Top 10 Movies for a Girls’ Night In

Sometimes, you just need a night in with the girls. After a particularly exhausting week, it’s nice to be able to throw on something comfier than a little black dress and wedges (though I love both of these things) and just veg in front of a really good, really girly movie with one hand on a glass of wine and the other in a bowl of popcorn, or chips or candy or ice cream… you get the picture. So invite your besties over, order take-out, and get ready to indulge in these top ten movies for a girls’ night in.

1. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)

It’s not too often that we are as close to our best friend from high school ten years after graduation. Life usually gets in the way—different colleges, career paths, romantic relationships, kids—and the friendship gets lost somewhere in the shuffle. If there was ever a movie that proved that high school best friends can make it past prom, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion is it. Seventeen Magazine best sums up the reasons why this movie is truly perfect for a girls’ night in: “Romy and Michele rock the most hilariously awesome DIY outfits, prove that besties can survive anything, and also show the popular girls that being true to who you are is all that really matters in the end!”

2. Bridesmaids (2011)

If this movie had a motto it would probably be “chicks before dicks.” Bridesmaids has been deemed the “girl-version” of producer Judd Apatow’s other hits like Anchorman and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, films that applaud the modern bromance. Rotten Tomatoes calls Bridesmaids “a female-driven comedy that refuses to be boxed in,” much like its kick-ass cast of strong women.” Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig rule the screen with their on-point (and hilarious) portrayal of two best friends during a critical moment in their lives. Annie (Wiig) fears she’s losing Lillian (Rudolph) to her impending wedding and a new best friend, something every girl can related to in one way or another.

3. Stepmom (1998)

If you’re in the mood for a good cry, this is the movie to watch. But don’t say you weren’t warned. With an all-star cast including Susan Sarandon, Julia Roberts, Jena Malone, and Ed Harris, Stepmom is a perfect portrayal of the sometimes-painful transition from adolescence to adulthood and the intricate, but precious, relationship mothers and daughters have. Seriously, get the tissues ready.

4. Legally Blonde (2001)

The classic “screw-you” movie for every girl who’s ever felt like she wasn’t being taken seriously, Legally Blonde chronicles Elle Woods’ (Reese Witherspoon) journey from a sorority girl who cares mostly about shopping and formals to a successful Harvard Law student who knows she doesn’t have to pick between being the beauty or the brains; she can have it all.

5. Crossroads (2002)

The ultimate best friends road-trip movie, Crossroads came out when Britney Spears was at her best. Lucy (Spears) brings her two childhood besties along on her journey to find her mother, who abandoned her when she was young. Though she doesn’t find the family she was looking for, she rediscovers the friendship she once had with Mimi (Taryn Manning) and Kit (Zoe Saldana). The plot may be a little cheesy, but it’s sure to strike a chord and have you reminiscing about the grade school pacts you made with your BFFLs.

6. Baby Mama (2008)

You really can’t go wrong when you put Tina Fey and Amy Poehler together. Best friends in real life, this dynamic duo makes Baby Mama a must-see, especially for girls’ night. It’s hilarious and heartwarming at the same time, a balance that Fey and Poehler strike perfectly throughout the film. With Fey playing the infertile, high-strung businesswoman and Poehler as her surrogate, the two become unlikely friends as Poehler’s character, Angie, teaches Kate (Fey) how to be what Picturebox describes here as a “high-flying Mama-to-be.” Baby Mama was just added to the streaming site’s queue, making it an even more ideal pick to add to your girls’ night line-up.

7. The Notebook (2004)

No girls’ night would be complete without The Notebook. Though on the surface this is a love story, it is also thematically connected to the other films on this list through its portrayal of a strong female character—in this case, Allie, played by Rachel McAdams. The Notebook is about tough decisions, ignoring what other people think is right for you, and following your heart instead. It’s about choosing what makes you happy: Ryan Gosling.

8. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)

Being separated from your best friends is the absolute worst thing that can happen to a girl, especially during the long summers of high school. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants provides a solution to this very problem that the four main characters face. Miles apart, they stay connected to each other by passing around a pair of jeans (that fits each girl perfectly) that they wear for every pivotal and life-changing moment. Even though we all know this could never actually happen in real life, the magic of the pants is the perfect metaphor for friendship: always there when you need it and fits exactly right.

9. She’s the Man (2006)

The best Amanda Bynes movie by far, She’s the Man has everything a girl needs for a night in with her friends: a love story, loads of laughs, and eye candy (why hello there, shirtless Channing Tatum). With an awesome soundtrack to boot, this movie is a feel-good reminder of how important it is to embrace who you are truly meant to be.

10. Frozen (2013)

If you haven’t seen Frozen yet, you’ll know as soon as you watch it why it has become so popular with not only kids but viewers of all ages—moms, dads, teenagers, men, women. It seems that there isn’t a demographic that hasn’t been exposed to the charms of Disney’s latest hit. One of the reasons for that might be the movie’s refreshingly progressive plot (and catchy soundtrack). The first film directed by a woman to make $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales, Frozen features female characters that, for once, don’t need men to save them. They are perfectly capable of saving themselves, and each other.

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