This list of spring movies, like the Christmas and Halloween ones, is a highly subjective selection. My aim wasn’t to choose movies that all of my readers would love but to show my favorites. However, I have tried to choose from many different genres, so that as many people as possible can find at least one interesting film on it.
Or at least, that was the idea, but I soon realised that most filmmakers associate mainly romantic emotions with spring. So I had a hard time finding movies in which not a young, clumsy Hugh Grant was the main character desperately trying to win the heart of a beautiful, charming lady. Still, I tried my best, and I think there are a couple of films on the list that I would highly recommend to those who don’t like romantic comedies. But, enough of my rambling, here’s the list of the 10+1 best spring films.
10+1 Best Spring Movies You Need To Watch
- Life of Brian
- Oscar
- Four Weddings and a Funeral
- Notting Hill
- Big Fish
- Memoirs Of A Geisha
- Enchanted
- In Bruges
- About time
- Me before you
+1 BBC, Pride and Prejudice
1. Life of Brian (1979)
It is so difficult to write anything about such a great classic…
Life of Brian is a comedy by the comedy group Monty Python. It was banned for years among others in Norway and Ireland. It’s a production from former Beatle George Harrison’s company HandMade Films. It’s voted the funniest comedy ever in Channel Four’s “The 50 Greatest Comedy Films” and it’s on Steven Schneider’s list of “1001 films you must see before you die“. And last but not least, even if you’ve never seen the film itself, I’m sure you’ve heard the song ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ that was first featured in this movie.
The film is about Brian, who happens to have been born on the same night as Jesus, just one stable down. Young Brian becomes interested in Judith, an anti-Roman rebel. To impress her, he joins an independence movement against the Romans. There he shares some stories he heard from the then-unknown Jesus while hiding from the Romans. Since most people hear these teachings from Brian for the first time, they believe he is the Messiah and they follow him everywhere.
2. Oscar (1991)
It’s 1921, and Angelo (Silvester Stalone), head of the Provolone family, is facing challenges in both his professional and personal life. On his father’s deathbed, he promised to give up his life in the criminal underworld and become an honest businessman. But that was easier said than done. And if that wasn’t enough, his daughter (Marissa Tomei) turns out to be pregnant and the father is Oscar, the former chauffeur.
Although the critics of the time were not thrilled with the film, I think it’s a great comedy. Once you’ve seen Oscar, you’ll never forget the iconic line “Of course I knew! I just had no idea.” According to its director, the movie was inspired by the Hollywood comedies of the 30s and they were trying to do something similar. And in my opinion, they succeeded, I laughed just as much at this film as at any classic gangster comedy.
3. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
This film is literally included in most romantic film selections. And it’s no wonder since Four Weddings and a Funeral was written by the same Richard Curtis who has written such blockbusters as Bridget Jones’ Diary, Love actually and Mamma Mia.
For those who may not be familiar with the plot, the slightly introverted and clumsy Charles (Hugh Grant) meets the mysterious AND American Carrie (Andie MacDowell) at a wedding. Charles falls in love with the girl, who unfortunately has to move back to America. After that, as it happens, they run into each other again and again. I don’t want to spoil the ending, not that everyone doesn’t know how similar movies always end. But in my opinion, as with all romantic comedies, it’s not the ending that matters, but rather the journey to it.
4. Notting Hill (1999)
And of course, I managed to include more than one Hugh Grant film… but Notting Hill simply could not be left off the list. Two scenes make it a real spring movie for me: one is when, after the dramatic twist, the main character walks down the street as the seasons change around him (love it). The other is the final scene, which is so peaceful and perfect that it’s worth watching the whole movie for that alone.
William Thacker (Hugh Grant), lives in London’s Notting Hill district, working in a bookshop selling rather boring travel books. One day, however, his whole life changes when the famous American star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) enters the shop… (Hm, either Hugh Grant or Richard Curtis is really into the English man, American woman combo). I guess I don’t need to go into details about the ending of the movie in this case either 🙂
5. Big Fish (2003)
Who would have thought that one day a Tim Burton movie would be on practically every spring film list? Halloween movies, yes! But films for springtime? Weird, but it’s true. If you google the best spring movies, you’ll find Big Fish on almost every list. And no wonder… Unusually for Tim Burton, the film is full of colourful scenes, you can for example almost smell the scent of daffodils. The storytelling and the strange plot twists, however, fit in smoothly with the director’s usual style, not to mention the fact that this film also stars Helena-Bonham Carter…
At the bedside of his dying father (Albert Finney), Will (Ewan McGregor) realises that his father made up most of the stories of his adventours, and that probably not everything in his life happened the way he described it. So Will decides to investigate his father’s real life and uncover the truth behind the stories.
6. Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005)
Memoirs of a Geisha was adapted from the historical novel of the same name by Arthur Golden. It tells the story of a young girl’s journey to become a geisha in the period before the Second World War. It’s a classic, grandiose Hollywood movie full of strong pictures and emotions. I was completely captivated the first, second and probably tenth time that I’ve seen it. However, it has been criticised a lot for not being authentic enough. And some critics even claimed that the filmmakers had not studied Japanese culture enough. I believe that this is something that an average viewer would absolutely not notice. The cinematography and the music by John Williams are anyways so captivating that one does not have the time to have second thoughts.
7. Enchanted (2007)
This film has a special effect on me every time I see it. After I watch Enchanted – usually at the beginning of spring – I feel that if I would suddenly start dancing and singing in the middle of the street, like in a musical, my own theme song would play and all the people would start dancing behind me. Crazy!!! The songs, the colours, the lights, all of them create a spring atmosphere in an instant. And even though it’s a Disney movie, I highly recommend it for all ages, even for those who can’t stand the classic Disney films.
The story in a nutshell: princess Giselle (Amy Adams) is banished to the real world, to New York by her love’s stepmother (Susan Sarandon). There she meets a lawyer (Patrick Dempsey), with whom she falls in love (ofc). But what will happen to the prince, who is searching for Giselle? What is the evil stepmother up to in the meantime? And who will help Giselle in New York, where instead of forest animals there are only rats, pigeons and cockroaches?
8. In Bruges (2008)
In Bruges is a movie that I don’t know how to classify… It’s a crime movie, because it involves murders, it’s an action movie, because it involves violence, but it’s also a comedy, because it’s impossible to watch it without laughing. But it’s definitely an excellent movie and an absolute must-see if you haven’t seen it yet.
After a failed mission, two hitmen, Ray (Colin Farrel) and Kent (Brendan Gleeson), are exiled by their boss (Ralph Fiennes) to Bruges, Belgium, to await further instructions. But while Kent enjoys the small-town idyll, Ray is driven almost mad. While discovering the charming medieval town, they talk about life and death. But things get quickly complicated when their boss asks Kent to kill Ray.
9. Aboout time (2013)
I should warn you that this film, despite being a comedy, will require a lot of tissues. At least, I always use up quite a few, even though it really is a simple romantic comedy.
On Tim’s (Domhnall Gleeson) 21st birthday, his father (Bill Nighy) tells him a surprising secret: all the men in their family can travel through time (though with certain restrictions). The boy uses his newfound talent to do what any young man his age would probably do: try to get a girlfriend. After his first unsuccessful attempts, Tim is living in London when he meets the one and only Mary (Rachel McAdams). At first, nothing goes as smoothly as he imagined, so he decides to use his secret power again.
10. Me before you
I seem to have left the weepy movies to the end, or maybe I’m just more sentimental in the spring 🙂 Although when it comes to Me before you, I’m almost certain I’m not alone. Jojo Moyes is famous for his strongly emotional novels, but in this case, he really went all out to make her readers cry.
Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke) gets a new job with a former playboy, Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), who has been left paralysed from the neck down after an accident. Louisa’s job is to show Will that life is beautiful, that he still has something to live for and fight for. After a difficult start, the two develop a strong bond until they fall in love. One interesting little detail is that Louise has a boyfriend, played by Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) from the Harry Potter films.
+1 BBC, Pride and Prejudice
It is a truth universally acknowledged that only films can be included in a best-of-movie list. But because this is my list and because for me, spring can’t start without Lizzy and Mr Darcy, I can totally make an exception. I love the way the main characters take long walks and pick flowers. All this is somehow pushing me to get my act together, get outside, and go for a walk too. So if this spring you see a weird, smiling girl in the middle of a Swiss field, chances are it will be me (or a soulmate).
I don’t think I need to introduce the story very much. Elizabeth Benneth (Jennifer Ehle) lives with her parents and 4 sisters in modest circumstances in their country house. One day, the neighbouring mansion finds a new tenant in the form of a rich and handsome bachelor. It is not long before Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth) and their company are completely stirring up the dull daily life of the countryside..
Yes, I know there is a Pride and Prejudice film, but I just can’t stand it. It lacks the very charm that made Jane Austen’s classic world-famous. If you don’t understand what I mean, read the book. And even if you still don’t agree with me after reading it, then well, I guess we will never be best friends 🙂
