As the internet collectively romanticizes 2016 again, these films are a time capsule of Millennial hope and messiness
Artwork by Sharanyaa Nair
If the thought “I would have made a good Millennial” crossed your mind recently, you’re not alone. From once cringing at their whimsy to now coveting the lifestyle, the internet has officially come full-circle. In the hipster-esque Obama, YOLO was the potent opiate that defined the 2010s. Picture clocking in at Buzzfeed or Vice, while living in an apartment with your best friends like a sitcom. A prime time to catch indie folk jams from your local bands, it was an era that also came with moustache fingers, owl jewelry, beanies, and merchandise emblazoned with the “keep calm and carry on.” Life was good(ish). Before algorithmic oligarchs farmed our attention spans, the online ecosystem operated like a real space for fan forums, thought dumps (RIP Tumblr), and digicam Facebook albums holding remnants from a night out.
Now, with everyone and their mother jumping onto the 2016 bandwagon, sharing their Snapchat flower-crown and dog filter selfies, it’s not a case of mass internet psychosis, but an ode to the “great meme reset”— a reclamation of the past as an act of rebellion. It’s a mirror into the collective yearning for a simpler time, an antidote to the hyper-cynical and ironic Gen Z culture bordering on AI-powered dystopian perfectionism. Even though that year saw the tragic death of Harambe, chaotic political shifts, India’s demonetization, and other bleak moments, there were glimmers of tomfoolery like Pokémon Go, the mannequin challenge, and multiple bottle flip attempts.
Cinema, at its best, was the era’s time machine. Gut-wrenchingly poetic films like La La Land, Manchester by the Sea, and Moonlight captured early-adult emotions, while Indian cinema stepped up with narratives like Udta Punjab and Lipstick Under My Burkha. It was a decade that celebrated optimism, an antidote to the hyper-cynical, AI-powered dystopia we now find ourselves in. In the spirit of dialing it back a decade (or more), and rejoicing in the messiness and unrealistic hope of being young, here’s a selection of films that capture the very best of 2010s-era Millennial optimism.
An unofficial travel advertisement for Goa that inspired a whole generation of young people to take that damn road trip, Dil Chahta Hai solidified the “power of friendship.” A peak post-graduation summer escape, the film gives a teaser into the highs and lows of adulthood: unparalleled freedom, savoring delusions over yet another ill-fated situationship, and randomly kidnapping your friend to go on an impromptu getaway. Beneath the humor lie layers of vulnerability, conflict and rifts surrounding relationships, coping mechanisms, and boundaries, all handled with patience and empathy. From the trio to supporting characters, each character’s struggles and small wins feel personal.
A suburban fever dream, filled with dreamy love confessions, thrift store runs, and the elephant in the room that is teenage pregnancy, Juno leaves you with nothing but warmth. Juno McGuff (Elliot Page), a dysfunctional yet affable nerd, is as atypical as a teenager can get. Hiding behind layers of flannel jackets and ironic jokes, she deals with an accidental pregnancy with feigned nonchalance. Yet, her sincere determination to give her unborn child the best life lands her in a series of dilemmas that test her at every step. Music is equally integral to the plot. A certified playlist aficionado, she marches to the beat of her own drum, scored by The Kinks, Kimya Dawson, Belle and Sebastian, and other indie classics. She would’ve probably been best friends with Lane from Gilmore Girls. A highly rewatchable dramedy, Juno tackles adolescent taboos like teenage pregnancy, sexuality, abortions, and adoptions with a humorous touch, while never losing sight of the gravity of it all.
A simmering romance built on the ever-popular “friends to lovers” trope, Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na cemented the chocolate boy era in Bollywood. Enter Jai Singh Rathore, who, unlike his macho name, lovingly surrenders to the whims and fancies of his best friend and soulmate, Aditi. Beyond its iconic soundtrack, the film flirts with magical realism, exaggerating fantastical stereotypes into heightened urban settings. Amid recurring dreams, cult classic songs, and the underlying tenderness of unsaid confessions, it paints an idyllic parallel, where friends can embark on side quests together without the looming threat of deadlines, work pressure, and other speedbreakers of adulthood.
