10 Random Movies You Need To Watch If You Haven't Already

Grab Some Popcorn It's Movie Night!

1. Where The Heart Is

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Natalie Portman stars as a pregnant teen left barefoot and stranded at a Walmart by her no-good boyfriend. She later manages to live in the megastore until her baby's sudden arrival makes her a media darling.

This has everything; romance, comedy, an award worthy monologue from Ashley Judd. It will break your heart, inspire you and make you want to give all the women in your life a call.

Fun Fact: For the scenes filmed in Wal-Mart, various pictures of Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) had to be removed.

2. Girl, Interrupted

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Set in the changing world of the late 1960s, "Girl, Interrupted" is the true story of Susanna Kaysen, played by Winona Ryder, a young woman who finds herself at a renowned mental institution for troubled young women, where she must choose between the world of people who belong on the inside or the often difficult world of reality on the outside.

I "discovered" this movie in high school, and being an angsty teen at the time, this movie helped define my experiences and interests back then. This movie is DEPRESSING but it's worth a watch. It's definitely a film you won't forget and it features a truly iconic cast of women.

Fun Fact: Winona Ryder acquired the rights to the novel herself and then spent 7 years trying to get the film made.

3. Moulin Rouge

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A celebration of love and creative inspiration takes place in the infamous, gaudy and glamorous Parisian nightclub, at the cusp of the 20th century. A young poet (Ewan McGregor), who is plunged into the heady world of Moulin Rouge, begins a passionate affair with the club's most notorious and beautiful star (Nicole Kidman).

Since I grew up watching this movie I was shocked when I found out that many of my adult friends have still never seen this. The musical arrangements are magical and the film overall is visually stunning. Since this is a jukebox musical, the familiarity of the popular songs can convince anyone who "doesn't do musicals" to give this a chance!

Fun Fact: Moulin Rouge (Red Mill) dancers really wore split knickers under their dresses, a technical point that the film-makers chose not to follow in order to obtain a PG-13 rating.

4. To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar

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Elite Manhattan drag queens Vida Boheme (Patrick Swayze) and Noxeema Jackson (Wesley Snipes) impress regional judges in competition, securing berths in the Nationals in Los Angeles. When the two meet pathetic drag novice Chi-Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo) -- one of the losers that evening -- the charmed Vida and Noxeema agree to take the hopeless youngster under their joined wing. Soon the three set off on a madcap road trip across America and struggle to make it to Los Angeles in time.

Although being yet another film where gay characters are being portrayed by straight actors everything in this film is so truthful. The Characters' identities are never the butt of a joke and Swayze, Snipes and Leguizamo brought so much to the table in this one. This movie is a classic full of camp, emotion and heart.

Fun Fact: Wong Foo, or "Fooey" as his friends called him, was the head bartender at the China Bowl restaurant. It was on 152 west 44th Street east of Broadway and closed in the 1993. The walls of the restaurant were covered with head shots of famous actors and actresses who had stopped by the place.

5. Practical Magic

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Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman), born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov (Goran Visnjic), dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet (Aidan Quinn) growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov -- and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.

If you and your sister ever thought you were witches this is the movie for you! It's such a real look into the relationships of female family members no matter what supernatural powers they possess. This is the girl power movie adult women are looking for. This is guaranteed to be a girls night staple forever.

Fun Fact: According to Sandra Bullock in the commentary, in the scene where Gillian and Sally get drunk with their aunts and they sling insults, the actresses actually got drunk. They were drinking some very bad tequila that Nicole Kidman brought.

6. Party Monster

In this film based on a true story, Michael Alig (Macaulay Culkin) arrives on a Greyhound bus in New York City desperate to leave his boring Midwestern past behind. After meeting downtown club kid James St. James (Seth Green) and influential nightclub owner Peter Gatien (Dylan McDermott), a fame-hungry Alig decides to throw the most controversial and over-the-top parties in the city. In just a few years Alig's drug addiction and erratic behavior threaten to destroy the empire he's created.

I found this film while in the 8th grade and it was everything I ever wanted. This is another movie that shaped my interests growing up and, looking back, that explains a lot. It's a neat insight into the world of the Club Kids in the 80s and 90s. Plus there are many cameos from real Club Kids of that era.

Fun Fact: Macaulay Culkin visited the real Michael Alig in prison to prepare for his role.

7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show

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In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker (Meat Loaf) and a creepy butler (Richard O'Brien). Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named "Rocky."

This film is a CLASSIC it's ART. I may just be saying this because this movie meant so much to me as a kid. It was the first musical I ever loved. Was I too young for my mom to let me watch this, maybe. Rocky Horror has gathered die hard fans for decades and when you watch you just might become one.

Fun Fact: The set builders forgot to put an extra door in the lab set, thus Dr. Scott had to crash through the wall for his entrance.

8. Pretty Woman

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In this modern update on Cinderella, a prostitute and a wealthy businessman fall hard for one another, forming an unlikely pair. While on a business trip in L.A., Edward (Richard Gere), who makes a living buying and breaking up companies, picks up a hooker, Vivian (Julia Roberts), on a lark. After Edward hires Vivian to stay with him for the weekend, the two get closer, only to discover there are significant hurdles to overcome as they try to bridge the gap between their very different worlds.

This film is funny and brilliant and IMO one of Julia Roberts' best performances. It has heart and humor and gave us so many iconic scenes still referenced today. If you pass on this movie it's a big mistake. HUGE.

Fun Fact: In the dinner scene when Vivian flings the snail across the room, the waiter says, "It happens all the time." Garry Marshall cast the same actor in The Princess Diaries (2001) years later and gave him the same line.

9. Penelope

Born with the snout of a pig, young Penelope Wilhern (Christina Ricci) spends life a virtual prisoner in her home. Believing that the only way to break the curse is to marry one of her own kind, she meets a number of suitors, but all reject her. Two devious men, one with a grudge against the family, hire a man (James McAvoy) to pose as a suitor, but complications arise when he begins to fall in love with Penelope, and she makes a bid for freedom.

A true lost classic. I don't remember ever actually watching this movie but I remember it being fantastic. The visuals and color schemes are a sight. This movie is so unique in story and may just make you believe in love again.

Fun Fact: It took an hour and a half just to put the nose prosthetic on Christina Ricci.

10. The Birdcage

In this remake of the classic French farce "La Cage aux Folles," engaged couple Val Goldman (Dan Futterman) and Barbara Keeley (Calista Flockhart) shakily introduce their future in-laws. Val's father, Armand (Robin Williams), a gay Miami drag club owner, pretends to be straight and attempts to hide his relationship with Albert (Nathan Lane), his life partner and the club's flamboyant star attraction, so as to please Barbara's father, controversial Republican Sen. Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackman).

Although it is based off the stage musical of the same name there is minimal singing in this movie. Robin Williams delivers a performance both campy and sincere and Nathan Lane is as charming as always in his first breakout film role! This movie is inspirational and, by the end, will have ringing "I am what I am!"

Fun Fact: With 18.3 million dollars, it had the highest weekend opening gross with an openly gay character in the lead until Brüno (2009).