Movie marathon recommendations

February 11, 2021 7:42 AM

My 16-year-old really enjoyed our Lord of the Rings movie marathon last weekend, and wants more! She has a specific criterion though: she wants there to be a continuous plot running through all the movies.

Between two and four movies is ideal. Nothing horror or horror-adjacent. She's not a fan of superheroes but might tolerate them if female characters are highlighted. She definitely wants movies rather than TV series.

We've already watched LOTR and the Harry Potter movies. (And Indiana Jones, which doesn't meet the "continuous plot" criterion.) We won't watch The Godfather.

Thanks in advance for helping my kid better tolerate this year stuck alone with her mom!

posted by metasarah to Media & Arts (53 answers total)

The Back to the Future films?
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:45 AM on February 11, 2021 [11 favorites]

Back to the Future.
posted by Melismata at 7:45 AM on February 11, 2021

Star Wars!
posted by hought20 at 7:51 AM on February 11, 2021 [7 favorites]

Came in to suggest Star Wars.
Also, it’s arguably awful, but well, the Twilight movies?
posted by Mizu at 7:52 AM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

The Matrix movies, though female characters aren't that great.
posted by chiefthe at 7:53 AM on February 11, 2021 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Assuming you’ve seen all the good Star Wars already, Star Treks II-IV could be fun. Star Trek IV was already a comedy in the 1980’s; I can’t imagine what it would be like to watch it from scratch now.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 7:53 AM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Hunger Games series (I haven't seen the movies, but the book series is really one story, so I would assume the movies are too...)
posted by chiefthe at 7:55 AM on February 11, 2021 [12 favorites]

Star Wars, obviously.

The Before Sunrise trilogy.

There's kind of a fine line between ongoing storyline and films that are more like episodes - the Star Trek films are episodic. Bill and Ted is kind of the same story over and over, but older - and worth it with the 2020 film to cap the trilogy.

I haven't seen all of them, but I often see the Shrek and How To Train Your Dragons movies held up as film series with strong storytelling but nobody paid attention to the sequels because "kid movie".

The Bourne series.

The Terminator series, I give you permission to skip Dark Angel, and encourage you to watch the short-lived Sarah Connor Chronicles TV series after T2.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:02 AM on February 11, 2021 [3 favorites]

Once Upon a time in China has some of the best Wushu action ever filmed, based on the (fictional) exploits of (real) wholesome folk hero Wong Fei-hung. Ultimately a 'kind' series as recently discussed on the blue, but also with lots of righteous ass-kicking.
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:06 AM on February 11, 2021 [4 favorites]

If the Before Sunrise trilogy is a hit, Boyhood is a good chaser.

The 7Up series
posted by mahorn at 8:09 AM on February 11, 2021 [4 favorites]

The Hobbit
posted by a humble nudibranch at 8:10 AM on February 11, 2021

The John Wick movies, if action violence isn't a disqualification.
posted by ChuraChura at 8:10 AM on February 11, 2021 [3 favorites]

Also recommending The 7 Up Series.
posted by cocoagirl at 8:17 AM on February 11, 2021

Also if violence (and rape) isn't a disqualification, and if she's okay with subtitles, the original Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is terrific (three movies).
posted by pangolin party at 8:18 AM on February 11, 2021 [7 favorites]

A slightly left-field suggestion but: The Fast & The Furious series. The first three movies are kind of uneven, and somewhat episodic. But then the series dives full-bore into its own mythology, and it becomes an ungoing story, in a goofy, self-aware action movie way.

I will also nth the 7 Up series.
posted by yankeefog at 8:26 AM on February 11, 2021 [4 favorites]

Kill Bill if you don't mind cartoonish over the top gore and violence.
posted by tman99 at 8:36 AM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

The 60's Fantomas films all more or less lead into the other.
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:55 AM on February 11, 2021

Or the Tremors film series (there are 7 films!) Michael Gross I think is in all of them.
posted by Ashwagandha at 9:00 AM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

If she can handle documentaries, we just watched all three Paradise Lost films (child murders but not "horror" per se) and it was actually hard to stop between them because they're so engrossing.
posted by jabes at 9:06 AM on February 11, 2021

Seconding Fast and the Furious, they're great fun even when they're terribly stupid. Also if she wants something less action-y, the three Pitch Perfect movies more or less qualify (and while the second isn't great, the third makes up for it.) Although neither of those are one continuous plot, they're episodic stories with the same sets of characters.
posted by restless_nomad at 9:08 AM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

