Hipster Movies to Add to Your Watch List
Jun 21, 2018 • Kyzia Maramara
What on earth does the word ‘hipster’ mean? Why is it imbued with a slightly bad connotation, as if being called a hipster automatically gets you labelled as a person who dresses weird and likes weird things?
Hipsters are people who have a taste for things obscure or alternative, things that the mainstream public would lose interest in. These underground ‘things’ that hipsters love are more often than not hidden gems. The movies delve into the world of amazing cinematography and color grading, conversations, and plots with depth made by intellectuals, oftentimes on a low budget.
Hipster films almost always equate to good films. We’ve rounded up 8 movies ranked in no particular order, for you to get in touch with your inner hipster. Go ahead and savor the goodness of these movies!
1. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, this movie tells the story of Greg (Thomas Mann), a high school senior, who befriends his classmate Rachel (Olivia Cooke), who is dying from leukemia. Greg introduces his ‘workmate’ Earl (RJ Cyler) to Rachel whom he creates short films with, parodying famous titles. The more he spends time with her and the worse her condition got, the more he discovers how worthwhile the bonds of friendship can be.
2. Submarine (2010)
Submarine is based on a book of the same name by Joe Dunthorne. Fifteen-year-old Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts) narrates his life and his two biggest problems: how to fix his parents’ seemingly crumbling marriage and how to lose his virginity before his birthday. This is one of the most hipster films out there, from the cinematography to the soundtrack, which was written and sung by none other than Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner. Its beauty and its comedic charm will catch you off guard more often than you expected.
3. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
No hipster list will be complete without including at least one Wes Anderson film. That said, Wes Anderson should be considered the Father of Hipster films, with his perfect visuals and stellar characters. Moonrise Kingdom is a charming masterpiece that would surely evoke an indescribable feeling of nostalgia in you. You have to watch it to know what I mean by that!
The film features the adventures of a young couple who runs away from home and retreated to an isolated beach they call Moonrise Kingdom. It might not be for everyone, as some would find Anderson’s movies to be boring and weird, but those who love it, well, you have great taste in films!
4. Across the Universe (2007)
Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy’s (Evan Rachel Wood) love story could’ve been normal, but life has a habit of getting in the way. With music from The Beatles and the Vietnam War as the backdrop of their love story, Jude and Lucy wade through the hardships in life, leaving us with aching hearts and last song syndromes to last a week.
5. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
Perhaps the Number One must-watch film in the Hipster 101 booklet is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (if not 500 Days of Summer). Its video game graphics, quirky comedy, and adorable actors made it one of our favorite movies ever. Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has just met the love of his life, the iconic Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), but in order to date her he must defeat her 7 evil exes. And did we mention Chris Evans is one of them? No matter how old this movie gets, it always deserves a re-watch!
6. Amelie (2001)
Set in Paris, Amelie (Audrey Tautou) tells the story of a beautiful and young waitress with her own sense of justice and decides to change the lives of those around her for the better. Along the way she discovers love and friendship, things she never had as a child. Shot over dozens of different locations in Paris, Amelie captures perfectly the charm of modern-day Paris.
7. Sing Street (2016)
Fourteen-year-old Connor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) has family problems on top of his problems adjusting to his new school where all the boys are rough and the teachers rougher. He finally finds inspiration in the form of a mysterious girl whom he tries to woo by telling her he’s in a band. There’s only one problem: he’s not part of a band! He starts to assemble a group of boys where they write songs, played on gigs, and discover the power of music to soothe and possibly solve all problems.
8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
What if you could have the chance to completely erase somebody from your mind? Would you do it? Clementine (Kate Winslet), reeling from the painful breakup she had with Joel (Jim Carrey), undergoes a medical procedure to erase him from her mind. Joel finds out about it and decides to have the same procedure, erasing the girl he loves permanently. But during the process he realizes he doesn’t want to let go of her yet, bad memories and all. Trippy, sad, and realistic, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind will show you how to love someone even in the worst times.
What’s on your hipster movie list? Share them with us below!
