Let’s have some fun in this article. Here’s what movies and shows you might want to take a look at, based on what you’re studying.
(Technical) Medicine
Grey’s Anatomy (show)
Yes, yes, we all know how dramatic it is, and every patient seems to recover after a heartfelt speech, but with a runtime spanning over 20 years and 440 episodes, you can’t not admit that this show has made its mark in the medical community. If you’re into it, you’re really into it – it’s addictive and offers a sense of goofiness every med student secretly wished for.
Scrubs (show)
This one’s known to be more accurate and definitely funnier, based on what I’ve seen. Medicine isn’t always so prestigious and glamorous, and Scrubs definitely tries to show you that, even while it’s joking about it.
House (show)
I’ve only ever seen clips on social media for it, and based on what I’ve seen, my goodness this show seems like a fever dream. You’ve got a world-class diagnostician who goes around bullying everyone in his hospital as the protagonist and it’s hilarious when it’s taken out of context. Definitely something I want to watch sometime down the line.
Science and Engineering
Interstellar (movie)
Probably my favourite movie ever, Interstellar was the one movie that truly made me realise how wonderfully endless the possibilities of the universe were. It’s a fantastic story with great visuals and amazing performances by some of my favourite actors. Christopher Nolan, time, and space – if you’ve got all three in the same movie together, then you know you’re in for a treat.
Oppenheimer (movie)
Yet another Nolan movie. Obviously everyone’s already gushed about how good the movie was, especially in the cinema, but still, I couldn’t make a list about science-y movies and not include Oppenheimer. Sure, a bunch of it is about politics more than science, but the first half of the movie still talks a lot about the process of building and recruiting people for the atomic bomb project. I’ve also talked about the soundtrack before in this article, and listening to it again while studying makes me imagine that I’m also working towards something larger than myself :)
Breaking Bad (show)
Every chemical science & engineering student has had that one friend go up to them and say, “Hey, can you make those drugs like in Breaking Bad?” It’s basically a right of passage these days. Make no mistake – Breaking Bad is a one-of-a-kind show, with some of the most compelling characters and a plot that’ll make you binge for days on end. Everyone knows it, not everyone’s seen it.
Hidden Figures (movie)
I watched this recently and I’ve been thinking about it. It’s a great movie, filled with a lot of drama and tense, emotional moments. Hidden Figures is about the crucial roles played by three African American women during the Space Race, whose calculations in orbital mechanics proved pivotal for the success of the NASA-crewed spaceflights.
Law
Suits (show)
Who doesn’t want to be as smooth as Harvey Specter? Sure, law isn’t always high-stakes negotiations and endless charisma, but a little escapism never hurt anybody. It’s undeniably addictive, especially if you come across those edits on social media, even though there are one too many theatrics in the courtroom and complex cases get simplified. From sharp suits and entertaining dialogues to dramatic power struggles and intricate relationships, Suits captures glamour and ambition in its universe.
Better Call Saul (show)
Set in the same universe as Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul tells the story of Saul Goodman, the sleazy lawyer featured in the show. It’s a slow burn, and the story takes a while to pick up (though still fantastic, even in earlier seasons), but once it does it’s like a train without brakes: you’ll never stop watching.
Business and Economics
The Wolf of Wall Street (movie)
Excessive? Definitely. Unrealistic? Absolutely. Hotel? Trivago. But beneath its madness is a peculiar tale about ambition, greed, and the cut-throat, every-man-for-himself nature of finance and markets, perfect for business majors to analyse. Also, Leonardo DiCaprio delivers an extremely entertaining performance for his character, so it’s worth watching just for that.
The Social Network (movie)
You’d think a biopic on Mark Zuckerberg would belong in the Science category, but I don’t think so. This movie’s a lot more about the business side of things rather than the actual coding and development of Facebook. As the film notes, “you don’t get 500 million friends without making a few enemies,” it’s an important take away from this movie that you need to make sure who you’re partnering up with, as the startup space can be cruel.
Psychology
The Notebook (movie)
Again, probably another movie that you’d think doesn’t belong here, but I disagree again. The first time I watched The Notebook, as a little kid, I thought the characters were all happy and charming – a little weird, and upfront, perhaps, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Watching it again after I gained sentience (read: as an adult) I realised that a lot of it is unnecessarily dramatic, stalkerish, and downright creepy at times. As someone who likes analysing characters and their behaviours, I’d imagine it’d be interesting for psychology students to do the same.
Requiem for a Dream (movie)
Probably a movie I’ll never watch again. I don’t really recommend this movie often, since it’s a tad bit too heavy for me, but if you wish to analyse and go deep into character behaviour, then this is probably the movie for you. There are some fantastic scenes and some really great camerawork, but once is enough for me.
Manchester by the Sea (movie)
One of the greatest performances I’ve ever watched. Again, most of the movies in this section are based on the characters and not actually on the subject matter itself. It’s an amazing movie about grief and endurance, which I’m a big fan of, but also about a main character who struggles to let go of his guilt and his past. There’s so much to talk about and so much to analyse that you’ll be thinking about this movie for weeks after watching it.
Communication Science
Emily in Paris (show)
Emily in Paris is the Grey's Anatomy for marketeers. It is full of stereotypes, drama, and unrealistically successful marketing campaigns. A classic case of expectations versus reality. Nevertheless, it's fun, humorous, and easy to watch. While Emily navigates a picturesque, full-on ‘City of Love’ Parisian backdrop, the series highlights both the allure and absurdity of influencer culture and brand management.
The Truman Show (movie)
A fascinating movie about media ethics, surveillance, and audience manipulation. Jim Carrey, while already a fantastic actor, delivers an outstanding portrayal of Truman Burbank, providing plenty of food for thought on privacy, authenticity, and the power of communication in shaping reality.
Spotlight (movie)
Investigative journalism is often overlooked, and Spotlight delivers a gripping portrayal of the profession at its finest, highlighting the ethical commitment and intense determination to uncover truths. The film does a great job of talking about a delicate subject matter, emphasising the impact media can have on society.
