Of all the media available at the click of a button, from reruns of classic TV dramas to the latest series available on Netflix, I find the old Lifetime-style movies, originally released on channels such as Lifetime, NBC, ABC and CBS from the ’80s to early 2000s, to be the most underrated. Easily found on platforms such as YouTube and Tubi, often for free, these movies are parables that offer a time capsule of the past while resonating in the present. These movies cover real-life issues, often true-stories, such as mental illness, unsolved crime and family strife. There are always deeper themes driving these films; jealousy, injustice, insecurity and a fast-paced, dramatic plotline makes the stories relatable and unforgettable. I’ve often watched these movies in an effort to escape everyday life, quickly finding myself immersed in the story and attached to its characters. Despite their reputation as corny and predictable, these dramatic but true-to-life movies have managed to captivate me and stay with me longer than almost any other style of film. Here are three of my favorite vintage Lifetime style movies that offer drama with a side of realism.
The Death of a Cheerleader
Lifetime’s original The Death of a Cheerleader, released in 1994, is based on a true story of the murder of high school student Kirsten Costas by her classmate Bernadette Protti. In the Lifetime adaptation, the popular and rich Stacy Lockwood portrays Kirsten Coasts, while Angela Delvechio depicts Bernadette Protti as an insecure character who is desperate to belong. Angela is inspired by her principal's speech, which challenges students to “be the best,” a concept largely defined in her community by social status. Angela focuses on fitting in with Stacy and her friends, but, despite her best efforts, she faces rejection and is unable to live up to the superficial standards of social success set by her status-driven environment.
The audience feels Angela’s pain, so her eventual conviction feels like watching a friend ruin their life over feelings most of us have at some point. Being placed in Angela’s head, the movie is not only haunting but also emotional; viewers share her hopes for acceptance, her eventual dismay after putting everything into fitting in with Stacy and her anxiety as she attempts to cover up the crime. This roller coaster of a movie stayed with me long after watching and truly imprinted the dangers of jealousy.
The Perfect Body
The Perfect Body, released in 1997 on NBC, tells the fictitious story of Andie Bradley, who develops an eating disorder after entering a competitive gymnastics training program. This was one of the first Lifetime-type movies I watched, and I was instantly drawn in due to the mix of relatable family dynamics and its dramatic plotline.
The world of competitive gymnastics is a very fitting backdrop to cover the dynamics of sacrifice and success as viewers watch Andie develop an eating disorder in order to increase her chances of making the Olympic team and see how that eating disorder ultimately ends her gymnastics dreams. The relationship between Andie and her coach has stayed with me ever since because, despite encouraging her eating disorder, Andie’s coach is also a mentor who truly wants her to succeed. Their relationship demonstrates the struggle of having to let down people invested in your success for your own well-being, as well the fact that those who care about us can inadvertently end up hurting us.
Finally, this movie helps normalize and raise awareness of eating disorders and mental health in general. Andie’s quick and dramatic demise helps destigmatize mental illness by exhibiting how even a high achieving, smart and sociable teenager is vulnerable to mental health struggles.
Shattered Innocence
Shattered Innocence, released in 1988 on CBS depicts the downfall of Pauline, portraying the real-life Colleen Applegate, as she gets involved in the adult-film industry after moving from Kansas to Los Angeles. Pauline’s determination to move to California after high school represents those who want to leave a place not for a specific goal, but because they know they can’t be happy if they remain where they are. Similarly, her later defiance of her family by insisting on remaining in the adult-entertainment industry depicts someone desperate to stick it to authority. This movie portrays the ever-relatable battle of independence, where stepping down feels like giving up your autonomy. Her simultaneous downfall showcases the conflict between freedom and danger, which leaves viewers unsure of who to root for.
Lifetime-style movies are worth watching because they seamlessly blend life lessons with a dramatic storyline and relatable characters for you to root for. These characters stay with me on a first-name basis, and I imagine them as real people rather than invented characters. These movies are parables on film, offering escapism from your reality into someone else’s.
Caroline Kelly is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a contributor for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at ckelly@cornellsun.com.
