Lesson one: a lot of great movies have a lot of unnecessary F-words.
Somewhere in January, the idea of watching 100 new movies in a year sounds completely reasonable. Fun, even. A built-in excuse for date nights, a reason to finally work through the watchlist, a shared project that’s low-stakes and genuinely enjoyable.
By February you realize 100 movies is actually a significant commitment and you should have done the math first.
But here’s the thing — the challenge has been worth it. Not just for the movies themselves, but for what it forced us to actually do: be intentional about what we watch. Pick things on purpose. Make movie night a real thing instead of a “what do you want to watch” “I don’t know what do you want to watch” forty-five minute standoff.
And VidAngel has been a big part of why it works.
Good Movies Come With Baggage
One of the things you learn quickly when you’re watching a lot of movies is that a genuinely great film and an uncomfortable viewing experience are not mutually exclusive. Some of the best storytelling out there comes packaged with content that has nothing to do with why the movie is good.
The Big Short is a masterclass in explaining a financial crisis through pure creative chaos. It’s also apparently required by law to include a certain number of F-words per scene.
Nightcrawler is a deeply unsettling character study that will make you think for days. It’s also genuinely graphic in ways that don’t always serve the story.
Begin Again is a warm, music-filled movie that you want to feel good watching. Some of it doesn’t feel great.
None of these are bad movies. They’re actually great movies. They just come with parts that we’d rather not sit through.
Filter It. Watch More. Actually Enjoy It.
VidAngel works with your existing streaming platforms — Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount+, Apple TV+, Peacock, and more — to let you skip the specific content you don’t want. Profanity, sexual content, nudity, violence — you choose from 100+ customizable filters and set them before you press play.
Crime 101 — 164 F-words and some genuinely rough violence — becomes a completely watchable thriller. Hamnet keeps its emotional gut-punch without the graphic scenes. The Big Short keeps all its brilliance without the language that makes you wince.
Same movies. Better nights.
Over a million people are already using VidAngel. It covers 25,000+ titles. There’s a free trial so you can see what your watchlist looks like when you’re actually in control of the experience.
A Few of Our Favorites So Far
If you’re building your own list, here are some worth adding — all the better with a few filters in place:
- Hamnet — devastating and beautiful. Filter the graphic scenes around childbirth if you want the emotional story without the intensity.
- The Big Short — brilliant and funny. Filter the language and suggestive content.
- Begin Again — a genuinely feel-good watch. Filter the F-words and sexual content.
- Nightcrawler — unsettling in the best way. Filter the really graphic violence.
- Crime 101 — worth it. Filter the 164 F-words. (Yes, we counted.)
Isabel Is Doing the Challenge Too
Content creator Isabel Hallows Hawkes and her husband are on the same mission — 100 movies, intentionally watched, and VidAngel is how they get through the list without skipping all the good stuff.
