My Top 5 Films of All Time

One of my favorite things in this world is movies; it’s the only art form that I could never truly grow tired of. Because it is the Week of Love, I have been reflecting on things that I love and find comfort in. Movies have gotten me through some of the roughest moments of my life thus far because I truly enjoy being able to escape the world around me, even if it’s for a short amount of time. 

Recently, I have been obsessed with Letterboxd, which has really gotten me back into movies. The app has shown me just how many films I haven’t seen, and yet, I can’t stop watching the same ten movies on repeat. In all honesty, this list was incredibly hard to narrow down and will most likely be different next week, but that’s my favorite part about it. That being said, here are my top 5 favorite movies.

1. The Princess Bride

   Oh my God, this movie CHANGED my life. I remember, specifically, when I was a child, I would spend a lot of time with my mother's cousin, and every time I was with her, we watched this movie at least once. At first, I didn’t appreciate it for what it was because she always put it on, whether I wanted to watch it or not. As I got older, though, I began to appreciate it for what it is, and I truly fell in love with this film. Recently, I have been asking my friends to share the last song they would listen to if given a choice. If you asked me that question about movies, The Princess Bride would be my choice for the last film I will ever watch. I honestly believe I could watch this movie every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. Everything about it is perfect to me.

   

   The Princess Bride (1987) directed by Rob Reiner

2. Little Women (2019)

   I cannot even put into words how much I love this movie. In my opinion, Greta Gerwig is one of the best directors of our generation, and this is one of the many films I would use to prove that. To me, this film is the definition of a comfort film; if I’ve had a horrible day, this will always be my go-to. It allows me to feel every emotion: sadness, happiness, frustration, anger, stress, loneliness, etc; more importantly, it takes me out of my life and allows me to feel as if I am a part of theirs. Little Women is such a beautiful movie, and I truly feel bad for anyone who has never seen it. Please watch it. Please.

Little Women (2019) directed by Greta Gerwig

3. The Edge of Seventeen

   I truly don’t think I’ve related to a movie character more than I relate to Nadine in The Edge of Seventeen. This movie perfectly encapsulates what it feels like to be a seventeen-year-old girl in the most devastating way. A lot of the things Nadine experienced in this film are things I have faced in my own life, and it is so validating to see it displayed on screen. Every time I want to watch a movie, but I am unsure of which one in particular, I will always return to this one. It's SO good.

   

   The Edge of Seventeen (2016) directed by Kelly Fremon Craig

4. The Princess and the Frog

   Of course, I had to include a Disney film. This movie means more to me than I even realize a lot of the time. Growing up with early Disney, it meant the world to me to see a strong, talented, beautiful Black woman as the main character for once. While Disney is much more inclusive than it used to be, nothing will compare to how I felt when this film was released. Even now, I am incapable of watching it without crying. This movie will always hold a special place in my heart.

The Princess and the Frog (2009) directed by John Musker & Ron Clements

5. Coraline

I can’t even count the number of times I have seen this movie, but I will never get tired of it. When I was younger, it used to scare me, but I was too fascinated by it to turn it off. Its unique animation style is one of my favorite aspects of this film. Another thing I enjoy about this movie is the amount of theories surrounding it. It gives me a brand new perspective every time I watch it, making it a truly timeless film.

5. 

   Coraline (2009) directed by Henry Selick