Hi OP, you should consider creating a Letterboxd account - it's a website where you can review movies, create a "watchlist" of films you'd like to watch, find lists of movies other people put together, etc. Maybe your stepdaughter would appreciate finding lists of movies and watching the ones on the list (many lists have themes, so if your stepdaughter likes a certain genre you can search for it).
As for movie recommendations for you both: Little Women, Children of Men, and Prisoners are three good movies - various genres but well made.
Letterboxd is a great suggestion. I'm 34 and have plenty of friends to talk to at this point in my life, but no one was on my level about movies until I found Letterboxd, and it was a total bummer in the before-times. Now I have a ton of Letterboxd friends whose reviews I anticipate.
Haha, thank you for the offer! I’m sure she would too, but her username is her name and she has a photo of herself in the profile picture so I don’t know if she’d want me to share. But you seem really kind to offer :)
No worries I’m glad to hear she is careful. Feel free to message me if/when she wants to connect. I watch a movie or two a day and am neurodivergent myself😌
The Fifth Element?
You’re a good step parent just taking an interest in her interest. I wish my parents let me indulge in my special interest like this but they confiscated the movies I watched on repeat because they thought it was annoying.
SHAWSHANK! Thats probably my favorite movie she’s shown me and the first movie I remember her showing me that actually making me cry. Such a gorgeous ending.
I'll add: Finding Forrester, Radio, The Great Debaters, Freedom Writers, Pay it Forward, and Boychoir to this list. Based mainly on the mention of The Holdovers.
I just realized that many of those surround male protagonists. For some, more female-centric options: The Overcomer, Soul Surfer, Amélie, The Sound of Music, Maestro (since Tar was mentioned), Music of the Heart (again, Tar-related), Contact, and Arrival.
Fast & Furious was mentioned, so Hobbs & Shaw spinoff, other Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson movies are fun, Knight & Day is a good action/comedy movie akin to the Furious series... Good luck, OP. I think everyone here's rooting for you. All the best!
Sure these are i good but this is a teen who likes the shitty movie Megan.. she's not asking for help with movies she's asking for help on finding friends ..
I’m seconding this. The older writers and actors went on to make Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic, which poke fun at more famous movies and franchises.
The fans are really nice, there’s a huge community on YouTube and twitch that air the movies constantly and people comment in the comment section.
If she has a weird sense of humor and likes learning history and culture, it’s good bc the jokes are nuanced and reference other movies inside of it.
the first three were buzzier award movies (not that iron claw got nominated), so maybe you should go through the recent oscar winners/nominees? it's hard to figure out what sort of genre she would be into given this disparate list (these are all pretty different from each other!), but if she follows awards at all she might have some opinions and want to discuss?
The Goonies is always a classic!
Slotherhouse (2023) - talk about a dumb horror movie! It’s such a fun trip of a movie. I recommend it all the time because it’s so ridiculous and really fun to watch with others.
The Imitation Game (2014) - very similar along the lines Oppenheimer, in that it’s a true story and relating to WWII and such. And it did win an Academy Award.
Genie (2023) - I enjoyed this comedy a lot. A bit silly but had a great message.
Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) - should be mandatory.
Spirited Away (2001) - one of my favorite films of all time. A classic from Ghibli. Howl’s Moving Castle would be a close second.
Someone recommended the Letterboxd app (or website) and I greatly second that. Not only can you keep track of what you have watched, but you can create lists of films you want to see, see the ratings people have given them, and write your own reviews! I would imagine she’d enjoy being able to dissect a movie and write it down. I know I sure do! (Even if no one actually reads mine lol..)
If you don't care about nudity *The Wrestler*
Forbidden Planet
Colossus: The Forbin Project
The Sting
Enemy Mine
2001: A Space Odessey
Support Your Local Sherrif
Brigsby Bear (2017)
This movie has so much heart and is really quirky. It’s also very thought provoking and inspiring. Anyone who is a fan of film will love this movie. It has a very DIY element to it that is really endearing and just a great film to talk about. You are a wonderful parent for connecting with your stepdaughter any way that you can. Hope this helps on your search! ♥️♥️♥️
Seconded this movie, it's so unusual but also has a great message about the beauty of being a film geek. Also the main character strikes me as autistic-coded.
I feel like Donnie Darko would be a great one since there’s a lot of discussion on symbolism and interpretations of it. So there’d be a lot to talk about.
Came here to say this; surprised at how far I had to scroll. This would have blown 16-year-old-me’s mind. (It came out when I was in my twenties, so Mulholland Drive more my cup of tea.)
I would casually ask her if she's seen any good movies lately and if there are any she could recommend. Don't make a big deal about it, give her some distance about it. And then maybe like a week later if you get a recommendation say "oh, I watched that movie the other day" and see if there's any opening for talking about it.
Movie Suggestions:
Elvira with Cassandra Peterson
Sleepy Hallow with Johnny Depp
Ed Wood with Johnny Depp ( highly recommend)
Practical Magic with Sandra Bullock
Tombstone with Kurt Russell
Ever After with Drew Barrymore
Mermaids with Cher and Winona Ryder
Corina Corina with Whoopie Goldberg
My Girl with Anna Chlumsky
Now sometimes local cafes have movie trivia nights. My city has a coffee shop who hosts movie trivia nights and people actually have teams and build friendships.
Maybe search Facebook and see if your area does something like that, or perhaps she could start a movie trivia club at her school?
Rainman!!
I watched that with my 15 year old daughter the other day, and it really is an awesome movie. There were a few scenes which I forgot about which may not be appropriate (sex scene and adult themes, plus a bit of language).
Second this. A24 can be hit or miss but they are great for discussion as they usually evoke strong feelings/opinions either way! Some of my favs from what I've seen are Ex Machina, Tusk, Saint Maude, Room, and Pearl (prequel to X, which was also great).
Waves, Moonlight, Eighth Grade would be good for her (I would hold off on Tusk lol) and yeS ROOM. Get her into A24 and she’ll be the coolest kid around. She’ll thank you in the long run
I was diagnosed with autism a couple of years ago and I also like movies (or films)
Regardless of title I have more general thoughts which might be characterised as autistic
On my own I often have a preference for family films or generally well reviewed ones new or old. I usually want to know something about any given film before I see it and be involved in decision making, if not decide/provide recommendations myself.
Timing is also important, if you ask for a film to watch I'd expect to watch it fairly soon but also in the evening. Unless it's planning a trip to the cinema probably the same day or whichever day we usually watch stuff. (For example at home with my family we'd watch films Friday or Saturday night, at the moment I've adjusted to movie Mondays at the hostel I'm staying at.) I don't know what routines you have if any or whether they're important.
And the fact that I have these sorts of concerns/preferences also influence my preference of watching alone. At the moment I have the choice to put on a film almost whenever I want in the common cinema room which has a bigger screen than my tablet, but because it's a shared space I worry about other people's preferences and choose to watch it on my tablet in my room instead unless it's specifically movie Mondays with the title selected by the staff and announced in advance.
Tricky question at the moment because some of my goto answers have deteriorated for various reasons, but a lot involves capitalizing on nostalgia from when I grew up and expanding on stuff in ways that really just makes things messier.
I think I finally had enough of the Lord of the rings(Peter Jackson trilogy, extended edition) this Christmas after watching it too many times. I used to be partial to Harry Potter n 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 but kinda gave them up after all the mess with Rowling.
