Diksha Sundriyal
The idea of a chick flick is a film with central female characters dealing with female issues, which could be a chick flick. A film that a woman can enjoy with her female friends can also be a chick flick. But it doesn’t mean that men won’t enjoy them. While aimed at women, chick flicks serve as a medium for the audience to know about women. Yes, one can say that they are films that explore womanhood in all its forms.
16. The Hot Chick (2002)
15. Crush (2022)
Directed by Sammi Cohen and starring Rowan Blanchard, Auli’i Cravalho, Isabella Ferreira, and Tyler Alvarez, ‘Crush’ is a coming-of-age rom-com about high school student Paige Evans who, despite her love for arts, joins the track team for the upcoming meet only so that she can be close to her unrequited crush Gabby Campos. The two even share a kiss later on. But things get complicated when Paige also shares a kiss with Gabby’s sister, AJ. Is Paige in love with Gabby or with AJ? To find out the truth that always arrives with a bucket of emotions, you can watch this chick-flick here.
14. Palm Springs (2020)
In a mysterious turn of events, two wedding guests, Sarah (Cristin Milioti) and Niles (Andy Samberg), get stuck in a time loop. So they live the wedding day again and again. For how long? We do not know, but who cares? Each of us is stuck in our own loop anyway. It is what we do while in the loop that matters. In the same way, what our protagonists do after they realize they are stuck is what the movie chronicles. And to make things more interesting, a romance develops between the two. How? Well, to know that, pay a visit to ‘Palm Springs.’ the movie is directed by Max Barbakow. You can watch it here.
13. The Hating Game (2021)
We’ve heard of love at first sight, but how many of us have heard of hate at first sight? Lucy (Lucy Hale) wants to excel in her career, which means taking on her new peer Joshua (Austin Stowell), defeating him by any means necessary, and grabbing a promotion, which both of them are up for. But there is one problem: her hatred for him seems to be slowly turning into attraction. The same is the case for Joshua as well. This means that one of them has to step back so that the other can have the promotion. So the question is, where will it take the two? Is attraction always love, and if it is, will they let it take over their professional careers? Or will they balance the two? ‘The Hating Game’ is here for you.
12. Plus One (2019)
This chick flick, directed by Jeff Chan and Andrew Rhymer, explores the dynamic between college friends Alice (Maya Erskine) and Ben (Jack Quaid), who serve as each other’s plus ones at their friends’ weddings. Their partnership keeps them from falling into the chasm of sorrow that forms from seeing their friends getting married. Before it’s too late, they too need to marry someone, but that’s only possible after they find their respective “someones.” The duo’s exploits at the weddings and how they help each other get through them slowly blooms into a mutual feeling of affection. But are best friends allowed to fall in love? You can watch ‘Plus One’ here to find the answer to this age-old question.
11. The Proposal (2009)
Starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, ‘The Proposal’ is a cult classic chick flick that follows Margaret Tate (Bullock), the Canadian editor of a New York City book publishing company, who faces deportation due to an expired visa. To get out of the situation, she makes a marriage deal with her personal assistant, Andrew Paxton (Reynolds), an American citizen, as it will give her a green card. If he disagrees, his dream of becoming an editor will remain a dream only. However, as a part of the deal, Andrew, too, has his conditions. But both will have to be careful as U.S. immigration agent Gilbertson is lurking nearby. The confusion and chaos that takes place, much to the viewers’ entertainment, make ‘The Proposal’ a must-watch, especially since we have two heartthrobs as the leads. You can watch the movie here.
10. What Comes Around (2022)
When 16-year-old Anna (Grace Van Dien) tells his other Beth (Summer Phoenix) that she is seeing a mid-20-year-old guy named Eric (Kyle Gallner), Beth tells her to be careful. However, things take a different turn when Eric shows up out of nowhere, and it seems Beth knows him. But that was a long time ago, and things have changed, and clearly, Eric loves Anna and vice-versa. Will Beth’s acquaintance with Eric affect Anna’s love with him? First, she needs to know what happened. Based on Scott Organ’s play ‘The Thing With Feathers,’ ‘What Comes Around’ is directed by Amy Redford. You can watch it here.
9. Eileen (2023)
A psychological thriller directed by William Oldroyd, “Eileen’ is based on the 2015 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award-winning novel by Ottessa Moshfegh. Set in 1960s Massachusetts, the film follows Eileen Dunlop, a young woman working at a correctional facility for boys. Her acquaintance with the newly arrived psychologist Rebecca Saint John seems to have a radical effect on her mundane self. As she finds herself attracted to Rebecca’s personality with every encounter, Rebecca coerces Eileen into joining her latest assignment. However, behind Rebecca’s enigmatic persona, there seems to be a mystery that Eileen would rather not know but relish.
The film stars Thomasin McKenzie as Eileen Dunlop and Anne Hathaway as Rebecca, and their chemistry adds to its charm. ‘Eileen’ received three nominations at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards. You can watch the film here.
