This is a column entry and is the opinion of a single member of staff. That single member of staff being me, Amelia Emberwing. (Hi!)
Note: the streaming and rental information is correct at the time of publish.
“Uteruses before duderuses” “Ovaries before brovaries.” Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knope (and writer/creator Michael Schur) brought the tradition of Galentine’s Day into our lives all the way back in 2010 in an episode of the same name. I can’t linger on how much time it’s been since we all first watched the episode without turning into dust, so I’m just gonna skip right on to my little movie list.
Galentine’s Day is all about female friendships, but I also see it as more than that. We’re always here for uteruses before duderuses, but it’s also about our beautiful glowing sun goddesses, brilliant, powerful musk ox(en)s, and the stories that make them feel empowered.
And with that, I give you my 2024 Galentine’s watch list. Don’t have time to watch all of these in a day? That’s fine. ‘Cause Galentine’s is forever.
Practical Magic
Available to rent
Written by: Alice Hoffman, Robin Swicord, Akiva Goldsman
Directed by: Griffin Dunne
Whether you only know me by my witchy moniker or you’re a personal friend, Practical Magic’s inclusion on this list is of no surprise. It’s the ultimate film about multi-generational sisterhood, destroying the men who have wronged you, and opening yourself up to both love and your own power. And midnight margaritas, obviously.
(Pairs best with chocolate cake for breakfast.)
Barbie
Stream on Max
Written by: Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Of course IGN’s 2023 Movie of the Year is on my Galentines list. Gerwig’s Barbie isn’t the first movie to showcase Feminism 101 to the masses, but it’s definitely the most recent example of why we still need such movies given both the silly outcry upon the film’s release and the Academy apparently thinking movies like Barbie and Past Lives simply directed themselves despite warranting Best Picture nods.
It’s hard to make something that is simultaneously uplifting and charming while highlighting why a lot of women want to scream at the top of our lungs all the time, but Gerwig pulls it off. If you’ve already watched this one recently enough that you’re not ready for another full revisit, be your own Galentine and give yourself the gift of rewatching America Ferrera’s monologue.
Thelma & Louise
Stream on the Roku Channel or rent
Written by: Callie Khouri
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Of course the quintessential female-bestie-badasses-against-the-world movie was going to be on this list. Does Thelma & Louis even require introduction? Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon are dreams! A man threatens to rape Thelma and Louise shoots him, and the women have to go on the run because they don’t think the cops will believe them about the rape. Because, y’know… some themes are just evergreen I guess.
Listen, all of that sounds like a real downer but I promise you this is your Galentines starting point if you’re looking to get out some female rage.
Pitch Perfect
Prime Video
Written by: Kay Cannon and Mickey Rapkin
Directed by: Jason Moore
Pitch Perfect is much more than the movie where most of the world learned that Anna Kendrick has a set of pipes on her. It also features a bangin’ soundtrack alongside delightful and sometimes odd female friendships. This is the perfect movie to kick on when you need something to sing along to!
Also? As a former show choir dork, I need you to know that the vocal nodes bit is included for audience giggles (and so they had a baritone) but is also a shoutout for anyone who knows what it means because nodes are not a joke! That’s devastating, actually!
Girls Trip
Stream on Peacock
Written by: Erica Rivinoja, Kenya Barris, Tracy Oliver
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
Are you in a rut? Do you feel like you’ve lost yourself? Do you just need to laugh real hard? Girls Trip is the movie that you need right now. It’s the perfect “reconnecting with yourself and your besties” story, and it also happens to be the first film written by a Black woman to cross $100 million at the box office.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Available to rent
Written by: Ann Brashares, Delia Ephron, Elizabeth Chandler
Directed by: Ken Kwapis
Probably the best one on this list to watch if you need a good cry. All you need to know about Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is that it’s about four besties who buy a pair of jeans that magically fit all of them and then they use said jeans to remain connected as their lives drift apart. Also know:The cast still shows up to support each other on their big wins (most recently Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel and Blake Lively were on hand to support America Ferrera after Barbie’s success). I’m not crying, you’re crying!
Legally Blonde
Stream on Max
Written by: Amanda Brown, Karen McCullah, Kirsten Smith
Directed by: Robert Luketic
“Sorority princess chases her ex to Harvard” might not seem like Galentines material on the face of things, but Legally Blonde is the queen of “self-discovery while remaining true to yourself” movies. And that’s before you consider how hard this movie goes on female friendship. Elle’s relationship with Paulette — and eventually the icy Vivian — is the definition of gal-pal goals. Everyone needs someone to stop us from making drastic beauty decisions after a bad breakup!
(The musical also rules if you’re looking for a soundtrack to listen to after you’ve relistened to all three of Pitch Perfect’s recordings.)
A League of Their Own
Available to rent
Written by: Kim Wilson, Kelly Candaele, Lowell Ganz
Directed by: Penny Marshall
Sisters. Friendship. Baseball. Three seemingly basic ingredients that make up one of the greatest films of all time. No Galentines marathon is complete without the Rockford Peaches. The Prime Video series never got the love that it deserved, but at least the film that it’s based on has been collectively recognized as the all-timer that it is.
The First Wives Club
Stream on Paramount+
Written by: Hugh Wilson
Directed by: Olivia Goldsmith and Robert Harling
What better embodies ovaries before brovaries than teaming up with your college besties to take down your shitty ex-husbands? The First Wives Club is the right flick to start with if you’re looking for something that reminds you to seize the moment (and to call your old girlfriends). It’s perfect for anyone feeling like they’ve lost a bit of their own autonomy lately, too.
Saint Frances
Stream on Prime Video
Written by: Kelly O’Sullivan
Directed by: Alex Thompson
Ok, hear me out. Galentines is all about celebrating your gal pals, but we could all stand to love ourselves a little better, and Saint Frances is the perfect figuring-your-shit-out movie for ladies in their thirties who have simply, y’know… not done that yet. This is one of those films that received a botched quarantine release too, so if you’re looking to check out something new this is the way to go.
Joy Ride
Stream on the Starz app or rent
Written by: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Teresa Hsiao, Adele Lim
Directed by: Adele Lim
Adele Lim’s directorial debut (you know her because she wrote Raya and the Last Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians) fits the Galentines theme perfectly. It’s another “love yourself and love your friends” flick that will not-so-secretly make you cry, but don’t take that to mean that it’s not unique. The misadventure of four friends as they quest to find Audrey’s — the film’s lead — birth family is anything but by the book.
Amelia is the entertainment Streaming Editor here at IGN. She’s also a film and television critic who spends too much time talking about dinosaurs, superheroes, and folk horror. You can usually find her with her dog, Rogers. There may be cheeseburgers involved. Follow her across social @ThatWitchMia
