The Golden Girls premiered on the NBC network in 1985 and ran for seven successful seasons until 1992. For fans, here’s what to watch next.
The Golden Girls premiered on the NBC network in 1985 and ran for seven successful seasons until 1992. The series follows four women, Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia, who all live together in Miami. The series was hailed by critics and fans for its entire 180 episode run and earned multiple awards, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Each of the four female stars also received Emmy awards for their individual work, making this sitcom one of three to ever accomplish that.
All seven series of the hit comedy are available to stream now on Hulu. If you’re looking for something similar for movie night or to watch in-between seasons, here’s a list of films fans of The Golden Girls will definitely love.
The Proposal
Betty White, who played Rose on this hit comedy series seems to only have gotten better with age. She has become a treasure in the entertainment industry and at 98 years old, is still entertaining us and providing fans with lots and lots of Laughs.
One of Betty’s best films in more recent years is the romantic comedy, The Proposal, also starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. In this film, Betty plays Ryan’s grandmother and is absolutely hysterical.
Book Club
The Golden Girls proved there was an audience and a fanbase for stories about people aging and that older characters could still have exciting plots.
This series can be credited with breaking the Hollywood mold of only featuring the young and talented and films like 2018’s Book Club, starring Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen, has this series to thank for paving the way.
Because I Said So
The characters on The Golden Girls were so unique and fun, and each had their own set of lovable quirks, it was easy for fans to fall for these ladies.
In the movie, Because I Said So, starring Mandy Moore and Diane Keaton, Diane Keaton plays Moore’s mother, who is very unique and comes up with her own crazy way of getting her daughter to settle down. Keaton is just as lovable as Rose, Dorothy, Blanche, and Sophia, in this film.
Our Souls At Night
The women on this series believe that age was only number and lived their day-to-day lives practicing that belief. They went on dates, fell in love, experienced heartache, things that they proved anyone at any age can have.
The romantic film, Our Souls at Night, starring Jane Fonda and Robert Redford also proves this to be true. Louis and Addie have both lost their spouses, but turn to one another for comfort and to quell the loneliness.
Poms
This is another film that sets out to prove that age is only a number. This film follows a group of women, living in a retired home, who decide to start a cheerleading squad. Not only did these women start a squad, but they also entered their new team into a cheerleading competition.
The film stars Diane Keaton, Jacki Weaver, Rhea Pearlman, and Pam Grier, and it wouldn’t have surprised fans if some of The Golden Girls had shown up at the tryouts.
Steel Magnolias
Not only did The Golden Girls pave the way for women as they got older, but this series paved the way for female-led film and television.
A film that also proved female-led productions are successful and has fanbases is the 1989 hit drama, Steel Magnolias, starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts. The film received multiple award nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Julia Roberts.
Mask
Estelle Getty had been working in the industry for years before she appeared as the sassy Sophia on the hit comedy series. In 1985, Estelle Getty starred in the biographical drama, Mask and was praised by both fans and critics for her work.
This film also stars Cher, Sam Elliott, and Eric Stoltz. It tells the story of Roy L. “Rocky” Dennis who lived with a rare disorder called craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, which causes cranial enlargements.
For Better Or Worse
Another actor starring in The Golden Girls who had already made a name for herself by the time this hit series premiered was Bea Arthur, who Sophia played’s dry-humored daughter, Dorothy. For fans who love Bea Arthur’s delivery and the way she carried herself both on screen and in person, you should watch 1985’s For Better or Worse.
Arthur refused credit for this film because she didn’t feel the part was that great or that her work was anything worth mentioning in it. Fans to this day love Bea Arthur’s honesty.
It’s Complicated
This is another great movie for fans to watch if they love seeing complicated and hysterical love story between older characters played out.
One of the reasons critics and viewers flock to these films time and time again is because the characters are usually so youthful, despite their age, and that’s something a lot of people can relate to. No one plays into this idea better than Meryl Streep in the romantic comedy, It’s Complicated.
Hope Springs
In this romantic comedy, Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones play a married couple, who find themselves empty nesters once they’re youngest moves out, which means they have to address the less-than-passionate marriage they’ve somehow found themselves in after years of raising a family.
The film was praised by critics and fans and for the people who loved watching The Golden Girls reinvent themselves and discover new things about one another, this is a must-see.
