10 BFF movies that will give you all the feels before the ‘Beaches’ remake this weekend
This Saturday, Lifetime television network will air their original remake of the 1980s movie Beaches. The original film, starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey as best friends C.C. and Hillary, two women who meet as young girls and support each other through adolescence, adulthood, love and loss. But once you’re in the mood for Beaches, there are some other BFF-themed movies that you can binge all week to get you in the Beaches mood (and block out the political reality of this week).
The remake stars Idina Menzel as C.C. and Nia Long as Hillary. The film updates some of the more dated elements, but at the heart of it all, it is still a movie about best friends — the ups, the downs and the in-between. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll probably want to call your best friend (if you can’t watch it together.) This is a list of ten films that you can watch either alone or with your best friend in preparation for the film.
1 How to Marry a Millionaire
In this old Hollywood classic, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall star as three gold digging friends who are determined to sink their hooks into a millionaire so that they can live the life of luxury they’ve always dreamed. It includes the classic line uttered by Marilyn Monroe, “Men aren’t attentive to girls that wear glasses.” What did she know?
2 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
In this film series based on a book series of the same name, friends Carmen, Tibby, Lena and Bridget have known each other since they were babies. In preparation for their first summer away from each other, they find a magical pair of jeans that keep them connected across states and continents. Make sure you have tissues next to your popcorn!
3 The Women
Another classic film from 1939, The Women is a film directed by a man with an entirely female cast; a male is never seen on screen, while they are certainly talked about! There is an insane ten minute fashion show mid movie that showcases some of fashion designer Adrian’s most exquisite fashions of the day. There is a remake from 2008, but stick with the original.
4 Bridesmaids
In this raucous 2011 comedy, friends are the center of the story, specifically what happens when your best friend gets married. There are moments that will make you a little weepy, but it’ll be hard to tell if the tears are from laughing or crying!
5 Now and Then
In this 1990s classic, four best friends spend a summer growing up and growing apart. Told mostly in flashback, you see the girls as adults now coming together for the birth of friend Chrissy’s first child. It teaches you that true friendship is forever, even if you aren’t in the same place anymore; geographically or emotionally.
6 Mean Girls
One might argue that this movie doesn’t portray female friendships in the most positive light, but that is also realistic. Friendships are always messy, but in the end it usually works out.
7 The Babysitter’s Club
Another one for the ages, but 90s girls definitely love. The Babysitter’s Club, based on the popular book series by Ann M. Martin was about seven enterprising best friends who worked as babysitters in the small Connecticut town. In the film, you see the girls at work and at play, but mostly at play. Their friendships run deep, deeper than their love for anyone.
8 Sex and the City
Based on the uber popular television show, the film version of SATC really examines what happens in friendship between women who have been friends for over twenty years. It picks up perfectly from where the television show left off and proves that even through life’s ups and downs, your best friends will always be there for you
9 Steel Magnolias
You’ll cry, then laugh then cry some more in this film from the 1980s. Starring Sally Field and a very young Julia Roberts, the film talks about friends living and loving in the South and shows how interconnected friendships really are, especially in a small town.
10 Crossroads
This film, starring Britney Spears and written by Shonda Rhimes (!!!) celebrates the importance of your girlfriends. During their cross-country roadtrip, the three friends hits several obstacles, but they never let that get in the way of their friendship.
11 Bonus: Beaches
You can’t watch the remake without the original. Make sure you have plenty of tissues for when Bette Midler sings ‘Wind Beneath My Wings.’
Sounds like a great week of movies to us.
