Diksha Sundriyal
The idea of a chick flick is a film with central female characters dealing with female issues 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.
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. Under the Eiffel Tower (2018)
Jobless middle-aged Stuart (Matt Walsh) proposes to the girl who is his friend’s daughter under the Eiffel Tower during their trip to Paris. He is outright rejected, sighting the very reason we stated. Heartbroken and lost, he meets a guy named Liam (Reid Scott) with whom he befriends. Both of them then come across Louise (Judith Godreche), who invites them to her countryside vineyard. Unbeknownst to her, both the guys compete to woo her, and this leads to complications. Many issues arise, especially for Stuart, who makes many mistakes, perhaps in a hurry to get his woman. Whether and how he makes up for them and who between the two Louise finally says yes to are what you have to watch ‘Under the Eiffel Tower’ to know the answers for. The film is directed by Archie Borders. You can stream it here.
13. 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.
12. 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, and this 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.
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. The World to Come (2020)
Starring Katherine Waterston, Vanessa Kirby, Casey Affleck, and Christopher Abbott, ‘The World to Come’ is a romantic drama film inspired by Jim Shepard’s story of the same name. The movie revolves around Abigail, a grieving mother who has recently lost her daughter and is struggling to recover from the loss of her husband, Dyer. The couple lives an isolated life in Schoharie County. Just when it seems that Abigail has lost her passion and drive for life, everything changes with the arrival of a neighbor. Tallie is about the same age as Abigail and is also unhappy with her marriage. So, when the duo becomes friends, they quickly realize they have quite a lot in common. Eventually, they fall for each other and start an intense sexual affair that challenges societal norms. You may watch the film here.
9. 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. What makes this an even bigger issue is that Abby intends to propose to Harper in front of the latter’s family. How the pair maneuvers through this problem is what you 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.
8. 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.
7. 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.
6. 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.
5. 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.
4. Elena Undone (2010)
What happens when life’s commitment meets life’s first love? Elena Winters (Necar Zadegan) is the wife of a pastor who is against homosexuality, and they have a kid. She seems to be leading a very happy family life, but only until she meets lesbian writer Peyton Lombard (Traci Dinwiddie). While they both confess their feelings for the other, they know just how much it will compromise for Elena. It is up to her to choose what she wants. Will she give up her family life? Will she say yes to love that has arrived in her life for the first time? The questions depend on her perspective and ours. If you want to know the answers, watch ‘Elena Undone’ here.
3. Rye Lane (2023)
There are numerous ways to come out of a painful breakup, isn’t it? Well, 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), too, 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 come out of 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.
2. 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 result in Bianca’s plan being a success? A cult classic, ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ is a must-watch chick flick. You can stream it here.
1. The Worst Person in the World (2021)
Directed by Joachim Trier, this brilliant chick flick showcases four years in the life of Julie (Renate Reinsve) as she explores modern womanhood and the feelings it brings. As she shifts to and fro between her personal life and her professional life, we get a clear picture of the uncertainty of life that transcends gender and yet makes the journey one of her self-discovery. The tumultuous affairs of mundane life become a part of a thrilling ride, sometimes scary, sometimes fun, sometimes exciting, and sometimes boring, yet all uncertain. To join Julie on her journey, you can watch ‘The Worst Person in the World’ here.
Read More: Best Chick Flicks on Amazon Prime
