These Films Are Perfect for a Night In With Your Friends
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There are some nights when all you want is to get dressed up with your besties, head to the nearest bar, and dance the night away. Other times, you'd rather stay in for the night, don your most comfortable pajamas, scarf down a buffet of snacks, and gossip over endless glasses of wine. For the evenings when you prefer to stay in and kick it with your friends, it's essential you gather around the TV to tune into a must-watch movie that will inevitably leave you in stitches or tears (or maybe both). What do you need in this situation? The best chick flicks Hollywood has to offer.
According to Merriam-Webster, a chick flick is a “motion picture intended to appeal especially to women.” And if you Google “chick flicks,” you’ll find a sea of iconic rom-coms and movie posters covered in pink. Cringe. While there’s nothing wrong with liking the color pink or enjoying a good rom-com (we're obsessed with Barbiecore pink and romance movies here at MC!), we’d argue that women have far more varied interests than just love when it comes to film.
From classic dramas like Titanic that will leave you clutching your Kleenex to films that are a bit on-the-nose (*cough* Magic Mike *cough*), this list has something everyone in your viewing party is going to enjoy. And, of course, you can expect to see lots of rom-coms because, seriously, who doesn’t love rom-coms? Call them chick flicks or simply “films,” the below, arranged by genre, are the best movies to watch during your night in with your squad.
Best Chick Flick Rom-Coms
'10 Things I Hate About You' (1999)
On paper, 10 Things I Hate About You should not work. A very 1990s remake of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, it's essentially a zanier version of the "guy makes a bet to date girl" trope that was everywhere at this time in filmmaking. And yet, it does work—on almost every level. Heath Ledger is mind-bogglingly lovable as the brute-turned-loverboy, the riot grrl soundtrack is to die for, and it's a believable romance. It's a must-watch '90s movie with the girls.
'13 Going on 30' (2004)
Mark Ruffalo has always been fine, but before he was the silver-streaked Daddy? that we know and love today, he was playing Jennifer Garner's sensitive love interest in 13 Going on 30. The beloved '00s film is funny, sweet, and complete with a full dance sequence to the tune of "Thriller."
'27 Dresses' (2008)
Katherine Heigl’s Jane is always a bridesmaid, never a bride in this endearing rom-com. 27 times to be exact, which leads her to be the subject of a profile to be written by a curmudgeon nuptials journalist played by James Marsden. Matters are complicated when her sister (Malin Akerman) asks her to be in her wedding once she becomes engaged to Jane’s longtime crush (Edward Burns), but it’s nothing a little Marsden charm and “Bennie And The Jets” won’t fix. Watch it with your girls and debate who’s sported the best bridesmaid dresses of the bunch.
'500 Days of Summer' (2009)
While this movie gets some guff for representing a very "twee" moment in history—and it is adorable—that description doesn't encompass everything 500 Days of Summer stands for. Beneath the meet-cutesiness, karaoke-fied, Regina Spektor-backed montages of hot people dating, it's a meditation on why finding someone who checks off the arbitrary list of qualities you want in another person doesn't necessarily equal compatibility. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Tom finds out the hard way that just because he likes someone in theory doesn't mean she's who he thinks she is in practice—nor does it mean she is obligated to like him back. A good lesson for all men!
'A Cinderella Story' (2004)
Chad Michael Murray is peak '00s hottie in A Cinderella Story as Austin Ames, the secret crush of a down-and-out high schooler (Hilary Duff) with an insufferable step-family. You probably didn't forget how good he looked back then, but just in case you forgot, turn this on.
'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018)
A billionaire bachelor (Henry Golding) falls in love with a New Yorker (Constance Wu) and whisks her away to meet his family in Singapore. Not only is Crazy Rich Asians a visual masterpiece, but the cast is pretty damn good-looking, too.
'Crazy Stupid Love' (2011)
Some chick flicks make you laugh, others make you cry. This one does both, with stellar performances from Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Steve Carrell, and Julianne Moore about different people at different phases of life navigating the same questions about love and sharing your life with other people.
