Like a good book, the right movie is more than just background noise. It’s an intellectual and emotional journey, one you can take together with friends and family. At Branchlands, we host movies for seniors multiple days each week at Manor House Independent Living and at Linden House Assisted Living. Our residents always enjoy getting together to watch and chat about films from all kinds of genres and time periods.
These days, we’re spoiled for choice. Hundreds of movies are being released every single year, making it hard to keep up. Meanwhile, streaming services provide unprecedented access to movies of all kinds, both old and new, far quicker than in the days of VHS rental stores. That wide selection is great, but it’s no wonder we experience choice overload when trying to find something to watch.
With that in mind, we created this short list of 14 popular movies for seniors we can wholeheartedly recommend. Many of them are new releases, recent classics, or standout foreign films. These movies can be enjoyed by people of any age, of course. But seniors are especially good at emotional empathy and relating to characters going through various stages of life. These movies are uplifting, heartfelt, or just plain fun, all focusing on human stories. We hope one of these speaks to you and leaves you with something meaningful at your next movie night!
Knives Out (2019)
Mystery – 130 minutes
Where to watch: Amazon Prime; available to rent on YouTube
Classic whodunnit films in the style of Agatha Christie are a rarity in modern times, but Rian Johnson’s 2019 mystery made a valiant effort to change that. The film features a star-studded ensemble, including Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, and more. Knives Out follows the tradition of classic mysteries by primarily focusing on fascinating characters and relationships. If you enjoy a bit of style and spectacle with your murder mysteries, Knives Out is a delightful movie for seniors that will keep you guessing.
Green Book (2018)
Historical drama – 130 minutes
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon and Apple TV
The true story of world-renowned black pianist Don Shirley’s 1962 tour of the South with his driver and bodyguard, Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, is about more than just race or class differences. As stars Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen expertly portray, these two men from wildly different worlds formed a unique friendship in the face of intolerance and racism. Green Book is fascinating as both a powerful period piece and a feel-good road trip film at the same time.
A Man Called Ove (2015)
Comedy, drama – 116 minutes
Where to watch: Amazon Prime; Available to rent on YouTube and Apple TV
This dark Swedish comedy follows Ove, a cantankerous retiree with a nosy need to enforce neighborhood rules. His surly attitude puts him in contact with the varied and interesting characters on his street as he learns to connect with them. The film’s sincerity, and Rolf Lassgård’s somehow loveable grumpiness, are enough to put a smile on anyone’s face—even Ove’s.
The Terminal (2004)
Comedy, drama – 128 minutes
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube
Based on the true story of an Iranian man trapped at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, Tom Hanks’ portrayal of a stranded Eastern European traveler pulls at the heartstrings. Set almost entirely in an airport terminal, The Terminal’s small scale helps us connect with the human stories that happen throughout the film. Like many classic Hanks’ comedies, the laughs sometimes take a back seat in service of an uplifting message about people.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Tragicomedy – 102 minutes
Where to watch: Disney+; Available to rent on Amazon
Little Miss Sunshine depicts a grimly dysfunctional, unhappy family—and it’s hilarious. The absurd road trip that unites them, and their misadventures along the way, are unforgettable. It also includes a heartfelt performance by The Office star Steve Carrell that surprised audiences at the time. Authentic family dynamics (even the uncomfortable ones) make this movie deeply relatable and charming.
Thelma (2024)
Comedy – 98 minutes
Where to watch: Disney+; available to rent on Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube
All the best heist movies need great motives to justify them, and Thelma’s couldn’t be more satisfying: getting back at phone scammers. After they rob her by impersonating her grandson Daniel, Thelma vows to teach the scammers a lesson. This feisty senior, portrayed by actress June Squibb, manages to make a mobility scooter look cool as she gets her revenge. She does this while also making heartwarming connections with her grandson. Topical and light-hearted, Thelma might be the cathartic movie for seniors we all need after one too many spam calls.
