Top 10 Movies That Senior Citizens Must Watch

Watching movies is one of the greatest ways to relax and spend time with your loved ones. It helps us escape from reality and be engrossed in another world. At Primus Senior Living, we believe in the ability of movies to lift spirits and bring people together. That’s why we host movie nights that our residents can enjoy.

Let's now look into some movies for seniors that can be pretty delightful to watch from various genres, all of which are perfect for a movie night.

Feel-Good Movies

Feel-good movies are all about making you smile, feel hopeful, and remind you of the joys of life. These are the kinds of movies that seniors would want to watch over and over again because of how light and uplifting they are. 

The Intern

If you’re searching for a movie that has some heartfelt moments, The Intern is a great choice. The story follows Ben Whittaker, played by Robert De Niro, a 70-year-old widower who feels restless in his retirement. Seeking a new purpose, he applies for an internship at an online fashion company run by the young and ambitious Jules Ostin, played by Anne Hathaway. It starts as a beautiful journey of friendship across generations, as Ben helps Jules navigate her stressful life, all while adapting to a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.

The Pursuit of Happyness

The Pursuit of Happyness stars Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a salesman who is struggling with numerous hardships and trying to provide for his young son. The film speaks about Chris's journey from homelessness to becoming a successful stockbroker, all in the context of perseverance, determination, and unconditional love between a father and son. This movie makes people of all ages hopeful about life despite the difficulties one has to go through. 

The Lunchbox

As the name suggests, it is a story of a mistakenly delivered lunchbox. This movie takes us through the life of Ila, a woman whose homemade lunch for her husband is mistakenly delivered to another person named Saajan. What begins as a simple mix-up turns into a beautiful friendship through letters exchanged in the lunchbox. It shows how relationships can grow through shared experiences, even in the most unexpected circumstances.

Animated Movies

Animated movies are not just for children to watch. They have beautiful stories and purposes that can resonate with the audience, too. Here are two simply amazing ones that entertain and inspire:

Coco

Coco is an animated motion picture glorifying the importance of family and cultural heritage, celebrating at its best visually. It is a tale about a little boy, Miguel, whose dream is to be a musician; the only problem is that instead of finding himself in that real-life revelry to make music, he ends up in the Land of the Dead on Día de los Muertos. As he travels the alternative world, he understands more about his family history and the importance of cherishing one's loved ones. With its colourful animation and upbeat song, this movie can capture the attention and hearts of viewers of all ages.

Up

In the adventure movie Up, we discover Carl, an elderly man who wishes to travel across South America. So, for his dream to come true, he attaches thousands of balloons to his house and sets off on this very fantastic journey. Along the way, a young boy scout also joins him on this adventure. Up is a movie full of humour, emotions, and important life lessons. The message of being able to chase dreams or make friends at any age will definitely resonate with the audience, and for sure, seniors will get a kick out of taking up life's adventures, irrespective of their age.

Indian Nostalgia

The old classics from Bollywood come alive with nostalgia and remind people of their old days. Here are two films that can surely bring back some great memories:

Agneepath

Agneepath is one of the classic Bollywood films where Amitabh Bachchan plays Vijay, an angry young man who is taking revenge for his father's murder. It's the story of love, loss, and the struggle for justice. The film is power-packed, with great music that captures the viewers. This one surely stays with seniors for their times during the golden period of Bollywood.

Awaara

Another classic where viewers can watch and connect and develop an emotional attachment would be Awaara, starring Raj Kapoor. This is the true and classic treasure that explores the subjects of love, destiny, and redemption. It is packed with so much great music and poignant storytelling that you just get transported back to another era of Bollywood cinema. It is very evident that this film remains to be loved by elders who appreciate deeper storytelling in the classics. 
 

Indian Must-Watch

Let's consider the following two more contemporary movies for old people that synthesise history with a very strong message.

Rang De Basanti

Rang De Basanti is one of those films that makes the viewer think. It is about five friends who decided to make a film about India's freedom fighters. With this research work, they start believing in themselves and become revolutionaries fighting against corruption in the present society. This film weaves together the past and the present to give one some thought on their place in society and the urgent need to do something to change their future world for the better. It inspires dialogue pertinent to our roles as citizens and how easily those roots can slip into our minds.

Dangal

An inspiring historical sports biographical film that inspired everyone in true life, Dangal, based on wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, brings into view his journey in training his daughters to become wrestling champions. The movie takes much humour, emotions, and inspiring scenes as part of the presentation of breaking stereotypes. It has themes of family, dedication, and an image of perfection that relates to most families in society. Dangal makes people challenge the norms of society and believes anybody can conquer the world regardless of gender by working hard and having willpower.

English Vinglish

In 'English Vinglish,' Sridevi shines as homemaker Shashi, who undergoes an English class in a bid to re-establish confidence within. Compellingly, she tells her journey towards self-discovery, crossing the rigid barriers of societal expectations and personal aspirations. It is an inspiring story for all audiences belonging to any age group, goading them to pursue lifelong learning as well as further personal development. This heartwarming message of learning something new and it's never too late is an inspiration for seniors to dedicate themselves to their hobbies and passions.

This list of movies makes for the perfect way to spend some time unwinding and appreciating the mastery of the movie industry. However, if you are looking to have a great time without involving too much screen time, here are some other options we personally recommend.

Take a break from screen time with these alternatives

We’re sure that you’ll love every movie we’ve recommended above but we also understand that sometimes, staring at a screen can also feel mundane. Worry not, we have just the solution for those times too.

• Books that are an absolute must-read for seniors: If you are the kind of person who prefers reading books over watching movies, check this curated list of books you simply cannot miss out on. 

• Interactive group games for seniors: We know quite a lot of seniors who simply love spending time with their friends and family and that’s why we’ve created this list of interactive games to make sure that every gathering will be filled with fun!

At Primus Senior Living, we strongly believe that seniors should never have to spend time in boredom. Be it some quality me-time or fun with friends, we’ve got the perfect list of activities seniors can spend time doing. So, why wait, gather your family or friends and plan some movie nights!