There's no better time machine than a good throwback movie. Putting on one of your favorite films from yesteryear can instantly transport you back to your childhood, and that is especially enticing during stressful times. Luckily, Netflix is stocked with tons of past favorites that are guaranteed to have you happily reminiscing about the good old days. Check out these nostalgic movies on Netflix the next time you need some feel-good, old-school vibes.
For most people, movies were a huge part of adolescence. From Nickelodeon's animated kids' films to the iconic teen flicks on Disney Channel to the unforgettable comedies and dramas that dominated the box office, the best childhood memories were oftentimes defined by movie nights with friends. Now, watching whatever movie you want is easier than ever, thanks to the prevalence of streaming services. In recent years, Netflix has really been stepping up its game by adding some beloved throwback movies to its collection, so taking a trip down memory lane is simple. The only problem is choosing the perfect movie to make you feel like a kid again. This roundup of all the nostalgic films available on Netflix right now will be your roadmap to finding your next watch.
Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell were a huge part of children's comedy, thanks to starring roles in All That and their own show, Kenan and Kel. But perhaps their greatest achievement was turning their popular All That sketch into its own feature-length movie. Good Burger is a total time warp for anyone who remembers watching it as a kid.
Rugrats was a fixture for any kid with Nickelodeon, so it was a big deal when the cartoon babies got their first movie. The Rugrats Movie introduced Tommy Pickles' little brother Dil into the family and also included a scene in the woods that might still scare your inner child.
The '90s were really the heyday of teen comedies, and Can't Hardly Wait is one of the most fun to rewatch. Set entirely at a graduation party, the comedy jumps through nearly every high school stereotype with a cute love story at its center.
Peter Pan may be a classic, but its live-action follow-up movie is just as beloved for anyone who grew up with it. Robin Williams plays an adult version of Peter in the sequel, who returns to Neverland to save his friends and rediscover his imagination.
The perfect girls' night in flick, Sleepover is a fun coming-of-age movie about a group of best friends who compete against the popular mean girls at their middle school in a cross-town scavenger hunt. Another part of the fun of watching Sleepover is that it's filled with now-famous actors before they got their big breaks, including as Evan Peters, Brie Larson, and Steve Carell.
For anyone who grew up on Nicktoons, there’s no better feeling than going back to the silly, chaotic Nickelodeon movies that hit theaters at the height of the channel’s popularity. One of the most iconic Nick flicks is Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, the 2001 animated space adventure that launched the iconic Jimmy Neutron TV series shortly afterward. The movie is guaranteed to instantly transport you back to your childhood.
Amanda Bynes was seriously the teen queen of the 2000s, and one of her best movies ever was 2003’s royal comedy What a Girl Wants. The rom-com follows Bynes’ wild-child character Daphne as she runs off to London in order to reconnect with her aristocratic father. It’s full of sweet moments and the laugh-out-loud physical comedy that Bynes is so good at.
A feel-good classic from 1995, The Indian in the Cupboard blends a fantastical concept with a touching coming-of-age story. After nine-year-old Omri discovers his cupboard has the power to bring toys to life, he bonds with a miniature Native American warrior and learns about the plight of the Native Americans in the 1700s.
If you’re in the mood for a good cry, you won’t find a tearjerker that’s quite as emotional as A Walk to Remember. The 2002 romance was Mandy Moore’s first lead role and has remained one of her most beloved among fans. No matter how many times you watch bad-boy Landon fall for the impossibly sweet Jamie, you’re sure to always get super invested in their love story.
When it comes to a classic ‘90s romance, you just can’t beat a great Julia Roberts movie. In 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding, Roberts pulls out all the stops in order to sabotage the wedding of her longtime friend and secret crush. With an all-star cast and a plot that’s equally romantic and hilarious, it’s the perfect rom-com for anyone craving a dose of the ‘90s.
There’s a reason Ocean’s Eleven is one of the most iconic heist movies ever: It stars pretty much every A-list actor from 2001 and imagines some seriously inventive robbery schemes. The whole Ocean’s trilogy is available to stream on Netflix, so you can get the full early-2000s heist experience.
Who doesn’t love a good wedding movie? Well, 1999’s Runaway Bride put a whole new spin on the romance genre. The romantic comedy about a woman infamous for leaving her grooms-to-be at the altar is another Julia Roberts classic that you can check out on Netflix.
When people think of classic animated movies, their minds often go to Disney flicks. But there were a ton of other cartoon films from the late ‘80s and ‘90s that will hit you with nostalgia even more. One example is 1989’s All Dogs Go to Heaven, a canine musical about a dead dog who comes back to life for revenge, but learns a powerful lesson in the process.
What could possibly bring back childhood memories more than dolls? While Barbie has always been the big name, the edgier Bratz dolls are much more emblematic of the 2000s. In 2007, the brand came to life in a live-action teen comedy called Bratz: The Movie. If you grew up playing with Bratz, this flick is worth checking out on Netflix.
One of Julia Roberts’ first movies ever, 1988’s Mystic Pizza tells the story of three very different young women who work together at a small-town pizza joint. The slice-of-life dramedy is full of romantic ups and downs, but it’s the sisterhood among the lead women that make it such a feel-good classic perfect for some nostalgia viewing.
If you love epic fantasies full of witches, unicorns, and other fairytale creatures, Stardust is an absolute must-watch. Whether you already saw the magical movie when it was released in 2007 or are just now discovering it, the story of an adventure-seeking villager and a fallen star made incarnate fleeing from dangerous witches is still endlessly thrilling.
Will Smith co-stars with his IRL son Jaden Smith in this touching story about a man’s struggle to give himself and his child a good life. The film, based on the bestselling memoir of the same name written by Chris Gardner and Quincy Troupe, had fans ugly-crying when it hit theaters in 2006. It’s bound to have that same effect now.
The hit thriller novel series that defined the 2000s was Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, and the Tom Hanks-led movie adaptations brought all the adventure to life for fans. An irresistibly twisty mystery involving tons of religious and historical artifacts, The Da Vinci Code is always a great rewatch choice whenever you want something to keep you on the edge of your seat.
There are some TV shows you can always play a random episode of and immediately feel like you’re hanging out with your friends. Sex and the City is definitely one of those shows. For a longer hangout with Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda, you can stream the 2008 spinoff film Sex and the City: The Movie. The film picks up where the series’ final season left off, finally giving fans the ending of Carrie and Big’s love story.
For a truly classic comedy that will have you laughing at silly bits all the way through, look no further than 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Although the slapstick take on Arthurian legends is nearly 50 years old now, it’s definitely stood the test of time as a must-watch for any comedy fan.
Sometimes you just crave that perfect mid-2000s high school comedy, and only a Superbad rewatch can truly scratch that particular itch. Packed with producer Judd Apatow’s reliable stable of comedy stars, the raunchy flick is full of iconic scenes that will have you laughing out loud no matter how many times you've seen them before.
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