Fiction…But Still Positively Fabulous

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Teenaged Ferris Bueller is a legend in his own time thanks to his uncanny skill at cutting classes and getting away with it. Intending to make one last grand duck-out before graduation, Ferris calls in sick, “borrows” a Ferrari, and embarks on a one-day bacchanal through the streets of Chicago.

Interstellar (2014)     

With our time on Earth coming to an end, a team of explorers undertakes the most important mission in human history; traveling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars. 

Coco (2017)

A colorful and fun movie for all ages that tells the story of an aspiring musician Miguel traces his family’s history through the Land of the Dead.

Best In Show (2000)

A “behind the scenes” look into the highly competitive and cut-throat world of dog-shows through the eyes of a group of dog owners including: yuppies Hamilton and Meg Swan; mild-mannered menswear salesman Gerry and Cookie Fleck; fly-fishing shop owner Harlan Pepper; New Yorker Scott Donlon and his longtime hairdresser partner, Stefan Vanderhoof, and the champion poodle “Rhapsody in White” who might just snare the title for the third year running.

Waiting for Guffman (1996)

This “mockumentary” set In Blaine, Missouri, features a veteran of dubious off-off-Broadway productions casts a dentist, a pair of travel agents, a Dairy Queen worker, and an auto mechanic in his stage musical tracing the town’s 150-year history. And what a show they put on in this delightful, funny, satisfying comedy!

Millions (2005)                      

In just seven days’ time Britain converts to the Euro. It’s the biggest opportunity the criminal world has ever had. When a railway heist goes wrong and an enormous bag of money falls from the sky into the hands of Damian and Anthony, there’s only one thing to do–spend it like there’s no tomorrow. Oh, and the kid also happens to see saints who have been martyred throughout history and who offer him advice.

Contact (1997)          

She’s known it since she was a young girl, when she would magically connect with distant voices on her father’s shortwave radio. She’s known it since college, when she chose the search for intelligent extraterrestrial messages as her discipline. She’s known it since she bargained for just hours a week of satellite time to sweep the heavens for evidence. And she knows it every time she stares at the countless stars dappling the infinite night sky…something is out there.

Amélie (2001)

Set in France, Amelie is reminded that life can be fleeting and she decides it’s time for her to intervene in the lives of those around her, hoping to bring a bit of happiness to her neighbors and the regulars at the cafe.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

When a bespectacled seven-year-old, Olive, voices her desire to take home the coveted Little Miss Sunshine crown at an upcoming beauty pageant, her wildly dysfunctional family sets out on an interstate road trip to ensure her a clear shot at realizing her dreams.

Cocoon (1995)    

This comic fantasy is the story of some elderly folks who encounter aliens when they find a swimming pool filled with large pods that possess the power to restore youth and vitality. Now they have to choose between eternal life or the acceptance of their own impending death.

The Peanut Butter Falcon

A modern Mark Twain style adventure story, this tells the story of Zak, a young man with Down syndrome, who runs away from a residential nursing home to follow his dream of attending the professional wrestling school of his idol, The Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). A strange turn of events pairs him on the road with Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a small time outlaw on the run, who becomes Zak’s unlikely coach and ally. Together they wind through deltas, elude capture, drink whisky, find God, catch fish, and convince Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), a kind nursing home employee charged with Zak’s return, to join them on their journey.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty  (2013)

Ben Stiller directs and stars in an adaptation of James Thurber’s classic story of a day-dreamer (Ben Stiller) who escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action. When his job along with that of his co-worker (Kristen Wiig) are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined. (To see how it compares to the original, check out the 1947 version.)

Silver Linings Playbook (2013)

Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything — his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother and father after spending eight months is a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet-and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives.

Up  (2009)

Whether you have kids or not, whether you’ve seen in a dozen times or never before, this animated film is one of Pixar’s finest and is sure to make you smile and forget about the outside world for 96 fun, uplifting and thoughtful minutes.

Rocky  (1976)

The story of a down-on-his luck brawler who has the strength to believe in himself and make one last shot at redemption for him and his hometown of Philadelphia.

The Life of Pi  (2012)

Director Ang Lee’s groundbreaking movie about survival, hope, and a person’s place in the universe—while trying to survive on a lifeboat with tiger named Richard Parker.

Field of Dreams  (1989)

More than a baseball movie, this classic highlights the lengths people will go through to reconnect and repair relationships with those they’ve lost.

Billy Elliot  (2000)

A miner’s son in Northern England stumbles into a ballet class while heading to a boxing class…and discovers that being true to who you are is more important than what others expect of you.

Meatballs (1980)

One of Bill Murray’s earliest movies takes place at a summer camp where he is a camp counselor going up against a superior rival camp. The movie is sweet, nostalgic, hilarious and utterly joyful.

Inside Out (2015)

Inventive, gorgeous and powerfully moving, this Pixar/Disney movie is a powerful reminder that all emotions are important.

The Truman Show (1998)

A man who lives an idyllic life begins to realize that it’s almost TOO perfect and decides to find out who he really is.

Spider-Man:  Into the Spider-Verse  (2018)

Fun for the whole family, this is one of the finest super-hero movies around, following young Miles Morales as he discovers there’s more to his world than he thought.

The Muppet Movie  (1979)

If you’ve ever watched an episode of Sesame Street, or just love Kermit the Frog, this is your film. It’s an ode to friendship that will warm your heart every time you watch it.

Same Kind of Different as Me  (2017)

An affluent couple discovers a renewed sense of purpose after they volunteer at a mission and develop a bond with a homeless man. A movie full of heart and passion.

