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What to Watch Now: 20 Movies and Shows

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There has arguably never been a better time to indulge in some screen time as a little escape from reality. Take this time to catch up on those titles you’ve been meaning to watch. If you’ve already plowed through everything on your own list, here are some suggestions from our “To Watch” lists to help you on your way.

If you're planning on a movie night (or afternoon), there are some fantastic movies a little off the beaten track to check out. Here are some from the CollegiateParent team's personal watch lists.

Movies

The Stanford Prison Experiment

You may have heard about this infamous psychological experiment on the effects of perceived power and social roles. Experiment participants are assigned to be either prisoners or guards in a mock prison and the results evoke difficult questions about human nature. This movie is currently available on Netflix.

Ender’s Game

You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy this fun, fast-paced 2013 movie based on Orson Scott Card’s popular novels. Though there is only one film, there are 18 books set in the same universe dubbed the “Enderverse.”

Loving Vincent

Truly a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience, Loving Vincent tells the story, in oil-painted animation, of Vincent Van Gogh’s final days. The first and only film to be animated this way, it took almost nine years to make because each frame is an individual oil painting done in imitation of Van Gogh’s impressionist style. This stunning film is available to stream on Hulu.

What Happened to Monday

Available to stream on Netflix, the story is set in an alternate reality where families are only permitted one child. Identical septuplets must navigate a challenging dystopia to find their missing sister.

The Danish Girl

This moving, unusual romance set in the 1920s follows two married Danish artists (Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander, who won an Academy Award for her performance) as one of them chooses to undergo one of the world’s first sex-change procedures. An incredible story of self-discovery and the meaning of unconditional love, available on Netflix.

Magic in the Moonlight

This lighthearted romantic drama directed by Woody Allen follows an acclaimed and arrogant magician as he sets out to debunk a medium claiming to perform true magic. Convinced that all mediums are con artists, the magician is stunned by the evidence that this one may be a true clairvoyant. The film is a wonderful showcase for Allen's beautiful cinematography

I Lost My Body

From France, for animation lovers, the main “character” is a severed hand that escapes from a dissection lab and maneuvers through Paris to reunite with its body. A truly original film, it explores human nature, love and ambition in a stunning landscape of mixed animation. Available on Netflix; check out the trailer on YouTube.

Parasite

This incredible social satire follows the symbiotic relationship between two Korean families, one wealthy and one destitute. When the relationship between the two families is threatened by a parasitic interloper, a savage battle for social dominance ensues. Parasite made history as the first non-English language film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards 2020.

The King’s Speech

This 2010 Academy Award winner follows the story of future King George VI as he struggles to cope with a speech impediment at a time when England desperately needs a king who can communicate with his country. The historical drama covers the future king’s budding friendship with a speech language pathologist who helps him deal with his new position.

Spirited Away

Many may already be familiar with this animated classic but if you have never experienced the magic Studio Ghibli produces, Spirited Away is a fantastic place to start. The movie follows the story of a young girl who accidentally wanders into the Spirit World, where she must work to free herself and her family. Spirited Away is one of the highest rated Studio Ghibli films and showcases the captivatingly animation and enchanting orchestral soundtracks that enraptures Studio Ghibli's countless lifelong fans.

If you’re looking for more movie recommendations, you can never go wrong with Academy Award winners! The Academy awards everything from costume design to animation, making it a perfect place to find a new favorite.

Shows

Maybe you're looking for a new TV show to binge — there are so many to choose from right now! Here are a few of our favorites across the board — a little inspiration the next time you find yourself browsing for a new show.

Abstract: The Art of Design

A popular Netflix show for creatives, this docuseries covers fascinating and influential artists from costume designers to bio-architects.

Little Fires Everywhere

Based on Celeste Ng’s bestseller, this miniseries follows two families with intertwined fates: a mysterious, bohemian mother and daughter duo and the perfect Richardson family.

Good Girls

In this dramedy, three suburban moms band together to save themselves from financial ruin by robbing grocery stores. They support one another and navigate the tricky aspects of their illegal business operations. Good Girls has two seasons currently available on Netflix.

Letterkenny

This Canadian sitcom is a mix of tongue-in-cheek humor and quick wit following the simple inhabitants of a small rural town in Canada. Letterkenny is available on Hulu.

Explained

This Netflix docuseries explores everything from the world’s water crisis to pirates. There are two spin-offs: The Mind Explained and Sex Explained, also available on Netflix.

Maniac

A Netflix limited series, Maniac is a dark psychological thriller comedy. It follows two protagonists as they participate in a suspicious pharmaceutical trial that claims to cure anything wrong with the mind, but things don’t go quite right.

Russian Doll

This Netflix series follows cynical Nadia as she relives her 36th birthday party and dies over and over again. She appears to be trapped in a never ending time loop, forced to face her own mortality.

The Circle

A social experiment and competition, participants do whatever they can to be the most popular over social media in order to win $100,000. The Circle is available on Netflix along with The Circle Brazil and The Circle France.

Spongebob Squarepants

Spongebob ages rather well, containing hidden gems you may not have picked up on when you were a kid. A perfect excuse for a little silliness, Spongebob is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Disenchantment

An animated satirical fantasy created by Matt Groening, the creator of popular animated shows such as the Simpsons and Futurama, Disenchantment is available to stream on Netflix.

If you're worried about watching everything on your "To Watch" list too quickly, never fear! We also have suggestions for your reading list, best video games to play, and family friendly board game ideas to keep you entertained.

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