If you’ve just started college, chances are you’re currently exploring your options. It can be tough to choose a major, especially with so much choice available and if you haven’t yet found a subject that truly inspires you. But do not despair: it’s at times like these that movies can come to the rescue. We’ve compiled a list of films that will make you rethink your major and might even help you make a choice that will positively affect your school years and future career. Check out the list below, in no particular order, and happy watching!
1. Dead Poets Society (1989)
Peter Weir
“Oh Captain, My Captain.” Even the most famous quote from this 1989 classic opens up a world of possibilities. Dead Poets Society is one of the most famous and beloved movies on this list, and whether you’ve seen it before or approaching it for the first time, one thing is certain: it’ll provide plenty of inspiration. The movie takes place in 1959 at a conservative all-male prep school in Vermont, where a new English teacher has arrived and is ready to cause mayhem. How? By teaching his class about the importance of “seizing the day” and inspiring them to make something with their lives that will make it all feel worthwile.
The teacher’s name is John Keating, played by the great late Robin Williams, who’s part of the reason why this film works as well as it does. But an Oscar-winning screenplay from writer Tom Schulman (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids) is what ensures this apparently simple story of a teacher at a school has so much rhythm that we couldn’t be more invested in it. Of course, with this being a classic that takes place at a school and approaches many well known works of literature, it’s a film that many students often choose to write about – and some of them look for websites like Papersowl writing service to help them out – but there’s also so much more to the film, from a fantastic sense of humor to fantastic characterization that gets us attached to every single one of our protagonists. Robin Williams shines, but so does the rest of the cast, which includes stars Ethan Hawke (Before Sunrise), Josh Charles (The Good Wife) and Robert Sean Leonard (House) in one of their first roles.
Dead Poets Society will make you rethink your major by inviting you to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be. It urges you not to give in to societal expectations and parental pressures and, more importantly, not to give up on your dreams.
2. Legally Blonde (2001)
Robert Luketic
The next movie on our list is a film that will surprise you, immediately becoming one of your go-to watches when you feel demotivated and tired. This is the story of Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), a popular, fashionable young woman who’s devastated when her boyfriend breaks up with her right after getting accepted to Harvard. The reason he gives her is that she’s not “serious” enough for him, which makes our protagonist all the more determined to prove him wrong.
Elle somehow manages to get into Harvard, but what starts as an attempt to prove a point soon becomes a whole different kind of journey for her, as she realizes that there’s an entire future ahead of her that she hadn’t even dreamt of before she left. More than that, our future lawyer realizes that the person she cares about the most, and to whom she needs to prove she’s worth something, is not her ex, but herself. Anchored by a fantastic performance from Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde and its two sequels are a must watch if you’re a student and need an extra boost of self-worth.
3. The Boys in the Boat (2023)
George Clooney
Adapted from Daniel James Brown’s novel of the same name, George Clooney’s The Boys in the Boat is a 2023 movie that didn’t get nearly as much success as it should have upon release. This sports drama set in the 1930s tells the true story of the University of Washington’s junior varsity rowing team, which went from being an underdog to representing the USA at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The Boys in the Boat is told from the point of view of student Joe Rantz (Callum Turner), who’s the only member of the team who’s not trying to win but simply looking to earn enough money to be able to finish the school year.
The film has a little bit of everything: there are epic moments involving the team, an endearing romance, heartwarming scenes involving great secondary characters, and, like in most underdog stories, the rewarding feeling of seeing our unlikely heroes succeed. With fantastic performances from all cast members, this film will make you rethink your major by showing you that anything is possible, no matter where you come from.
4. Yes Man (2008)
Peyton Reed
The premise is simple: a man named Carl (Jim Carrey) one day decides to start saying yes to everything, in order to make his life more exciting and ultimately be happier. Yes Man is a romantic comedy from the 2000s, and it certainly doesn’t revolutionize the formula, but it’s still a highly enjoyable, memorable watch with an important message and a fantastic cast. The movie is just as silly and heartwarming as it needs to be, but it also ultimately teaches you that, while it’s good to be open to possibilities and challenge yourself to exit your comfort zone, it’s just as important to find out who you are, and stay true to that person.
So how will Yes Man make you rethink your major? By getting you to really think about the person you want to be, and showing you that change is good, but so is knowing what you want and who you are. Be warned: you won’t be able to stop singing “Jumper” by Third Eye Blind for at least a week after watching the movie.
5. The Social Network (2010)
David Fincher
The last film on our list is a very popular movie that will have your eyes glues to the screen from start to end. Director David Fincher tells us the story of how Facebook was born and how it eventually saw its creator, Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), face not one but two different lawsuits, including one from his best friend. The film starts with Zuckerberg and Facebook co-creator Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) at Harvard University, and follows them as their creation grows into something huge – so huge that every single decision could lead to failure.
The Social Network works both as the empowering story of a young, brilliant man who achieved great things and a cautionary tale about the cost of success. It will get you thinking about your major by showing you that every decision you make matters, and that even in your future professional journey, it’s important to keep your friends close and never lose sight of your goals.
The 5 movies listed above will make you rethink your major in different ways: whether you’re looking for some motivation, inspiration, or simply a gripping success story, these films will do the trick. Enjoy!