Dead Poets Society  (1989)

Robin Williams gives a tour de force performance as a teacher at a stuffy private school who instills the love of poetry—and passion for the arts—in his students.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Will Hunting is an orphan working as a custodian in one of the most prestigious colleges in America when he is sent to a therapist who not only challenges him to live up to his potential, but also open his heart to others.

Christmas Under Wraps  (2014)

A doctor moves to Alaska to escape her old life…but discovers that there is a whole new life waiting for her that she didn’t expect.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Ranked as the #1 Most Inspirational Film ever by the American Film Institute, this movie shows just how much impact an everyday person can have on the lives of so many people in town. A classic among classics.

Forrest Gump  (1994)

A simple man who always seems to find himself in the middle of historic times, learns a lot about life, the world and, in the end, love.

Unleashing Mr. Darcy (2016)

A modern retelling of “Pride & Prejudice” this story shows how two people so at odds can sometimes be perfect together. 

Dances With Wolves  (1990)

Single-handedly manning the furthest army outpost in the old west, a cavalry veteran develops a life-long bond with a Sioux tribe despite at first fearing them and not speaking a word of their language.

Babe  (1995)

A small pig, a border collie and an old farmer form an unusual bond. But it’s more than a kid’s movie—it’s a movie with wit, heart and spirit. A true joy.

All of My Heart  (2015)

A classic tale of “opposites attract” this movie brings together a small-town caterer and a career-obsessed Wall Street trade who learn to accept each other’s very different lifestyles.

Big Fish (2003)

When Edward Bloom becomes ill, his son, William, travels to be with him. William has a strained relationship with Edward because his father has always told exaggerated stories about his life, and William thinks he’s never really told the truth.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20-million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost.

Matilda (1996)                       

Based on the book Matilda, by British children’s author Roald Dahl, Matilda is an extremely curious and intelligent little girl who is very different from her low-brow, mainstream parents who quite cruelly ignore her. As she grows older, she begins to discover that she has telekinetic powers. Not until a teacher shows her kindness for the first time does she realize that she can use those powers to do something about her sufferings and help her friends as well.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Are aliens real? Are they trying to contact us? This 1977 film was Steven Spielberg’s follow up to the all-time classic, Jaws, and follows several people who claim to have had an encounter with aliens—and the scientist who wants to prove aliens exist. 

Fallen Angel (2003)

This Hallmark Classic has Terry McQuinn who returns to the house where he grew up after his father passes away with the intention of taking care of his father’s estate. But, Terry feels compelled to stay and eventually, he reconnects with his past life, changing his current life forever.

Autumn Dreams (2015)

High school sweethearts Annie and Ben elope and have plans to move to the big city; however, Annie’s parents have a different plan and get the marriage annulled. Time jumps fifteen years and both Annie and Ben are engaged, but not to each other. The once-couple is forced to reconnect when they find out their annulment was never actually finalized. They reconnect to sign papers and get divorced, but they quickly realize they have more in common than they thought, even after more than a decade apart.

Wall-E (2008)

After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, a robot named WALL-E discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL-E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home).

Groundhog Day (1993)

Bill Murray plays Phil, a TV weatherman working for a local station in Pennsylvania but convinced that national news stardom is in his grasp. On February 2, 1992, Phil, his producer Rita, and cameraman Larry are sent on an assignment that Phil especially loathes: the annual Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, PA. Phil is eager to beat a hasty retreat, but when a freak snowstorm strands him in Punxsutawney, he wakes up the next morning with the strangest sense of déjà vu: he seems to be living the same day over again.

Toy Story (1995)

An all-time classic, this movie tells the story of Woody, a traditional pull-string talking cowboy, who deals with the arrival of Buzz Lightyear, simply the coolest space action figure ever made. Woody plots to get rid of Buzz, but things backfire and he finds himself lost in the outside world with Buzz as his only companion.

Paddington (2015)   

Finding himself lost and alone in the United Kingdom, a sweet, talking Peruvian bear begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined – until he meets the kindly Brown family who read the label around his neck that says “Please look after this bear. Thank you,” and offer him a temporary haven. It looks as though his luck has changed until this rarest of bears catches the eye of a museum taxidermist.

Paddington 2 (2018)            

Once of the rare sequels that is even better than the original (and received a rare 100% on RottenTomatoes). While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s hundredth birthday, Paddington spots a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief.

Bend It Like Beckham (2003)

A comedy about bending the rules to reach your goal, Bend It Like Beckham explores the world of women’s soccer, from kick-abouts in the park to freekicks in the Final, and traditional Indian culture in modern English society.

The Lost Valentine (2011)

This Hallmark Channel classic follows the story of Caroline Thomas whose husband, Navy Lt. Neil Thomas, is declared missing in action when his plane goes down over the Pacific. The last time Caroline saw her husband, he was waving goodbye to her in Union Station as he left to serve in World War II. Now, for the past 65 years, Caroline has returned on the anniversary of the loss to pay tribute to her husband. Hewitt comes into play as the journalist Susan Allison, who hears of Caroline’s story and vows to investigate Neil’s mysterious disappearance.

A Country Wedding (2015)     

This film brings together a famous country singer and the sweetheart from his youth. Poised to marry a Hollywood star, but stunted in his songwriting creativity, Bradley starts to fall for Sarah when she inspires him to write again. As his wedding day gets closer and closer, Bradley starts to wonder if he’s with the right woman. And if he’s not, what should he do about it?