It’s time for the 250th anniversary of America, and what’s more American than the glamor of Hollywood and film? Let’s celebrate our state with the greatest movies of all time! 

2026 is the semi-quincentennial, or more simply the 250th, anniversary of our country. To celebrate, many regions in the state of Ohio are starting a film movement called “Ohio Goes to the Movies”. This project celebrates the most iconic films, particularly those that have connections to Ohio. The idea is that across the state, different venues will be hosting free movies that anyone can come and see. This team celebrates Ohio’s role in American history and our special contributions to film. 

Ohio’s Contributions to the Entertainment Industry

Some of the films being shown with performers and creators from Ohio are The Shawshank Redemption, which stars Urbana-born actor Clancy Brown, LaLa Land, starring and produced by Springfield native John Legend, and The Wizard of Oz, starring Margaret Hamilton from Cleveland. Other films are on display due to subjects in the movie related to Ohio history, like Hidden Figures, which includes Ohio-born astronaut John Glenn as a major contributing character. 

A few features filmed in Ohio are making their way back to these special venues with inclusions like A Man Called Otto, which used multiple train stations in the state for flashback sequences, and 2025’s Superman, which filmed in Cleveland for several shots of Metropolis city, as well as the Union Terminal building in downtown Cincinnati for the Hall of Justice. 

Movies like The Goonies and Close Encounters of the Third Kind are also returning for their connection to iconic director Steven Spielberg, a former resident of Cincinnati. All of these films are being shown at libraries, schools, community centers, drive-ins, and some smaller theaters. They are scheduled throughout the year in what is already a busy film season. 

A Stacked Cinematic Lineup for 2026

2026 is expected to be a big year for movies, possibly even surpassing the novelty of last year’s lineup, which included Superman, Lilo and Stitch, and Wicked: For Good. Some upcoming spring releases include Pixar’s newest feature, Hoppers, and MGM’s Project Hail Mary, by the Lord and Miller directing duo. Michael, the new Michael Jackson biopic is also slated for an April release this year, providing exciting new ventures into the pop culture world. 

Summer brings the heat with early June blockbusters like Masters of the Universe, Spielberg’s recently announced alien invasion film titled Disclosure Day (the trailer looks incredible!) and Supergirl. July will bring us to the most anticipated and potentially controversial films with Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Disney’s upcoming Moana live-action remake, and Marvel Studios’ joint effort with Sony, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Later in the year, we’ll have a major fandom competition with the release of Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, both debuting on December 18. The later months will also see the likes of Godzilla Minus Zero, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and a third Jumanji film. It’s a pretty busy year overall! 

There are plenty of exciting films on their way to the big screen this year, and they’re all great ways to celebrate America’s anniversary. To celebrate within our own school, we sent out a poll to get a better idea of Harrison’s favorite films, asking about different sub-categories for various movie-based opinions. Let’s take a closer look into Harrison students’ favorite movies in an Oscar-style deep dive! 

And the Award for Best Picture Goes to…

Here are some of the most notable movie submissions that Harrison students love! These are not arranged in any particular order, so it’s okay if you personally disagree with some of these choices. 

Jurassic World (2015)

One of Harrison’s overall favorite movies is 2015’s Jurassic World! This film was submitted by Senior Zachary Davidson. It relaunched the Jurassic franchise in the modern world, bringing John Hammond’s true vision of the theme park to life in the all new Jurassic World experience. The new cinematic portrayal of the theme park uses modern and well developed computer effects to create believable and exotic exhibits, fun and thrilling rides, and new and exciting threats for our survivor heroes to face. 

Davidson kicks off his argument for the film as the greatest of all time by explaining its fresh plot, “The concept of a hybrid dinosaur was very fresh and exciting at the time, and they really treated the Indominus Rex very well as a villain.” Treating the Indominus Rex like a villain also supports Spielberg’s original decision to make the T-Rex the hero of Jurassic Park, who also has a hero moment in the final battle of Jurassic World. 

