In my household, long weekends mean one thing (okay, two things): eating and being lazy. Some people might prefer to fill every moment of the day with outdoor activities and, sure, I’ll allow that, but personally, I live for the in-between moments. The ones where I’m having a quiet morning on the couch with my coffee and a good movie, or a rainy afternoon snuggling my pup.
It’s those moments that I want to spend chilling out and feel 100% content. But also, in reality, I end up spending so long scrolling through my streaming apps before swapping it for a scroll on my phone.
But we’re not doing that this weekend. This weekend, we’re all coming in hot with a plan — and that plan is the below list of movie marathons that’ll transport you to faraway worlds. Plus, they’re all available on Disney+. We have something to suit all tastes and if you work hard enough, you could probably tick them all off your list this long weekend.
All of the Aladdin Movies
Let me tell you exactly why watching all of the Aladdin movies is a solid life choice for the long weekend: guaranteed happy endings. My favourite thing about Disney movies like Aladdin is that even though I might be stressed as the movie peaks, I’m usually also guaranteed a sweet ending. And with movies like Aladdin, the wanderlust vibes are enough to keep me coming back again and again.
For this marathon, you want to start with the 1992 classic Aladdin, then Aladdin: The Return of Jafar, followed by Aladdin and the King of Thieves — then round it out with the 2019 live-action reboot, simply titled Aladdin.
The Avengers
Now, I’d love to recommend you do a marathon of all 23 Marvel movies (which I, just quietly, am deeply in the throws of doing myself) but it’s a lot for a long weekend. In fact, it may be impossible to fit them all into just four days. But there’s a loophole — and it’s going straight for the heavy-hitters by watching all four Avengers movies. Start with The Avengers, then Avengers: Age of Ultron, then take a big, deep breath before diving into the soul-shattering Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
101 Dalmatians
Nothing transports me back to my childhood quicker than a re-watch of the iconic 101 Dalmations franchise. There are a couple of ways you can do this and it all depends on what eras your favourite and how much time you have.
For argument’s sake, the franchise can be divided into four parts: the animated films (one produced by Walt Disney himself in 1961, the other in 2003), the live-actions with Glenn Close (released in 1996 and 2000), and then there are the many TV series, all of which are on Disney+ right now. Also, it’s not a bad idea to catch up on the entire story before we see Emma Stone step into the glorious shoes of Cruella De Vil in the live-action film Cruella, streaming 28 May on Disney+ with Premier Access.
The Die Hard Franchise
Whether you reckon it’s a Christmas movie or not, watching the entire Die Hard franchise over the long weekend is a surefire way to get your adrenaline pumping without lifting a finger. Seriously, it’s one of the most essential action flicks of all time, and the long weekend will allow ample time to squeeze in all five blockbusters for your viewing pleasure.
The Chronicles of Narnia Franchise
If you’re bored of your current life, then taking a trip through the Chronicles of Narnia franchise is a very good idea. Starting with the 2005 film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, you’ll be sucked into a fantastical world that’s a far cry from your tiny little apartment. Next, gobble up The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and quickly follow it up with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
