Entertainment does not always mean nurturing the shock value or delivering the unexpected. Sometimes, movies that are utterly harmless and don’t demand your one hundred percent attention provide enough feels to keep you rooted to your seats. This does not mean the movies are necessarily bad or box office flops. There are action flicks, fantasy romances, animated adventures, and rib-tickling comedies that manage to bag the numbers and audiences’ affections.
Other times, you have simply watched a movie way too many times. You can quote the dialogues, reenact the scenes, as well as adapt the mannerisms of the characters and the films still do not lose their charm. The movies on this list are a combination of both. But either way, these silver screen wonders have the distinct quality of never asking for too much but always leaving you thrilled, joyful, and content with their stories.
15 21 Jump Street
You can call it a hilarious buddy cop action or a relatable high school flick but either way, 21 Jump Street knows just how to keep you entertained without demanding your full attention. Schmidt and Jenko are two underachieving cops who are given a task to go undercover as students at a high school and get to the bottom of a drug ring and arrest its leader. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill bring their signature brand of humor as best friends turned co-workers. The movie has a nostalgic element in its depiction of teen tropes but it also turns up on the ridicule with its straightforward premise. It also takes a lot of inspiration from several episodes from the ‘80s drama starring Johnny Depp.
14 Just Go With It
Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston star in this incredibly entertaining romantic comedy that centers around a plastic surgeon who thinks he is done with relationships and pretends to be married to avoid any unnecessary entanglements. That is, until he finds “The One.” He enlists his assistant to be his soon-to-be ex-wife and accompany him on a trip with his future girlfriend. Despite the complicated premise, the movie fabricates a story that is equal parts relaxed and panicked. It has every segment that makes a movie about fake dating work. Sneaky romance? Check. Lingering glances? Check. Two extremely attractive people messing up because they are constantly on the verge of being discovered? Check. Overall, Just Go With It is one of those warm, harmless movies that will leave you laughing, and for no reason.
13 Murder Mystery
Now, don’t get us wrong. Mentioning Jennifer Aniston on a list of movies that don’t require paying much attention to may seem extreme, but Murder Mystery is not the usual whodunit. You won’t have to glue yourself to the screen looking for clues like in an Agatha Christie adaptation. The movie starts off smooth, following Nick and Aubrey Spitz, a New York cop and his wife, who feel the chemistry of their romance fading and decide to take a European vacation on a yacht to rekindle the magic.
However, when an elderly billionaire is murdered on the yacht, it’s Nick and Aubrey who are found accused. With lighthearted humor, witty remarks about the working class, and Adam Sandler’s nonchalant attitude, the movie has you grinning occasionally while the mystery unfolds itself.
12 Clueless
Cher Horowitz may be the queen bee of Beverly Hills High School but she is far from evil. In fact, she’s so kind and gracious that she gives Tai, a new student, her much-needed makeover and helps elevate her popularity and social status. Clueless acts as a preservation of high school memories with its hierarchies, struggles of adolescence, balancing the expectations of a better future and the weight of the present. From the ‘90s pop culture references to the memorable characters, the movie remains endlessly rewatchable and wildly quotable. Alicia Silverstone shines as Cher, Paul Rudd is ever-so-charming as the annoyingly available step brother, and Stacey Dash is the best friend and personal cheerleader we all need in our lives.
11 Deadpool 2
Rarely do sequels live up to the standards set by their predecessors. Under David Leitch’s brilliant direction, the fan favorite, bad-mouthed Marvel Comics character returns to screen with a brand new mission. Wade Wilson is determined to protect Russell, a young boy who possesses supernatural abilities. Being hunted by a time-traveling mercenary does not make things easy for him and he seeks the help of a group of rogue mutants. Ryan Reynolds reprises his role as the titular superhero in this perfect blend of action, comedy, and drama. Deadpool 2 brings back its signature brand of raunchy humor, gory action sequences, and entertains the audience in a way few superhero flicks do.
10 The Hangover
The 2000s were a great decade for cinema and the pioneering film in Todd Phillips’ laugh-out-loud comedy trilogy is one of the reasons why. In The Hangover, we follow three best friends – Phil, Alan, and Stu – who enthusiastically accompany their best friend Doug to Las Vegas to celebrate his last few days as a bachelor. The boys had the nights planned how to the T, but what they didn’t expect was to wake up after a night of partying with the groom-to-be missing and the events of the night before a complete blur. The three best men are seen getting into ridiculously funny situations as they retrace their steps back into the night until a lost camera with random photos magically lands in their hands. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis get all the credits for making this an iconic comedy.
9 The Princess Bride
Harmless fun does not always have to include comedies. Sweeping romances filled with swashbuckling adventures find a place in the background as well. The Princess Bride is a fantasy film that centers around the story of two star-crossed lovers, Buttercup and Westley. Buttercup is a princess and Westley is the farm boy she is head-over-heels in love with. But womance comes with its own challenges because when Westley sets out in search for a better job and success, he is attacked by a pirate. What follows is a groundbreaking journey of strength, beauty, and fighting for what one believes in. Directed by Rob Reiner, who adapts William Goldman’s story with sheer authenticity, the movie lingers as an infectious one filled with joy and hope.