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard make a great entrance to the franchise as Owen Grady and Claire Dearing, acting as the protectors of Claire’s nephews staying on the island resort when chaos breaks loose. B.D. Wong also returns as Dr. Henry Wu, a special geneticist for the park who created the Indominus Rex, forming the perfect mix of nostalgia between both eras of Jurassic stories. 

This franchise hit a few speed bumps in recent years when it contracted the very contagious disease known as sequelitis. Jurassic World: Rebirth isn’t the worst of these films, but the 2025 feature wasn’t quite as excellent as fans and critics had hoped, possibly due to the overextension of these stories on the big screen. However, Jurassic World from 2015 is the perfect tribute to the original Jurassic Park film, and is a great way to celebrate movie culture in our country. 

Forrest Gump (1994)

Next up is Forrest Gump, which is perhaps the most classic movie on this list. Submitted by Ashlee Spradlin and Madison McIntyre, the film shows the journey of Forrest Gump as he befriends a girl named Jenny as a child, becomes a football star, joins the army, turns the tide of the Vietnam War, starts a heartfelt shrimp business, and eventually makes his way back home to reunite with his childhood friend. According to McIntyre, Forrest Gump is the greatest classic American film, sharing, “Every scene draws me in with laughter and emotion every time I watch it.” 

Spradlin gave even more specifics on why the movie was so successful, “It’s a beautiful movie that makes us feel like we’ve grown with Forrest.” Part of this growth is due to the incredible performance of Forrest by Tom Hanks, one of the greatest actors alive. “It’s actually pretty educational as well,” Spradlin explained, remembering how Mr. Sowders, a recently retired Social Studies teacher, would show the film every year to cap off the major events portrayed in the movie. “It’s comical how Forrest ends up in all of these historical events: he helped Elvis invent some moves, he went to Vietnam, met JFK and Nixon, went to Watergate during the scandal, with lots more.” If you didn’t have the opportunity in your freshman year history class, definitely check this movie out! 

Avatar (2009)

Third on our list, let’s discuss Samantha Siemer’s pitch for Avatar. She claims that these films are great “because of the message they get across along with how visually stunning they are.” Visually speaking, these movies are quite the spectacle! The first entry of this franchise revolutionized the film industry, particularly in the vein of cinematography, creating the most visually appealing shots through one of the first advanced motion capture systems. 

The film is almost entirely created with CGI animation, making it one of the most key developments in motion capture history. Its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, also revolutionized filming technology just three years ago in late 2022 and early 2023 by having its cast members swim in authentic motion captured water sequences, a major first for the film industry! 

Like so many other franchises, including the Jurassic films, Avatar also sadly suffers from having too many sequels. In 2017, the production team announced four more sequel films planned all the way through 2031, launching the franchise prematurely 14 years into the future. A one-off movie that could have had one or two decent sequels became a spiraling money-making scheme by Disney. 

Granted, I have not seen these films at the time of writing this, so I can’t judge the most recent installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, but I’m always a skeptic when it comes to sequel films. I look forward to watching the first two entries in this series, as they look very original and intriguing. Regardless of my opinions, the films have introduced revolutionary technologies and filming strategies, and that makes them well worth celebrating in honor of American films. 

I could talk about these movies all day, but we have a lot of content to cover, so let’s wrap this section up with some other notable films students are using to celebrate movie culture. 

Multiple franchises were represented by Harrison students as their favorite films were tallied. The likes of Iron Man and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith were submitted for their solid quality and for beginning two great storytelling and filmmaking eras for Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios. Other non-franchised films that received love were Coraline, LaLa Land, and the Lion King (which technically has sequels, but it kind of stands on its own). These are some great picks, but we’re not done yet! Let’s explore some categories where certain films shine a little brighter than others. 

Performing With Passion – Our Favorite Actors

We included a question in our poll about Harrison students’ favorite actors and actresses, and the responses were intriguing. A few names you might expect are Keanu Reeves from the John Wick films and The Matrix franchise, Winona Ryder from Stranger Things and Reality Bites, and Emma Thompson, known for her roles in Love Actually and the Harry Potter films of the 2000’s. Let’s look into some other important names connected to less obvious films. 