Amélie (2001)
Romantic comedy – 123 minutes
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon and Apple TV
This whimsical French comedy follows a quirky and sentimental Parisian waitress as she quietly influences the lives around her. With pixie-like mischievousness, viewers are treated to a whirlwind tour of city life through the eyes of a young woman. Audrey Tautou’s performance is quiet yet mesmerizing, taking us on a strangely memorable tour of modern Paris. The interconnected web of characters Amélie crosses paths with are quirky and endearing, with a beautiful optimism permeating the film.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Musical – 128 minutes
Where to watch: Disney+; Available to rent on Apple TV and YouTube
Based very loosely on the real Moulin Rouge cabaret around the turn of the 20th Century, Baz Luhrmann’s heady depiction of the Bohemian lifestyle is chaotic and evocative. Nestled inside bombastic musical numbers is a tender and sensitive romance between Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman at the heights of their careers. Wearing its operatic inspirations on its sleeve, Moulin Rouge! is nothing if not authentic in its “Love Conquers All” sentimentality.
The Princess Bride (1987)
Comedy, adventure – 98 minutes
Where to watch: Disney+; Available to rent on Amazon
Full of swashbuckling swordplay and side-splitting humor, The Princess Bride tugs at nostalgic heartstrings like few other movies. This timeless 80’s fantasy romp is as beloved as it is quotable, from Wallace Shawn’s bewildered “inconceivable!” to Cary Elwes’ touchingly sweet “As you wish.” It’s a charming adventure anyone can love and is more than worth a rewatch. Especially poignant as a movie for seniors is the playful dynamic between the narrator and his grandson, who wants to skip “the kissing parts” of the story.
Little Women (2019)
Period drama – 135 minutes
Where to watch: Hulu; Available to rent on Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube
Based on one of the most beloved American coming-of-age stories, Little Women is the seventh film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic to date, but nevertheless one worth seeing. Greta Gerwig leverages an immensely talented cast—including Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Meryl Streep, and Timothée Chalamet—in her transformative retelling. In interviews, Gerwig cited the book as one of her inspirations to become a director. Her bold choice to tell the story nonlinearly puts focus on the complicated feelings that come from looking back on childhood as a grown woman.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Action – 131 Minutes
Where to watch: Paramount+; Available to rent on Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube
A sequel 26 years in the making, Top Gun: Maverick sees Tom Cruise return to his role as jet fighting ace. This time, “Maverick” is a middle-aged instructor with a new generation of pilots. The top-notch action, military authenticity, and powerful performances of Maverick live up to or even surpass the 1986 original. With so few classic blockbusters released these days, it’s refreshing to have a straightforward, high-quality action movie come out every now and then.
Julie & Julia (2009)
Biographical – 123 Minutes
Where to watch: Available for rent on Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube
A film in two time periods, Julie and Julia follows Julia Child, the world-famous chef, and Julie Powell, a New York blogger. Julie challenges herself to cook every recipe in Child’s iconic 1961 cookbook in one year, with flashbacks connecting the recipe’s origin to the modern day. A fun premise, the real heart of this film is in Meryl Streep’s transcendent performance as Julia Child. With all the enthusiasm and joie de vivre Child is known for, Streep effortlessly charms viewers in the retelling of her 1950s culture clash in the world of French cuisine.
Lincoln (2012)
Biographical – 150 Minutes
Where to watch: Available for rent on Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube
Though a typical biopic might tell the a character’s full story, Steven Spielberg instead focuses on President Lincoln’s last months. With an ensemble cast of Lincoln’s cabinet squabbling over how to end the Civil War and slavery in America, Daniel Day-Lewis’ Lincoln is the calm eye of a storm. We get to know an introspective, troubled president during his darkest hour in one of Hollywood’s most intimate, powerful performances of all time.
Moneyball (2011)
Sports – 133 Minutes
Where to watch: Available for rent on Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube
A film as much about math as baseball, Moneyball is based on the book of the same name. It details how the Oakland A’s beat the odds in 2002 using data analysis to outperform far richer teams. The film is a bizarrely satisfying sports movie that puts the focus on the decision makers off the field. Smart writing and witty dialogue simplify the complicated statistics, inviting viewers to join Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in a secret hidden from baseball’s brightest minds for decades.
Of course, nothing compares to seeing a movie in the theater, and Charlottesville is an excellent town for movie lovers. Branchlands is close to Regal Stonefield for big new releases. And, the Virginia Film Festival takes over downtown theaters, like the Paramount, every year around October. We also bring the theater experience home to residents. The theater room at Linden House (pictured at the top) features a big screen, cozy seats, and even a popcorn machine!
Whether you’re out on the town finding a new favorite or settling in for an evening with your friends at Branchlands, watching a good movie is one of life’s simple joys.
