One of my New Year's resolutions is to spend more time with my loved ones, including some of my closest girlfriends! For years, one of our favorite traditions has been to cozy up on the couch, grab some popcorn, and turn on a stirring chick-flick. What better (and safer) way to unwind on a weekend night than to host a vitural girls-night-in? With platforms like Netflix and Kast allowing shared movie-watching experiences, it's easier than ever! Bonus points for including scented candles and DIY manicures to really set the mood!

If, like me, you’ve already watched The Devil Wears Prada and Legally Blonde more times than you can count, here are some newer (and often underrated) flicks to add to your list:

1. Booksmart

This 2019 coming-of-age movie follows two academically-inclined high school seniors who have forgone the “traditional high school experience” to focus devotedly on getting into prestigious colleges. Once they realize that their more popular, and wilder, classmates managed to balance their academic life with a social one, they embark on a mission to liven up their teenage years in the remaining time before graduation. Complete with rowdy parties, juicy secrets, and ample teenage drama, Booksmart will take you and your friends on a journey back into the thrilling life of high school.

2. Someone Great

Craving a girls-night-out but don’t want to leave your couch? This 2019 romantic comedy stars Gina Rodriguez as Jenny, a recently single 20-something New Yorker whose best friends take her on a night out on the town as an attempt to cure her heartbreak. The number of crazy adventures the ladies go on in a single night is probably unthinkable for most viewers, even in pre-COVID times. Something Great teaches us that, while romantic partners come and go, best friends will always stay by your side.

3. How To Be Single

Featuring one of the most well-communicated messages for all young ladies, this 2016 flick produced by Drew Barrymore stars Dakota Johnson as Alice, a recent college graduate who decides to take a break from her long-term relationship to experience the real-world dating market. As she befriends new and interesting individuals and dates out of her comfort zone, she realizes both the right and the wrong way to be single. For those that need inspiration to find themselves independent of a romantic relationship, How to Be Single serves as an eye-opening reminder to love yourself before loving anyone else.

4. Hustlers

Hustlers empowers all women while straying away from the usual romance genre. This 2019 crime drama film stars Constance Wu as Destiny, a small-time stripper struggling to make ends meet. When Ramona, Jennifer Lopez’s character and the club’s show-stopper, takes Destiny under her wing, she mentors her to rake in higher profits from a wealthier clientele. Based on a true story, Hustlers gives us a glimpse into a robust industry often forgotten about and, along the way, shows us how unlikely friends can often become family.

5. Desperados

Another overlooked romantic comedy from 2020, Desperados reunites our favorite on-screen pair from the hit TV sitcom “New Girl” as Nasim Pedrad and Lamorne Morris star in this chaotic yet adorable story. After a frantic email is sent to a new boyfriend, Pedrad’s character and her closest friends rush after him to Mexico to delete the message before it ruins their budding relationship. Desperados is the ultimate reminder that your true friends will always stay by your side, no matter how ridiculous things may get.

Of course, the most important ingredient for the perfect girls-night-in is the right people. No matter which flick you choose, spending quality time with your loved ones is what the night is all about!