I’ve always thought of Star Trek II, III, and IV as a trilogy within the series, with the through-line of Spock’s death, resurrection, and re-integration.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:09 AM on February 11, 2021 [4 favorites]

Came into echo Star Wars, but specifically to watch them as per the "Machete Method"

This is how I was introduced to the films and it really worked in terms of a cohesive and gripping plot structure to follow.
posted by nancynickerson at 9:13 AM on February 11, 2021 [4 favorites]

Best answer: The Planet of the Apes. The original films from the 60s-70s. Maybe the new ones are good too, I haven't watched them so maybe someone else can comment on them.
posted by cazoo at 9:24 AM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

Actually, the new Planet of the Apes films are pretty fun and more thoughtful than expected.

Personally, I'm having a hard time stomaching Johnny Depp these days, but the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films fit the bill.
posted by thivaia at 9:33 AM on February 11, 2021 [3 favorites]

How about the Oceans movies? (Ocean's 11, Ocean's 12, Ocean's 13, Oceans 8). They're more like the same idea (heist movie with the actual plan hidden until the end) with the same characters repeated in different variations, but they're all fun.

If animated movies are on the table, the Toy Story series.
posted by chbrooks at 9:35 AM on February 11, 2021 [8 favorites]

I think the Hunger Games series would suit really well. Four movies, all continuous plot, strong female lead, alternate universe, very much intended for a teen audience (but certainly interesting for an adult and lots of good discussion material).
posted by sonofsnark at 10:03 AM on February 11, 2021 [7 favorites]

"Alien" and "Aliens" would make a decent double header if the gross parts aren't too gross (they sure might be, though). There's definitely a through plot line. (I have no memory of the third movie so I don't know if I just didn't see it or if I've blocked it, and I definitely haven't seen any of the subsequent movies).

"After the Thin Man" takes place just after "The Thin Man." There are six movies in the series but the overall quality does vary a bit after the first two.

Maybe the Man With No Name movies?
posted by fedward at 10:11 AM on February 11, 2021 [6 favorites]

Best answer: Chronicles of Narnia!
posted by mefireader at 10:13 AM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

Best answer: If you will indulge me, the black & white "Thin Man" mystery movies showcase an old-school movie style: dialogue that sparkles like crystal and moves along like a galloping horse, with plot left behind in favor of pure style.

The leads, Nick & Nora, are a married couple who solve crimes (with their dog Asta); Nora is clearly smarter than Nick. They love each other, but they love martinis almost as much!

Thin Man on Wikipedia, which notes its five sequels, and effusive praise in the near-century since then.
posted by wenestvedt at 10:58 AM on February 11, 2021 [6 favorites]

Jean de Florette and Manon Des Sources if you are interested in French movies from the 1980s about springs in the countryside. (note there is some creepiness in Manon Des Sources though so it may or may not be appropriate for your kid.)
posted by vespabelle at 10:58 AM on February 11, 2021 [3 favorites]

This is a difficult request, not many films were set to be continuous plot type movies. The notables being LOTR, Hobbit, and Narnia.

I would attempt to revisit TV series as the modern format is all about continuous plot. Think Game of Thrones, Lost, or 24.
posted by wile e at 11:14 AM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

I second the new Planet of the Apes movies—I watched all three over the course of three nights, and it was a very satisfying overarching story.

I also second the John Wick series. The three of them are practically one long movie. Then watch Atomic Blonde after to continue the fun.
posted by ejs at 11:37 AM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

Too bad about the non-inclusion of TV - there are sooo many good ones:
- Fargo
- Lovecraft Country
- Westworld
- Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul / El Camino
- Watchmen
- True Detective
- Mindhunter
- Maniac
- Russian Doll
- The Umbrella Academy
- The OA
- Dark
- Lost in Space
- Altered Carbon
- The Rain
- The Stand
- Hunters
- See
- For All Mankind
- Stranger Things
- The Witcher
- Dexter (except for ... cough the last season)
- Wayward Pines

Many of these have production quality that is essentially movie-level.
posted by rozcakj at 12:13 PM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

How about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them followed by The Crimes of Grinderwald? They're Harry Potter adjacent.

I'm not saying they're great but...we just watched the first last Friday (movie night in our house) and will watch the second this Friday.
posted by lyssabee at 12:15 PM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

The Three Colours Trilogy is made of three distinct movies, with plot links across all of them, and is dripping with common symbolism. It's a trip. Heavy moments, but hey, art cinema.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:19 PM on February 11, 2021 [4 favorites]

Series, not movies, but I am enjoying The Magicians, except for violence and a rape that is a central plot line in Season 2, I think. I like the worlds, costumes, imagination, and interesting, flawed characters.

