Spring has come at last to our home here at Bucknell. We’ve been dealing with extremely cold weather in the recent months, so the minute it’s sunny and sixty degrees, we’re running outside like butterflies breaking free of our cocoons. With spring comes cold drinks, walks in the park and sitting under trees while we do our homework. We might even watch our favorite films to get us into the spring spirit.
As a literary studies major, I love any type of story, especially when it comes to film. Recently, I read a 2025 article from Forbes titled “25 Must-See Films For A Spring Movie Marathon.” Out of the twenty-five films, there were about maybe five that I had actually watched, but others piqued my interest. The films I had watched, though, are ones that I would definitely recommend to anyone who needs something new to watch. If you’re in need of new films to check out, here are some suggestions from that article and how I might rank them apart from what the author states.
1. “The Secret Garden” (1993)
Based on the beloved classic of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this film follows Mary Lennox, who arrives at her uncle’s estate and revives her deceased aunt’s garden. It probably most resembles spring not only because of the garden coming alive after ‘winter,’ but Mary’s own heart beginning to warm after coming out of a cold season herself. Her actions, with the help of her friends and cousin, allow her to come alive after having spent years in turmoil and anguish at the hands of her neglectful parents.
2. “A League of Their Own” (1992)
This is a film that I just watched recently about a women’s baseball team playing together in the 1940s. Directed by Penny Marshall, the film stars Tom Hanks, Rosie O’Donnell and Madonna, among many other famous names. The story follows two sisters who play for The Rockford Peaches. Not only is this film the highest-grossing baseball movie of all time, but it’s a perfect film to watch when the grass is bright green and your favorite sports team is out playing games.
3. “Much Ado About Nothing” (1993)
If you had told me last year that I would become a fan of Shakespeare, I probably would’ve thought you were crazy. However, after taking a Shakespeare course, Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of this story quickly became one of my favorite films of all time. It’s a fun story about love and matchmaking schemes, all while set in the beautiful spring setting of Messina.
4. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1935)
This is another story I’ve come to enjoy both in writing and in film. Two lovers run into the woods to be together while they’re chased by a different couple trying to stop them. And off to the side, you have a man who turns into a donkey. The 1935 adaptation is particularly humorous, and nothing beats the late Mickey Rooney’s version of Puck, a mischievous creature who causes all sorts of trouble for the two lovers, their pursuers and any extra characters along for the ride. It’s a fun film with springlike qualities that will leave you laughing when it’s over because of the absurdity of it all.
5. “The Prince of Egypt” (1998)
In my personal opinion, this isn’t a spring-type of story, which is why I placed it last. However, this Biblical retelling of the story of Moses once again brings up the concept of people coming alive after ‘the dead of winter.’ The film wouldn’t be what it is without its soundtrack, especially Hans Zimmer’s score, nor without its visual beauty. It is a film for any season of your life to show you what can happen when you step forward in faith as Moses did, trusting that everything is going to work out.
What are some of your favorite films to watch in the spring? How might you rank them? I suggest you think about that as you move into the end of the semester. Any type of story you read, watch or listen to brings some sort of a lesson that you can take with you into the next day, just like spring is a time for renewal after ‘the dead of winter.’ Enjoy your springtime activities and the ways in which you make them possible while keeping your eyes set on your academic goals. Who knows? You just might come alive after your own cold season.