7 Classic Movies And Shows About Sisterhood Every Girl Should Watch
By Ko Im
I once tried putting eye makeup on my poor brother who made me watch WWF with him. Alas, I always wish I had a sister (love you too, bro). I don’t understand why some female siblings fight but I suppose there’s always family drama. Luckily, you don’t have to be related to be best friends or pretend sisters, the kind who’s got your back and will show up and commiserate or collaborate with you. And sometimes, having a group of sisters is even more fun than just the two of you, even if it seems harder to get together as you get older (here’s a shoutout to my GFs and a call for a girls’ trip!). I still love reading about and watching things on old friendships and lasting sisterhood, with the ladies in starring roles and the opposite sex serving as supported goals or steamy distractions. They remind me of forever pacts and summer flings. Here are my top picks from the turn of the 21st century for any age. #LYLAS
1. Now and Then
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekjq4bmMCLg&w=560&h=315%5D
This amazing cult classic I remember renting from Blockbuster (be kind, rewind) was my first real introduction to group dynamics. I loved how this movie fast forwards from four young friends to four distinguished ladies i.e. Christina Ricci becomes Rosie O’Donnell. My childhood best friends’ mothers are great friends and I hope we grow up, stay close and keep snapping pictures together somehow, too.
2. The Babysitters’ Club
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENfaZdkskc&w=560&h=315%5D
Whether you’re Kristy or Claudia, you categorize yourself depending on your own quirks and style. The super Scholastic book series reminds me of showing up regularly to meetings and never growing up (since the characters didn’t age haha!). Also, we recorded so much of our silly yet important lives in diaries, sometimes shared journals.
3. Sister, Sister
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOk2Jbd1yyc&w=420&h=315%5D
What’s better than a sister? A TWIN sister who looks like you and you can exchange/borrow/steal clothes from. In my case, it just has to be my mom. As seen on TV, Tia and Tamara got into so many shenanigans, separately and together.
(Which one does not look like the others?)
4. The First’ Wives Club
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJmRAieU9AI&w=420&h=315%5D
Reunited by the death of a fourth friend, divorcees come together fabulously in this flick. At a young age, I adored Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton in their matching whites like Destiny’s Child in real mom life. For now, my friends and I have showers/weddings as excuses but hopefully we need to wait for a tragedy to see each other in the long, musical run.
5. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mdMI1f_eRU&w=560&h=315%5D
Sometimes, teenage friends split apart over summer breaks but they get reunited by summer’s end (or years later! Sisterhood 2 anyone? or a sequel to the sequel! *squeal*). The original movie continues to spawn my wanderlust for Santorini, Greece and brings nostalgia for summer love at camp. More importantly, don’t ever forget pants = love.
6. Girlfriends
Somehow, I stumbled upon this long-running television series on four black women on the west coast when I was a teen on Guam. What did I have in common with them? A crew can be drawn together by diversity of other things, like personality traits. All I know is I loved the theme song of being “there through thick and thin, my giiiiirlriends~”
7. Sex & the City
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4j5PVGHTdQ&w=420&h=315%5D
I think I started the brunch tradition in college partly influenced by the goings of Carrie, Miranda, Samantha & Charlotte showing on repeat in my dorm. I saved up my work money for these regular outings, when we would link arms and windowshop after. We dished over all kinds of boys while sharing French Toast. We haven’t gone to Dubai yet SATC-style but we were lucky enough to chill in Aruba one spring! So many memories of the sea breeze and laughter ringing beautifully in my ear. Take lots of pictures together, ladies — digital to mental, and cherish the special bond that doesn’t break with time.