Picture this: wine is being poured, the cocktail shaker is rattling, snacks are being put out, and throw blankets are all across the living room. It’s a Friday night, the girlfriends are over and you’re all sitting around, drinks in hand, jumping between the million streaming services looking for a movie or two. Between streaming giants like Netflix or Disney Plus and lesser-known services like Peacock or Sling TV, it can be incredibly overwhelming to pick a compilation of movies that keeps the fun going all night. Not to mention, we also want to make sure a variety of genres are explored so the various personalities watching remain fixed. Here is a list of movies carrying personal favorites spanning a mix of traditional and nuanced genres not exclusive to typical chick flicks and rom-com. When in doubt, pick one movie from the list and enjoy your night! 

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Every girls-night should have at least one of these “everyone’s favorite rom-com”, especially for our more romantic girlfriends who aren’t big movie fans. Not to mention, this is a classic so you will be all caught up and lament on how these types of movies made love seem so spontaneous and easy.

One could argue that this movie is the epitome of tear-jerking romance and classic cliches, few would disagree. After its 1999 debut, "10 Things I Hate About You” starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles, the movie successfully stole the hearts of audiences across the world with its Shakespearian tropes and sincerity. In fact, it is heavily based on Shakespeare's “The Taming of the Shrew” for all book lovers watching. It's recommended to have a box of tissues and extra wine throughout the viewing of this movie. 

A Quiet Place (2018)

As a personal favorite to binge on with the girls, I have a secret archive full of flicks that will keep you busy for days. I would wrangle that a good horror movie terrifies you, while a great one makes you laugh. However, let’s leave the giggling for the comedy category. 

John Krasinski forces us to sit in liminal spaces surrounded by terrifying silences while scared stiff by tension. This movie will ensure you stay securely under your blanket where it's safe, just don’t make a sound. 

The Call (2020)

This is a South Korean film directed by Lee Chung-Hyeon starring lead actress Park Shin-Hye. It tells the encapsulating story of the unique relationship between Shin-Hye’s character, Seo-Yeon, and a serial murderer who is connected by phone in the same house but live 20 years apart. The serial murderer does all she can to change her future at the risk of Seo-Yeon’s past.

BlacKkKlansman (2018)

When thinking of comedies released within the past five years, I think of those released in 2018. Someone in Hollywood knew what they were doing with all those movie releases. We had the likes of Deadpool 2, Night School, and Game Night. Comedies tend to be funniest when making a mockery of historical events. We get to laugh at our predecessor's odd clothing or bigoted behaviors to ultimately remind us that by doing as they did, we look foolish and sound ridiculous. I like to think that it's an extra assurance to never repeat history or risk being captured as an intolerant fool for future generations to laugh at during their trip to the movies.

This movie is technically considered a dramedy but who says you can’t watch two birds with one viewing. It tells the story of former Detective Ron Stallworth, the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Stallworth, committed to establishing a reputation for himself, embarks on an impossible journey to infiltrate and denounce the Ku Klux Klan. This movie was released during the Trump Administration’s seat in office and preceded the gradual rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. It is a lesson that reminds us of the disparities within our own country and the horrors of human potential. The comedic aspect doesn’t downplay the severity but emphasizes the bigotry still seen to this day, warning us to practice tolerance in a world of hate. The ultimate effect is a picture that masterfully blends comedy and social satire, topped off by a terrifying climax finale that's difficult to ignore and sticks with you long after you've switched the TV off.

The Avengers (2012)

In this day and age, it's impossible to step into a theatre without seeing posters for the latest superhero movie or its guaranteed sequel. Disney Plus has graciously packed all their Marvel properties in chronological order for your viewing pleasure. Depending on the girls on the couch, I’d recommend binging those until the sun rises and carry on into the day. Narrowing down a single movie sounds impossible considering Marvel’s competitor, DC, also has an array of superheroes to keep audiences interested in their adventures. This category calls for more than one submission, you girls can duke it out and decide for yourselves:

Marvel’s Avengers assembled after a slew of stand-alone movies to fight off the invading alien forces brought to Earth by the god of mischief, Loki. The film is capable of quickly introducing characters and catching up audiences to events and inside jokes mentioned in past films, allowing for a more accessible experience. It makes you feel like you’re in on all the inside jokes within this interesting niche. The cast blends seamlessly together despite the varied performances and personalities. You’re bound to bond with at least one Avenger and will want to keep up with their stories in the following movies.  

The Batman (2022)

While I planned on placing Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” in this slot, the newly released film by Matt Reeves tells a unique Batman story. Rather than placing emphasis on his continuously mentioned origin story, Reeves tells a detective story with a romantic side plot, the quintessential plot point of any good Batman medium. 

Drama tends to lack the upbeat tone I need to get through a movie. Often times the seriousness brings me down and discourages me from seeing a happy ending if there is one. 2020 and 2021 have introduced several viable options to fill this slot from “CODA” to “King Richard”. However, the one that caught my attention is one I accidentally found on Netflix. Unfortunately, this iconic film was somewhat swept under the rug as more attention was on “Spiderman: No Way Home” movie. I’m glad I found it: tick, tick...BOOM, directed by the musical genius, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

As such, this drama has a slew of catchy songs that will stick with you more than “Hamilton”. Andrew Garfield and Vanessa Hudgens are the acting duos Hollywood needed to see as they spectacularly capture the autobiographical story of Jonathan Larson. Larson is an ambitious composer in New York City who is afraid he walked down the wrong career path as he also struggles with his personal relationships. 

While a more comprehensive list is in order, these titles will satisfy until everyone’s knocked out cold from their fourth Aperol Spritz. They are a combination of different genres meant to satisfy everyone’s tastes on the coach and, hopefully, spark some laughs, insightful conversations, or tears.