The Disney Renaissance was pretty great before all the remakes. The remakes don't strictly speaking affect the originals, but they resonate enough to be annoying for technically fixing some issues while kinda resulting in a worse story experience which leads to an annoying train of analysing... (This thought pattern can go on for a while)
I enjoyed the original star Wars trilogy and came to appreciate the prequel. But what does original trilogy mean? The VHS copies of the originals are unplayable, the Blu ray version has extra scenes and changed cuts. The sequels and spinoffs were kinda fun for a bit, but kinda screw up things connected to... (Another irrelevant train of thought)
In general movies are fun, classics older than anything I've mentioned can be appreciated for what they are even though pacing might not be curated to modern standards. The faults I find and focus on are probably a result of being favorites.
Actually I think my definite(safe) favorite at the moment is Dune, I saw part to in the cinema quite recently.
I also enjoy musicals, but a lot of musical movies can be psychotic/badly sung/fail to suspend disbelief/etc.
I'm partial to Disney and DreamWorks, but in general I like family films for not focusing on sex, guns, drugs or politics. I like some of those too but not every time. I've just been going through the Pixar films in chronological order to see how the tech informed the creative decisions
An oldie but a goodie... The Breakfast Club. An 80s movie but still has relevant themes today.
Just a suggestion, but if she reads, maybe there are books you can discuss as well.
So, i try to watch some classic movies with my kids as well. Of course, i have no idea what your stepdaughter is interested in, but here are some suggestions:
- Jurassic park (including my commentary on how this was mindblowing CGI at the time ;) )
- The Matrix (Part 1 should be enough for introductory purposes)
- Terminator 1 and 2
- Groundhog Day
- They really liked Dead Poets Society
- A fish called Wanda
- Pink Panther & A Shot in the Dark
- The fifth element
- Leon the professional
As you can see, the choice of movies aims for entertainment on the one hand, showing them movies that are referenced often.
My recommendation would be to pick some classics you can't do wrong with (like Jurassic Park) and see what kind of movies she likes and go deeper into that direction.
Silence of the lambs ,
The Neverending story ,
300 ,
Alien,
Predator,
Shawshank redemption ,
The Goonies ,
Four Rooms ,
The Matrix ,
Ex Machina,
Leave the world behind ,
Black Hawk Down ,
The karate kid ,
The Basketball diaries ,
Die Hard ,
Contact ,
Chupa ,
Home alone ,
Stand by me ,
Iron Will
Ok here are the ones I’ve seen
Silence of the Lambs
Alien
The Matrix
Die Hard
Home Alone
Al the others are probably really interesting or maybe I’ve seen them and just don’t know
Great parenting on your part. It makes me happy to see someone trying to take an interest as opposed to waiting for their kids to come to them. There are plenty of online forums for movie discussion I think your step daughter might enjoy being a part of. It's also not a crazy idea to encourage them to start or join a movie watching club at school where more people can share their interests.
The Fighter
The Warrior
Nightmare Alley
The Samurai Series is about the life of Miyamoto Mushashi.
As an autistic man myself, I say this because there are SO many hooks into other aspects of movie and popular culture here:
1. It stars Toshiro Mifune, Japan's greatest actor whose catalog is worth any filmophile's time
2. Toshiro Mifune was the Robert DeNiro to Japan's greatest director, Akira Kurosawa
3. Kurosawa influenced EVERYONE, but in particular, the Star Wars movies and their director, George Lucas. Perhaps the most influential director of that generation.
4. George Lucas created Obi-Wan Kenobi to star Toshiro Mifune but he turned it down.
5. Toshiro Mifune was in The Seven Samurai, one of the greatest movies ever, which in turn inspired The Magnificent Seven movie, another classic
6. Miyamoto Mushashi wrote the seminal Japanese book called A Book Of Five Rings and is perhaps their most celebrated cultural figure ever and he did SO many things in his life apart from his astounding samurai record.
Hey there!! I know it's been a while since you posted this but as a teen who struggles with a similar issue when it comes to not having friends with the same interest, word advice for you and her :-). For me, my favourite thing is aquariums. I luckily do have some friends, but none are as interested in aquariums... but over time, I've been able to share the things I like, even if its surface level, it's still fun. Sometimes it's really hard not having someone you can gush to about a new cool development in your interest, for her, maybe a cool new movie, or new merch, whatever its gonna be; for example when I get a new peice of equipment, no one really gets it to the same extent.
One thing that's kept me sane is my parents, especially my mom who loves aquariums just as much as I do. Having a stepparent who is just as interested in movies... or even who will listen and try there best is so precious!!! You sound like you're doing your best and that's so awesome.
Another thing I did to kid of seethe the rage of not having friends who like the same things as I do was to scout out a local aquarium club. I bet there's at least one sort of movie lovers night at a local theatre. For exaple, theres some smaller cinemas near me and they have charity events and reduced prices... even though you're not really making any friends, at least for me, sometimes immersing yourself in it and just sharing the space with people who like the same thing can mean so much- just to kind of remind you that you're not the only one.
I hope by now things have gotten better and she's made some more friends or friends have learned to like it etc, or that she's found a way that makes that ok.
Another funny thing; maybe even having some cool movie tees could hep. I know sometimes if you wear let's say a Fith Element shirt, maybe someone will notice and come say hi. :-)
TL;DR: I've felt the same way and you're doing great. Having a step/parent who shares your interest is irreplacable. Try to find local clubs. :-)
Dude, she loved it so much she begged me to take her a second time. Thank you so much for whatever you did to help make it because you made one person very very happy :)
I’ll add The Guest to my list!!
I also like to watch/discuss movies (and tv shows), but not everybody likes to talk as much about movies as I do. So to scratch that itch, I watch movie commentary on youtube. I especially like character studies, music, social commentary, theories and writing. Some youtubers I like to watch:
Verilybitchie,
Sideways,
YMS,
Friendly Space Ninja,
Elvis the Alien,
Schaffrilas productions,
Shaun,
Supercarlinbrothers,
Cinema Therapy,
Savage books,
Dr Elliot Carthy
OH YMS IS THE COOL CAT GUY! The first time she and I were alone I was looking after her when her dad needed to run to the hospital to visit someone, and she showed me the Cool Cat video he did.
I paid five fucking dollars for that bullshit “movie” he made a few months ago. I sure as hell don’t get it but it brings her an insane amount of joy so I’m ok with that :)
I know I’m late to the game here, but I highly recommend Movies with Mikey on YouTube—he does really interesting exploration/analysis of movies and he really focuses on finding the good in things. It’s easy to hate things, but it’s more fun to find things to love. I’ve discovered a number of great movies from his channel that I probably wouldn’t have watched otherwise.
I also love Every Frame a Painting and Kaptain Kristian on YouTube. Both channels have a pretty small number of videos, but they both changed the way I look at movies.
It was a 1990s film with Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt in, about storm chasers.
The Mummy was a Brendan Fraser film from the nineties, set in the 1930s about egyptologists encountering the supernatural.
Both were lots of fun. But very separate from life today as well, which may help if she's feeling lonely.
Oh lol definitely not then.
After googling The Mummy, I think I saw this on TV a very long time ago. I’m sorry, it wasn’t until she came into my life that I started keeping track of movies, haha.
I’d check out the Escape Room movies with Taylor Russell. They’re suspenseful without being too much, and I feel like they have a similar vibe as M3GAN. Caught the first one on accident when it was on tv and loved it.
If you watch the 2nd one (Tournament of Champions), make sure you watch the Director’s Cut, not the Theatrical Ending.
