Whether you were globe-trotting, fetching a tall nonfat Frappuccino for your employer, or snuggling in bed while battling a Netflix addiction this summer, you may have missed out on some precious time in front of a theater screen with a bag of popcorn at your side. While the season’s flicks may have left theaters, that’s no excuse to neglect watching your furry childhood friends and Emma Watson in some of the summer’s featured films. Here are a few movies you might want to consider getting a hold of before schoolwork starts piling up:

Monster’s University

By far, this animated film was my top pick of the summer. Pixar took audiences back in time to revisit how our favorite monsters, Mike and Sully, met at Monster’s University. With Greek system drama, intimidating professors and a bustling campus nightlife, you might catch yourself comparing scenes of the movie to your life at college. If you used to watch and rewatch “Monster’s Inc.” 12 years ago, this prequel won’t disappoint.

This Is The End

With a stellar cast including James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill and Danny McBride, this horror-comedy is exactly what you would expect from directors Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen. It’s crass, narcissistic and outright outrageous throughout, but you still can’t help but laugh as the main characters struggle to make it out alive in Franco’s home during an apocalypse. It also features cameos by Michael Cera, Emma Watson and Channing Tatum, to name a few, which adds to the ridiculous nature of the film.

Much Ado About Nothing

If you want to impress your English professor this fall, this indie flick might do the trick. As a modern twist on Shakespeare’s classic, “Much Ado About Nothing” tracks two couples and their views on love. Whether love will prevail is not always clear, but this timeless classic will have you guessing within the first 10 minutes.

The Bling Ring

It might not be Emma Watson’s best role, but it’s certainly hard to pass up the luxurious lifestyle Oscar-winning filmmaker Sofia Coppola creates in “The Bling Ring.” Based on a real-life crime, the film follows the lives of affluent teenagers obsessed with stealing from the mansions of notorious celebrities, such as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Orlando Bloom. While it fails to delve deeper into the real issues at bay for these insecure adolescents, it’s an impressively accurate depiction of the reality television series, “Pretty Wild,” that featured the real “Bling Ring” gang. If reality TV is one of your guilty pleasures, you’ll want to add this film to your list.

World War Z

Based on the 2006 novel by Max Brooks, Marc Forster’s adaption to the big screen delivers a strong performance by Brad Pitt who plays a former UN employee battling an impending end to all of humanity. For those that enjoy a thriller jam-packed with action, Forster’s film brings in the terrifying moments toward the end. It’s not typical of a zombie apocalypse film, but it’s a good place to start for those that wouldn’t normally sit through one.   

The Way, Way Back

In this coming-of-age story featuring Liam James, Toni Collette and Steve Carell, Duncan (James) is an introverted 14-year-old who characterizes every adolescent’s awkward phase. You’ve seen this character before, but that doesn’t make him any less endearing to watch as he endures a summer vacation with his divorced mom (Collette), her new boyfriend (Carell) and annoying sister played by Zoe Levin. “The Way, Way Back” will make you greatly appreciate surpassing that time in your life when spontaneous human combustion seemed like a great alternative to being 14 years old.

Lee Daniels’ The Butler

One word: Oprah. Even if you have no interest in American history at all, a movie with Oprah in it is a must-see. “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” is based on the real-life White House butler, Eugene Allen, who serves eight American presidents over the course of 34 years. The film chronicles how the world around him changes during his time at the White House, and it features solid performances from Forest Whitaker, Robin Williams, John Cusack and many more. Poignant and compelling, this film brings an important message to the forefront, and that’s all you could ask for.

Alice is a sophomore in Media. She can be reached at [email protected].