The top 11 best nostalgic masterpiece movies you forgot existed | Films | Entertainment

Whether we first saw these films just yesterday or 10 years ago, they will always give off that strong feeling of nostalgia. There are the classic films that often appear around Christmas time and then there are others that will take you right back to your childhood. From Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to Hook, these classic gems, more often than not based on a good book, will leave you reminiscing. These are my top 11 most nostalgic movies that you probably forgot existed – in no particular order.

Big is a 1988 fantasy comedy film directed by Penny Marshall and starring Tom Hanks alongside Elizabeth Perkins, David Moscow, John Heard, and Robert Loggia. The film’s synopsis reads: “A 13-year-old boy wishes to get bigger in size with the help of a fortune-telling machine. When he wakes up the next morning, he discovers that his wish has been fulfilled.”

The Parent Trap is a 1998 family romantic comedy film directed by Nancy Meyers, in her feature directorial debut. It stars Lindsay Lohan, also in her film debut and in a dual role of identical twins no less. Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson star alongside. The Parent Trap is a remake of the 1961 film of the same name, which is an adaptation of Erich Kästner’s 1949 German children’s novel, Lisa and Lottie (Das doppelte Lottchen). The plot of the film states: “Identical twins Hallie and Annie are separated after their parents’ divorce. Years later, they discover each other at a summer camp and decide to switch places in an effort to reunite their parents.”

The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy film series and based on The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of novels by C. S. Lewis. The film’s synopsis reads: “During the World War II bombings of London, four English siblings are sent to a country house where they will be safe. One day Lucy (Georgie Henley) finds a wardrobe that transports her to a magical world called Narnia. After coming back, she soon returns to Narnia with her brothers, Peter (William Moseley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and her sister, Susan (Anna Popplewell). There they join the magical lion, Aslan (Liam Neeson), in the fight against the evil White Witch, Jadis (Tilda Swinton).”

Stardust is a 2007 romantic fantasy adventure film directed by Matthew Vaughn and based on Neil Gaiman’s 1999 novel. It features an ensemble cast led by Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Peter O’Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro, with narration by Ian McKellen. The plot reads: “Tristan promises Victoria to get a star from the magical kingdom of Stormhold that exists beyond the Wall. Trying to keep his promise, Tristan ends up having an adventure that changes his life.”

Hook is a 1991 fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by James V. Hart and Malia Scotch Marmo. It stars Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins, Maggie Smith, and Charlie Korsmo. It serves as a sequel in a modern day setting to J. M. Barrie’s 1911 novel Peter and Wendy. The film’s synopsis reads: “Captain Hook abducts Peter Pan’s kids, which compels a shocked Peter Pan to return to Neverland to liberate them. He gets assistance from Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys to fight against his old enemy.”

The Princess Diaries is a 2001 coming-of-age comedy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures, directed by Garry Marshall, and written by Gina Wendkos. It is based on Meg Cabot’s 2000 young adult novel of the same name, and it stars Anne Hathaway (in her film debut) and Julie Andrews, with a supporting cast consisting of Héctor Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, Mandy Moore, Caroline Goodall, and Robert Schwartzman. The plot is as follows: “A clumsy, shy teen discovers that she’s the princess of a small European state. She is then coached and must prove that she is worthy of her title while trying to make it through her school year.”

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a 2001 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus and written by Steve Kloves, based on the 1997 novel by J. K. Rowling. It is the first instalment in the Harry Potter film series, and stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. The film’s plot reads: “Harry Potter, an eleven-year-old orphan, discovers that he is a wizard and is invited to study at Hogwarts. Even as he escapes a dreary life and enters a world of magic, he finds trouble awaiting him.”

Romeo + Juliet is a 1996 romantic crime film directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It is a modernised adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy of the same name, which still uses Shakespearean English. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the title roles alongside Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Miriam Margolyes, Harold Perrineau, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Sorvino and Diane Venora in supporting roles. The plot reads: “The rivalry between Verona’s two well-established families, the Capulets and the Montagues, affects the relationship of their children Romeo and Juliet.”

Stand by Me is a 1986 coming-of-age drama film directed by Rob Reiner and based on Stephen King’s 1982 novella The Body. The film is set in the fictional town of Castle Rock in 1959, and stars Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell. The synopsis reads: “Four friends, Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern, decide to go hiking in order to find the dead body of Ray Brower, a local teenager who was hit by a train while plucking blueberries in the wild.”

Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 comedy-drama film directed by Chris Columbus, written by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon, and based on the 1987 novel Madame Doubtfire, by Anne Fine. The film stars Robin Williams in the lead role, with Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, and Robert Prosky in supporting roles. The film’s summary reads: “After a bitter divorce, Daniel, an actor, disguises himself as Mrs Doubtfire, an elderly female housekeeper, in order to spend time with his children, who are in his former wife’s custody.”

Madeline is a 1998 family comedy film adaptation of the children’s book series and animated television series of the same name. The film encompasses the plots of four Madeline books. The plot states: “Parisian schoolgirl and orphan Madeline (Hatty Jones) schemes to save her boarding school and home from being closed and sold by its owner, the severe Lord Covington (Nigel Hawthorne), whose benevolent wife (Stéphane Audran) has recently passed away. Madeline’s sweet antics are often a burden to her goodhearted but stern headmistress, Miss Clavel (Frances McDormand), whose true appreciation of Madeline is revealed when Madeline and a schoolboy named Pepito (Kristian de la Osa) are kidnapped.”