Watercooler Picks
We tapped Oscar winners, bestselling novelists, Golden Globe jurors, political scientists, and contributors to outlets ranging from Rolling Stone to The Washington Post to IGN and asked them to recommend films and shows that you’ll want to talk about afterward. Here are their latest picks.
The Adjustment Bureau
An underrated sci-fi thriller that explores free will, destiny, and soulmates, The Adjustment Bureau is an ideal date night movie, blending action and heartfelt performances with big themes that prompt conversation.
If You Were the Last
Though it’s squarely a rom-com, If You Were the Last will pique the curiosity of the sci-fi lover. It’s a date night movie with an undeniable sweetness that never crosses over to cheesy.
Killers of the Flower Moon
An epic historical drama about an unsettling chapter in American history, Killers of the Flower Moon presents a captivating narrative with exceptional performances that keep you engaged throughout its three and a half hour duration. You’ll be hearing about this one throughout the awards season.
Fair Play
A psychosexual thriller with equal parts boardroom and bedroom drama, Fair Play has elements of a gender issue parable in the vein of Promising Young Woman while feeling truer to the thriller genre. With plenty of Watercooler-worthy moments, it has already inspired plenty of social media discourse. Get in while the getting’s fresh.
The Conversations Project
A revealing series that will shed some new light and spark conversations in your own life. As producer Raina Kelley sums up to the New York Times: “At its most important, it’s basically an example nowadays of how to have a civil conversation.”
Bottoms
For lovers of the classic teen sex comedy, Bottoms has much to offer: well-played comedy, over-the-top antics, and underdogs to root for. But those in the market for something fresh will be even more rewarded, as the film flips the script on a well-worn genre. Deservedly so, because anyone who’s been an awkward teen girl probably related more to Jonah Hill in Superbad than they did Emma Stone. At least this writer.
