Hey y’all, it’s Erin here and today I’m sharing my top 5 restful movies. Rest is the first R in our 4 R’s model of burnout recovery for a reason. It’s essential. But we are always careful to teach that rest isn’t just about sleep.
As an introvert, I need solitary time to rest and recover my energy levels. Ever since I can remember, one of my favorite ways to do that was through watching movies. One of the things my mother cannot understand is how I rewatch movies over and over, but I love to do it.
Therefore, there are some movies I’ve seen loads of times that are really restful for me to watch.
Excess Baggage
Ever heard of this film? Not many people have. It’s a late 90s classic when Benicio del Toro was still getting roles off his quirky turn in “The Usual Suspects.” In this one, Alicia Silverstone plays a rich heiress who fakes her own kidnapping to get attention from her father, and is then actually accidentally kidnapped. It is a ridiculously funny and charming romcom – with hilarious turns from Harry Connick Jr. and Christopher Walken. The definition of a comfort watch.
Ever After
This is a favorite for both Kristen and I. We were raised at the height of the Disney princess boom. Though I’ve never been a big Cinderella fan, this late 90s retelling of it is an absolute gem. Drew Barrymore’s Danielle is a feisty and fierce heroine, Angelica Houston is a fabulous evil stepmother, and it even includes random appearances from Leonardo da Vinci.
Mystery Alaska
Those who know me, know that hockey is one of the loves of my life. This is a lesser known hockey movie, but worthy to be on top 5 lists all the same. I tend to veer toward the quirkier films (hello my first two picks). Though this follows the rubric of an underdog sports movie, it’s also set in a super rural village in Alaska and has a load of endearing and odd characters that really round out the story. If you aren’t chanting “Mystery! Mystery!” by the end of this film, you don’t have a heart.
The Way Way Back
I randomly watched this movie shortly after it came out because I love Allison Janney and Steve Carrell. Again – this follows the pattern of a typical coming of age story, but set at a tourist trap waterpark during the height of the summer season. Maya Rudolph and Sam Rockwell steal the show, but so does Liam James as Duncan. It should be on the lists of top feel good movies, but a lot of folks don’t know it.
Brooklyn
I’m not gonna lie, this is likely on my top 5 restful movies list because I was just talking about it with my friend Brittany. It’s way more emotional than some of the others I’ve chosen. But, it falls into the comfort watch category for me mostly because of how it deals with moving away from home and learning how to become a different version of yourself when you do. It’s beautiful shot and acted, heart wrenching and joyful.
That’s my list of movies that help me find rest – what are some of your comfort watches?
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