'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961)
If you want to go truly classic for girls' night, cue up Breakfast at Tiffany's, starring Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a woman working as an escort and looking for real love. It's one of the all-time best fashion movies, so you'll come for the romance, and leave with ample inspiration. Still, there are some real problems with the film, but wrangling with that is an important part of watching it. Especially if you love it.
'The Big Sick' (2017)
Based in large part on Kumail Nanjiani's early relationship with his wife Emily Gordon, this is one of those where you'll Google it afterward wondering, "Is this really true?" Emily (Zoe Kazan) is struck with an illness that leaves her in a coma after Kumail (played by Nanjiani himself) dumps her. And believe it or not, the film's as funny as it is heartwrenching and sweet.
'Bridget Jones's Diary' (2001)
Elsewhere on this list, you will find Pride and Prejudice, truly one of the greatest romances ever put to paper and then onto film. Also excellent, Bridget Jones's Diary is an homage to that classic Jane Austen tale, transported to early-2000s London. This movie is laugh-out-loud funny, swooningly romantic, and, in retrospect, kind of sad for how it embodied the body-shaming of the time it was made. But don't worry: The self-deprecation, hilariously horrific soundtrack, and sexy smooching still holds up.
'Clueless' (1995)
Alicia Silverstone became a pop culture icon for her role in the 1995 classic Clueless as lovable but offbeat Cher Horowitz, a rich girl with a killer closet navigating life as a high schooler in Beverly Hills. (She's undeniably one of the best-dressed characters in cinema history!) The coming-of-age film is a loose adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma; like Austen's protagonist, Cher is a well-meaning matchmaker who doesn't quite see the big picture.
'Confessions of a Shopaholic' (2009)
Okay, maybe this is a little bit on-the-nose in terms of chick flicks, but we think everyone can see themselves (a least a little bit) in shopping-obsessed Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher). Based on the popular fashion book, after losing her job, Rebecca gets in over her head when she starts writing for a financial magazine, offering budgeting advice when she doesn't have the business to do so. Her antics are laugh-out-loud funny and the fashion is chef's kiss.
'Friends with Benefits' (2011)
Remember in 2011 when two different movies came out that featured hot superstars trying to navigate a friends-with-benefits scenario, and each movie respectively starred a member of the real-life couple that is Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher? Well, this is the far superior of the two of those movies—Justin Timberlake is an emotionally unavailable douche, Mila Kunis is a "pick me" girl who can't get her act together, and they start hooking up to maintain consistent companionship without having to go to therapy? You can guess what happens next, of course, but it's a fun ride to get there.
'Hitch' (2005)
Will Smith proved that he's everyone's dream man in the 2005 romantic comedy Hitch, playing a matchmaker for men who are unlucky in love. But the teacher becomes the student when he finds himself getting schooled in matters of the heart after coming across Sara (Eva Mendes), a gossip columnist with a chip on her shoulder. Has this movie aged particularly well? No, but Smith is so charming that it's still watchable.
'The Holiday' (2006)
Leave it to Nancy Meyers to make the coziest movie of all time. This one pairs best with a cup of hot cocoa and a holiday gathering, but Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz are so charming that it also works any time of year. The Christmas classic sees the two stars playing polar opposite women who swap houses—one in the English countryside and one in L.A.—for the holidays, leading to heartwarming new connections abroad.
'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days' (2003)
This 2003 rom-com starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey is a modern screwball masterpiece and a damn good time that mostly holds up. In the film, Hudson plays a magazine writer tasked with driving away a new flame in 10 days flat using the most stereotypical lady-in-love mistakes she can think of, while McConaughey plays an ad exec determined to prove he can make any woman fall madly in love with him during the same timeframe (because that will mean he can sell diamonds, apparently). What ensues is some true early-aughts rom-com gold.
'Legally Blonde' (2003)
After being dumped by her ambitious boyfriend for not being studious enough, sorority girl Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) sets her eyes on a new goal: Harvard Law School. But as she leans more into her studies and away from her relationship, Elle learns that there's more to life than just being a successful man's wife. A lesson in girl power.
