It’s September 1st, which, in my book at least, means that it’s officially the start of fall! So let’s say goodbye to summer with these five movies perfect for the long weekend.
- Stand By Me. Childhood friendships? Check. Trains? Check. Dead bodies in the woods? Uh, check? Stand By Me, starring River Phoenix and Corey Feldman, is an absolute classic, and a movie that belongs on everyone’s must-watch list. It’s set at the end of summer and there’s something so nostalgic about the film as a whole.
2. Ever After. Now is this technically a summer movie? No. But, it has beautiful end of summer vibes, with lush scenery and the kind of love story that can only bloom in the warmer months. A retelling of the classic Cinderella story, Ever After stars Drew Barrymore as Danielle and Dougray Scott as Prince Henry. Honestly, the cast is stacked (hello, Anjelica Houston and Melanie Lynsky and Patrick Godfrey), but the movie never rests on that, letting itself be carried forward by beautiful performances, incredible costumes, and one of the greatest love stories of all time.
3. Adventureland. This is a classic coming of age story set in a theme park in 1987 and that alone would get me to watch it. Starring Kristen Steward, Jesse Eisenberg, and Bill Hader, Adventureland is the kind of movie that actually makes you miss that special brand of yearning that you only experience when you’re in your teens/early twenties. It’s wholesome and bittersweet and one that is absolutely worth watching.
4. The Parent Trap (1998). Okay, I’m showing my age with this one. But there is no summer movie more perfect that The Parent Trap, starring Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, and Natasha Richardson. Two long lost twins reunite at summer camp, discovering entirely new lives awaiting them and hijinks ensue. It’s quirky, it’s cute, it’s fun. And honestly, did any of us predict Chessy becoming such a style icon?
5. Dead Poets Society. We’re ending the marathon with a movie that screams early autumn. Don’t think you’ll escape this one without shedding a few tears (anyone that claims they didn’t is lying). Dead Poets Society is centered around a young professor as he does his best to inspire his students at an all boys prep school. It stars Robin Williams (your first hint that it’s amazing), as well as Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard. Oh, captain, my captain, you’re in for a treat with this one.
So set up the blanket fort, get some snacks, and settle in for the perfect long weekend movie marathon.