1) High School Musical: If you are looking for a nostalgic movie during quarantine, look no further than the Disney Channel Original Movie, High School Musical. Although other non-Disney fans may say that this movie is outdated and boring, re-watching (or if somehow you’re only watching for the first time) invokes an inner spark of joy and a feeling of nostalgia from childhood. The iconic love story between Troy and Gabriella spiked the classic standard for a typical high school relationship. From the catchy songs to the atrocious early 2000’s outfits, there is nothing quite like High School Musical. It can be streamed on Disney Plus.

2) Parasite: You may have heard of this film as it made history by being the first foreign film to win Best Picture in the Oscars. It deserves the title. Directed by the brilliant Bong Joon Ho, this film will shock you and then shock you again. It follows a lower-class family in South Korea who receives a great opportunity when their son is hired to work as a tutor for the child of a wealthy family. It gets crazy from there. The ending of this film will haunt you and have you thinking about it for the rest of quarantine and beyond. It can be streamed on Hulu.

3) Perks of Being a Wallflower: This coming of age classic is perfect if you’re looking to have a good old-fashion cry-fest during your quarantine. It centers around Charlie, a high school freshman who is, as the title suggests, a wallflower. He ends up befriending some upperclassmen who help give him a taste of the high school experience before they graduate. This movie stars some well-known actors, such as Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller, and Emma Watson. It encompasses all of the sadness, angst, and good memories that define high school for so many. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and most importantly, it will make you happy that you are no longer in high school. It can be streamed on Netflix.

4) Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse: As far as the category of superhero films go, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse is top tier. This is a film that takes a spin on the classic Marvel/Sony superhero, Spiderman, and is a must-see during your quarantine-binge. However, this one is original in every way. The main protagonist, Miles, is bitten by a radioactive spider but has more than one mentor in his journey to finding himself. Whilst on his journey, he must cope with the struggles of familial hardships, moving to a new school, and the feeling of not belonging. The movie’s balance between these hardships and still maintaining a fast-paced action animated movie is no small feat. With its brilliant animation design, amazing soundtrack, and mix of new cinematic characters, this film makes its impact on cinematic history overall. It can be streamed on Netflix.

5) Pride and Prejudice: If you’re looking for a movie that will make you believe in love again, this is the one for you. Based on the novel by Jane Austen, this period romance is witty and heartfelt. It follows the Bennets, a wealthy family in Victorian England that face potential ruin if none of the five daughters marry men from good families. The movie focuses on two love stories; the light-hearted romance between Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet, and the slow burn between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. The film also has an impressive cast, including Matthew Macfayden and Kiera Knightly, the queen of period pieces. This film is one that you can lose yourself in, and you can drown all your quarantine sorrows in Mr. Darcy’s eyes. It can be streamed on Netflix.

6) Booksmart: This comedy was released in 2019 and depicts the lives of two high school seniors. Amy and Molly were the typical school “nerds” who focused on their studies and never went to any parties. Realizing that they both missed out on the classic high school experience, they come to the conclusion to try and recover their lost time, in one singular night. Along the way, the two friends face issues with others from their high school class and with each other that they must overcome. Featuring not only a fantastic soundtrack but laugh-out-loud comedy and a few coming of age moments, Booksmart is a perfect movie for whatever mood whilst in quarantine. It can be streamed on Hulu.

7) Sharkboy and Lava Girl: Innovative. Iconic. Legendary. These are just a few of the words that can be used to describe this childhood classic. It is an absolute must-watch for those who have never seen it, and a wonderful nostalgia trip for those who remember watching it on the Disney Channel when they were little. It chronicles the journey of Max, a boy whose dreams come to life in the form of an entire planet filled with people and objects of his own imagination. His life changes forever when two of the inhabitants of the planet, Sharkboy and Lavagirl, come to ask for his help in saving their home from destruction. This movie is a perfect escape from the stresses of quarantine and while the graphics may be a little outdated, the story has still held up after all these years. It can be streamed on Netflix.

8) Palm Springs: Palm Springs is a recent comedy film, released in the summer of 2020. This film puts a new spin on the ‘Groundhog Day’ effect, where two wedding guests are stuck in an endless time loop, reliving the same wedding day over and over again. Whilst stuck, the two main characters, Nyles and Sarah, begin to develop feelings for each other and grapple with the decision to stay in the loop and have a life of bliss, or to break out. The two battle with the sense of security they have within the loop or going out into the unpredictable and cruel reality. This could be potentially how you feel about our reality in quarantine right now, so this film is a fantastic escape. This rom-com manages to be hilarious, fast-paced and warms the heart at the same time. It can be streamed on Hulu.

9) Zathura: If anyone remembers this one, then they know it is basically Jumanji in space. Two boys are left at home with their older sister as a babysitter. They discover a strange game and once they begin playing it, they realize that whatever happens in the game also happens in real life. However, despite the unoriginal plot idea, the movie is arguably better than its predecessor. It may be a lesser known childhood classic, but it boasts big names in its cast such as Josh Hutcherson and Kristen Stewart. Overall, it’s full of nostalgia for those who know it, and will be a fun discovery for first-time watchers. It can be streamed on Netflix.

10) The Kissing Booth/The Kissing Booth 2: If you enjoy sappy, heartwarming, and cheesy love stories, to invoke feelings you weren’t aware you had during quarantine, look no further. The first Kissing Booth movie came out in 2018 and told the story of Noah and Elle, the story of falling in love with your best friend’s boyfriend, and spoiler alert, they fall in love. The Kissing Booth 2, however, came out this past summer and shows the challenges of Noah and Elle’s long-distance relationship, whilst introducing a new character, Marco for a new love triangle. This romance film is a rollercoaster of emotions, with interesting subplots and stories throughout both movies, which keep the audience hooked from beginning to end. It can be streamed on Netflix.

Written by Samantha Ellis and Gabriella Wuller