'Love Actually' (2003)
What's that? You say that Love Actually is a Christmas movie and shouldn't be on this list? Well, we think you should reconsider that opinion. Here's why: First, this film's relation to Christmas is tangential at best. Second, it's got all the trappings of a rom-com in an all-star ensemble format that was so novel at the time that it proceeded to inspire a ton of other rom-coms. Third, it's a classic (albeit perhaps a problematic fave) and any time is a good time for a classic.
'Love Jones' (1997)
The '90s gave us its fair share of amazing films, but Love Jones manages to stand out with its simple but scarily relatable story about two people who can't seem to figure out what their relationship is. Turn your girls' night in into a girls' night out by heading to your local open mic night so you can find your own Darius Lovehall.
'Miss Congeniality' (2000)
FBI agent Grace Hart (Sandra Bullock) takes the main stage when she transforms into beauty queen Gracie Lou Hart to investigate a terrorist threat in an international beauty pageant. Bullock is everything as the hardheaded tomboy with a heart of gold, and her relationships with fellow pageant queens will remind you of your connection with your besties.
'Never Been Kissed' (1997)
The premise of this movie is a tad bit questionable when you get to thinking about it (fake identities? a teacher falling in love with a student?), but Never Been Kissed really does have all of the qualities of a classic romantic comedy: a plucky protagonist (Drew Barrymore) who works hard despite the odds, a very hot love interest (Michael Vartan), and a helpful fairy god[brother] (David Arquette) who feeds her lines from his van.
'Pretty Woman' (1990)
Not only will Pretty Woman ignite your inner urge to stage a fashion makeover montage, but it's infinitely quotable—all the makings of a perfect girls' night pick. Let's just say not putting this on the list would be a big mistake. HUGE.
'The Proposal' (2009)
In The Proposal, Sandra Bullock plays a hardass workaholic boss lady who's facing deportation back to Canada and Ryan Reynolds plays her long-suffering assistant who's just trying to get back to Alaska for his grandmother's birthday. Guess what happens? Oh, you already know.
'Sex and the City' (2008)
Carrie and her friends hit the big screen in 2008, and their drama followed them. In the feature film, our heroine is still trying to manage her complicated relationship with Mr. Big, Miranda is raising her son with Steve, Charlotte is toying with the idea of having another child, and Samantha, well, she's still being Samantha.
'She's the Man' (2006)
In this modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Viola (Amanda Bynes) dons a short wig to sneak into her brother's elite boarding school and play on its male soccer team. Things get complicated when she starts developing feelings for Duke (Channing Tatum), the sexy team captain. Ahead of its time, a bit dated now, but absolutely worth it for the best Bynes performance of her career.
'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' (2018)
Jenny Han was onto something when she wrote up everyone's dream boyfriend, Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo). He's tall, dreamy, and always down to make his girl Lara Jean (Lana Condor) feel special. It doesn't matter that you've probably already watched this Netflix original too many times to count—it'll give you and your friends the warm fuzzies like it's the very first time.
'Trainwreck' (2015)
Of the many Judd Apatow movies, this might be the most traditional rom-com. Amy Schumer's "Amy" doesn't do monogamy, until she meets Bill Hader. Technically, she meets his character Aaron, but who wouldn't want to be with Bill Hader? (NO ONE.)
'When Harry Met Sally' (1989)
Quite possibly the greatest romantic comedy of all time, When Harry Met Sally turned novel set pieces into classic rom-com tropes ("I'll have what she's having.") as it tried to answer the question, "Can men and women really be friends?" Of course, we know that they can (not the conclusion the movie comes to, but different times), and yet it's always fun to watch Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal will-they-or-won't-they for two hours.
'You've Got Mail' (1998)
Before there was Catfish, there was You've Got Mail, the original rom-com about people falling in love while low-key lying to each other over the internet. But, in all seriousness, you can't go wrong with the combination of Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, and Nora Efron. It's just a fact.
