Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
The 25 Best Nostalgic Movies That I Completely Forgot Existed
Blast into the past with these beloved films
Whether we first saw these flicks yesterday or 10 years ago, the below list of movie titles undeniably elicits a strong sense of nostalgia. There are the classic films that tend to appear on every other movie listicle (I’m looking at you Clueless and Forrest Gump) as well as the little-known movies that you probably last watched in a high school classroom (was your math class really math class-ing if you didn’t watch Stand and Deliver at least once a year?). No matter what genre of nostalgia-inducing films you’re in the mood for, this list has something for every kind of moviegoer. Keep scrolling to see Harper’s Bazaar’s top 25 picks of the best nostalgic movies of all time.
Looking for a specific decade? Then, consider checking out our curated lists for the best movies that defined the ’80s and the ’90s.
Selena (1997)
Jennifer Lopez, in her breakout role, stars as Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in this critically-acclaimed biopic about the Mexican-American superstar. The film chronicles the singer’s rise to fame and the tragic moments that led to her untimely death in 1995. The performance ultimately earned Lopez her first-ever Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
What a Girl Wants (2003)
Amanda Bynes shines in this hilarious coming-of-age story about a 17-year-old girl determined to track down her father, a London politician, who has no idea that she exists. Daphne (Bynes) walks straight into Henry’s (Colin Firth) life right as he’s is in the midst of his bid to become the next prime minister of the United Kingdom. While her laidback all-American personality initially chafes against her father’s aristocratic customs, the two eventually learn how to accept each other for who they truly are.
The Parent Trap (1998)
The Parent Trap marked Lindsay Lohan’s first-ever major movie role—and also cemented her status as a star of the screen. Decades after it premiered, the movie stills holds up as a heartwarming story about two sisters determined to reconcile their estranged parents. Lohan plays twins Hallie and Annie, who were raised in California and England, respectively, each not knowing that the other existed—until their parents send them to the same summer camp. The girls decide to swap places, resulting in an unforgettable summer full of impressive pranks, secret handshakes, wedding dresses, and California grapes.
Cinderella (1997)
It might sound daunting to remake a musical that once starred Julie Andrews in the lead role. But the 1997 film adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved Cinderella needn’t worry when its cast boasted the likes of Brandy, Whitney Houston, and Whoopi Goldberg. Cinderella breathed new life into the centuries-old fairytale, complete with sumptuous costumes and breathtaking musical sequences. The movie’s embrace of color-blind casting was also groundbreaking—Brandy was the first Black actress to portray Cinderella onscreen, and she did so opposite Filipino performer Paolo Montalban, who played the prince—providing proof that onscreen diversity is an undeniable asset to major Hollywood projects everywhere.
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) is the new kid in town. Freshly graduated from UCLA, she begins teaching art history at the prestigious all-girls school, Wellesley College, in 1953. In class, Katherine is determined to convince her students to aspire to more in life than the traditional mores of marriage and motherhood. She develops life-altering relationships with students played by Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Ginnifer Goodwin.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
The first installment of the Harry Potter film franchise made the young wizard a household name across the world. The movie’s success is in large part thanks to the chemistry of the golden trio: Daniel Radcliffe as the titular Harry, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. The trio’s sweet friendship coupled with the world-building of a magical boarding school called Hogwarts secured Harry Potter’s place as a classic family-friendly movie to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Big Fish (2003)
At the end of his father’s life, journalist William Bloom (Billy Crudup) attempts to reconcile the tall tales his dad recounted to him as a child with the real-life Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) who is now deteriorating in a hospital bed. Although he is dying, Edward holds fast to his exaggerated life stories, from an encounter with a fortune-telling witch to his past as a circus performer. Despite the odd nature of these stories, William eventually learns that the truth can sometimes be stranger than it seems.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
There was perhaps no movie as formative in the childhoods of millennial and Gen-Z cusps everywhere than The Princess Diaries. Director Gary Marshall plucked a fresh-faced Anne Hathaway from obscurity to lead this heartening coming-of-age story, in the process introducing a bold new talent to Hollywood (and for that, we shall forever be grateful). Hathaway plays Mia Thermopolis, a socially inept San Franciscan teenage who is determined to remain invisible for the rest of her life. That goal, however, will be hard to stick to after she finds out that her grandmother, Clarisse (Julie Andrews), is actually the queen of a small European country called Genovia. And, oh yeah, Mia is next in line to the throne.
Crossroads (2002)
After spending the better half of a decade apart from each other, childhood best friends Kit (Zoe Saldaña), Lucy (Britney Spears), and Mimi (Taryn Manning) reconnect on a cross-country roadtrip. Along the way, the trio discover new ways to come into their own, letting go of past hurts and developing new dreams. The dramedy covered a range of serious topics, from teen pregnancy and abuse to parental abandonment and infidelity.
