Can’t sleep? Try these

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

Struggling to enter rapid eye movement? Want a movie or show that has calming qualities? Then look no further than this list. Made up of different kinds of movies and shows, one will surely find a movie or show that will help them get some shut-eye.

“Ratatouille” — Streaming on Disney+

“Ratatouille” is the perfect movie for sleep. It follows Remy, a rat, as he traverses through the streets of Paris to end up helping Linguini at the restaurant Gusteau’s. The movie is washed in soft blues and yellows, making it gentle on tired eyes. The soundtrack and ambiance are also extremely soothing, and the sounds of cooking and the Parisian streets are sure to lull even the biggest insomniac to sleep.

“The Devil Wears Prada” — Streaming on Max

Following Andrea “Andy” Sachs as she works for Vogue and its notorious editor, Miranda Priestly, the movie delves into the socialite side of working for a fashion magazine. With subtle overlays of white, gray and black to contrast where Andy starts in her career and where she ends up, the movie has a soft, almost dreamlike feel. Artists like Madonna, U2 and Alanis Morissette feature on the soundtrack, adding to this dreamlike feel. 

“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” — Streaming on Netflix

A movie with brighter colors and bubblegum pop for the soundtrack, which makes it perfect for when the body is in its earliest stages of exhaustion. The plot is easy to follow and the romance between Lara Jean and Peter is to swoon for, and the movie is best for soothing viewers to sleep. 

“Emma” — Streaming on Prime Video

Whether the 1996 or 2020 version, the movie follows the same plot: set in 1815 in the English countryside, it follows Emma — played by Gwyneth Paltrow in the ‘96 version and Anya Taylor Joy in the 2020 version — who goes about setting up affluent couples together. The soundtrack has a gentle piano accompaniment and the English countryside setting gives the movie a cozy, cottagecore feel. It’s best for when one is exhausted but their brain is fighting the urge to sleep.

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” — Streaming on Disney+

Similar to “Ratatouille,” this movie follows Mr. Fox as he makes his last big score against three poultry farmers. The film’s color palette is flush with yellows, oranges and reds, making it a warm, cozy movie for cold winter nights. The Wes Anderson movie features a folk music-based soundtrack with banjos and fiddles and features artists like Burl Ives and the Rolling Stones. When the cold, sleepless nights settle in, “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is the perfect movie.

“Pride and Prejudice” — Streaming on Starz and Prime Video

Another movie based on one of Jane Austen’s novels, “Pride and Prejudice” gives the same vibes as “Emma.” Following the Bennet family as the five daughters search for suitable husbands, viewers will find themselves falling for Charles Bingley and Mr. Darcy as they woo the eldest two Bennet daughters, Jane and Elizabeth. Another movie best for when one is fighting the urge to sleep.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu