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@to.watch.list

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Reviews of the good, bad, and ugly films to add (and avoid) on your watch list
Trust me, not Rotten Tomatoes

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Frankenstein is a 2025 Gothic horror starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi that follows the life of an ambitious scientist and his experiment gone wrong.
Length: 2h 30 (on Netflix)
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
To Watch List: 🥇
Honestly I think this story is overdone. There’s been a million takes on Frankenstein over the years, including 2 released just 6 months apart at the end of 2025 into 2026. And I say this coming from a perspective of appreciation. I LOVED reading Frankenstein in high school, genuinely I was so blown away by it, especially because I wasn’t expecting to be. It’s a great gothic classic that I would recommend to anyone, very unique and has always stuck with me—which is why I was curious about this adaptation. I did love how this movie preserved the true gothic feel that the book brings—through set design, cinematography, costumes, makeup—all of which were stellar to me and deserved all of the award nominations. It also maintained the original storytelling timeline that switches perspectives + between part/present. This movie definitely of course took some creative liberties with some plot details, but overall I thought it was a solid adaptation. However, it was WAY too long. 2h 30 min isn’t even that long to me for a movie, but this felt more like 5 hours. I watched it over a span of weeks, which is saying a lot for me because I hate doing that, and it STILL felt long. Besides that though, I did enjoy it. by @to.watch.list

3

0

3 months ago

Money Monster is a 2016 thriller starring George Clooney as Financial TV and Julia Roberts as his producer who are put in an extreme situation when an irate investor takes them and their crew as hostage.
Length: 1h 39 (*on Netflix leaving May 31st)
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 59%
To Watch List: 🥇
This one has been on my list for literally YEARS, but for some reason I just never got around to watching it, and I’m so glad now that I finally did. Super entertaining, ver fast paced, keeps you invested (no pun intended) the whole time, this movie was worth the wait for me. Really high energy and of course propelled by the stellar 2 leads. I don’t think once while watching that it lost my attention, potentially aided by the short run time, but largely by the action filled, thought provoking plot. Honestly this did seem like a realistic movie to some degree degree- or at least the main plot elements- I’m sure there are countless stories of people taking financial advice from tv personalities, celebrities, google, so bots, etc., and it going wrong. I particularly loved George Clooney in this, he was really convincing as his character. I also thought the tv show in it was SO funny, so I enjoyed that element as well. Also directed by Jodie Foster, fun fact. Overall this movie was more entertaining, edge of my seat, and thought provoking than I expected (and more than reviews indicated). Underrated to me. by @to.watch.list

1

0

5 months ago

No summary needed, it’s just the sequel.
Length: 2h
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
To Watch List: 🥈
My expectations weren’t high bc I’m not generally a fan of sequels like this (when the first one is so good it feels like there doesn’t need to be a 2nd/the plot comes to a good close), and all the trailers seemed to have no plot, BUT I saw there were some decent reviews. Sadly, my expectations were not exceeded or met. This felt stale, forced, artificial, and flat. Speaking of artificial, it felt like the writers of this were ChatGPT with a bad prompt. It’s like they couldn’t decide on a plot line, so they took the ideas they had and just did all of them in a half baked attempt. Truly not a single plot point was developed. It felt like Netflix movie w the color grading, break neck plot shifts, and dialogue. A couple issues character wise too: Andy is a bit pick me in #1, but you want to root for her. In this, she is insufferable. Miranda is iconic bc of how brutal, sharp, straightforward she is- she has none of those qualities in this one in, it didn’t even feel like the same character. Good sequels don’t rely on the first movie, they build on it, and this one was completely reliant—on the nostalgia, jokes, events. The first one is so great bc it’s unique, quick, clever, this just felt like a half effort money grab, not a sequel 20 years in the making. They tried to take a page out of Top Gun’s book, but save your time on this one and just rewatch the OG. That’s all. by @to.watch.list

4

1

5 months ago

As Good as it Gets is a 1997 rom com following a writer with OCD whose life changes when he must care for his neighbor’s dog, forcing him to confront his own issues and develop actual relationships.
Length: 2h 19
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
To Watch List: 🥈
Went in with basically zero background other than know knowing both of the leads won Oscars for their roles. This movie slowly charms the audience, making you increasingly invested in the unlikable main character (and random group around him). With that said, the potential of this movie was good. However, the reality didn’t match for me. It went down a number of angles with side characters, but never actually developed them, just dead ended and turned around. To me, it fell flat. Somehow the movie gets you to root for the unlikable Melvin, only for him to never really improve or become a main character you actually want to root for. He is given chance after chance to redeem himself, and flops every time, which was disappointing because you expect there to be at least a slight turnaround. I also hated the relationship. It just wasn’t believable, and felt forced and underdeveloped. Also Carol deserved way better. Overall, this movie is not as good as it gets, and just missed the mark to me. Best part imo was the ratty dog. by @to.watch.list

2

0

6 months ago

Face/Off is a 1997 thriller, starring Nicolas Cage and John Travolta, in which an FBI agent swaps faces and identities with the criminal mastermind behind a planned attack in LA, as they both try to thwart each other’s plans.
Length: 2h 18 (**currently on Peacock**)
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
To Watch List: 🏅
I watched this at the end of the year and was so so surprised I had never even heard of it, let alone seen it on streaming before. Seriously I think it’s extremely underrated. The plot concept itself is standout, but then the actual execution was great. It’s pretty mind blowing, and really just so fun to watch. Every time I thought it couldn’t get crazier, there would be another twist. A really complex, but well executed body swap that kept me interested the entire time down to the last minute. I also will say I had no idea what was going to happen the whole time. John Travolta and Nick Cage were SO good as foils to one another, and also fantastic at making the viewer believe the body swap element. I loved how focused the movie stayed on the two of them. Really an edge of your sea, mind-bending, unique, memorable, action packed movie. I can’t think of any movie I’ve seen like it, prime example of they don’t make like them like they used to. by @to.watch.list

3

0

6 months ago

Eternity is a romantic sci-fi comedy starring Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner, about a woman in the afterlife who must choose between her husband and her first love.
Length: 1h 53
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
To Watch List: 🎖️
Likely my favorite movie of 2025, Eternity surpassed even my high expectations. I was excited for months after hearing about this movie, seeing the first trailer, and knowing it was A24. I walked out of the theater with that dramatic movie high kind of feeling like “I am changed now” and looking at things with a magical new perspective that you might feel after seeing a truly great movie. The style, captivating. The plot, SO SO original and creative (which made it even better given that feels rare nowadays). The acting, fantastic. The cinematography, stand out. This is one of my new favorite movies that is at the top of my list of 300+ movies. I left and wanted to walk into the next theater over and see it again. Genuinely I think this could be one of my new go-to rewatches, and I immediately couldn’t wait to watch it again. Truly a 10/10 to me. It’s enchanting, memorable, clever, heart wrenching, funny, reflective, and creates edge of your seat investment. The closest to a perfect movie I’ve seen in a long time. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. by @to.watch.list

5

8

7 months ago

The Housemaid is a psychological thriller that follows a young woman with a troubled past, who becomes the live-in maid for a wealthy family with a household that hides dark secrets.
Length: 2h 13
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
To Watch List: 🥇
I read this book a few years back and always thought it would be a great movie because of how easy it was to visualize-so when the rumors for this stated, I was so excited. Specifically even more when Amanda Seyfried was announced for her role. The trailer had me even more hyped, and I’ll say it, it lived up to my expectations. I thought it was a fantastic adaptation of the book. Genuinely I loved it. I was a bit shocked with the ending, and really thought I had just misremembered the book, but when I went back to check, I was right and it had been changed (unnecessarily in my opinion). I will say, I didn’t love the casting of Sydney Sweeney because I honestly think she is a 0 dimensional actor that falls flat, especially when next to such strong players like Amanda Seyfried . Her acting is painful to each at times in my opinion. However, the strong plot and overall execution diminish her weak acting. I loved this movie, it did the book justice so well, and was really fun to see in theaters. by @to.watch.list

3

2

7 months ago

Send Help is horror/comedy movie about two colleagues stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash who are forced to confront past grievances, and each other, to survive.
Length: 2h 26
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 39%
To Watch List: 🥇
I went into this movie, excited based on the trailer and cast. It seemed unique in terms of kind of being a crossover between lost/castaway and maybe the office life of Bridget Jones‘s diary. I really love watching Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien in general, but they were both fantastic in this genuinely. This movie was honestly really fun to watch, and I think should’ve been categorized as a comedy more than anything else. It was laugh out loud funny, and extremely over the top (in a good way though). It was a bit gory for my taste, but not the main focus enough to take away from the movie a really fun one to watch in theaters, especially with the shock value of some of it. Overall, I would definitely recommend this one, especially in theaters, and I will probably rewatch it down the line when I want a good laugh. by @to.watch.list

4

0

7 months ago

Alright attempting to revive this account because I’ve watched a ton of movies, in theaters particularly, recently:
Man on Fire is an action/thriller movie following a former CIA operative in Mexico City and his quest for vengeance on those who committed a terrible act against the family he was hired to protect.
Length: 2h 26
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 39%
To Watch List: 🥇
I’m surprised I had never heard of this before seeing it on Netflix. The blurb and the main cast were enticing to me. I will say, the style of this movie is unique, in my opinion, unnecessary. Like it didn’t add anything to me. I actually checked to see if it was directed by a Baz Luhrmann because it really seemed like his style. Dakota Fanning is really fun to watch in this, especially at such a young age when she was so advanced, and her unlikely friendship with Creasy was honestly really believable. Overall, I was surprised at this movie, it exceeded my expectations and the rotten tomatoes score in my opinion. It had a few good twists, had a lot of action, and the characters definitely had me invested. Did not by any means need to be over 2 hours though. by @to.watch.list