Forrest Gump (1994)
In this seminal piece of ’90s cinema, Tom Hanks stars as the titular Forrest Gump, a man from Alabama who recounts his entire life story to a stranger at a bus stop. Armed with a childlike sense of innocence and optimism, Forrest gets himself into unbelievably astounding situations, from earning the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon B. Johnson to influencing John Lennon to write “Imagine.” No matter how wild the circumstances of his life, Forrest’s lifelong love for his childhood friend, Jenny, sustains him, and the two develop a one-of-a-kind relationship that lasts for an entire lifetime.
Hook (1991)
Peter Banning (Robin Williams) is a middle-aged workaholic who has trouble balancing his career as a lawyer with his family. But, when a nemesis from his past life kidnaps his kids, Peter must leave London to return to his roots in Neverland, where he was once known as Peter Pan. Of course, he can’t save his kids without recruiting the help of the Lost Boys, the band of eternally young boys who he once led.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
In this Academy Award-nominated film, Robin Williams plays John Keating, the new English teacher at Welton Academy, a preparatory all-male boarding school located in Vermont. Keating is unlike any other teacher at Welton. He employs unorthodox methods of instruction, from standing on desktops to ripping up poetry books—actions that strain his professional relationship with the headmaster. Ultimately, his constant encouragement to “seize the day” helps infuse a newfound sense of confidence and curiosity in students Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) and Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard).
Matilda (1996)
Ever since she was a young girl, Matilda (Mara Wilson) showed signs of being extremely gifted. Unfortunately for Matilda, her negligent parents and bully of an older brother couldn't care less. The young girl’s talents aren’t noticed until her teacher, Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz), takes notice and advocates on her behalf. Eventually, Matilda learns how to stand up for herself, too, when she taps into the unexpected power of telekinesis.
Bring It On (2000)
Starring Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union, Bring It On follows the journey of the Toros, a San Diego high school’s cheerleading squad, as they fight their way to the national championship tournament for the sixth consecutive year. But, when the new girl in school tries out for the squad, she is appalled to discover that the team’s routines have actually been copied from the Clovers, another cheerleading team from a high school in Compton.
White Chicks (2004)
After FBI agents Marcus (Marlon Wayans) and Kevin (Shawn Wayans) ruin a drug bust, their boss punishes them by assigning the brothers to escort socialite sisters Brittany (Maitland Ward) and Tiffany (Anne Dudek), who have been pinpointed as the next targets in a series of high-profile kidnappings, to an event in the Hamptons. En route to the hotel, Brittany and Tiffany suffer a minor car accident that leads to visible cuts on their faces—physical detriments that make the duo drop out of the event altogether. With a little help from prosthetics, Marcus and Kevin decide to take the sisters’ places, instead. For one hilarious week, the brothers pose as white, blonde, and blue-eyed girls.
School of Rock (2003)
When Dewey Finn (Jack Black) gets kicked out of his rock band, he finds himself posing as a substitute music teacher at a school run by an uptight principal (Joan Cusack). To his surprise, he discovers that the classroom is ripe with rockstar potential, and he secretly enlists the class in a Battle of the Bands competition with a $20,000 prize.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
Four best friends living in Maryland—Carmen (America Ferrera), Tibby (Amber Tamblyn), Lena (Alexis Bledel), and Bridget (Blake Lively)—go on separate adventures for their summer vacations. However, the foursome stay connected by mailing the same pair of jeans (which magically fits all of them perfectly) to each other from across different corners of the world.
Clueless (1995)
In this modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher Horowitz, one of the most popular girls at her Beverly Hills high school. When Cher successfully sets up two awkward teachers, she decides to spread the good will by targeting Tai (Brittany Murphy), a new student who’s in desperate need of a makeover. However, Cher’s matchmaking streak is quickly undercut, and the mishap forces her to come to terms with not being right about everything.
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
This acclaimed Studio Ghibli film follows Sophie, a young and beautiful milliner who gets cursed by a witch to appear as an old lady. Sophie sets out to break the curse by seeking out Howl, a wizard who lives in a magical moving castle. In the midst of their adventure, a war breaks out between Sophie’s home nation and a neighboring kingdom.
National Treasure (2004)
After getting brushed off by the FBI, historian Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) sets out on a mission to protect the Declaration of Independence due to the historical document’s connection to a fabled ancient treasure. Along the way, he interprets mysterious ciphers and identifies hidden clues that inch him closer and closer to unlocking secrets of the past.
30 Essential Mother’s Day Movies
The 55 Best Shows on Hulu
Sarah Catherine Hook on Her First Chanel Show
The 20 Best Movie Series of All Time