Kathy Bates was a name submitted by Ashlee Spradlin, who praised her work in the terrifying film Misery. Some of her other known work includes her role as Molly Brown in Titanic, Sylvia Simon in Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, and Amy’s mother, Mrs. Fowler, on hit series The Big Bang Theory. To me, Bates’ best film has to be Fried Green Tomatoes, which features the actress in the role of Evelyn Couch. The film is a perfect blend between drama and comedy, making it one of Bates’ greatest chances to show off her incredible talents. 

Christopher Lee is a performer known for his contemporary work in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Star Wars prequel films Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, but Casey Bertsch also praised the late actor for his earlier film role as Dracula in the 1970 film Taste the Blood of Dracula. Lee has also appeared in films like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and Sleepy Hollow (1999). 

One more standout actor from these responses would be Cillian Murphy, submitted by Madison McIntyre. She recognized the 2005 film Breakfast on Pluto as Murphy’s best work. He is known for roles such as Scarecrow in Batman Begins and Fischer in Inception, two great action films directed by Christopher Nolan. Murphy has a penchant for working on Nolan’s movies, including those mentioned before as well as the 2023 blockbuster Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer is one film that I’d argue is the greatest of all time. It was nominated for and won the best picture award at the 2024 Oscars and has one of the greatest casts of all time. With these accomplishments, Murphy is an acting icon for sure! 

Some other names in the running for Harrison’s favorite performers were Jenifer Lawrence, Will Ferrell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Adam Sandler, Anya Taylor-Joy, Mathew Macfadyen, and Benedict Cumberbatch, all of which are worthy of praise for various contributions to film and television. 

Best Emotional Movies – Bring Tissues!

Movies are made for our enjoyment, but sometimes they have a deeper purpose. With the right cast, script, direction, and even music selection, film has the power to break our hearts and mold our minds. They create compassion and affect our ability to empathize. This can work both ways, making us more emotional or less based on the tones of the production. The films Harrison nominated as the most emotional included Call Me By Your Name, A Dog’s Purpose, Encanto, Casino Royale, and Tick, Tick… Boom. Here were the three ultra-emotional movies according to Harrison. 

Wuthering Heights (2026)

Wuthering Heights is a new 2026 film starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi about an 18th century romance based on an 1847 novel by Emily Brontë. Some have criticized the film for its loose interpretation of the book, but Sergio Hernandez claims that the movie makes him feel ethereal, “the music, the outfits, are spectacular, I admit that the movie’s themes steer away from the ones in the book, but that’s okay with me!” Hernandez also praised the film’s soundtrack which was composed by Charlie XCX. Music can easily affect the mood of a film, so her inclusion in this movie’s production is an interesting choice. 

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Good Will Hunting is a 1997 film directed by Gus Van Sant and submitted by Casey Bertsch. It stars Matt Damon as a genius-level thinker who works as a janitor, and Robin Williams, who plays Damon’s therapist. While Damon is more recognized for action films like The Martian and Interstellar, his appearance in this movie is strengthened by the talents of Robin Williams. Williams is very well recognized for his mix of comedy and drama, often playing characters who use comedy to overcome significant trauma or other life challenges. Some of these roles can be found in films like Mrs. Doubtfire, The Birdcage, and Hook. 

Another heavy hitting cast member from Good Will Hunting is Stellan Skarsgård. While he doesn’t feature quite as heavily as Williams in an emotional role, his character has an almost selfish need for Damon’s character to succeed, providing excellent dramatic weight to the film’s overall plot. Skarsgård portrayed another character very similarly in the Star Wars series, Andor, as rebel leader Luthen Rael. Scenes from the series like Luthen’s monologue to Agent Jung and his various interactions with his adopted daughter Kleya show the dramatic weight a seasoned performer like Skarsgård can bring to a film, and his role in Good Will Hunting is no exception! 