Chick Flick Dramas
'About Time' (2013)
There are movies that you know the moment you hear about their existence are going to be great, and there are movies that sound kind of absurd, but turn out to be surprisingly delightful. About Time is the second type. The fantasy-romance-drama follows a young man (Domhnall Gleeson) who learns that the men in his family inherit the ability to time travel when they turn 21. He uses said power in his quest to woo Mary (Rachel McAdams) and somehow doesn't creepily veer into being a story about a man using magic to rob a woman of her agency and choice.
'Barfi!' (2012)
Hindi cinema hit Barfi! is a heartwarming dramedy about a deaf and mute man (Ranbir Kapoor) navigating life with a smile on his face and falling in love on the way. The film stars favorites Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, and it will absolutely make you weep. But, like, in a totally good way.
'Cruel Intentions' (1999)
Relive all of the excitement you felt putting this ‘90s kid staple on at a sleepover growing up by rewatching it again now. Adapted from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, salacious melodrama unfolds as Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) bets her step-brother Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) that he can’t seduce the new, good girl in town, Annette (Reese Witherspoon). The trysts, coke necklace, and killer needle drops are just as enticing at any age.
'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006)
Meryl Streep has been acting since 1977, but her role as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada is an absolute fave. Whether you think she's the true villain of the plot or Andy's (Anne Hathaway) trash boyfriend Nate, you're going to enjoy this one. (Spoiler alert: It's Nate.)
'Dirty Dancing' (1987)
A poor little rich girl (Jennifer Grey) falls for the sexy dance instructor (Patrick Swayze) at her summer resort, even as society (okay, mostly her dad) tries to keep them apart. Plus dancing. It's a classic that will energize everyone in attendance at your girls' night film festival.
'For Colored Girls' (2010)
If you and your girlfriends are in the mood for a deep emotional release, For Colored Girls will do the trick. Adapted from Ntozake Shange's 1975 original choreopoem, the drama connects the heartbreak of 10 women, reminding us that sisterhood is about lifting each other up when we're down.
'Hustlers' (2019)
Unfortunately, most well-known as "the film where J. Lo worked her ass off and got snubbed for an Oscar nom," this one's also a perfect one to watch will girlfriends. Which stripper-turned-con artist would you be in this riveting rags to riches to jail time story?
‘Little Women’ (2019)
Forget using the SATC ladies as a blueprint—we really should be focusing on whether each member of your friend group is Jo, Amy, Meg, or Beth. The titular March sisters remain just as relatable now as they were when Louisa May Alcott published the original book in the 1860s. And they were brought to new life in this 2019 Greta Gerwig film, which features a truly perfect cast (Saoirse Ronan! Florence Pugh! Timothée Chalamet! Meryl Streep!) in a delightfully faithful adaptation of the classic novel.
'Love & Basketball' (2000)
Two childhood friends (Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps) experience love and loss over a decade, with basketball bringing them together at every turn. Sorry, but you can't have a girls' night without watching Love & Basketball—we don't make the rules.
'Me Before You' (2016)
If you're in the mood for a good cry, check out 2016's Me Before You, starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin. The movie follows a young woman named Louisa (Clarke), who takes a job caring for a wealthy young man (Claflin) who was left paralyzed after an accident. We won't give the ending away, but expect the tears to flow.
'Pride & Prejudice' (2005)
Yes, there have been many Pride and Prejudice remakes over the past few years, but this one stands out among the rest because the chemistry between Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen is out of this world.
'The Notebook' (2004)
Allie (Rachel McAdams) and Noah's (Ryan Gosling) love story in The Notebook makes for the perfect girls' night movie. It's got romance, a few steamy love scenes, and a forever quotable moment: "If you're a bird, I'm a bird." *sighs*
'Thelma and Louise' (1991)
Thelma and Louise is, in some ways, probably the ultimate girls' night movie. The movie follows best friends who go on the run after Louise (Susan Sarandon) shoots and kills a man who tried to rape Thelma (Geena Davis). Brad Pitt also makes a notable early (and very sexy) appearance in the film.
'Titanic' (1997)
From the film's iconic theme song sung by Celine Dion to that steamy scene in an automobile, Titanic is an almost perfect masterpiece. Our one beef with the movie to this day? Everyone knows that Jack (Leonardo Dicaprio) could have fit on that wooden panel with Rose (Kate Winslet). Hmph.