8 Twilight
A movie that remains over watched and under-discussed, Twilight is the first film in an epic saga based on the vampire romance novels written by Stephenie Meyer. Bella Swan is a teenager who moves to the gloomy and mysterious town of Forks, Washington, to live with her father. On her first day of attending the Forks High School, she encounters the Cullens. Getting involved with Edward Cullen, a 108-year-old vampire, was the last thing she’d wanted, but the intrigue and charm circling around the family was hard to ignore.
Twilight started a phenomenon that may not have been appreciated at the time but is considered widely relevant today. The movie does not demand major focus until that very unexpected Radiohead needle drop when the credits roll, which is honestly pretty cool.
7 Step Up
While the plot makes much more sense in the sequel and the dance only gets better, 2006’s Step Up deserves credit for kick-starting the series that fills its audience with exhilaration. Anne Fletcher’s directorial debut is a gripping story that comes alive through the eyes of Tyler, who works as a janitor at Maryland School of the Arts, and Nora, a professional dancer who spends her time perfecting the art. When the two meet, there is an instant chemistry that only escalates when Nora discovers Tyler’s talent and encourages him to chase his dreams. The conversations aren’t extraordinary and there is no conflict, but the dance sequences are truly breathtaking. Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan bring their absolute best to the table, breaking out because of their performances. Overall, the movie may not have any great technical achievements, but it is still very enjoyable.
6 The Terminal
Based on the true story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, a man who spent most part of his life living at the Paris terminal after being exiled from his country, The Terminal is a heartwarming film starring Tom Hanks. A political war breaks out in Krakozhia after Viktor Navorski lands in New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, leaving him stranded as a citizen of nowhere. The officials ban him from setting foot into the Big Apple so he makes a home out of the airport terminal, where he makes friends, falls in love, finds a job, and shares the very reason of his arrival to the city. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie has many quiet moments of subtle humor, touching human connections, and a spirit that never gives up. Moreover, it is anchored by an incredible supporting cast made of Stanley Tucci, Catharine Zeta-Jones, and Zoe Saldana.
5 The Intern
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In a universe parallel to that of The Devil Wears Prada, Anne Hathaway is her own boss and is running a massive fashion website. As Jules Ostin, she’s opinionated, often skeptical, but highly professional. On the other hand, Ben Whittaker is a 70-year-old senior citizen with a penchant for corporate life, who, when the opportunity presents itself, joins Ostin’s business as her intern. What follows is a moving back-and-forth where Ostin radiates her pessimistic persona, fails at life, and breaks down, while Robert De Niro becomes her rock, extends his own philosophy of life and teaches her to look at life anew. Despite being predictable and containing one too many subplots, there is no denying that The Intern is a sweet and feel-good movie that perfectly balances comedy and drama.
4 We Bought A Zoo
We Bought A Zoo is a biographical family drama that will give you the feels, even when you are not paying any attention. The story goes as follows. Benjamin Mee is a recently widowed father of two. When moving out of the city that reminded him of his wife seemed like the right thing to do, he bought a house with a zoo attached to it and took responsibility of renovating and restarting it. Dartmoor Wildlife Park breathes life in the form of African lions, big brown European bears, short-clawed otters, flamingos, and several other animals. Director Cameron Crowe imbues the movie with enough sentimentality, mentions of grief, and moments of heart and humor to keep you invested. Matt Damon naturally delivers as outstanding performance as a father trying to keep his kids connected to nature. The movie also features Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning, and Colin Ford.
3 Finding Dory
Finding Dory may not have had the same impact as Finding Nemo but it centers around one of our favorite animated characters of all time, Dory. And that’s enough. The iconic duo of the amnesiac blue tang fish, Dory, and the perpetually stressed-out clownfish Marlin returns in this Disney movie for another adventure, but this time, little Nemo joins them. Dory has faint memories about her parents, her past, learning to speak Whale, but now she’s determined to find the truth. So the trio sets sail to find Dory’s home and close every loop in her choppy head.
The visuals of the underwater are stunning, with the vibrant colors bursting into the frame in sheer detail. The voice cast, led by Ellen DeGeneres, adds to the overall emotion and the shattering finale, making this Pixar sequel admirable and watch-worthy.
2 Geostorm
Disaster epics or survival thrillers are usually compelling enough to have your eyes glued to the screen in anticipation, to marvel at the scope of destruction caused by a calamity. While Geostorm does have some spectacular scenes of collateral damage, the movie can be watched pretty casually, without really paying much attention to the plot or the characters. For years, the Dutch Boy Program has kept natural disasters at bay, but even so, the world cannot stay safe when Mother Nature unleashes her wrath. Caught up in the middle of an impending doom is Jake Lawson, a technology designer, who discovers that there is a mammothous Geostorm advancing the land. And it is up to him to save the world and warn people of the threat. With Gerard Butler as the protagonist, the movie packs some solid punches.
1 Scooby-Doo
While the animated cartoon, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! was exceptional in its own right, the year 2002 introduced fans with the live action version of Scooby-Doo. In the movie directed by Raja Gosnell, the Mystery Inc. gang have lost touch with one another for two years. But one day, Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and their dog, Scooby-Doo, all receive an invitation to Spooky Island, where strange incidents in an amusement park pique their interest and they go about their mystery-solving business. Despite leaving behind the two-dimensional feel of its predecessor, the live action movie maintains the original campy fun, gives a distinct dynamic to every character, and imbues the storyline with suspense and scares that define the classic.