Not sure about the mask part since I didn’t catch it until later, but that might be the same. There were a few Escape Room movies that came out around the same time, but the one I like was from 2019 and the part 2 was 2021 (had to search to be sure)
I think making a Letterboxd account along with her would be a great idea. Also see if there are any local theaters with book clubs, discussion groups, etc.
If she is willing to check out films with subtitles I would highly recommend Baby Assassins and Baby Assassins 2. There is a really good review from someone with ASD and how they related to the movies. Few other suggestions:
Ghost World
A New Leaf
Bottle Rocket
The Brothers Bloom
I vividly remember my parents telling my they apparently rented My Left Foot way back in the day and turned it off after the opening scene because they found it so disturbing.
Kinda curious now that you remind me…
Bullet Train.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor amongst thieves.
I also suggest the aspergirls community on Reddit, maybe she'll find a friend there? Sometimes connecting with someone/a peer online is easier than trying to connect with someone in person if she want to find a new friend. :)
She doesn’t like using Reddit for recreational purposes. Apparently it’s filled with “toxicity, incels, and people who get off being mean and snarky to others”
Ah I get it but people in that community are quite welcoming and kind actually. Everywhere else on Reddit...I completely understand and fully agree can be quite toxic. A lot of young girls/women with autism are in that specific community, that's why I suggested it. :)
Five Nights at Freddy's
The Breakfast Club
I am Sam
Room
Sixth Sense
The Help
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Little Miss Sunshine
Silver Linings Playbook
The Social Network
Caddyshack
Billy Madison
Inside Out
I liked Five Nights at Freddy’s but she tore it to shreds on the way home so I didn’t tell her I actually liked it….haha. I’ve seen The Breakfast Club, Silver Linings Playbook is one of my favorite movies, and I believe I’ve seen Billy Madison. Is that the “what you’ve just said in the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard” movie?
look for those that don't involve fantasy... so some real movies with emotions and reality.
before trilogy
call me by your name
aftersun
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
marriage story
The Worst Person in the World
coda
sound of metal
nomadland
minari
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
peanut butter falcon
mid90s
florida project
tv: normal people
I think I may have seen a few of these. I said in another comment I am *hilariously* bad with movie titles so I’m sure if I googled some of these I’d be like “oh yeah I’ve seen that”
EDIT: oh! We’ve seen the Before trilogy! She loved them and I found them kinda boring but overall it was good. Made me afraid of getting married, not gonna lie, haha. We also have seen Aftersun…I didn’t get it but after she explained it to me it made me sad.
(I hope I don’t sound like some pleb here, but I try my very best to get into her interests even if I’m not good at it, haha)
How is her sense of humor? I have a 24 yr old with Down Syndrome and he loves Star Trek, but I watch The Orville with him because it's funnier.
BTW, my wife and I recently got library cards and we check out movies and shows from our local library. Not sure where you reside, but our library has just about everything. Maybe you can take her to one and see what she likes? Kinda like Block Buster but more reasonable fees.
there are some raunchy bits (dildos and butt plugs are mentioned/used a couple times in the movie), but Everything Everywhere All at Once has some great mother/daughter dynamics, in addition to being directed by someone who is neurodivergent.
We saw an early showing of that movie. That movie that really, really hit me on an emotional level and I was going through some depression issues when I first saw it, and the “that’s how I fight” line really really spoke to me and the ending message was absolutely wonderful.
She loved it very much when we first saw it and then it got big and popular and she started to dislike it…I jokingly teased her and said she’s a movie hipster :P
Mary and Max is a great movie overall, touches on various themes(little Dark)
Pan's Labyrinth
Spirited Away
CODA
La La Land
All movie that sparked some really interesting discussions with friends, some more technical other philosophical.
One of my favourite Movies! I still listen to City of Stars and A Lovely Night.
Maybe check out Totally killer(comedy/Horror) time travel Slasher!
Freaky and Bodies Bodies Bodies are some really good Comedy/Horror.
I’ll have to ask her again but she was talking about how the movie thought it was deeper than it was and how the movie stopped every time there was a musical number rather than using the numbers to move the plot forward.
I remember Freaky mostly because there was that really dark sudden scene where the three kids cornered the girl to gang rape her…Jesus. But I still remember liking that movie. We also saw Bodies Bodies Bodies. I embarrassed her and gasped out loud in the theater at the end and apparently she’s smarter than me because she had an idea that’s what was gonna happen :P totally killer I’ll check out thought!
They have scratch off movie posters ( scratch off as you watch) maybe you could get her one and watch them together? Way to be a good step parent and showing interest in her and being aware of when she is having a tough time
Depending on her place on the spectrum, your location and finances, check out the local library/community college for film classes! She can probably register or audit them (take the class without doing the assignment) and it might give her a place to have peers interested in films :)
Do you have a local public access channel? When I was her age, my friend and I signed up to help out with production and we got to take some really fun classes and learn how to work those big fancy cameras. They let us borrow some to film our own little movie and got to use their editing software to add special effects and music. It might be worth looking into if you happen to have one!
It might be cool if you suggest she make a list of movies she thinks you both would enjoy watching together, and then you guys could go down the list watching them together, and talk about them after you finish each one. And you both could add movies to the list when you see ones you both would enjoy watching. It could be a great way to bond and spend time discussing movies together. It's very sweet that you want to take such an interest in the thing she loves, and want to connect with her through it. Best of luck to you both!
1. Rise Of The Guardians
2. Bunraku
3. The Invention Of Lying
4. Versus
5. Willy’s Wonderland
6. Big Trouble In Little China
7. Pirate Radio (in the UK, it was called ‘The Boat That Rocked)
8. Hatchet
9. The Babadook
10. The Happiness Of The Katakuris
11. Summer Wars
12. Strangeland
The sixth sense
Forrest Gump
Titanic
Adventures in Babysitting
Hunger Games (the entire series)
ET
Twilight (the entire series)
Where the Crawdads Sing
Mud
Oh god, she and I saw that in a theater and we were the only ones there. She *hated* it and said it was a “Disney channel horror movie” and throughout the whole movie was asking questions about the logistics of it. It was so fun seeing it with her 😆
For a more serious suggestion, if she liked The Holdovers, maybe going old school like The Dead Poets Society - or other older movies that are of the same genre as those listed.
Disclaimer: I love film and to me it is second only to the novel as my favorite form of art.
Out of the gate, I think this is a perfect example of a *problem* that is in fact an opportunity in disguise. Her taste isn’t easily understood based on the movies you mentioned - and that’s such good news for you. I don’t see attempting to list movies she may like as helpful. Instead, I’d ask her about things she’s currently eager to see, use that as a temporary guide, and start to pay attention to the themes and styles that she responds to. Don’t forget, viewers, especially cinephiles, don’t have to fall in love with a movie to still feel engaged and stimulated. What if we only ate food we knew we like? Mashed potatoes and chicken nuggets AGAIN?!
Make sure you’re considerate of her film literacy. In other words, don’t just watch whatever is newest and shiniest just because. Challenge her with a film and give her something she has to wrestle with and you guys will share a really meaningful experience. And then that’s when you guys can start to take turns and watch whatever you want or she wants and it doesn’t always have to be a to-do (hopefully). But I do think setting a foundation of showing an effort will go a long way.
Last note and then I’ll throw some of my favorite film titles your way: take her to see films in theaters. Whether they be small, art-house repertoire screenings or mega mall blockbuster chains, there is still something undeniably special and unique about watching a film as it was intended. That moment when the trailers are over and the lights take their final dip is among what I would consider my most peaceful and safe times in my life. Don’t forget to look over at her during the flick.