'Twilight' (2008)
Whether you fashioned yourself a TwiHard in the late aughts and early 2010s or not, it's always worth watching Twilight—or marathoning the entire series. Based on Stephanie Meyers' four-part book saga that became a pop culture phenomenon, the moody paranormal romance between a teenage girl (played in the franchise by Kristen Stewart) and a vampire (Robert Pattinson) changed YA forever. Forever-teen bloodsucker Edward Cullen may have skin that's ice cold, but this one's hot. (And if you and your friends watch more than one Twilight movie, you can find much to talk about in the Edward vs. Jacob debate).
'Waiting to Exhale' (1995)
One of the most defining moments in every friend circle is the moment when you have to gather around the girlfriend whose ain't-shit man finally exposes his true colors. In Waiting to Exhale, four women try to navigate the stress of marriage life brought on by their equally trifling partners, strengthening their bond as friends in the process.
Best Chick Flick Comedies
'Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar' (2021)
Watch this with your bestie right now, because it's about two (adorkable) besties (adorkably) on vacation together. The plot is honestly just a vehicle for IRL best friends Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo to chirp sweetly at each other and be funny, so just roll with it. Get ready to not be able to explain why you love this film and yet love it so, so much.
‘Barbie’ (2023)
In a post-Barbie (2023) society, it’s difficult to imagine any girls' nights being complete without a viewing of this film, a sparkly, pink celebration of womanhood and life in general, with all its joyful highs and messy, existential crisis-inducing lows.
'Bodies Bodies Bodies' (2022)
If you and the girls don’t mind getting a little spooked, gather the blankets and turn on this horror-comedy. (It’s much funnier than it is scary!) The teen scream follows a group of friends played by a dynamic group of then-upstarts (Rachel Sennott, Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Chase Sui Wonders, Myha'la) who go away for the weekend at a mansion where they plan to hunker down (and party) amid a hurricane. Things take a turn when they play a Mafia-like game called Bodies Bodies Bodies, and one of them actually winds up dead.
'Booksmart' (2019)
It's every high school nerd's fantasy: Finally prove yourself cool to the entire school with your best friend at your side. Booksmart is raunchy and silly and funny—and also way funnier than your real high school years could ever be.
‘Bottoms’ (2023)
Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott play a pair of high school best friends who decide to start an after-school self-defense club in an attempt to spend more time with the popular cheerleaders they’re each crushing on. A flawless plan—minus the part where it essentially turns into a ridiculously violent female fight club. You know, typical high school stuff.
'Bridesmaids' (2011)
Kristen Wiig hilariously stars in this 2011 comedy as Annie, a 30-something trying to balance her existential crisis with her role as a bridesmaid in her best friend's (Maya Rudolph) wedding. The only problem? She's a pretty terrible bridesmaid, and—hot take here—kind of a bad friend.
'Bring It On' (2000)
Two rival cheerleading squads battle it out in this pop culture staple featuring Kirsten Dunst and the never-aging Gabrielle Union, almost making us wish that we too could have been cheerleaders in the past.
'Crossroads' (2002)
Love it or love to hate it, 2002's Britney Spears vehicle Crossroads is a (sometimes poorly-written, but still endearing) love letter to female friendship. If you're in the mood to be unabashedly uncool, this road trip film (which also stars Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning) hits the spot.
'Do Revenge' (2022)
If you’ve seen every classic teen movie, why not check out this 2022 Netflix hit that pays homage to them? Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke star in the colorful comedy as popular girl Drea and alternative, new student Eleanor, who are both navigating the doldrums of high school and social suicide, leading them to team up to get revenge on their respective enemies. With copious schemes and posh costumes galore, it’s a great, new entry into the LGBTQ+ be-gay-do-crime genre—and you won’t see any of the twists coming.
