Let’s not mince words: Our lives are completely different now. Even if you’re fortunate enough to have had your health and livelihood not be too affected by the coronavirus pandemic, odds are you have to adapt swiftly to a new normal.
At a time like this, kicking back with a mug of tea and escapist filmic fare is an appealing prospect indeed—what I crave right now isn’t self-improving items of high cinema but pure and utter comfort watching. Below, find eight of Netflix’s most soothing movie options, hand-selected by someone who, at the time of writing, is huddled inside a nest of blankets, ritually applying lavender oil to her wrists and trying not to refresh the New York Times homepage again.
Oceans
The world is vast, even if that’s difficult to remember when you’re holed up in your apartment. That’s why this documentary has proved so valuable to me over the last few days; with its focus on undersea life and smooth narration by Pierce Brosnan, Oceans reminds me how wondrous it can be out there.
Julie Julia
Nobody does witty escapism like Nora Ephron, but I can’t stomach my perennial favorites When Harry Met Sally or You’ve Got Mail right now; they just remind me of how alone I am in self-quarantine. That’s why this 2009 ode to the life of famed chef Julia Child is perfect for my current mood. It’s not overtly romantic, it’s sweet without being sappy, and it gives me cooking inspiration when my instinct is just to open another one of the cans of beans I’ve been stockpiling and call it a night. (Plus, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci as a married couple eating their way through France is as calming as it gets.)
Hairspray
Granted, I’m a sucker for musicals, but even if I weren’t, this Technicolor teen fantasy would likely win me over. It’s cheesy and over-the-top, sure, but it’s also so fun. Just watch it and try waking up after that without singing its chirpy early-bird anthem, “Good Morning Baltimore.”
Betty White: First Lady of Television
During these troubled times, there’s no better place to turn than to Betty White, America’s beloved grandma, and luckily Netflix has a whole documentary devoted to her decades-long career in the entertainment industry. Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, Alex Trebek, and more stars make appearances to discuss the 98-year-old actor’s legacy.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Listen, I didn’t say this was a list of the most highbrow or erudite movies on Netflix. Austin Powers may not be Bond, but he’s a real comfort to me right now. It feels like only yesterday I was staying up past my bedtime to watch this movie in my parents’ den, and in news that doesn’t necessarily bode well for my maturity level, it’s as funny to me now as it was then. (Plus, the Fembots are peak style inspiration.)
The First Wives Club
Good old-fashioned female vengeance is exactly what we need at a time like this, not to mention larger-than-life appearances from Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, and a pre–Sex and the City Sarah Jessica Parker. Come on—the scene where Hawn, Midler, and Keaton sing Lesley Gore in matching white outfits? Pure gold.
Mansfield Park
This deep cut of a Jane Austen adaptation is full of lush scenery, gorgeous costumes, and plenty of forbidden longing, which feels nice and apropos now that we’re all quarantined away from our crushes.
Tarzan
Can’t we all use a little bit of nostalgia right now? This animated 1999 Disney classic is guaranteed to make you tear up, which can be extremely cathartic. Personally, I’m still holding out for the original Mulan to hit Netflix, but for now this will do.
