The Classic Films To Watch On Netflix

The Classic Films To Watch On Netflix

In need of a little distraction? Enter these 80s and 90s masterpieces. From Clueless to Richard Curtis classics, here are nine of the best feel-good and edge-of-your-seat films to watch now.

Blue Velvet

Blue Velvet is a 1986 American neo-noir film written and directed by auteur David Lynch. Blending psychological horror with film noir, the film stars Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern. Walking through a field near his home, Jeffrey discovers a severed human ear which ignites his curiosity. He soon joins forces with a detective's daughter to solve the mystery. Eerie and surreal.

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Clueless

Cher Horovitz is a rich high-school student who is learning to cope with adolescence and all its problems. The 1995 film stars Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Paul Rudd, Dan Hedaya and Brittany Murphy and is loosely based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma, with a modern-day setting of Beverly Hills. The plot centres on Cher as she befriends a fashion-challenged new student named Tai and decides to give her a makeover.

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Dirty Dancing

Yes, another Swayze classic. While holidaying with her parents at a placid resort up in the mountains, 17-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman becomes smitten with the resort's rebellious dance instructor. Her father opposes their relationship, which creates a rift between him and her. The 1987 hit stars Jennifer Grey as Baby and an all-singing, all-dancing Patrick Swayze as dance instructor Johnny Castle.

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Erin Brockovich

So this one came out in 2000, but it shows 90s superstar Julia Roberts at her absolute (Academy Award-winning) best. Based on a true story, the film follows Erin, a twice-divorced single mother who becomes a legal assistant and stumbles across a case against Pacific Gas and Electric. When she discovers the company is poisoning a city's water supply, she decided to seek justice – at any cost.

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Four Weddings And A Funeral

Charles, a good-natured young introvert, tries to discover his true love for Carrie as he attends the wedding of four of his friends and a funeral. Directed by Mike Newell, this 1994 smash was the first of several films by screenwriter Richard Curtis to feature Hugh Grant, and follows the adventures of Charles (Grant) and his circle of friends through a number of social occasions as they each encounter romance. Andie MacDowell stars as Carrie, with Kristin Scott Thomas, James Fleet, Simon Callow, John Hannah, Charlotte Coleman, David Bower, Corin Redgrave, and Rowan Atkinson in supporting roles.

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Ghost

Sam and Molly love each other, but their romance is short-lived when Sam is killed by a thug. Unable to tell Molly that her life is in danger, Sam's spirit takes on the help of a psychic. The romantic fantasy thriller stars Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg and features a series of classic, often-parodied scenes – and a killer soundtrack. One for a Saturday night in.

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Girl, Interrupted

Girl, Interrupted is a 1999 American psychological drama film based on Susanna Kaysen's 1993 memoir about her stay at a mental institution. It stars Winona Ryder as Kaysen, with a supporting cast including Angelina Jolie, Brittany Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Moss and Vanessa Redgrave. The film focuses on directionless teenager, Susanna, who is rushed to Claymoore after a supposed suicide attempt. There, she befriends a group of troubled women who deeply influence her life.

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Sense & Sensibility

This period drama film is based on Jane Austen's 1811 novel of the same name. Emma Thompson wrote the screenplay and stars as Elinor Dashwood, while Kate Winslet plays Elinor's younger sister Marianne. The story follows the three sisters, members of a wealthy English family of landed gentry, as they deal with circumstances of sudden destitution after the death of their father. The responsibility to provide for the family lands on the two elder sisters, who are also dealing with heartbreaks, as they’re forced to seek financial security through marriage. Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman play their respective suitors.

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When Harry Met Sally

Written by the inimitable Nora Ephron, this is one of the wittiest rom-coms out there. A chance encounter between two graduates culminates in a short-term friendship. But when fate brings them back together five years later, they are forced to deal with how they feel about each other. The 1989 classic stars Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet just before sharing a cross-country drive, through twelve years of chance encounters in New York City. As the two teeter on the brink of love, the film raises the question – can men and women ever just be friends?

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