A Glean movie guide
Short & Sweet: Bedtime Favorites
Great films for a late night.
Feature-length stories under 95 minutes that are perfect for winding down.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
My Neighbor Totoro
A gentle, hand-drawn masterpiece that captures the quiet wonder of childhood and nature.
Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her.
- 02
Before Sunset
An intimate, real-time conversation through the streets of Paris that feels like a warm embrace.
Nine years later, Jesse travels across Europe giving readings from a book he wrote about the night he spent in Vienna with Celine. After his reading in Paris, Celine finds him, and they spend part of the day together before Jesse has to again leave for a flight. They are both in relationships now, and Jesse has a son, but as their strong feelings for each other start to return, both confess a longing for more.
- 03
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
A whimsical and deeply moving mockumentary about a tiny shell finding his place in a big world.
Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. When a documentarian discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, his resulting short film brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family.
- 04
Petite Maman
A quiet, beautifully crafted fable about memory and connection that clocks in at just over an hour.
After the death of her beloved grandmother, eight-year-old Nelly meets a strangely familiar girl her own age in the woods. Instantly forming a connection with this mysterious new friend, Nelly embarks on a fantastical journey of discovery which helps her come to terms with this newfound loss.
- 05
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Wes Anderson’s signature wit and vibrant stop-motion make for a charming, fast-paced bedtime story.
The Fantastic Mr. Fox, bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers. The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family.
- 06
Rye Lane
A colorful and breezy romantic comedy that follows a single, eventful day in South London.
Two twenty-somethings, both reeling from bad break-ups, connect over the course of an eventful day in South London – helping each other deal with their nightmare exes, and potentially restoring their faith in romance.
- 07
Palm Springs
A clever and lighthearted time-loop comedy that stays engaging without ever feeling heavy.
When carefree Nyles and reluctant maid of honor Sarah have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other.
- 08
Frances Ha
A stylish, black-and-white look at friendship and finding your way in New York City.
An aspiring dancer moves to New York City and becomes caught up in a whirlwind of flighty fair-weather friends, diminishing fortunes and career setbacks.
- 09
What We Do in the Shadows
A hilarious mockumentary about vampire roommates that offers low-stakes, high-reward comedy.
Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead.
- 10
Stand by Me
A nostalgic coming-of-age classic that perfectly captures the atmosphere of a summer evening.
After learning that a boy their age has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four boys decide to go see the body. Gordie, Vern, Chris, and Teddy encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, but they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.