grandfather’s home in San Francisco. It’s a moving story, somewhere between a documentary and a drama. You might cry. Watch on AMAZON.
American Animals
Speaking of documentary-drama mashups, this one’s a masterclass in how to blend the two seamlessly. The story recounts a heist-gone-wrong, during which four young men tried to steal a rare book. A must-see for heist fans. Watch on HBO.
Hunt For The Wilderpeople
A Taika Waititi original. If you liked “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Jojo Rabbit,” you’ll love this. If not, whatever, it’s a free country. Watch on HULU.
Kung Fu Hustle
This movie is bizarre. It’s a comedy/satire about a brutal ax gang that terrorizes China. Then, a pair of nimrods, Sing and his pal, Bone, try to scam a poor apartment complex, only to find that three kung fu masters live there. Also, the landlady is a banshee. Then they all fight the ax gang. I told you it was weird. WARNING: This film is extremely violent but in a ridiculous way. Think Tarantino. Watch on NETFLIX.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Health experts think this coronavirus doesn’t like hot temperatures. That means ordering sushi may not be the best idea. So torture yourself with this gorgeous documentary! Watch on HULU.
Bushwick
This movie has its issues, but it’s fun to watch. It takes place in Bushwick, Brooklyn, during an American insurgency. If you like video games, particularly survival or first-person shooter games, you’ll probably enjoy this. Watch on NETFLIX.
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Based on the novel of the same name, Tilda Swinton plays a mother of a troubled son, Kevin, who grows up to commit a terrible, terrible crime. The film examines her guilt, personal responsibility, and strained relationship with Kevin, asking the nature vs. nurture question and both condemning and vindicating the parents of murderers. TRIGGER WARNING: School shooter (not a spoiler.) Watch on TUBI, VUDU, or CRACKLE with ads.
The Art of Self Defense
An offbeat comedy about a young man who enrolls himself in a dojo after being attacked on the street. It takes on toxic masculinity and the damage it causes freshly and delightfully. Watch on HULU.
Horns
Daniel Radcliffe turns into Satan. Just watch it. Not (that) scary. Watch on NETFLIX.