8. Stars at Noon (2022)
A gripping thriller of a chick flick, ‘Stars at Noon’ plays at a young female journalist’s inquisitiveness and desire after she meets a mysterious man in a Nicaragua bar. Trish comes to Nicaragua to cover the government’s instability when she meets Daniel, a businessman. While both have their respective secrets, they choose to draw a line between them and their mutual attraction. But the secrets slowly begin to spiral, and Trish and Daniel are compromised. What will be the end result? ‘Stars At Noon’ is directed by Claire Denis and stars Margaret Qualley as Trish and Joe Alwyn as Daniel. You can watch this 2022 Grand Prix (Cannes) winning film here.
7. Happiest Season (2020)
Hiding yourself from your family can be problematic in so many ways. For instance, Harper (Mackenzie Davis) brings home her partner Abby (Kristen Stewart) during the Holidays without telling her parents that she is a lesbian and that she and Abby are in love. This is an even bigger issue because Abby intends to propose to Harper in front of the latter’s family. How the pair maneuvers through this problem is what we find out in this Clea DuVall directorial. You can watch ‘Happiest Season’ now, save it for Christmas, or do both, but it serves as just what you are looking for, i.e., a colorful chick flick. Feel free to check it out here.
6. Tell It to the Bees (2018)
This movie is based on Fiona Shaw’s 2009 novel of the same name. Set in the 1950s, on the one hand, we have Dr. Jean Markham (Anna Paquin), who arrives at her hometown in rural Scotland to carry on her dead father’s medical practice. On the other hand, we have Lydia (Holliday Grainger), who is in the midst of a failing marriage and has to take care of her young son Charlie. When Jean and Lydia meet, thanks to Charlie’s interest in Jean’s bee colonies, sparks fly between the two women, much to the chagrin of the community that ostracizes them. Will it be the end of their love story? To find out, you can watch this Annabel Jankel directorial right here.
5. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
A portrait speaks a million words. But a portrait spoiled speaks a lot more. ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ is a French period film directed by Céline Sciamma that tells the story of Marianne, a painter, who has to paint the portrait of reluctant bride-to-be Héloïse. Héloïse’s mother has asked Marianne if she will have to paint her without knowing her and, by extension, without asking her to sit for the portrait. So, the only way to make her portrait is to observe her day after day and paint in secrecy at night. In the endeavor, Marianne and Héloïse come closer, forging an intimacy that is presented authentically. You can watch ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ here.
4. Benedetta (2021)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven (‘Basic Instinct’), ‘Benedetta’ explores the romantic affair between a nun named Benedetta and a peasant woman named Bartolomea in a 17th-century Italian convent. This and her visions of Jesus Christ, which many are skeptical about, including Abbess Felicita, threaten the two lovers. However, the visions get more regular, and so do supernatural occurrences with Benedetta, which cause a rift between the Church and the townspeople. The only thing keeping Benedetta from being executed for her lesbian affair is her visions of Jesus. But will she be able to prove them real? The film is based on Judith C. Brown’s 1985 non-fiction book ‘Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy.’ Lauded for the way it addresses sex and its relationship with faith, ‘Benedetta’ can be watched right here.
3. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
Everyone deserves pleasure. Period. Some aren’t able to figure out how or in what way, but that isn’t the case for retired teacher/widow Nancy Stokes (Emma Thompson). She knows what she wants for pleasure, and she has even jotted down the points. Enter Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack), a young, handsome sex worker. With Leo, Nancy hopes to spend a night of pleasure and desperately yearns for adventure. While this does happen, Nancy surprisingly gets a lot more than she asked for, i.e., a connection. An exploration of the body becomes an exploration of the consciousness hitherto unexplored in this Sophie Hyde directorial. If you want to experience it too, you can watch ‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’ right here.
2. Rye Lane (2023)
There are numerous ways to come out of a painful breakup, isn’t it? All these are viable only if we accept that the relationship is over. Dom’s (David Jonsson) girlfriend has broken up with him after a 6-year relationship, and that too for his best friend. Yas (Vivian Oparah) has been through a breakup recently but seems to be better at handling it. She bumps into Dom inside a restroom art exhibition where the latter is mourning the death of his relationship. What follows is how Yas helps Dom escape his painful state while strolling through the streets of South London. The film showcases the different colors of life itself while juggling the breakup and companionship that results from a meet-cute. Directed by Raine Allen Miller, ‘Rye Lane’ offers an authentic chick flick vibe. You can stream it here.
1. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Directed by Gil Junger, this ‘The Taming of the Shrew’-adaptation takes place in a high school setting. We have sisters Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), a popular sophomore, and her elder sibling Kat (Julia Stiles), a shrewish senior. Since their overprotective father tells Bianca that she can only date a guy if Kat dates one, Bianca decides to reach out to Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a guy who she knows likes her although she likes someone else, and get him to hook Kat up with some guy. As fate would have it, this guy turns out to be handsome “bad boy” Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger). Will Kat fall for Patrick, and will Bianca’s plan be successful? A cult classic, ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ is a must-watch chick flick. You can stream it here.
Read More: Best Chick Flicks on Amazon Prime