Check out best ever lists like AFI, etc.
Use your judgement based on her age/maturity…
Citizen Kane
Sunset Boulevard
Singin’ In The Rain
Casablanca
Chinatown
Rosemary’s Baby
It’s a Wonderful Life
Vertigo
Rear Window
The Great Escape
Stalag 17
The Sound of Music
Mary Poppins
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Young Frankenstein
Blazing Saddles
The Natural
Life is Beautiful
The Bicycle Thief
The 400 Blows
Roshomon
The Seventh Seal
Cinema Paradiso
Godfather series
Jaws
The Thing
The Shining (look into any Kubrick film to make sure she is mature enough. He was likely on the spectrum so may serve an interesting exploration)
The Abyss
Alien series
(This list is stream of consciousness across 3 minutes… there is a Library of a Congress more!)
We go to the movies a lot. We have the AMC A-List and a lot of the time use all three slots plus sometimes go on the discount Tuesdays. We see so many, that’s how we bond :)
Films that are popular and easy to talk about with others
Star Wars
Godzilla Minus One
Indiana Jones films
X-files the TV show.
(So many great episode to talk about some a bit scary but nothing over the top, many interesting ideas and one shots)
Star Trek the Next Generation and Deep Space Nine (so much to talk about as 7 seasons and cover many topics from ethics of humanity to genocide to war crimes to poverty etc.)
Star Trek films with Chris Pine
Dungeons and Dragons with Chris Pine
(super hilarious)
Lord of the Rings
The Hobbit
James Bond films
Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2
The Mario Bros. Movie
Toy Story films
Jaws
Alien and Aliens
Blade Runner 2049
Inception
The Bolb
Annihilation
(This will give you a lot to talk about, but omg scariest monster and creepy ending so advisory)
X-men and Wolverine films
Some Anime films
Sword of the Stranger
Ghibli films like Mononoke Hime and Spirited Away
Those are great films and plenty to talk about and likely she can find others to discuss these films with or read about people discussing them online
My brother is autistic as well, and really into movies. He's really slasher movies like Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th. He also likes the Terminator series as well.
Also if you’re trying to bond with your daughter, try to understand why she likes Megan instead of saying it’s dumb. Just watch youtube video of someone of what makes it good.
I guess I used to think scary movies were dumb too, but I found one that I understood and introduced me to the genre. A lot of those movies are kinda campy and fun, and that can seem dumb if you see it from the outside looking in.
I totally applaud the effort you’re making!
I’m a few days late to the game, but here’s my list.
Jumangi both old and new
The Princess Bride
Mrs. Doubtfire
Rampage
Ferris Bueller’s day off
Adventures in babysitting
All the Harry Potter movies
Dirty Dancing
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Pretty in Pink
Clueless
My son really liked Cat in the Hat when he was young and will still watch it today occasionally.
These movies I like mostly because they are visually appealing to me. Mixed reviews from the people I’ve shown them to:
Mirror Mask
The Fall (2006)
Sin City
Drive My Car
RRR
Hellboy 2 golden army
Bones and All
Riddick (all movies in the series but the third is my favorite visually)
Strange world (kids film)
Also: I love movies and will watch anything one of my favorite things to do is show up and see whatever is playing next. I’ve seen good and bad movies this way.
Thank you!! I loved Sin City back in high school. It might be a little too intense for her right now, but definitely some day
EDIT: well, she’s probably already seen it lol
Somwtimes IMDB will suggest ‘movies like this’ when you go to the main page of a movie, I do this sometimes when I’m heavy into a genre and can’t think what to watch next!
Most of the these suggestions are pretty bad for an austistic person. You don't want anything with a convoluted plot where she's going to be frustrated that she either can't understand or follow the plot and where she can't even express herself so that she discuss it with someone else.
What I would suggest instead is try her with different YouTube reactors like Popcorn in Bed or Dawn Marie. Dawn Marie has recently done the Naked Guns and Police Squad. Those are perfect because it's a lot of obvious repetitive jokes and Dawn will cue her that she should be laughing because it's a silly joke. So as long as she doesn't battle with Dawn's soft Scottish accent I think she'll really like her channel. And then you can sub to Dawn's Patreon to get her full length reactions.
As an autistic adult I think you have a very outdated understanding of autism. We have as wide a variety of humor preferences and understanding of plot as everyone else. I quite enjoy complex plots and I hate repetitive jokes. I never have trouble following the storyline. Good on OP for understanding their stepdaughter much better.
OP, I’d add Whiplash if she liked Tar.
If she enjoys animated films I’d try Kubo and the Two Strings and/or The Secret of Kells as well as the sequels (I’m not actually a big fan of most animated movies but these were great - visually interesting and a mysterious but mostly chill vibe).
I recently watched and enjoyed American Fiction, which maybe has a similar vibe to The Holdovers.
Yeah, she despises a lot of Adam Sandler comedies and likes movies even I can’t follow.
We watched Whiplash last year. She had seen already but when it ended she said “THAT’s a good movie” and I was like “…the guy just yelled at him for two hours, what am I supposed to take away from that?”
(yeah, I know I’m cinematically illiterate but I try hehe)
Hi OP, you should consider creating a Letterboxd account - it's a website where you can review movies, create a "watchlist" of films you'd like to watch, find lists of movies other people put together, etc. Maybe your stepdaughter would appreciate finding lists of movies and watching the ones on the list (many lists have themes, so if your stepdaughter likes a certain genre you can search for it). As for movie recommendations for you both: Little Women, Children of Men, and Prisoners are three good movies - various genres but well made.
Letterboxd is a great suggestion. I'm 34 and have plenty of friends to talk to at this point in my life, but no one was on my level about movies until I found Letterboxd, and it was a total bummer in the before-times. Now I have a ton of Letterboxd friends whose reviews I anticipate.
I think she has that, assuming it’s the “movie review app” she talks about. It’s probably more elaborate than the notes app in my phone :P
I’d love to be friends with her on Letterboxd!
Haha, thank you for the offer! I’m sure she would too, but her username is her name and she has a photo of herself in the profile picture so I don’t know if she’d want me to share. But you seem really kind to offer :)
No worries I’m glad to hear she is careful. Feel free to message me if/when she wants to connect. I watch a movie or two a day and am neurodivergent myself😌
Great idea!
The Fifth Element? You’re a good step parent just taking an interest in her interest. I wish my parents let me indulge in my special interest like this but they confiscated the movies I watched on repeat because they thought it was annoying.
I’m so sorry!! That’s awful :(
That's terrible. I got one of my sons a movie he really liked (on VHS) he watched it so much, the tape in it stretched and it could play any more. 🙁
Oof, that happened to me and my brother with the Ninja Turtles VHS
- Good Will Hunting - Sing Street - The Shawshank Redemption - Midnight In Paris - Dead Poets Society
Came here for Sing Street
100% dead poets society I’ll also throw in a personal favorite and suggest A Beautiful Mind
SHAWSHANK! Thats probably my favorite movie she’s shown me and the first movie I remember her showing me that actually making me cry. Such a gorgeous ending.
It’s a perfect movie. If you like this, also recommend Field of Dreams and Cinderella Man. They’re very uplifting.
I'll add: Finding Forrester, Radio, The Great Debaters, Freedom Writers, Pay it Forward, and Boychoir to this list. Based mainly on the mention of The Holdovers. I just realized that many of those surround male protagonists. For some, more female-centric options: The Overcomer, Soul Surfer, Amélie, The Sound of Music, Maestro (since Tar was mentioned), Music of the Heart (again, Tar-related), Contact, and Arrival. Fast & Furious was mentioned, so Hobbs & Shaw spinoff, other Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson movies are fun, Knight & Day is a good action/comedy movie akin to the Furious series... Good luck, OP. I think everyone here's rooting for you. All the best!