The premise of crashing out over a situationship as a 20-something aspiring architect in your Los Angeles brick-walled apartment while being able to afford rent is Millennial optimism at its finest. Tom Hansen (Joseph-Gordon Levitt), who may just be the OG performative male, plays a “perfectly adequate” man working as a greeting card writer when he meets the supposed love of his life, a girl named Summer (Zooey Deschanel). What could possibly go wrong? Split across fractured perspectives and non-linear timelines, the film is a quotidian dissection of a relationship shaped by seasons, moods and misplaced expectations. It shows what happens when the “Nice Guy” trope projects the “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” archetype over a woman who never agreed to play the part. With its preppy twee-meets indie sleaze aesthetics and overt romanticization of The Smiths’ discography, 500 Days of Summer is an exercise in expectation vs. reality.
Heavily leaning into themes of metamorphosis, Wake Up Sid is a certified comfort watch. A love letter to growing pains and embarking on paths far away from the corporate rat race, it explores how the road to independence isn’t exactly linear. And along the way, throws in a few aspirational shortcuts. Not only did Aisha, the female lead played by Konkana Sen Sharma, single-handedly romanticize the Mumbai monsoons, she also managed to convince people that renting a flat in the city as a single woman working as a freelance writer is that easy. Whether it was dreaming of working in a magazine, decorating your one-bedroom apartment with thrifted finds, or aimlessly driving around with your friends after-hours, the film gave us a tasteful and poeticized glimpse into what peak Indian adulthood could look like.
A wounded artist. A Guitar. A myriad of unexplained emotions. Rockstar became the unofficial soundtrack to rebellion, heartbreak, euphoria, and everlasting love. The musical drama, released at a time when the country was abuzz with protests and corruption scandals, struck a generational nerve. Here, Jordan, played by Ranbir Kapoor, emerged as a sonic urban legend. Whether it was the wistful “Tum Ho”, soul-stirring “Kun Faya Kun,” explosive “Sadda Haq, or introspective “Joh Bhi Main,” the soundtrack, composed by A.R. Rahman, tapped into something visceral and cathartic. People found themselves within the kaleidoscope of emotions, be it Janardhan’s naïveté or Jordan’s flippant ferocity.
Steeped in nostalgia, Perks of Being a Wallflower captures the fleeting intensity of adolescence, from the rush of hope to the weight of uncertainty, in the most heartwarming way. Framed around the recurring metaphor, “the island of misfit toys,” the film invites viewers to vicariously live through the quintessential coming-of-age American high school experience. It’s a world defined by house parties, hallway whispers, chosen families, and an unusually kind English professor who encourages you to follow your writing dreams. The film’s appeal lies in its small, intimate details as much as its big moments, from the now-iconic “Come on Eileen” living room routine to the handwritten letters, intimate Secret Santa gatherings, DIY theatre productions, dog-eared pages, and handmade mixtapes. In those pockets of connection and belonging, the film leaves you with a feeling best captured by a single line: “In this moment, I swear we are infinite.”
What is it about sharing an apartment with your best friend in New York City that feels like a universal bucket list experience? Frances Ha taps into that fantasy, albeit with a looming late-twenties existential crisis. Stuck in a purgatory of instability, Frances is a struggling, almost homeless dancer simultaneously going through a tumultuous friendship breakup. Yet, her outlook never turns sour. Even as everything around her crumbles, she clings to her whimsy. An authentic depiction of female friendships and navigating your creative career in your twenties, the movie is a monochrome unraveling of sardonic setbacks. Overall, Noah Baumbach’s direction feels like a whiplash of warmth, confusion, frustration, and hope, all wrapped into one.
Veronica, how you would have loved Brat, Skye Ferreira and 2014 Tumblr. A classic case of the Madonna-whore complex, a party girl, a sanskaari naari, and an audacious flirt find themselves tangled in a sticky love triangle. Any guesses for who gets their heart broken? Light-hearted yet layered, Cocktail is an exploration of relationships through the dichotomy between societal traditions and modernity.
Featuring colonial-style architecture, three bungalow enclaves, and palm-tree-lined roads the film is special for many reasons. For one, Kaira, the fiery cinematographer, is one of the few characters in mainstream Indian cinema who represents the understated yet indispensable contributions of women behind the camera. Equally noteworthy is the film’s unflinching portrayal of mental health through a desi lens. It offers a sensitive depiction of anxiety, depression, and self-discovery that feels intimate and relatable. What makes it particularly resonant for Millennials is the way it captures the thrill and terror of building a life on your own terms. The film celebrates the small, everyday victories that feel monumental when you’re just starting out, all while reminding the audience that it’s okay to be a little messy sometimes.
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