Forget boys and tokens of romance, come February 14th we’re thinking about number one and number one only. It’s basically a day dedicated to self-care that you can enjoy solo or double the trouble with your gals. Enter, Galentine’s Day movies…
Self-care is different for everyone. Some people find restoration in a long walk, a session of yin yoga, putting on a brew of bone broth or nipping out for an ocean swim. For others, it’s a matter of finding the bottom of a tub of Ben & Jerry’s, watching back-to-back Gossip Girl episodes, robing up and slapping on a face mask or nursing a glass (or three) of rosé.
Whatever your vibe, if your soul food includes watching films and shows dedicated to BFFs and just females doing what they do best, add these to your watchlist, pronto. Miss FQ’s digital content producer Terri Dunn gives us the inside scoop on what’s good this Galentine’s… And if the thought of being glued to a screen doesn’t float your boat, we have a curated list of life-changing books you ought to read before 30 you can get stuck into here.
Presuming you’re here for the Galentine’s films best viewed with BFFs, continue reading below:
If you’re subscribed to Netflix, you’re in for an absolute treat with original films and TV shows destined to be viewed over a platter with your besties (or solo, no judging).
Photo: Bob Mahoney/Netflix
Dumplin’: Starting with Dumplin’, a feel-good flick that a) accurately represents young women and their journey to self-love and confidence, and b) involves Jennifer Aniston being a very Southern washed up Pageant mom. Enough said.
Photo: Saeed Adyani/Netflix
Gilmore Girls: A Year In the Life: Okay so there are four 90-minute episodes to chew through here so this is probably going to spill over into your weekend. But let’s face it. It’s Rory and Lorelai we’re talking about here and they deserve your time. It’s a mother-daughter relationship sure, but it’s also one hell of a friendship. This is for the ladies who love to walk down memory lane…
Photo: Erica Parise/Netflix
GLOW: Right. Sorry to say it, sweetie but GLOW is a non-negotiable. Alison Brie as a struggling actress who ends up desperately trying to land a gig in an all-female wrestling team to learn that her strength and talent might end up being the complete opposite of what she thought it was? Mind blowing. If not for the storyline, do it for the ‘80s music and getup.
Photo: Ali Goldstein/Netflix
Grace and Frankie: Grace and Frankie is a wee bit slapstick at times and evidently American so we won’t be disheartened if you lose interest after episode 7, but hot dang it’s a good story. Two married couples in their nearing-retirement years find out over dinner that the husbands are in love with each other and are divorcing their wives. So you’ve got two husbands living in a beautiful big family house, and the estranged wives – who are completely contrasting personalities, btw – shacked up in their dreamy beach house grieving together. Just do us a favour and watch the trailer before you make any judgements.
Photo: Aaron Epstein/Netflix
Sierra Burgess Is a Loser: Fans of Stranger Things have probs succumbed to watching Sierra Burgess Is a Loser already but if you haven’t YOU NEED TO. There’s a wholesome girl who severely underrates her beauty that teams up with the high school’s It-Girl and manages to make the hot jock fall in love with her. Kind of like cat fishing, but that whole theme is problematic so we’re just going to glaze over that and focus on the blossoming friendship between the two girls from unlikely backgrounds. Thought you’d outgrown high school movies? You were wrong. PS: Noah Centineo who plays the jock is verrrrry easy on the eyes. That statement is also problematic. Don’t hold it against us, it’s Valentine’s Day.
Photo: Netflix
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before: While we’ve got your attention in terms of being pro high school movies and Noah Centineo, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is an obvious win-win for Galentine’s viewing. The sisters’ bonds. The rom-com charm. The life lessons. The solidarity… I don’t believe it but I’ve actually got goosebumps just from casting my mind back to this delight of a watch. You know what? I’m watching it again tonight. By. Myself. #SorryNotSorry (do people still use that hashtag or..?)
Photo: Ken Woroner Netflix
Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife: This isn’t something I’ve actually watched yet so I can’t vouch on it to the same extent as I have with say To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, but I do have it on good authority that this stand up special is straight up funny and relatable. Touching on societal complexities such as juggling motherhood and career, this is a perfect outlet to view with your BFFs if you want to do that epic thing of learning passively while being entertained. Best served with a gin and a platter.
And now, for the delightful roundup of iconic films not on Netflix…
Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty Images
Thelma & Louise: This is a classic every person oughtta watch in their lifetime. So if you’re teaming up with your ride or die this Galentine’s Day, you’re going to eat this movie up.
Photo: Universal Pictures
In for a laugh? Obvious solutions include the Pitch Perfect movies and Bridesmaids. The common thread? Rebel Wilson. She’s aca-awesome. But on a more technical view, they’re both telling movies into the highs and lows of female friendships packaged up into comedies. LOL.
Photo: Warner Bros/Getty Images
Miss Congeniality: Sandra Bullock trying to be feminine and refined in the late-’90s (even though it was released in 2000) is nothing short of brilliant. There’s a Gracie Hart in all of us be it via tough-girl-talk, awkward laugh snorting, pizza-scarfing or ass-kicking. Adding to watchlist: Miss Congeniality.
Photo: Touchstone/Getty Images
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion: If there’s anything worth a rewatch, it’s Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. This flick is more than 20 years old and captures our tendency to filter our lives perfectly. Well, ’97 perfect, anyway. If you’re not up to speed on this film’s plot, it’s about two besties who fake fabulously successful lives for their high school reunion. If you’re into crack up dance moves, you need to be all over this movie.
Photo: Getty Images
The First Wives Club: Wind back the clock with the all-time husband-hating female-empowering classic: The First Wives Club. Featuring ‘90s Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton seeking revenge on their ex-hubby’s who ditched them for younger editions, the images of them strutting the streets in their all-white outfits singing “You Don’t Own Me” are iconic and will strike a chord with anyone.
Photo: 20th Century Fox
Hidden Figures: One of the true story greats, Hidden Figures is the historic and monumental film about the wildly intelligent Black women behind the space race for NASA in the ‘60s. If you loved The Help, this will be right up your alley.
