2026 Movie Diary

52 Weeks = 52 Movies (Give or Take)

Current Count: 4 movies (2 New / 2 Rewatch)

Last year's movie diary ended up with 51 new movies (and 26 rewatches). Respectable, but the fact that it's not 52 new movies does really grind my gears. Man! If I could have just managed one more! That would have been perfect. But, I did technically reach my goal of 52 movies in general, and then some. I'm debating on whether to keep my 52-movie goal this year or to up it. For now I'll say 52 NEW movies this year.

Week 1

Mean Girls (2004)

Rewatch with friends. This movie occupies a similar space in my brain as like, Friends and The Office, as in everyone references it all the time which can get kind of annoying and makes it feel a bit cheap as a result. But honestly, it is a good movie, and I need to abandon my hipster-y mindset. Mainstream things are usually widely beloved for a good reason. This movie is funny and relatable. I found myself feeling kind of bad for Regina this time, though- She's subject to the same forces Cady is, after all. 4 stars.

Amadeus (1984)

Insanely long but the second half of the movie is especially goated. The final bit- the sequence where Mozart is dictating the music- is incredible. Love watching a guy go crazy and I have a special place in my heart for characters consumed and warped by hatred and envy. The death scene hits so hard. Great performances and very compelling dynamics, in the end. That laugh, bro. 4.5 stars.

Big Eden (2000)

Rewatch. I enjoyed it more this time, which is awesome because I already liked it the first time. Pike is so awkward and cute, he makes me laugh. This is suuuch a slowburn movie but I wouldn't have it any other way. And- spoilers- the scene where Sam talks to Henry about his sexuality did make me tear up this time. Oh my god, could you imagine? Ugh. Just a nice, feel-good type of movie with a happy sappy ending. 4 stars.

Week 2

Tampopo (1987)

A total love letter to food and everything it means to people. I absolutely loved all the vignettes throughout the main plot. There were some really warm and meaningful moments, and some bits that were just really funny. My favorite character was the gangster, and I thought the way he addressed the audience directly at the start of the movie was just iconic. There were a lot of shots that I really enjoyed! Notably, (spoilers!) the two shot of the old man teaching the other guy the proper way to eat ramen, and the shot of Tampopo peeking through the crack in the wall, and the shot of the oyster with a bit of blood on it, and the shot of the gangster dying in the rain with his white suit slowly turning red. The characters were all really distinct and enjoyable. The POV shots were crazy. A fun watch, I would definitely recommend! 4.5 stars.