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Finally, perhaps the most emotional film of all time is Dead Poets Society. Also starring the late Robin Williams, this was entered by Harrison student Cheyanne Campbell. The film follows Williams’ character, a new professor at a traditional and rather stiff private school, as he teaches his students to “seize the day” or “carpe diem” in Latin. Campbell expressed her connection with the film stating, “I felt like it was such a beautiful depiction of friendship and parental expectations.” 

One of the main storylines of the film is about a student’s struggle to impress his parents while also finding his place with his friends. Unfortunately, his parents’ disapproval of his newfound acting skills pushes him over the edge of depression, resulting in a less than satisfying ending for this character. As Campbell explains, “It ends so beautifully and so awfully at the same time.” The final scene of the movie is Ethan Hawke’s character rallying the other students in one last protest for Williams, shouting “O Captain! My Captain!” as they watch him depart from the school. The beauty and tragedy of this movie is something America can learn from every day, making it a great choice for a more solemn act of celebration this year. 

A Cinematic Serenade

Music is one of the most influential parts of cinema, choosing exactly how you are meant to feel from scene to scene. Whether it’s an instrumental score, or an album compiling works by different singers and songwriters, the impact of music on a movie is essential for that film’s success as a work of art. Some of the submissions for best score and soundtrack according to Harrison students included K-Pop Demon Hunters, The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, Wicked, the HBO series Euphoria, That Thing You Do, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Avengers films. 

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

One universally adored superhero film received attention from multiple students with the submission of Spider-Man 2. The Sam Raimi blockbuster is often considered one of the greatest superhero films of all time, and it has a hair-raising score by Danny Elfman. According to Zachary Davidson, “This film is already pretty much the pinnacle of superhero films on its own, but the main theme really represents the character arc of Peter Parker through the film in my eyes.” 

While Spider-Man as a character is known for his quick wit and light-hearted spirit, the character also faces many traumatic situations throughout his life as a hero of NYC, a balance that is brought to life through Raimi’s films, emphasized by Elfman’s creepy themes. While Michael Giacchino’s Spider-Man: Homecoming score is lighter and more carefree, Elfman’s compositions reflect the dark sides of Peter Parker, something that comes in handy every time Uncle Ben’s name leaps into a conversation. 

Cruella (2021)

Next on the list is a 2021 live action Disney film, but despite the company’s reputation, it’s not a remake! Cruella focuses on the early life of Estella Miller, later known as the criminal mastermind, Cruella De Vil. The score is composed by Nicholas Britell (a personal favorite of mine!) and features several recognizable 70s and 80s pop/rock songs like “Stone Cold Crazy” by Queen, “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone, and “One Way or Another” by Blondie. These along with an original song by Florence & the Machine titled “Call Me Cruella” reinforce the devious nature of Cruella De Vil. 

Nicholas Britell is truly one of my favorite modern film composers. He is known for his work on Cruella, as well as the popular HBO series Succession. His absolute best work comes from Andor, a score that perfectly reflects the show’s darker more serious themes of love, war, and sacrifice. Britell’s compositions in Cruella are also very impressive, sticking with the film’s time period and evoking a sense of mystery and terror throughout. These emotions are reflected well through tracks like “The Baroque Ball” with its minor chords and intense vocal harmonizations. Despite Britell’s contributions for this movie, his role as a music producer in Harrison’s favorite film soundtrack is perhaps even more impressive! 

Whiplash (2014)

Many students suggested Whiplash had the best soundtrack of any movie. It celebrates jazz music, using several brisk swing pieces composed by Justin Hurwitz and produced by Nicholas Britell. These demonstrate the anxiety Miles Teller’s character feels and the intensity of the cruel music professor Fletcher, played by J. K. Simmons. 

Whiplash is a difficult movie to watch, but definitely check out its soundtrack sometime! The Oscar winning film includes pieces like “Whiplash”, “Caravan”, and “Upswingin’”, all of which show Fletcher’s brutality and the tone this movie strives for. “Upswingin’” in particular is the track Fletcher surprises Teller’s character with to humiliate him in front of a full Carnegie Hall audience. They all have a special effect on the listener and are a marvellous demonstration of the power of music in a movie. Bravo to Whiplash! 

