Fun fact about me, I turn 16 today! So in honor of this beautiful day, I had the brilliant idea of talking about the most influential movies in my life. These aren’t necessarily my favorite films, that’s a whole another list (though some films on this list would definitely be on that list too). These movies have influenced me over my past 16 years living. Have influence my taste in movies and influence me in general. Believe me when I say this list shows my age quite well. Ask me again to do this list in a couple of years and this list may be totally different, but as of today these are the most important movies in my life.

Before Sunrise

I know I just wrote about my love of the Before trilogy in February. So I will keep this short and sweet. I seen many movies about romance, none of them come close to being this honest and true about love. I probably wouldn’t believe in love if it wasn’t for this trilogy as simple as that.

Bridesmaids

This movie was the first movie that shown me that women can be stupid, messy, flawed human beings (because we are). I always saw women so unrealistic put together and perfect in films before this movie. It’s hard to believe it took me until 2011 to find a movie where the women are the idiotic ones, not the men. So, thank you Bridesmaids for making me see women as fools for once. It was and still is very comforting. Also the soundtrack is wonderful with Fiona Apple and Wilson Phillips just to name a few.

Mean Girls

I’m a teenage girl, did you really expect this movie not to be on here? Mean Girls is still so relevant in terms of being a teenage girl. There’s a reason it’s still so popular today despite being 15 years old. It’s a timeless classic because of messages it sends about being a teenage girl in the early 00s is still relevant to teenage girls today like myself. Mean Girls was a landmark in showcasing what it means to be a teenage girl.

Legally Blonde

I have to say this movie was probably my first peek into feminism even though I didn’t know that at the time. Legally Blonde isn’t a serious movie about feminism, but it’s smarter than people give it credit for. It’s not a stupid romantic comedy and it’s so much than a chick flick. Legally Blonde laid the groundwork of me eventually becoming a feminist because I watched it so much as a kid. That I begun to take the messages the movie gave me and they morph and became my own beliefs. I didn’t even realize any of this until recent years. Can you blame me though? Who wouldn’t become feminist after hearing “You got into Harvard Law? What? Like, it’s hard?” only like a million times.

The Edge of Seventeen

A fairly recent movie, but it is very dear to me. I love The Edge of Seventeen for many reasons, but the most important reason is because of how real it feels. Not saying it’s completely realistic, but that’s not the point. The characters, the acting, the dialogue all felt so genuine. I felt this movie on a personal level because I could connect with characters and what they were going through. I hadn’t connected with a movie like that before The Edge of Seventeen. It’s a really great film and I will continue to cherish it.

Toy Story 3

I had seen Toy Story and Toy Story 2 many times before I saw Toy Story 3. But, it’s Toy Story 3 I always come back to. I remember watching this when I was going through my own phase of getting rid of my toys because I was getting older and didn’t need them anymore. So saying goodbye to my own toys and seeing Andy say goodbye to his was as emotional I’ve ever been watching a movie. Movies just know where to find them when you need them the most. So now whenever I watch Toy Story 3, I can’t help, but shed a tear or two. One last thing, Toy Story 4 if you ruin anything about the Toy Story franchise I along with many others will not be happy campers. So don’t screw anything up.

Gone Girl

Watch this movie if you haven’t. Watch this movie if you haven’t. Watch this movie if you haven’t. I love this movie. I adore this movie. Movies like Gone Girl are the reasons why I watch movies. Honestly one of my favorite movies of all time, I think it’s perfect. That’s why I’m not spoiling anything, just watch this movie if you haven’t. You own it to yourself.

Back To The Future

I love this movie. I adore this movie. Movies like Back To The Future are the reasons why I watch movies. Honestly one of my favorite movies of all time, I think it’s perfect…..did you catch on to that while reading? I wrote the same thing about Gone Girl because I feel the exactly same way about Back To The Future. The thing about Back To The Future, unlike Gone Girl and all the other movies on this list, this movie always makes me happy no matter what mood I’m in, no matter how many times I watch it, it always manages to put a smile on my face. Not going to lie, that may have to do with how charming Micheal J. Fox is. But whatever the reasoning is, I love this movie. I could watch this movie forever without ever complaining and isn’t that the feeling you’re supposed to get from movies? Yeah it is.

Short Term 12

I know a lot of people have a lot of opinions on Brie Larson and her as Captain Marvel, but those opinions don’t matter to me. Before Brie was Captain Marvel, she was just Grace a supervisor at a foster care facility helping with at risk teens. Some would argue that’s a better superhero (I would be one of them). This film touched me the first time I seen it. I even recommended it to friends (that’s not something that happens a lot). It’s a powerful, but yet silent film, it shows more than it tells. Making you cry (if you’re like me) without ever breaking it’s spell. It’s emotional film, but it’s worth it, I promise.

Zootopia

Another recent film, I know the message is pretty obvious and everything, but this film warms my heart. It’s really sweet, the message is great for kids, and I find it a joy to watch. The jokes always land for me no matter how many times I watch it. The Breaking Bad reference particularly always gets me. I’m a sucker for good animation movies because that’s what I grew up on and this is one of the best in my opinion.

Love, Simon

The most recent movie on the list is Love, Simon. I seen hundreds of romantic comedies in my 16 years of living. Wanna know many of them have were LGBT+? A very small percent. That’s why Love, Simon is so important to me, it’s a great beginning for seeing more LGBT+ films for teens, kids, adults in the future. Not to discredit the movie itself, I cried like a actual baby several times through it. It’s just incredible to finally see major studios pushing important LGBT+ and what this means for the future of LGBT+ movies.

The Parent Trap

I’m really showing my age here. I was obsessed with movies with Lindsey Lohan, suffice to say I have grown out of that phase. Even with me growing out of that stage I still love this movie. So much so that whenever it plays on television I stop what I’m doing and watch it. I can’t explain why I love this movie so much I think it has to do with nostalgia of me watching it when I was younger. Also I believe this was probably the first soundtrack I was obsessed with. Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles, Everlasting Love by Natalie Cole, and There She Goes by The La’s are just a few of my favourites. I will always love this movie no matter how many years goes by, I can promise you that.

Mistress America

There is so much to love about Mistress America. It’s humor, it’s characters, Greta Gerwig. The main reason why this movie is important to me because it inspired me to write. I was inspired to start writing because of the Mistress America, crazy right? It inspired me to start writing short stories, poetry, and this blog. The movie is very good by itself, but what it has led me to do is why it’s so important to me.

Mulan

Probably the first movie to show me a powerful woman standing up for herself in a environment full of men. Do I need to explain further how important this movie is not only to me, but also many young girls who grew up watching this. Disney knows how to make their movies tell a story and make you feel empowered while watching them, that’s what it was like for me every time I watched Mulan.

Kill Bill

I know I just wrote about this film too, so I will also keep this nice and sweet. Despite the problematic elements of it’s director Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill was the first movie I saw with a female lead physically kicking ass. I had seen plenty of men do that in action movies, but not yet a woman to the same degree. After Kill Bill, we have more movies than ever with women being badasses, but Kill Bill continues to hold a special place in my heart because of it’s impact on female led movies.

Monsters Inc

Speaking of movies of movies that hold a special place in my heart. This might be the first movie I ever cried watching. The ending, ugh it’s just so beautiful. Monsters Inc. hold a special place in my heart because I watched it constantly as child. It’s wonderful film, and just like the rest of movies on this list has had a hand in shaping who I am and I couldn’t thank them enough for that.