It’s that time in the semester again.. Deadlines are piling up, exams are right around the corner, and disappointing marks are trickling in. Let’s face it. If you’re a student right now, you’re stressed, even though you need your brain at full capacity. By taking a few hours off to watch a light-hearted movie on Netflix, you’ll give yourself a chance to relax and recharge for your next study session. To help you out, here are some of my top recommendations for Netflix study breaks.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
On top of having an entertaining story, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is full of stunning animation that I could spend all day watching. It’s definitely a perfect light-hearted break from a cram session, and even if you aren’t normally a Marvel fan, it’s worth watching just for the eye candy.
We’re The Millers
An iconic comedy movie, We’re The Millers is perfect for a couple of hours of light-hearted jokes. Let’s be honest, there’s nothing more relatable than seeing how frustrating someone else’s “family” can be, especially in quarantine.
The Princess Switch
If you’re looking for a more festive movie, The Princess Switch is a Christmas movie about a princess and a baker who switch lives for 2 days, only to both fall in love with a man in the other person’s life. As cheesy as Christmas movies can be, watching The Princess Switch is definitely a fun break from school. Netflix also just released a sequel, The Princess Switch: Switched Again, so you can plan even more study breaks!
Enola Holmes
Enola Holmes follows Sherlock’s little sister (played by Millie Bobby Brown) in a coming-of-age, mystery, adventure hybrid. The mystery itself might not be as complex as you’d think given the Holmes name, but the movie is very playful and a great way to spend a few hours.
The Spy Next Door
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to see Jackie Chan in a parody spy movie featuring a twelve-year-old sidekick, bratty kids he needs to win over, and snobby fashion-obsessed Russian villains? Honestly, this movie is a national treasure that deserves to be played next to the Bond movies, and if you’re a spy film fan, you should definitely check it out.
Mean Girls
Another classic, Mean Girls is a great movie to put on when you’re feeling overwhelmed by school. Not only is the movie funny, the nostalgia can help cheer you up and get you through your next exam.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Part rom-com, part This is Spinal Tap (although nowhere near as iconic), part coming-of-age (even though the characters are adults), Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is so bad it’s good. The story is cliche yet fun, and the songs can be really funny. While I wouldn’t recommend it if you want to sit down and enjoy a movie with a strong plot, it’s a great way to destress in between study sessions.
While studying is important, so is taking breaks. Watching one of these movies can help you destress and recharge so that when you get back to work, you’ll be more productive. If you’d like to watch movies with friends, you might want to check out Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party), which syncs Netflix playback across different devices and adds a chat bar to the side of the screen, letting you and your friends take a break from studying together. Either way, make sure to take plenty of breaks while studying, and good luck with the rest of the semester.