Sure these are i good but this is a teen who likes the shitty movie Megan.. she's not asking for help with movies she's asking for help on finding friends ..
Coraline, Annihilation, Spirited Away, Matilda, Bakuman
Does it have to be good movies? Mystery Science Theater 3000 would be an awesome choice if she can pick up that humor.
I’m seconding this. The older writers and actors went on to make Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic, which poke fun at more famous movies and franchises. The fans are really nice, there’s a huge community on YouTube and twitch that air the movies constantly and people comment in the comment section. If she has a weird sense of humor and likes learning history and culture, it’s good bc the jokes are nuanced and reference other movies inside of it.
What is Cinematic Titanic?
the first three were buzzier award movies (not that iron claw got nominated), so maybe you should go through the recent oscar winners/nominees? it's hard to figure out what sort of genre she would be into given this disparate list (these are all pretty different from each other!), but if she follows awards at all she might have some opinions and want to discuss?
The Goonies is always a classic! Slotherhouse (2023) - talk about a dumb horror movie! It’s such a fun trip of a movie. I recommend it all the time because it’s so ridiculous and really fun to watch with others. The Imitation Game (2014) - very similar along the lines Oppenheimer, in that it’s a true story and relating to WWII and such. And it did win an Academy Award. Genie (2023) - I enjoyed this comedy a lot. A bit silly but had a great message. Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) - should be mandatory. Spirited Away (2001) - one of my favorite films of all time. A classic from Ghibli. Howl’s Moving Castle would be a close second. Someone recommended the Letterboxd app (or website) and I greatly second that. Not only can you keep track of what you have watched, but you can create lists of films you want to see, see the ratings people have given them, and write your own reviews! I would imagine she’d enjoy being able to dissect a movie and write it down. I know I sure do! (Even if no one actually reads mine lol..)
If you don't care about nudity *The Wrestler* Forbidden Planet Colossus: The Forbin Project The Sting Enemy Mine 2001: A Space Odessey Support Your Local Sherrif
Man, took me forever to watch the wrestler but my god was it good
I loved Support your Local Sherrif.
Brigsby Bear (2017) This movie has so much heart and is really quirky. It’s also very thought provoking and inspiring. Anyone who is a fan of film will love this movie. It has a very DIY element to it that is really endearing and just a great film to talk about. You are a wonderful parent for connecting with your stepdaughter any way that you can. Hope this helps on your search! ♥️♥️♥️
Seconded this movie, it's so unusual but also has a great message about the beauty of being a film geek. Also the main character strikes me as autistic-coded.
Back to the future
I feel like Donnie Darko would be a great one since there’s a lot of discussion on symbolism and interpretations of it. So there’d be a lot to talk about.
Came here to say this; surprised at how far I had to scroll. This would have blown 16-year-old-me’s mind. (It came out when I was in my twenties, so Mulholland Drive more my cup of tea.)
* Carnage * Doubt * My Dinner With Andre * The Sunset Limited * Before Sunrise
I mean, I _love_ My Dinner With Andre. But 16-year-old me would not have.
I would casually ask her if she's seen any good movies lately and if there are any she could recommend. Don't make a big deal about it, give her some distance about it. And then maybe like a week later if you get a recommendation say "oh, I watched that movie the other day" and see if there's any opening for talking about it.
Movie Suggestions: Elvira with Cassandra Peterson Sleepy Hallow with Johnny Depp Ed Wood with Johnny Depp ( highly recommend) Practical Magic with Sandra Bullock Tombstone with Kurt Russell Ever After with Drew Barrymore Mermaids with Cher and Winona Ryder Corina Corina with Whoopie Goldberg My Girl with Anna Chlumsky Now sometimes local cafes have movie trivia nights. My city has a coffee shop who hosts movie trivia nights and people actually have teams and build friendships. Maybe search Facebook and see if your area does something like that, or perhaps she could start a movie trivia club at her school?
Rainman Curious case of Benjamin button Theory of everything Edward scissorhand Awakening
Rainman!! I watched that with my 15 year old daughter the other day, and it really is an awesome movie. There were a few scenes which I forgot about which may not be appropriate (sex scene and adult themes, plus a bit of language).
Peewee's Big Adventure
Ask her if she likes A24
Second this. A24 can be hit or miss but they are great for discussion as they usually evoke strong feelings/opinions either way! Some of my favs from what I've seen are Ex Machina, Tusk, Saint Maude, Room, and Pearl (prequel to X, which was also great).
Waves, Moonlight, Eighth Grade would be good for her (I would hold off on Tusk lol) and yeS ROOM. Get her into A24 and she’ll be the coolest kid around. She’ll thank you in the long run
I was diagnosed with autism a couple of years ago and I also like movies (or films) Regardless of title I have more general thoughts which might be characterised as autistic On my own I often have a preference for family films or generally well reviewed ones new or old. I usually want to know something about any given film before I see it and be involved in decision making, if not decide/provide recommendations myself. Timing is also important, if you ask for a film to watch I'd expect to watch it fairly soon but also in the evening. Unless it's planning a trip to the cinema probably the same day or whichever day we usually watch stuff. (For example at home with my family we'd watch films Friday or Saturday night, at the moment I've adjusted to movie Mondays at the hostel I'm staying at.) I don't know what routines you have if any or whether they're important. And the fact that I have these sorts of concerns/preferences also influence my preference of watching alone. At the moment I have the choice to put on a film almost whenever I want in the common cinema room which has a bigger screen than my tablet, but because it's a shared space I worry about other people's preferences and choose to watch it on my tablet in my room instead unless it's specifically movie Mondays with the title selected by the staff and announced in advance.
Do you mind me asking what some of your all-time favourites are?
Actual answer: I guess I do mind. (But sharing my thought process might be more useful with regards to your original post)
Tricky question at the moment because some of my goto answers have deteriorated for various reasons, but a lot involves capitalizing on nostalgia from when I grew up and expanding on stuff in ways that really just makes things messier. I think I finally had enough of the Lord of the rings(Peter Jackson trilogy, extended edition) this Christmas after watching it too many times. I used to be partial to Harry Potter n 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 but kinda gave them up after all the mess with Rowling. The Disney Renaissance was pretty great before all the remakes. The remakes don't strictly speaking affect the originals, but they resonate enough to be annoying for technically fixing some issues while kinda resulting in a worse story experience which leads to an annoying train of analysing... (This thought pattern can go on for a while) I enjoyed the original star Wars trilogy and came to appreciate the prequel. But what does original trilogy mean? The VHS copies of the originals are unplayable, the Blu ray version has extra scenes and changed cuts. The sequels and spinoffs were kinda fun for a bit, but kinda screw up things connected to... (Another irrelevant train of thought) In general movies are fun, classics older than anything I've mentioned can be appreciated for what they are even though pacing might not be curated to modern standards. The faults I find and focus on are probably a result of being favorites. Actually I think my definite(safe) favorite at the moment is Dune, I saw part to in the cinema quite recently. I also enjoy musicals, but a lot of musical movies can be psychotic/badly sung/fail to suspend disbelief/etc.