Movies to Bring You Comfort

Comfort movies are those that make you feel safe, warm, and happy when you’ve been stressed out and need to take a break from the world. Some of mine are The Adam Project, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and The Greatest Showman. Other notable responses from Harrison students were Mean Girls, Grown Ups, Emma (2020), and the Twilight films. 

Home Alone (1990)

Christmas is arguably the essence of comfort for many people, and this submission by Ashlee Spradlin proves it. Kevin’s misadventures at home while his family is on vacation are some of the most festive and fun scenes of any movie. Together, humor and heart, both qualities that are featured in Home Alone, are the key to a comfort movie. The hilarious antics of Harry and Marv as they travel through Kevin’s fun house of traps are great when you need a laugh, and “Old Man” Marley’s kind words to Kevin in the final act give us a warm feeling to end the night on. Plus, John Candy’s cameo as the “Polka King of the Midwest” leaves us begging for more of the acting icon’s warmth and humor. It’s a perfect movie for you to curl up on your couch and just vibe until you fall asleep. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

This was entered by Cheyanne Campbell and explores several coming-of-age themes including first love, loss, and friendship. The Perks of Being a Wallflower stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller, whose characters each share a special bond with each other. The film also includes Paul Rudd in its cast, adding a special charm only the Ant-Man actor has. His role in the movie isn’t funny like many of Rudd’s other characters, but he does provide an element of emotional inspiration and motivation for the main characters. While the movie deals with some difficult topics like suicide and heartbreak, it has a happy ending where the three main characters find belonging with each other and finally figure out their place in high school. 

Best Upcoming Movies

We already addressed most of these earlier, but here are a few more specific details about what Harrison students are looking forward to in the entertainment industry this year. 

Regarding The Odyssey, Alexander Venia exclaimed, “I’m excited to see Matt Damon and Jon Bernthal’s take on their characters.” The Odyssey might have one of the most stacked casts of all time, with heavy hitters such as Bernthal and Damon, as well as other experienced performers like Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, and Mia Goth. Another Christopher Nolan fan expressed their interest in the film stating, “I’m interested to see how he adapts an old legend.” For such an experienced director, this task shouldn’t be a problem! 

Michael is a movie coming in April that also draws interest from a few Harrison students. One student claimed they planned to see this movie despite often not watching new movies in theaters, stating, “I’ve always liked Michael Jackson as an artist and person.” Cheyanne Campbell also explained, “I live, laugh, LOVE movies about musicians, so I’m super-duper excited about Michael.” 

Personally, I’m most excited to see how the cast portrays each of these characters. Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, is set to play his real-life uncle, and from what we’ve seen in the trailers, he’s playing the role very well! It will also be interesting to see Colman Domingo, who is known for his inspirational, sweet, and lighthearted performances, play the cruel and abusive father of Michael Jackson. 

Later in the summer, we’ll have some great superhero action with Supergirl and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Both look promising and fresh, paving the road for improvements in the Marvel and DC franchises. Another Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse also received interest from Harrison students. It won’t arrive until the summer of 2027, but it still is a great movie to add to our watchlist! 

On June 19, 2026, singer/songwriter Hayley Kiyoko will make her directorial debut with the original film Girls Like Girls, based on the artist’s 2015 song of the same name. It stars newer performers Myra Molloy and Kelsey Asbille, as well as Scrubs actor Zach Braff, promising some potential comedic elements as well as several dramatic moments. Earlier than this on May 22, The Mandalorian and Grogu will soar onto theater screens, becoming the first feature film for Star Wars in seven years. It promises action, humor, and some interesting developments in the “Mando-Verse” saga. The end of 2026 also gives us Enola Holmes 3, developing the Holmes legacy even further. 

Harrison students have a long list of diverse and interesting favorite films and series, and all of them are great for representing America’s role in film. If you’re looking for something new to watch, maybe one of the items in this list gave you some inspiration. Maybe you can go searching across the state this year for some unique movies with direct connections to Ohio. There’s something for everyone here at Harrison, so go find your perfect American movie!