Another series: Battlestar Gallactica.

The Tin Man (2007) remake of Wizard of Oz with Zooey Deschanel might work; I don't think I ever saw all of it, but enjoyed it.

And, especially, Firefly, despite Joss Whedon.

For Books, the TH White or John Steinbeck versions of King Arthur were fantastic when I read them a million years ago.
posted by theora55 at 12:19 PM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

The Hustler and The Color of Money. Same plot, same characters, a generation apart.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:23 PM on February 11, 2021 [4 favorites]

Another series: Battlestar Gallactica.

And if you want to try the 1978 original, it actually begins with a series of two feature-length movies.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:03 PM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

Seconding Jean de Florette and the sequel! I loved those around that same age. Fantastic movies that are both highbrow and compelling, with a strong female protagonist and gripping revenge plot.
posted by veery at 1:43 PM on February 11, 2021

Best answer: Another one: Romancing the Stone and the The Jewel of the Nile are very fun and also have a strong female lead (Kathleen Turner).
posted by veery at 1:50 PM on February 11, 2021 [7 favorites]

Father of the Bride series? Mamma Mia?
posted by dpx.mfx at 2:04 PM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

The Unbreakable trilogy? This is an odd one since you don't know it's a trilogy until the end of the second film.
posted by biffa at 5:13 PM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

There are many other horror franchises that tell a continuous story, though they get derailed and rebooted all the time: Resident Evil series, Friday 13th series, Child's Play series, Gremlins 1 & 2, Halloween series, Nightmare on Elm Street, the Conjuring film series, the 90s era Godzilla and Gamera films (note I mention the 90's era rather than the earlier classic films which are mostly stand alone). There's also the Pink Panther films, the Bourne series, the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series, the 2 Lady Snowblood films, the Human Condition film series, the original Police Story films, even the Streetfighter and Sister Streetfighter films could work. You could even try film serials from the silent era (Les Vampires or Fantomas or Judex) or serials from the talky era.
posted by Ashwagandha at 5:24 PM on February 11, 2021

Came in to say Star Trek II-IV.
posted by kathrynm at 5:24 PM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

Where do miniseries (from my quick googling, now called "limited series"?) fall in your teen's movies series vs tv series categorization scheme? The usual format for miniseries (the ones that I have watched, at least) seems to be 6-8 episodes of around an hour each (so about the same time commitment), definitely a continuous plot, but less of the filler you get in longer-rynning the series, since the whole miniseries has generally been planned out and written in advance. Eg. Good Omens, or the Sherlock Holmes version with Benedict Cumberbatch. (Also, from what I hear, Roots? Though I haven't gotten around to watching it myself.)
posted by eviemath at 5:37 PM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

Battlestar centers women and is pretty good. Lots of plot lines that consider PTSD and trauma / refugee issues.

As an adult seeking things that I enjoy watching with my kiddo, we have really enjoyed Kipo and SheRa (new animated series) both are diverse, center women in the plot, and are pretty good stories. Kipo has great music, too.
posted by chuke at 7:21 PM on February 11, 2021

The Bourne movies?
posted by Jubey at 7:32 PM on February 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

Does Sharpe count as movies or tv?
posted by Mister Moofoo at 8:50 PM on February 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

It's a limited series rather than a movie, but The Queen's Gambit on Netflix has a compelling story, a strong female lead, and at 7 one-hour episodes has a run-time equivalent to a movie trilogy. (It does contain drug and alcohol abuse, plus some consensual-and-not-explicit sex, so it may or may not be appropriate for a 16 year old.)
posted by davidwitteveen at 3:49 AM on February 12, 2021 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks all! I have a few options for her to consider now, so we have an exciting long weekend ahead.
posted by metasarah at 7:19 AM on February 12, 2021

Good Omens is on Prime
Harry Potter
Star Trek Ii, III, IV
Bill and Ted
posted by Enid Lareg at 7:53 AM on February 12, 2021 [1 favorite]

The Rocky and Creed movies?
posted by mahorn at 2:19 PM on February 13, 2021

Battlestar Galactica is no GoT but it has plenty of sexual violence, and I would be hesitant to recommend it to a teenager (or anyone else) who just wants to relax with a good show.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:15 PM on February 13, 2021