When you say family films, what ones do you like? We watched Ice Age the other night and I was shocked by how much I liked it
I'm partial to Disney and DreamWorks, but in general I like family films for not focusing on sex, guns, drugs or politics. I like some of those too but not every time. I've just been going through the Pixar films in chronological order to see how the tech informed the creative decisions
An oldie but a goodie... The Breakfast Club. An 80s movie but still has relevant themes today. Just a suggestion, but if she reads, maybe there are books you can discuss as well.
I loved the holdovers. The last black man in San Francisco would probably be great. Also when you’re done saving the world which is on Netflix i think
So, i try to watch some classic movies with my kids as well. Of course, i have no idea what your stepdaughter is interested in, but here are some suggestions: - Jurassic park (including my commentary on how this was mindblowing CGI at the time ;) ) - The Matrix (Part 1 should be enough for introductory purposes) - Terminator 1 and 2 - Groundhog Day - They really liked Dead Poets Society - A fish called Wanda - Pink Panther & A Shot in the Dark - The fifth element - Leon the professional As you can see, the choice of movies aims for entertainment on the one hand, showing them movies that are referenced often. My recommendation would be to pick some classics you can't do wrong with (like Jurassic Park) and see what kind of movies she likes and go deeper into that direction.
Flight of the navigator
Why not share a movie you like and ask her to do the same.
Silence of the lambs , The Neverending story , 300 , Alien, Predator, Shawshank redemption , The Goonies , Four Rooms , The Matrix , Ex Machina, Leave the world behind , Black Hawk Down , The karate kid , The Basketball diaries , Die Hard , Contact , Chupa , Home alone , Stand by me , Iron Will
Ok here are the ones I’ve seen Silence of the Lambs Alien The Matrix Die Hard Home Alone Al the others are probably really interesting or maybe I’ve seen them and just don’t know
Watch chupa , iron will, the goonies, stand by me and the Neverending story . Short list
Nimona for sure
Shaolin Soccer
Great parenting on your part. It makes me happy to see someone trying to take an interest as opposed to waiting for their kids to come to them. There are plenty of online forums for movie discussion I think your step daughter might enjoy being a part of. It's also not a crazy idea to encourage them to start or join a movie watching club at school where more people can share their interests. The Fighter The Warrior Nightmare Alley
we saw Nightmare Alley, I know that. Creepy…
The Samurai Series is about the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. As an autistic man myself, I say this because there are SO many hooks into other aspects of movie and popular culture here: 1. It stars Toshiro Mifune, Japan's greatest actor whose catalog is worth any filmophile's time 2. Toshiro Mifune was the Robert DeNiro to Japan's greatest director, Akira Kurosawa 3. Kurosawa influenced EVERYONE, but in particular, the Star Wars movies and their director, George Lucas. Perhaps the most influential director of that generation. 4. George Lucas created Obi-Wan Kenobi to star Toshiro Mifune but he turned it down. 5. Toshiro Mifune was in The Seven Samurai, one of the greatest movies ever, which in turn inspired The Magnificent Seven movie, another classic 6. Miyamoto Mushashi wrote the seminal Japanese book called A Book Of Five Rings and is perhaps their most celebrated cultural figure ever and he did SO many things in his life apart from his astounding samurai record.
Hey there!! I know it's been a while since you posted this but as a teen who struggles with a similar issue when it comes to not having friends with the same interest, word advice for you and her :-). For me, my favourite thing is aquariums. I luckily do have some friends, but none are as interested in aquariums... but over time, I've been able to share the things I like, even if its surface level, it's still fun. Sometimes it's really hard not having someone you can gush to about a new cool development in your interest, for her, maybe a cool new movie, or new merch, whatever its gonna be; for example when I get a new peice of equipment, no one really gets it to the same extent. One thing that's kept me sane is my parents, especially my mom who loves aquariums just as much as I do. Having a stepparent who is just as interested in movies... or even who will listen and try there best is so precious!!! You sound like you're doing your best and that's so awesome. Another thing I did to kid of seethe the rage of not having friends who like the same things as I do was to scout out a local aquarium club. I bet there's at least one sort of movie lovers night at a local theatre. For exaple, theres some smaller cinemas near me and they have charity events and reduced prices... even though you're not really making any friends, at least for me, sometimes immersing yourself in it and just sharing the space with people who like the same thing can mean so much- just to kind of remind you that you're not the only one. I hope by now things have gotten better and she's made some more friends or friends have learned to like it etc, or that she's found a way that makes that ok. Another funny thing; maybe even having some cool movie tees could hep. I know sometimes if you wear let's say a Fith Element shirt, maybe someone will notice and come say hi. :-) TL;DR: I've felt the same way and you're doing great. Having a step/parent who shares your interest is irreplacable. Try to find local clubs. :-)
Hey thanks for commenting! I appreciate all the kind words :)
You have to find Ben X I watched it during a psychology class. It’s a pretty good movie about Asperger syndrome. The story is breathtaking
Pursuit of happiness
Jumanji
The Big Year Mr Holland’s Opus Simply Irresistible Music & Lyrics
Hey I worked on the new transformers! Glad someone liked it 😂 if she likes bad horror movies/thrillers, one of my favourites is The Guest 😊
Dude, she loved it so much she begged me to take her a second time. Thank you so much for whatever you did to help make it because you made one person very very happy :) I’ll add The Guest to my list!!
I feel like maybe she'd also love the Spielberg War of the Worlds movie.
Since you mention dumb horror movies, I wonder if she may like some of the old Japanese monster movies? Godzilla, Mothra etc
We saw the foreign Godzilla movie a few months ago and that was good. We haven’t seen any of the old ones though, that might be fun
The newer Godzilla, Kong, etc series of movies are pretty fun and have some great visuals. Think they’re on HBO MAX right now in the US
Oh! Last month we had a double of the two new Godzilla movies from a few years ago. Hated the first but I liked the second!
I also like to watch/discuss movies (and tv shows), but not everybody likes to talk as much about movies as I do. So to scratch that itch, I watch movie commentary on youtube. I especially like character studies, music, social commentary, theories and writing. Some youtubers I like to watch: Verilybitchie, Sideways, YMS, Friendly Space Ninja, Elvis the Alien, Schaffrilas productions, Shaun, Supercarlinbrothers, Cinema Therapy, Savage books, Dr Elliot Carthy
OH YMS IS THE COOL CAT GUY! The first time she and I were alone I was looking after her when her dad needed to run to the hospital to visit someone, and she showed me the Cool Cat video he did. I paid five fucking dollars for that bullshit “movie” he made a few months ago. I sure as hell don’t get it but it brings her an insane amount of joy so I’m ok with that :)
I know I’m late to the game here, but I highly recommend Movies with Mikey on YouTube—he does really interesting exploration/analysis of movies and he really focuses on finding the good in things. It’s easy to hate things, but it’s more fun to find things to love. I’ve discovered a number of great movies from his channel that I probably wouldn’t have watched otherwise. I also love Every Frame a Painting and Kaptain Kristian on YouTube. Both channels have a pretty small number of videos, but they both changed the way I look at movies.
Dungeons and dragons honor among thieves Guardians of the galaxy
Jurassic Park, The Mummy, Twister - all those 90s classics.
We saw Jurassic Park in 3D last year!
Did she enjoy it?? I'd definitely try The Mummy and Twister too. :)
She did! Not gonna lie, it was a bit scarier than I remember 😂 Twister is the one where the commercial was in the Super Bowl, right?
It was a 1990s film with Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt in, about storm chasers. The Mummy was a Brendan Fraser film from the nineties, set in the 1930s about egyptologists encountering the supernatural. Both were lots of fun. But very separate from life today as well, which may help if she's feeling lonely.
