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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Cornell chapter.

These are five of the best movies you’ve never heard of but need to watch ASAP!

1. Sing Street

This comedy-drama about a high school student in Dublin who starts his own band is a must-see. It’s surprisingly hilarious and touching with a soundtrack full of classic ‘80s rock and new rock songs written for the movie. The film features an amazing cast, including a Chris Pratt lookalike. It was even nominated for a Golden Globe, despite making little money at the box office. If you liked Once or Begin Again, you’re going to love this film. The album will be part of your Spotify playlist in no time!

 

2. The Last Five Years

Originally an acclaimed musical written by Jason Robert Brown, the movie adaptation of The Last Five Years is fantastic. The film tells the story of a five year relationship from the perspective of both the man and the woman. In a unique twist, the man tells the story chronologically and the woman tells the story in reverse. Stay patient with it – if you weren’t a fan of the musical it might be hard to get into at first, but stick with it, because it’s totally worth it. The songs are catchy and Anna Kendrick plays the lead, so you can’t go wrong.

 

3. Stranger Than Fiction

Stranger Than Fiction is practically indescribable because it’s such a strange concept. After hearing a voice in his head, the main character, Harold, played by Will Ferrell, discovers he’s actually the protagonist of a famous author’s new novel. What’s even worse: he finds out the author is planning to kill his character! This movie is extremely thought-provoking and includes comedy, romance and a great character arc. Will Ferrell takes a surprising turn in a mostly dramatic role and it pays off. You’re going to wonder why you haven’t heard about this film before.

 

4. Teen Beach Movie

Teen Beach Movie is a Disney Channel Original Movie, which admittedly sounds terrible at first. However, this film where two teens end up inside a musical is hilariously self-aware. The plot ends up being super interesting, but on top of that, there are songs you’ll be singing for days afterward. Teen Beach Movie is a great movie to watch when taking a study break, because it’s lighthearted and a ton of fun. It’s one of those movies you can watch again and again without getting tired of it, because you’re always noticing some sly detail the filmmakers snuck in. Don’t judge a movie by it’s awful title!

 

5. Paddington

This is the most adorable movie ever. When Paddington goes to England in search of an old family friend, he gets into a lot of trouble adapting to the human world. While making new friends, he also must escape an evil taxidermist. The movie does a great job of adapting a well known children’s book into a film that people young and old can enjoy. If you like bears, family, marmalade, cute things and/or happiness, this movie is for you. By the end, you’ll be grinning from ear to ear and craving some of Paddington’s famous orange marmalade.

 

If you haven’t seen any of these movies yet, check them out. I promise, you’ll love them!

Asian Studies major who enjoys horseback riding, crochet, singing, and musical theater. Passionate about public service and addressing economic inequality and women's, LGBTQ+ and minority rights.
Elizabeth Li

Cornell '19

Junior at Cornell University and President/Campus Correspondent of Her Campus Cornell