1. It's Black History Month! Watch a movie about Black history (or that made Black history)
*Have you ever seen another movie on this topic? Who is at the center of this story, are they at the center of this movie?
2. A movie about the AIDS crisis
*Is this movie from during the crisis, or reflecting back on it? What do you think it wants to say about it?
3. A movie featuring work (directing, acting, costume design, anything goes) from someone we lost to AIDS or related illness (you can use this list, but obviously take care not to choose someone still with us).
*Take a minute to read a little but about this person. What were they like, as an artist or as a person?
4. A movie with a scene in the bath or shower
*Why is this scene set here? What does it accomplish?
5. A movie featured in TCM’s 100 Years at the Movies: www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0--rxKevzw
*So often we reduce movies to one iconic image or meme. Is that a good or bad reason to watch a movie? Do you think it reduces or builds the power of these moments to know them as memes?
6. A classic screwball comedy
*Screwball comedies, in addition to being extremely silly, can be surprisingly transgressive. Did anything in this movie surprise you?
7. A Katharine Hepburn movie
*Katharine Hepburn has a unique screen presence. What do you think audiences saw in her, and what do you see today?
8. Watch a movie about the historical event or era that most interests you
*Do you think this movie captured history? What other movies cover the event better?
9. Happy Oscar night! This year, the Oscars once again nominated zero women for best director. Watch any movie by Greta Gerwig, Marielle Heller, Lorene Scafaria, Lulu Wang, or Céline Sciamma, who made some lovely movies in 2019 (If there's another woman director you think made an amazing movie in 2019, feel free to watch a movie by her instead).
*Why do you think movies made by women don't get more awards attention? Does it matter?
10. One more Oscar feature- A movie that won the Oscar for Best Score
*How did the music in this movie change your experience of it?
11. A movie featured on the podcast about the portrayal of women in movies, The Bechdel Cast.
*Do you notice anything about the role of gender in this movie? How much do you think about this when you watch something?
12. A movie with an event or detail that reflects your life experience (anything goes, big or small).
*How does seeing this element of your life reflected make you feel? Does it feel accurate to your experience?
13. A movie that is extremely different from your life experience
*Roger Ebert said "The movies are like a machine that generates empathy. It lets you understand a little bit more about different hopes, aspirations, dreams and fears. It helps us to identify with the people who are sharing this journey with us." Do you find that to be true? Why or why not? When and when not?
14. A movie that doesn't feature any romantic storyline
*What does leaving out romance make room for in this movie? Why do you think so many movies are about sex and romance?
15. A movie featured at Roger Ebert's film festival, Ebertfest (Originally known as the Overlooked Film Festival).
*Do you agree with Ebert (or his legacy website's) review of this movie?
16. A movie from Letterboxd's List of the 100 top movies directed by women
*Why does it matter that this movie was made by a woman? How much do you seek out movies women make?
17. A movie featured in the podcast "Blank Check" about directors who have massive success early in their career, and are given a series of blank checks to make whatever crazy passion projects they want. Sometimes those checks clear... sometimes they bounce...
*Is this a "blank check" movie where the director had a lot of control? Does that seem like it helped or hurt the movie?
18. A Jane Fonda movie
*Jane Fonda has been iconic in different ways and through different eras. What is she capturing in the movie you saw, and do you find it compelling in 2020?
19. A Don Bluth movie
*Do you watch movies aimed at children as an adult? Why or why not?
20. A movie featured in the movie history podcast You Must Remember This
*Listen to the episode, or read a little about the movie. How does the backstory of a movie affect the way you view it?
21. A movie featuring Muppets (you can use Sesame Street movies as well)
*Puppetry is one of the oldest art forms. How do you respond to the Muppets differently than you respond to human actors?
22. A movie you've seen before and didn't like, but that so many people you trust love you've realized you need to revisit it.
*Was past you right? If not, why did you feel differently this time?
23. A Studio Ghibli movie
*How do you respond differently to animation than to other movies?
24. A movie featuring a relationship model other than monogamy (but not a movie primarily about cheating on a monogamous relationship)
*What does this movie have to say about this approach to love? Is it a sympathetic portrayal or a cautionary one?
25. A movie featuring a sad robot
*Artificial intelligence is around the corner. Do you think the robots of the future will find this portrayal insensitive?
26. A movie that feels like homework or that you feel obligated to watch
*Why weren't you looking forward to seeing this? Was it good for you to watch?
27. A movie that makes you happy
*Do movies make you feel good? In what way? Is it an escape? Feeling connected? Having a chance to laugh?
28. A movie that will make you feel a strong emotion
*Did you think feeling this way is good for you? How so?
29. A movie that is the reason you watch movies
*What do you watch movies for?