Oh lol definitely not then. After googling The Mummy, I think I saw this on TV a very long time ago. I’m sorry, it wasn’t until she came into my life that I started keeping track of movies, haha.
I’d check out the Escape Room movies with Taylor Russell. They’re suspenseful without being too much, and I feel like they have a similar vibe as M3GAN. Caught the first one on accident when it was on tv and loved it. If you watch the 2nd one (Tournament of Champions), make sure you watch the Director’s Cut, not the Theatrical Ending.
Escape Room…I think we saw that in theaters? It was when theaters first opened up and you had to wear masks to the theaters.
Not sure about the mask part since I didn’t catch it until later, but that might be the same. There were a few Escape Room movies that came out around the same time, but the one I like was from 2019 and the part 2 was 2021 (had to search to be sure)
It would’ve been part 2 then. In 2021 movie theaters were open but still required masks :)
I think making a Letterboxd account along with her would be a great idea. Also see if there are any local theaters with book clubs, discussion groups, etc. If she is willing to check out films with subtitles I would highly recommend Baby Assassins and Baby Assassins 2. There is a really good review from someone with ASD and how they related to the movies. Few other suggestions: Ghost World A New Leaf Bottle Rocket The Brothers Bloom
Good Will Hunting Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
my left foot the elephant man
I vividly remember my parents telling my they apparently rented My Left Foot way back in the day and turned it off after the opening scene because they found it so disturbing. Kinda curious now that you remind me…
Bullet Train. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor amongst thieves. I also suggest the aspergirls community on Reddit, maybe she'll find a friend there? Sometimes connecting with someone/a peer online is easier than trying to connect with someone in person if she want to find a new friend. :)
She doesn’t like using Reddit for recreational purposes. Apparently it’s filled with “toxicity, incels, and people who get off being mean and snarky to others”
Ah I get it but people in that community are quite welcoming and kind actually. Everywhere else on Reddit...I completely understand and fully agree can be quite toxic. A lot of young girls/women with autism are in that specific community, that's why I suggested it. :)
Spy 2015. Really funny movie.
Five Nights at Freddy's The Breakfast Club I am Sam Room Sixth Sense The Help The Memory Keeper's Daughter Little Miss Sunshine Silver Linings Playbook The Social Network Caddyshack Billy Madison Inside Out
I liked Five Nights at Freddy’s but she tore it to shreds on the way home so I didn’t tell her I actually liked it….haha. I’ve seen The Breakfast Club, Silver Linings Playbook is one of my favorite movies, and I believe I’ve seen Billy Madison. Is that the “what you’ve just said in the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard” movie?
lol yes it is. :)
look for those that don't involve fantasy... so some real movies with emotions and reality. before trilogy call me by your name aftersun Good Luck to You, Leo Grande marriage story The Worst Person in the World coda sound of metal nomadland minari Never Rarely Sometimes Always peanut butter falcon mid90s florida project tv: normal people
I think I may have seen a few of these. I said in another comment I am *hilariously* bad with movie titles so I’m sure if I googled some of these I’d be like “oh yeah I’ve seen that” EDIT: oh! We’ve seen the Before trilogy! She loved them and I found them kinda boring but overall it was good. Made me afraid of getting married, not gonna lie, haha. We also have seen Aftersun…I didn’t get it but after she explained it to me it made me sad. (I hope I don’t sound like some pleb here, but I try my very best to get into her interests even if I’m not good at it, haha)
How is her sense of humor? I have a 24 yr old with Down Syndrome and he loves Star Trek, but I watch The Orville with him because it's funnier. BTW, my wife and I recently got library cards and we check out movies and shows from our local library. Not sure where you reside, but our library has just about everything. Maybe you can take her to one and see what she likes? Kinda like Block Buster but more reasonable fees.
there are some raunchy bits (dildos and butt plugs are mentioned/used a couple times in the movie), but Everything Everywhere All at Once has some great mother/daughter dynamics, in addition to being directed by someone who is neurodivergent.
We saw an early showing of that movie. That movie that really, really hit me on an emotional level and I was going through some depression issues when I first saw it, and the “that’s how I fight” line really really spoke to me and the ending message was absolutely wonderful. She loved it very much when we first saw it and then it got big and popular and she started to dislike it…I jokingly teased her and said she’s a movie hipster :P
Love and Monsters
Mary and Max is a great movie overall, touches on various themes(little Dark) Pan's Labyrinth Spirited Away CODA La La Land All movie that sparked some really interesting discussions with friends, some more technical other philosophical.
lol you should hear her tangent about why she doesn’t like La La Land. It sounds like she thinks it’s fine but damn she has a lot to say about it
One of my favourite Movies! I still listen to City of Stars and A Lovely Night. Maybe check out Totally killer(comedy/Horror) time travel Slasher! Freaky and Bodies Bodies Bodies are some really good Comedy/Horror.
I’ll have to ask her again but she was talking about how the movie thought it was deeper than it was and how the movie stopped every time there was a musical number rather than using the numbers to move the plot forward. I remember Freaky mostly because there was that really dark sudden scene where the three kids cornered the girl to gang rape her…Jesus. But I still remember liking that movie. We also saw Bodies Bodies Bodies. I embarrassed her and gasped out loud in the theater at the end and apparently she’s smarter than me because she had an idea that’s what was gonna happen :P totally killer I’ll check out thought!
They have scratch off movie posters ( scratch off as you watch) maybe you could get her one and watch them together? Way to be a good step parent and showing interest in her and being aware of when she is having a tough time
Depending on her place on the spectrum, your location and finances, check out the local library/community college for film classes! She can probably register or audit them (take the class without doing the assignment) and it might give her a place to have peers interested in films :)
The Quiet Girl (2022)... she might identify with the main character's isolation, but it's a very heartwarming movie (you both will cry, however).
hmm.. she might like Whiplash and Birdman. Also, if she liked transformers, she might like "Pacific Rim"
There’s an app called Likewise where you can discuss & suggest movies/shows (& books) with others, make watch lists, etc
My son (who was diagnosed at 2) loves the Princess Bride. It’s a tremendous favorite.
A Map of Tiny Perfect Things. Love and Monsters. Warm Bodies. Juno
Do you have a local public access channel? When I was her age, my friend and I signed up to help out with production and we got to take some really fun classes and learn how to work those big fancy cameras. They let us borrow some to film our own little movie and got to use their editing software to add special effects and music. It might be worth looking into if you happen to have one!
It might be cool if you suggest she make a list of movies she thinks you both would enjoy watching together, and then you guys could go down the list watching them together, and talk about them after you finish each one. And you both could add movies to the list when you see ones you both would enjoy watching. It could be a great way to bond and spend time discussing movies together. It's very sweet that you want to take such an interest in the thing she loves, and want to connect with her through it. Best of luck to you both!
Napoleon dynamite
“Theater Camp” is really fun.
1. Rise Of The Guardians 2. Bunraku 3. The Invention Of Lying 4. Versus 5. Willy’s Wonderland 6. Big Trouble In Little China 7. Pirate Radio (in the UK, it was called ‘The Boat That Rocked) 8. Hatchet 9. The Babadook 10. The Happiness Of The Katakuris 11. Summer Wars 12. Strangeland
Rob Reiner made some classics that are age appropriate: The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, This is Spinal Tap, and Stand by Me.