'Easy A' (2010)
This might have been made over a decade ago, but it had smart, timely things to say about the pressures women face to be sexy and not sexual. Helping her gay friend (Dan Byrd) pretend to be straight via a fake tryst, Olive (Emma Stone) finds her, uh, skillset both in demand and punished at her high school. Easy A cemented Stone's rise to superstardom, and it's because she's so relatable.
'The First Wives Club' (1996)
Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton star in this hilarious comedy about three middle-aged women who reunite at the funeral of a friend who died by suicide after her husband left her for a younger woman. Realizing they've all been seriously taken for granted by their ex-husbands as well, they set about getting their well-deserved revenge.
'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' (2008)
Perhaps the only film on this list in which the protagonist is a straight, cis male, Forgetting Sarah Marshall might be the very best Judd Apatow movie in his oeuvre (he produced and co-wrote it, alongside Jason Segel). On its face, it may seem like a bro-centric tale of breaking up, but it's so much more than that. In addition to being one of the most laugh-per-minute comedies ever, it's also a strikingly relatable story about the rose-tinted glasses we use when someone dumps us, and how getting over heartache means we have to grow ourselves. Perfect for when you or one of your buddies is going through it.
'Girls' Trip' (2017)
Thought your last girls' trip to Cabo was crazy? Think again. The impromptu vacay that Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Regina Hall, and Tiffany Haddish go on in Girls Trip probably puts yours to shame. The four friends travel to New Orleans to attend Essence Fest, and they get into some serious hijinks along the way, including one particularly lascivious situation with a certain citrus fruit. Grapefruit, anyone?
'Isn't It Romantic' (2019)
It's the anti-rom-com rom-com! Natalie (Rebel Wilson) has grown up to loathe romance, then gets knocked out and wakes up in an alternate romantic comedy universe (complete with ultra-hottie Liam Hemsworth vying for her affection). It plays with all the tropes and then, actually, becomes a really sweet and endearing romantic movie.
'John Tucker Must Die' (2006)
Girl power conquers all in this film, even a narcissist serial cheater. When three girls learn that they have been seeing the same guy (Jesse Metcalfe) and are all dumped by said guy, they are out for revenge. They team up with the new girl in town (Brittany Snow) to fake fall in love with their former boyfriend and break his heart. Out of all the teen comedies to come out of the aughts, this one will never get old.
‘Joy Ride’ (2023)
This criminally underrated and extremely raunchy comedy stars Ashley Park as Audrey, a career-driven lawyer who brings Lolo (Sherry Cola), her lifelong best friend—and polar opposite—and Lolo’s K-pop-obsessed cousin Deadeye (Sabrina Wu) along with her on a business trip to China, where they meet up with Audrey’s now-famous college roommate Kat (Stephanie Hsu). Amid the hijinks that inevitably ensue for the mismatched quartet, Audrey also embarks on a moving journey to reconcile her dual identities as the biological daughter of Asian parents and the adopted daughter of white American parents. Joy Ride is a perfect blend of hilarity and heart, and we would very much recommend you watch this one in the comfort of your own home and not, say, on an airplane where anyone could walk by and see a certain character’s very questionable vagina tattoo (yep!) in full view on your iPad screen. Hypothetically speaking, of course.
'Magic Mike' (2012)
Channing Tatum goes from soccer star to stripper legend in Magic Mike, a dramedy that is more about the 2008 financial crisis than it is about exotic dancing, but somehow still manages to keep its audiences captivated from beginning to end. Alongside Tatum are Hollywood hotties Matthew McConaughey, Joe Manganiello, Matthew Bomer, and Adam Rodriguez. Whew.
'Magic Mike XXL' (2015)
We didn't deserve a sequel to Magic Mike, but the universe blessed us with the follow-up to the original stripper saga, this time following Mike and friends on a wild road trip to the biggest stripper convention in the country. There's not much of an actual plot here, but who needs a tangible storyline with a cast like this?
'Mean Girls' (2004)
Raise your hand if you've ever been personally victimized by Regina George. Now, raise your hand if you're going to binge watch Mean Girls and quote the 2004 teen comedy word for word. Thought so.
