Lately, the options for what to consume in the culture are simply overwhelming, and the algorithm is making it impossible to figure out what’s actually good. That’s where Cult Following comes in: CULTURED’s monthly advice column where Delia Cai offers a cultural diet expertly designed to respond to each letter-writers’ needs, whether they’re seeking recommendations for what to watch, eat, read, listen to, or any combination thereof. Cult Following exists to help narrow down your choices but also to help all of us confront our inner anxieties about navigating the wild, beautiful world of art and culture. This week, Delia offers movie recommendations to gather ‘round with the family.
Dear Cult Following,
Do you have any recommendations for movies to watch with the family over Thanksgiving? Preferably on Netflix. We already burned through Martha, but something with that energy would be great.
Signed,
Girding Myself for Family Time
There was something in that Martha documentary for every generation, which was a big part of its genius. If, unlike our letter-writer, you still have any reservations about watching, you’re missing out! Young folks will delight in the home-making influencer template that Martha Stewart pioneered; everyone else who personally witnessed the heyday of Stewart’s empire will enjoy her rather glowering interview and maybe even reconsider the whole insider-trading situation through a 2024 lens. (Did you know the guy who prosecuted her was James Comey?)
In any case, if you’re looking for another Netflix pick that has that kind of strong-female-lead vibe, the 2017 thriller Molly’s Game is just the thing. It’s basically 141 minutes of Jessica Chastain talking tough and running circles around powerful men as she plays a scrappy ex-Olympic athlete who runs her own poker empire. The stacked cast (including Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, and Jeremy Strong—the latter of whom seems to be working out a kind of pre-Kendall Roy bit here) and ultra-smart dialogue (it was Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut) make Molly’s Game stand out amongst Netflix’s sea of forgettable heisty options. Plus, it’s based on the 2014 memoir of the “poker princess” Molly Bloom, which means there’s plenty to read from the Wikipedia page at the kitchen table afterward.
For families who don’t mind subtitles or food-related gore—especially types who might be more interested in getting take-out or cooking something non-traditional—I recommend the 2023 Thai drama Hunger, which follows the story of a young street-food chef who falls in with a culty fine-dining chef. It’s a little soapy but very The Menu meets Chef’s Table in terms of the gorgeous culinary montages and dramatic tension; there’s also a thick layer of eat-the-rich-style social commentary that is sure to drum up debate. If there’s anything more fun than watching rich people eat lavish food, it’s sitting home and casting judgment on the whole enterprise, no?
For families who like a shot of adrenaline with their viewing experience, I’d recommend A Quiet Place Part II. (You do not have to have seen A Quiet Place Part 1 at all! I promise!) Emily Blunt does here what she does best: inhabit a nervous but fiercely protective heroine. And as a tough-as-nails survivor, Cillian Murphy is much more fun than he ever was in Oppenheimer. For a horror movie, this one is pleasantly below medium-scary, meaning it’s unlikely to give your 12-year-old nephew nightmares, but the thrills are still satisfying. (Bonus rec: If you want something non-Netflix with more teeth and a heavier dose of daddy issues, it’s never a bad choice to watch the iconic 2016 zombie banger Train to Busan if you haven’t already; I cried terrifically hard upon seeing it for the first time this summer.) You can stream it on Peacock or rent it on Amazon Prime or Apple TV.
Two other non-Netflix recs that make for great Thanksgiving watches: the 2023 sci-fi movie The Creator, available on Hulu, which is the most heartfelt movie about whether humans can coexist with artificially intelligent robots (perfect for your most AI-obsessed uncle!), and the 2010 documentary film Bill Cunningham New York, which delivers great Martha-level nostalgia and a cultural history lesson for a more fashion-forward Gen Z family member. (That one is also available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.) Both are sure to get some discussions going in the household.
Finally, as for families with little ones who are just looking for something that won’t totally numb the more developed frontal cortices? I perused Netflix’s children’s movies for you and was delighted to come across the 2016 animated film Sing, which is basically about animals doing American Idol. But it works! I originally watched this a few years ago when I babysat a trio of kids who ranged in age from grade school to middle school, and everyone had a surprisingly great time.
In any case, the burden of making the family movie choice is a weighty one, but all you really need to make it a successful evening of programming is a projection of confidence that will ease the decision fatigue of your loved ones. Enjoy the rush of cultural authority; even if they somehow don’t love your pick, at least you’ve given everyone something to talk about together. Which, in my humble opinion, is what all this is for anyway, no? Happy holidays!
Do you have a question about how to enrich your cultural diet? Email [email protected].
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