10 Movies To Watch This Spring 

As a seasonal watcher myself, I watch Fantastic Mr. Fox in the fall and Call Me By Your Name in the summer. There is something so immersive about watching a movie that has the same vibe, setting, or weather that you have right outside your window. If you want to get yourself into the Springtime mood, read our list below of 10 Movies To Watch This Spring. 

The Young Girls of Rochefort

When I think of Spring, I think of bright, pastel colors, and no film brings that to the screen like The Young Girls of Rochefort. For the film, the director and production designer actually painted the entire town of Rochefort with pinks, yellows, and oranges to make the film pop. Young Girls is a musical about two twins that dream of success, love, and moving away. Filled with what ifs and will they won’t theys, that make for one of the most romantic movies of all time. I also have to shout out the costume design because this film has some of the most beautiful and colorful outfits I’ve seen. With the musical elements and the mesmerizing colors, The Young Girls of Rochefort is a staple in Spring cinema. 

Le Bonheur 

Leave it to Agnes Varda to make a movie about a cheating, lying man that is not insufferable to watch. Le Bonheur, also known as Happiness, is Varda’s third and most controversial film. This mostly has to do with the fact that the film is extremely cynical and you really have to be in on the joke to enjoy, but despite this, it is still one of my favorites from her. The reason it makes it on this list is because of its production and costume design. The film is stunning and filled to the brim with flowers and bright Spring colors. Even though Le Bonheur can be incredibly challenging for some viewers, it is still worth it nonetheless. 

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore is objectively Martin Scorsese’s most underrated film, and also my favorite. The film is all about self-discovery and the art of a single mother making by. The film follows Alice after her husband dies. In search of a better life, Alice and her son set off to California so Alice can become a singer. Money troubles leave the duo stuck in Arizona, where Alice meets David and rethinks everything. I found Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore to be a surprisingly funny and uniquely touching story that stands out in Scorsese’s filmography. It also does not hurt that the film is filled with pastel colors that bring a Spring feeling. 

Sleeping Beauty

One of my favorite scenes in Disney history is the one where Aurora and Prince Phillip sing ‘Once Upon A Dream’ in the forest. This scene has always given me Spring energy. Sleeping Beauty has always been an underrated movie to me when it comes to the Disney classics. The film follows Aurora after she was cursed by the evil witch Maleficent on her first birthday. Seeking refuge in the woods with three fairy godmothers, Aurora lives a simple life until she is told on her eighteenth birthday that she is a princess. If you have not seen Sleeping Beauty in a while or at all, I highly recommend watching it this Spring to get in the mood of the season and appreciate this classic. 

The Heiress

Spring is all about rebirth and no movie depicts this better than The Heiress. The Heiress follows Catherine, played by Olivia de Havilland, who is socially awkward and shy. She is the daughter of a rich man who fears that men will take advantage of his naive daughter. Then walks in Montgomery Clift, as the charming Morris Townsend, who sweeps Catherine off her feet. Torn between her love for Morris and the doubts of her father, Catherine has to decipher who is telling the truth. Olivia de Havilland won an Academy Award for her performance, which just happens to be my favorite performance by an actress ever, and details every shift in Catherine’s personality. I will not spoil anything, but I plead with you to seek out this underrated gem from 1949. 

Saved!

Rebirth comes in many different forms. For Mary, played by Jena Malone, it comes in the form of finding out you got pregnant by your gay boyfriend, who has just been sent away, so now you are ostracized by your peers. Saved! is a candy-colored, dark comedy that touches on the hilarity of Christian schools and the people who attend them. The film is not a complete take down on religion but more on the hypocritical nature of some of the people who practice it. Saved! is a highlight when it comes to the early 2000s comedies and will leave you laughing while also giving you something to reexamine at the same time. 

Atonement

To me the prime example of spring on film is Atonement. Atonement is filled with scenes covered with foliage and flowers that are a sight to be seen. The film is about the relationship between Cecilia and Robbie. Just at the beginning of their relationship, the couple is torn about by a lie orchestrated by Cecilia’s younger sister, Briony. This lie causes a ripple effect that changes the lives of the three permanently. I will not say anything else, because despite the glossy nature of the movie, it is surprising at every turn. If you have not watched Atonement yet, I am extremely jealous because I would give anything to watch this movie for the first time again. 

Sabrina 

A common theme in most Audrey Hepburn movies is transformation. From My Fair Lady to Funny Face, there is a thread throughout her filmography that depicts her as the ugly duckling turning into a swan. My favorite of this set of Hepburn movies is Sabrina. In the film Sabrina Fairchild, played by Hepburn, transforms after spending two years in Paris. After returning home, Sabrina catches the eyes of two brothers, played by Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. Sabrina is filled with classic Billy Wilder charm and a perfect performance by Audrey Hepburn that brings in the Spring vibe with the themes and the stunning gowns worn by Hepburn. 

A Tale of Springtime

No matter what season of the year it is, Éric Rohmer has a movie for you. A Tale of Springtime is the first film of the director’s Tales of Four Season quartet, in which each tells a different tale of human relationships. Filled with philosophical conversations, comedic turns, and depictions of complex relationships, these four films give the viewer a lot to chew on. A Tale of Springtime is about the friendship between Jeanne (Anne Teyssèdre) and Natacha (Florence Darel.) Natacha tries to set up Jeanne with her father to get rid of his current girlfriend that Natacha dislikes. There are many complex layers of conflict and desire that give the film a more human touch. Rohmer understands that people are weird and multifaceted, so he gives his characters every bit of humanity he can. Of course the film is also a sight to be seen, making it fit the springtime title it has. 

Midsommar

I had to finish this list with the ultimate Spring horror movie, Midsommar. A story of the breakdown of a relationship and the rebirth that comes after, but taken to the extreme. Midsommar follows a group of friends as they travel to Sweden to partake in the annual midsummer festival. Good fun turns dark after the group witnesses increasingly bizarre cult-like rituals. Midsommar has always stuck out to horror fans because most of the horror takes place in broad daylight. It is a nice change from the usual dark, dreary house most horror films are set in. Springtime is the perfect time to watch or rewatch the wild ride that is Midsommar.

Thanks for reading this article! If you liked this 10 Movies To Watch This Spring list, feel free to check out more of our other lists at Feature First!