Five movies on Netflix that spell nostalgia in bold
There’s something about the Netflix weekly picks that draws viewers time and again. Of course, there’s a palpable anticipation of the new, but it’s hard to deny that it also serves as a home to those movies and shows that once defined our childhood.
The best thing about these titles streaming on Netflix is that they reek of comfort. They turn back time, reset the clock, and fill our senses with nostalgia-ridden memories, taking us back to the days when the good didn’t come with a warranty period.
From cult classics that resist the flow of time to staples that beg you for a rewatch, Netflix’s library is full of throwback surprises. But in case you’re struggling to find the ones that come with the label of “must-see,” tune into these five movies on Netflix that spell nostalgia in bold.
The only way to enjoy is to simply let the movies do their thing. And if you want to amplify the childhood feels, don’t hesitate to call in your friends who can join you in the game of fill in the blanks.
Five movies on Netflix that spell nostalgia in bold
The Goonies (Richard Donner, 1985)
Once upon a time, Hollywood’s adventure catalogue meant all things Steven Spielberg. However, despite his routine presence within the genre, his stories don’t disappoint. Similarly, although Richard Donner took on the directorial responsibilities for this epic adventure comedy, The Goonies, the film materialised from a story by Spielberg.
Now deemed a cultural cornerstone, The Goonies follows a group of children residing in the Goon Docks neighbourhood of Astoria, Oregon, who move mountains to save their house from an impending foreclosure. In the process, they stumble across an ancient treasure map, launching them into an adventure to unearth the fortune of a revered 17th-century pirate, One-Eyed Willy, all the while being tailed by a close-knit kin of criminals eyeing the treasure they’re after.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982)
The concept of extraterrestrial has always felt threatening, until Steven Spielberg showed us the fictional, but brighter side, with his 1982 sci-fi film. For most millennials, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has been a part of childhood, and nothing fits the bill of a nostalgic rewatch like this touching movie does. The 1982 movie, currently streaming on Netflix US, revolves around a young boy named Eliott, who confronts a stranded member of a diminutive race of aliens who came to visit Earth.
Although initially scared, Elliot ends up befriending that very alien, whom he dubs E.T.. But when the government agents’ search for the creature grows intense, he takes on the mission with his friends and family to send him back home.
Casper (Brad Silberling, 1995)
Like aliens, if there’s one otherworldly concept that always has a bad reputation, that’s spirits. But like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial changed the game, so did Brad Silberling’s Casper, based on the cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost. The fantasy comedy is the perfect blast from the past, currently streaming on Netflix, to fulfil those post-Halloween blues. It revolves around the titular character who haunts the Whipstaff Manor in Friendship, Maine.
When the family of a paranormal therapist, consisting of Dr James Harvey and his daughter, Kat, moves into the mansion with a mission to free it from the spirits inhabiting it, an unlikely friendship grows between Casper and the teenager, making the movie a perfect heartfelt watch.
The Karate Kid (John G Avildsen, 1984)
The Karate Kid universe may have grown over time. But the movie that started it all is John G Avildsen’s 1984 flick, the first to kick off the franchise. Starring the iconic Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, The Karate Kid tells the story of an Italian-American teenager, Daniel LaRusso, from New Jersey, who relocates with his widowed mother to the Reseda region of LA.
Having been an outsider, LaRusso’s arrival isn’t welcomed by many, except for his love interest. After confronting relentless bullies, he finally turns to a handyman, also a war veteran, Mr Miyagi, who teaches him karate to take on the bullies and go forward in a karate tournament. The Karate Kid is probably the most-talked-about underdog story of our time, which, fortunately, is simply beyond a product of its time.
Stand by Me (Rob Reiner, 1986)
Adapted from Stephen King’s 1982 novella The Body, Stand by Me is a coming-of-age drama that takes place in the fictional town of Castle Rock in 1959. The film revolves around a group of four teenage boys who come to learn about a stranger who has been accidentally killed near their neighbourhood.
The Oregon boys embark on a journey to see the dead body. However, in the process, they discover things they never knew about each other, resulting in an adventure and confrontations they can barely wrap their heads around. Stand by Me is the perfect movie to end the throwback marathon, if you like, but honestly, neither of the picks, presently streaming on Netflix, won’t disappoint.