2

0

7 months ago

In honor of it being officially December, I put together a list of 25 movies that are either Christmas movies or take place during (or at some point are within) Christmas. Its definitely a variety even for containing the same seasonal element. This list intentionally leaves out some notable classics because 1. I wanted to make this a bit more exciting of a list than just the same ones everyone know and loves and 2. I’ll say it, hot take for sure, but I just don’t really like some of the classics- like I just don’t think they’re that great, overhyped, or worth the rewatch. For example, I know this is not a popular opinion, but National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation or The Polar Express are ones that personally are a skip. I didn’t enjoy them the first time/didn’t really get all of the love of them, so a rewatch is not in the cards for me. Also, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, it’s just a movie that happens to take place during Christmas. by @to.watch.list

8

3

2 years ago

Knives Out is a murder mystery movie following a family in which everyone is a suspect for the death of their wealthy patriarch. It came out on Thanksgiving in 2019, so would be a great one to watch today! (Happy Thanksgiving🦃)
Length: 2h 11
IMDb: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
To Watch List: 🏅
There really is nothing like watching a movie like this for the first time. Although it can be fun to rewatch, you definitely have to take some time before rewatching it again to forget some of the intricate details and clues. But watching it for the first time, putting puzzle pieces together, guessing the whole time, is what is really special about mysteries like this. There’s a few things that make this movie standout from others in a similar genre. First off, the INSANE ensemble cast. I mean every single name and face is recognizable. And no one was not on their A game in this. Each character is so perfectly cast and played, and their interactions are really comical. I’m sure many viewers could pick out similarities in their own family members or people around them from multiple characters. Then there is the writing. From dialogue to plot, this movie is A+ to me. It’s clever, it’s genuinely funny, it’s a rollercoaster, it’s a challenging mystery to solve as a first time audience member. Overall this movie is just very sharp to me. Great and intentional cinematography. Very detailed, and contains some fun bread crumbs dropped along the way. So well executed for its entirety. It really immerses you into this family, and it is so believable. From start to finish you are kept guessing and on the edge of your seat. It’s great to watch with a group or alone. The pacing of this movie I think is really fantastic, which is saying a lot because that normally is an issue I pick out often. I also haven’t seen this movie in at least a couple years, so I am probably being less picky than I usually would be as compared to just having watched something, but this is now motivation for me to rewatch this soon. I also did watch the sequel to this, Glass Onion, a couple months ago and shockingly loved it too…will eventually post a review of that. by @to.watch.list

4

0

2 years ago

Wicked is a 2024 musical film that retells story of the origins of the Wicked Witch and Glinda (originally from the Broadway musical show), a prequel to the Wizard of Oz.
Length: 2h 40
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
To Watch List: 🏅
As a huge fan of the original musical, having seen it myself, I was doubtful of its screen translation. Starting with the run time, at 2h 40, this part 1 movie (which was not widely advertised) is longer than the entirety of the musical. I wondered what all that extra time would be used for, but it honestly felt like 2 hours max. Next, I was skeptical of casting—not that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo aren’t star names, but that they wouldn’t be able to live up to the larger than life, beloved original cast (and their voices). I had other points of skepticism as well, involving how true to original the plot would stay, how it would feel compared to seeing it in an actual theater setting…ultimately just hoping it would somehow live up to the original. Cut to seeing it opening night…I loved it. I walked out of the theater saying I literally wanted to go see it again the next day. I was blown away. So many parts of the original immediately came back to me, but I’ll also say, if you’ve never seen it in any capacity before you will still love it because it is EXACTLY like the show, and is very immersive. It translated so well, and I loved all the Easter eggs that can be found, plus the fun facts I’ve read about production like how almost all sets were practical, the stars sang live, and how they actually planted 9 million tulips for Munchkinland. My only gripes are: I wasn’t as blown away as I wanted to be with Cynthia Ervio’s voice (especially given the huge shoes she had to fill of powerhouse Idina Menzel), her voice was great, but not jaw dropping to me. The lighting/color grading was a bit off putting and backlit, just odd. And, some of the emotional connection/deepness btwn characters + with the audience felt a bit lost (which, is hard to develop I’m sure in a movie to some degree). But overall, I LOVED it—I cant wait for part 2 (sad it’s a year long wait, that kinda kills the hype too), and to watch this one again. by @to.watch.list

4

2

2 years ago