Margot at the Wedding (2007)
This isn’t a movie about a business tycoon cheating their way to the top. But it is about family drama at its most sensational and malicious. Nicole Kidman plays Margot, a narcissistic writer who attends the wedding of her sister Pauline (Jennifer Jason-Leigh). There, decades of family problems come to the surface, and the sisters are forced to confront their past. Directed by Noah Baumbach, Margot at the Wedding is the perfect mix of funny and tragic and is guaranteed to give you your family-issue fix.
Available to stream on The Criterion Channel, Paramount+, and Pluto TV.
All the Money in the World (2017)
One of Ridley Scott’s most ambitious recent endeavors, All the Money in the World tells the true story of the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, which is House of Gucci levels of crazy. In 1973, the teenaged heir to the Getty fortune was kidnapped and held for ransom. But J. Paul Getty refused to give any money to the kidnappers for the return of his grandson.
Not unlike House of Gucci, this movie boasts an all-star cast and damning insight into a mega-rich, real-life family. Plus, it’s a whole lot of fun. And if you need another reason to watch, it’s extra impressive that just two months before the movie’s release, Scott recast the role of J. Paul Getty and re-shot all of his scenes in just eight days. And the replacement, Christopher Plummer, wound up earning an Oscar nomination for the performance. So, yeah, Scott is the master.
Available to rent from Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, or any other VOD outlet.
Knives Out (2018)
Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Knives Out is a black-comedy murder-mystery film that centers around the death of Harlan (Christopher Plummer again), the wealthy patriarch of the Thrombey family. It boasts a jam-packed ensemble cast, including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Lakeith Stanfield, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Katherine Langford, and each twist and turn of its plot is more exciting and entertaining than the last.
Available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Iris (2014)
Iris is a sharp documentary about the life of beloved fashionista Iris Apfel. She made a name for herself by working on interior design projects at the White House for a whopping nine presidencies. Her textile work was also featured in a show at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Directed by Albert Maysles, this film is perhaps one of the most insightful inquiries into the vibrant fashion world. It might even feature better outfits than House of Gucci.
Available to stream on Hoopla, Kanopy, Plex, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Vudu.
Casino (1995)
You didn’t think I was going to leave Martin Scorsese off this list, did you? One of the great director’s most underrated movies, Casino is a crime saga of epic proportions — even more epic, dare I say, than House of Gucci.
Casino is based on Nicholas Pileggi’s 1995 book about mafia involvement in the Las Vegas casino scene. It stars Robert De Niro as Sam Rothstein, a mob associate tasked with overseeing operations at a major casino resort on The Strip. From there, he gets involved with shady characters. And the gambling world spins out of control in front of his eyes. Like House of Gucci, Casino is essentially a movie about the crumbling of an empire.
Available to stream on Peacock.
A Star is Born (2018)
Last, but certainly not least: this one goes out to all the Lady Gaga fans. The fourth movie version of the classic story, Bradley Cooper’s A Star is Born follows Jackson Maine (Cooper), a rugged, washed-up musician who discovers Ally (Gaga), a young and astoundingly talented performer while she is working at a drag bar.
In addition to being Cooper’s directorial debut, this marked Gaga’s first lead movie role. When it came out, audiences were stunned by her performance and immediately began to campaign for her to win an Oscar for Best Actress. That didn’t happen — though she was nominated in the category — but she did win for Best Original Song. Here’s hoping the Academy also recognizes her phenomenal performance as Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci.
Available to stream on HBO Max.
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