The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): Musical/Fantasy
Spooky, bizarre and magical, The Nightmare Before Christmas follows anti-hero Jack Skellington attempting to take over Christmas. The movie begins on Halloween night when Skellington realizes that he is bored with his village, Halloween Town, performing the same festival every year. Convinced that there is more to life than tricks and mischief, he wanders into the woods and stumbles across the more lively and cheery Christmas Town.
Twilight (2008): Romance/Fantasy
Twilight tells the story of Bella Swan, a misfit high-schooler, who meets handsome and mysterious Edward Cullen. Bella discovers Edward and his family are not anything of the ordinary and are actually vampires following a near death experience. The film presents a fantasy that is comforting and refreshing, offering a new representation of vampires.
Good Will Hunting (1997): Romance/Drama
The film Good Will Hunting stars Matt Damon as a janitor at MIT who indulges in partying, goofing around with his friends, but he also has a photographic memory and a genius-level IQ. When MIT professor Gerald Lambeau discovers his intellect, he helps him reach his true potential. This movie explores relationships, insecurities, childhood trauma, and development.
Hocus Pocus (1993): Comedy/Family
If you were a child during the nineties, you have probably seen Hocus Pocus a million times. For what seems like a traditional ghost story, it becomes reality after a trio of witches are accidently resurrected by three children. Teenager Max Dennison must risk his life to protect his younger sister Dani and to defeat the witches with the help of his classmate, a zombie, and a talking cat. Hocus Pocus is a Halloween classic that can not be skipped!
Coraline (2009): Family/Horror
Coraline is a stop motion film that follows the story of a young girl who discovers a hidden door to a parallel universe of an idealized version of her life in her freshly moved apartment. Delighted by this discovery, Coraline enjoys time with her “better” family, but when the adventure becomes not what it seems, Coraline must use her resourcefulness and bravery to get back home.
Dead Poets Society (1989): Coming-of-Age/Drama
Dead Poets Society is a heartfelt, endearing, and moving film about an unorthodox English teacher and his students at an all-boys preparatory school in 1959. As he inspires them to look at life with a different perspective, his students re-build a poetry club and begin challenging the status quo. With brilliant performances, this movie depicts the emotional journey of the teenage years.
Remember the Titans (2000): Sport/DramaBased on a true story, Remember the Titans follows the 1971 T.C. Williams High School Titans football team in Virginia and their struggles with racial divide. The team’s head coach works to lead the team to victory after the school board forces the integration of an all-black and all-white school. The film’s focus on high school football aligns perfectly with the excitement of fall sports.