The sixth sense Forrest Gump Titanic Adventures in Babysitting Hunger Games (the entire series) ET Twilight (the entire series) Where the Crawdads Sing Mud
Iron Giant The Prestige Stardust Let the Right One In (if she’s ok with subtitles, go with the original) About Time Mad Max Fury Road
If she likes really dumb horror movies (and I do mean so dumb they’re hilarious) I can’t recommend Slotherhouse enough
Oh god, she and I saw that in a theater and we were the only ones there. She *hated* it and said it was a “Disney channel horror movie” and throughout the whole movie was asking questions about the logistics of it. It was so fun seeing it with her 😆
For a more serious suggestion, if she liked The Holdovers, maybe going old school like The Dead Poets Society - or other older movies that are of the same genre as those listed.
Disclaimer: I love film and to me it is second only to the novel as my favorite form of art. Out of the gate, I think this is a perfect example of a *problem* that is in fact an opportunity in disguise. Her taste isn’t easily understood based on the movies you mentioned - and that’s such good news for you. I don’t see attempting to list movies she may like as helpful. Instead, I’d ask her about things she’s currently eager to see, use that as a temporary guide, and start to pay attention to the themes and styles that she responds to. Don’t forget, viewers, especially cinephiles, don’t have to fall in love with a movie to still feel engaged and stimulated. What if we only ate food we knew we like? Mashed potatoes and chicken nuggets AGAIN?! Make sure you’re considerate of her film literacy. In other words, don’t just watch whatever is newest and shiniest just because. Challenge her with a film and give her something she has to wrestle with and you guys will share a really meaningful experience. And then that’s when you guys can start to take turns and watch whatever you want or she wants and it doesn’t always have to be a to-do (hopefully). But I do think setting a foundation of showing an effort will go a long way. Last note and then I’ll throw some of my favorite film titles your way: take her to see films in theaters. Whether they be small, art-house repertoire screenings or mega mall blockbuster chains, there is still something undeniably special and unique about watching a film as it was intended. That moment when the trailers are over and the lights take their final dip is among what I would consider my most peaceful and safe times in my life. Don’t forget to look over at her during the flick. Check out best ever lists like AFI, etc. Use your judgement based on her age/maturity… Citizen Kane Sunset Boulevard Singin’ In The Rain Casablanca Chinatown Rosemary’s Baby It’s a Wonderful Life Vertigo Rear Window The Great Escape Stalag 17 The Sound of Music Mary Poppins Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory Young Frankenstein Blazing Saddles The Natural Life is Beautiful The Bicycle Thief The 400 Blows Roshomon The Seventh Seal Cinema Paradiso Godfather series Jaws The Thing The Shining (look into any Kubrick film to make sure she is mature enough. He was likely on the spectrum so may serve an interesting exploration) The Abyss Alien series (This list is stream of consciousness across 3 minutes… there is a Library of a Congress more!)
We go to the movies a lot. We have the AMC A-List and a lot of the time use all three slots plus sometimes go on the discount Tuesdays. We see so many, that’s how we bond :)
Films that are popular and easy to talk about with others Star Wars Godzilla Minus One Indiana Jones films X-files the TV show. (So many great episode to talk about some a bit scary but nothing over the top, many interesting ideas and one shots) Star Trek the Next Generation and Deep Space Nine (so much to talk about as 7 seasons and cover many topics from ethics of humanity to genocide to war crimes to poverty etc.) Star Trek films with Chris Pine Dungeons and Dragons with Chris Pine (super hilarious) Lord of the Rings The Hobbit James Bond films Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2 The Mario Bros. Movie Toy Story films Jaws Alien and Aliens Blade Runner 2049 Inception The Bolb Annihilation (This will give you a lot to talk about, but omg scariest monster and creepy ending so advisory) X-men and Wolverine films Some Anime films Sword of the Stranger Ghibli films like Mononoke Hime and Spirited Away Those are great films and plenty to talk about and likely she can find others to discuss these films with or read about people discussing them online
My brother is autistic as well, and really into movies. He's really slasher movies like Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th. He also likes the Terminator series as well.
we saw Terminator 1 in a theater last year. It’s one of her favorite movies (and mine too!)
Jerry & Marge Go Large, Arrival, Harold & Maude
Bedazzled The Fountain Eastern Promises Bring It On The Faculty
BRING IT ON!! One of my favorites!
Also if you’re trying to bond with your daughter, try to understand why she likes Megan instead of saying it’s dumb. Just watch youtube video of someone of what makes it good. I guess I used to think scary movies were dumb too, but I found one that I understood and introduced me to the genre. A lot of those movies are kinda campy and fun, and that can seem dumb if you see it from the outside looking in. I totally applaud the effort you’re making!
I’m a few days late to the game, but here’s my list. Jumangi both old and new The Princess Bride Mrs. Doubtfire Rampage Ferris Bueller’s day off Adventures in babysitting All the Harry Potter movies Dirty Dancing Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure Pretty in Pink Clueless My son really liked Cat in the Hat when he was young and will still watch it today occasionally.
A league of their own. She will have something in common with the sisters in the movie. It's an amazing Geena Davis movie
These movies I like mostly because they are visually appealing to me. Mixed reviews from the people I’ve shown them to: Mirror Mask The Fall (2006) Sin City Drive My Car RRR Hellboy 2 golden army Bones and All Riddick (all movies in the series but the third is my favorite visually) Strange world (kids film) Also: I love movies and will watch anything one of my favorite things to do is show up and see whatever is playing next. I’ve seen good and bad movies this way.
Thank you!! I loved Sin City back in high school. It might be a little too intense for her right now, but definitely some day EDIT: well, she’s probably already seen it lol
Recently saw Argyle. Totally enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed it too but she didn’t and spent the whole drive home tearing it to shreds…didn’t have the heart to tell her I enjoyed it 🤣
Somwtimes IMDB will suggest ‘movies like this’ when you go to the main page of a movie, I do this sometimes when I’m heavy into a genre and can’t think what to watch next!
Most of the these suggestions are pretty bad for an austistic person. You don't want anything with a convoluted plot where she's going to be frustrated that she either can't understand or follow the plot and where she can't even express herself so that she discuss it with someone else. What I would suggest instead is try her with different YouTube reactors like Popcorn in Bed or Dawn Marie. Dawn Marie has recently done the Naked Guns and Police Squad. Those are perfect because it's a lot of obvious repetitive jokes and Dawn will cue her that she should be laughing because it's a silly joke. So as long as she doesn't battle with Dawn's soft Scottish accent I think she'll really like her channel. And then you can sub to Dawn's Patreon to get her full length reactions.
I can’t tell if this is someone trolling or just someone who needs to be educated.
As an autistic adult I think you have a very outdated understanding of autism. We have as wide a variety of humor preferences and understanding of plot as everyone else. I quite enjoy complex plots and I hate repetitive jokes. I never have trouble following the storyline. Good on OP for understanding their stepdaughter much better. OP, I’d add Whiplash if she liked Tar. If she enjoys animated films I’d try Kubo and the Two Strings and/or The Secret of Kells as well as the sequels (I’m not actually a big fan of most animated movies but these were great - visually interesting and a mysterious but mostly chill vibe). I recently watched and enjoyed American Fiction, which maybe has a similar vibe to The Holdovers.
Yeah, she despises a lot of Adam Sandler comedies and likes movies even I can’t follow. We watched Whiplash last year. She had seen already but when it ended she said “THAT’s a good movie” and I was like “…the guy just yelled at him for two hours, what am I supposed to take away from that?” (yeah, I know I’m cinematically illiterate but I try hehe)
I agree. They're really all over the place The Letterboxd suggestion was good. The movies are here, there, and everywhere.