The five best movies for a Sunday afternoon
There are some evenings when you are not looking for noise. You do not want an adrenaline rush, a murder mystery, or a comedy that tries too hard to make you laugh. You want stillness, the kind that nudges you to feel instead of distracting you from yourself. And then you go searching for something like “five best movies you need to watch”.
After such searches, and on these silent nights, is the time when something like Before Sunrise finds you. It is the film you watch when your heart has already had a long day and your brain just wants to sit quietly beside it. It is not for everyone, and that is its power. It takes its time. It does not shout. It lingers.
This kind of film does not demand attention. It earns it, gently. Every frame breathes. Every silence has meaning. And yet, even within its quietness, it makes space for contradiction, grief and humour, resentment and care, distance and desperate intimacy. That is what makes it so human.
If Before Sunrise struck a chord, these five films carry a similar soul. They won’t look the same. They may not even sound the same. But they offer that same bittersweet slowness. The one you reach for with a glass of wine in hand, wondering how a story so small could feel so big inside you.
Five best movies that echo the mood of a pleasant Sunday
1. 13 Going on 30 (Gary Winick, 2004)
This film is pure magic. A teenager’s wish turns her into a 30-year-old overnight, and the chaos that follows is equal parts funny and heartfelt. Jennifer Garner is sunshine in human form. It is silly in the best way and the kind of comfort movie that never gets old. You’ll want to dance to “Thriller” by the end.
The whole “be careful what you wish for” vibe is strong, but it lands gently. It makes you smile, reflect, and maybe text your childhood best friend. In short, it is a warm hug in movie form.
2. Like Father (Lauren Miller, 2018)
Kristen Bell on a cruise with her estranged dad? Unexpected, awkward, and so full of heart. What starts with a jilted bride turns into a surprisingly sweet story about family, forgiveness, and figuring things out. Also, bonus points for island vibes and fruity drinks.
It is not perfect, but that is kind of the point. They mess up. They fight. They heal. By the end, you will feel like calling your parents or booking a solo trip. Either way, it leaves a fuzzy feeling.
3. Mid90s (Jonah Hill, 2018)
This one has got an edge. It is raw, moody, and somehow still soft. Jonah Hill nails the vibe of being a weird, quiet kid trying to belong. The skating, the music, the angst, it is all so specific yet so relatable.
You will laugh. You will flinch. You will remember your teenage disasters. And that’s why it hits hard. It’s chaotic but real, and that honesty sticks with you.
4. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (Kelly Fremon Craig, 2023)
This movie is a love letter to girlhood. It is awkward, adorable, and deeply sincere. Abby Ryder Fortson is so natural, you forget she is acting. Every moment feels like it’s pulled from your own middle-school diary.
It is gentle but never boring. It talks about big things without being dramatic. Religion, boobs, boys, everything matters when you’re eleven. And it handles it with so much heart, you’ll smile through your second-hand embarrassment.
5. Irish Wish (Janeen Damian, 2024)
Lindsay Lohan and the Irish countryside together make rom-com gold. It is the kind of movie where nothing makes sense, but you do not care. She wakes up engaged to her best friend’s man, and it is all very messy and fun.
It is predictable in the most delightful way. The kind of film where you know the ending and still want to see how it unfolds. Silly, swoony, and a tiny bit ridiculous, perfect Sunday stuff.