'Mystic Pizza' (1988)
This early entry in Julia Roberts' filmography follows three waitresses/best friends during the summer after graduation as they work in a local pizza shop (and, of course, navigate the turbulent waters of young life and love).
'The Princess Diaries' (2001)
Nerdy and unpopular high school student Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) gets the biggest surprise of her life when she finds out that she's actually Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia. You may not be a princess with Julie Andrews as your grandmother—life is so unfair—but you can live that fantasy vicariously through The Princess Diaries. And once you're done with the original, check out the sequel, which also stars a baby-faced Chris Pine.
'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion' (1997)
This gem stars Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow as two of the most believable best friends in film history. When Romy and Michele get the invitation to their 10-year high school reunion, they start to feel self-conscious about what they've accomplished since graduation. In the gloriously pre-Facebook world of 1997, the two hatch a plan to lie their way to reunion glory, claiming to have invented Post-It Notes. Predictably, the lie-to-everyone-we-used-to-know plan doesn't go off without a hitch.
'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' (2005)
A group of besties has the best shopping trip ever when they find a pair of jeans that somehow manages to flatter all of their bodies (what witchcraft is this, and where can I get a pair?!), and they share custody of the magic pants for the summer. The jeans help them reunite with family, battle deep emotional trauma, and even find true love.
'Someone Great' (2019)
Ever been dumped at the worst possible time in your life? Music writer Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) can totally relate. Thankfully, she's got the unconditional love and support of her best friends Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow) to help her get back on straight and narrow, even if that means dragging her kicking and screaming.
'Spice World' (1997)
Do your inner pre-teen a favor and rewatch 1997's stunning masterpiece, Spice World, in which the Spice Girls play very meta versions of themselves, trying to decide if they should do a Spice Girls movie.
'What a Girl Wants' (2003)
First of all, Colin Firth. Enough said. But here's some more: This sweet tale of a teenager (Amanda Bynes) who goes in search of her father—and finds him in England, as an up-and-coming aristocrat running for higher office—is funny, super weird, and extremely charming. Bynes is on this list numerous times for a reason.
Best Chick Flick Musicals
'Burlesque' (2010)
The costumes. The makeup. CHER! There's so much to love about the contemporary movie-musical Burlesque. Christina Aguilera stars as an aspiring burlesque dancer at an aging L.A. club but has to deal with the club's headstrong owner (played by Cher) and a few jealous dancers. Soon she meets a cocky businessman (Eric Dane) who wants to buy the club and turn it into luxury condos.
'Coyote Ugly' (2000)
Aspiring songwriter Violet (Piper Perabo) is just another girl who moved to New York City with big dreams—and has to pay for basic life necessities with a day job in the meantime. Her day job, however, is more of a night job, working as a bartender at Coyote Ugly, where she makes friends, makes drinks, and learns to come out of her shell. Plus there's a lot of bar top dancing that you will 100 percent daydream about reenacting.
'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' (1995)
If you're not familiar with Bollywood films, snag this and revel in the songs and settings. If you are, then why haven't you watched one of the classics of all time? It's best enjoyed with friends, giggling at the corniness, swooning over the romance, and dancing/singing along.
'Enchanted' (2007)
Amy Adams, who can basically do anything, is a princess literally out of a fairytale and stuck in miserable, cynical New York City. It's relatable for anyone who's ever lived in the Big Apple, but it's also a stunning cartoon musical/live-action hybrid. It also features major eye candy, with not just Patrick Dempsey, but James Marsden, too.
'Mamma Mia!' (2008)
Question: Is there a better way to spend a night with your nearest and dearest than belting out ABBA hits at the top of your lungs? Answer: No, there is not. The 2008 movie Mamma Mia (a big-screen version of the hit Broadway jukebox musical) is always a crowd-pleaser.
'Moulin Rouge!' (2001)
We need to take a moment to appreciate the costume department for Moulin Rouge! There was not a single moment Nicole Kidman didn't look stunning as courtesan Satine. She stars opposite a young Ewan McGregor who plays Christian, a poet who's come to Paris to follow the Bohemian revolution. He meets Satine and breaks the number one rule of the bohemians: to never fall in love.
