While the most notable day of the week would be Cinco de Mayo, there aren’t too many movies that tie back to the recognizable day. However, there are 7 other days to celebrate that pair with the perfect film for that day:
May 5: Alan Shepard Becomes the First American in Space (1961)
Watch: The Right Stuff (1984)
Available on Amazon & iTunes
The Right Stuff chronicles the first 15 years of the American space program and features Scott Glenn as Alan Shepard. If The Right Stuff isn’t your thing, checking out last year’s Hidden Figures is an alternative.
May 6: National Teacher’s Day
Watch: Stand and Deliver (1988)
Available on Amazon & iTunes
Celebrate National Teacher’s Day by watching Stand and Deliver starring Edward James Olmos. Based on the true story of Jaime Escalante, a high school math teacher in eastern Los Angeles, Olmos won a Best Actor Academy Award for his role in the film.
May 7: “The Scream” Painting Recovered (1994)
Watch: Scream (1996)
Available on Netflix, Amazon & iTunes
In 1994, “The Scream” painting was stolen from a Norwegian art museum on the opening day of the 2004 Winter Olympics. A few months later, on May 7, the painting was recovered. The painting was the inspiration for the mask the killer wore in Scream and its many sequels.
May 8: Victory in Europe (VE) Day (1945)
Watch: Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Available on Amazon & iTunes
To commemorate the day the Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany to its armed forces, now would be as good of a time as any to check out Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan.
May 9: L. Ron Hubbard Publishes Dianetics (1950)
Watch: Look Who’s Talking (1989)
Available on Amazon & iTunes
In 1950, L. Ron Hubbard started his ascension toward popularity when he published Dianetics. Eventually, the book spawned more works and in 1954, Hubbard officially introduced Scientology. Despite widespread criticism and some major concerns about the believers of Scientology being brainwashed and duped by the Scientology movement, the religion has a contingent of high profile Hollywood actors and actresses who follow religiously. While the most famous is Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley are both Scientologists. In 1989, the two starred together in Look Who’s Talking and its subsequent sequels. If you’re down for some silly late ’80s comedy, dial up this one.
May 10: Nelson Mandela Inaugurated (1994)
Watch: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)
Available on Netflix, Amazon & iTunes
After spending 27 years as a political prisoner, Mandela was released from prison in 1990 by then South African president F.W. De Klerk who was in the midst of dismantling Apartheid in the African country. During the country’s first free elections, Mandela won the nomination and on May 10, 1994, he was historically inaugurated in as president of South Africa. A film based on his autobiography starring Idris Elba as Mandela was made in 2013.
May 11: 8 Climbers Die Climbing Mount Everest (1996)
Watch: Everest (2015)
Available on Amazon & iTunes
In 1996, a group of climbers died after being trapped at a high altitude during a blizzard that struck Everest while they climbed the mountain. In 2015, the feature film Everest was inspired by the events that occurred that day. The film featured Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, John Hawkes and Keira Knightley. While it may not be as visually impressive as it was on the big screen (especially in IMAX where the film saw most of its success), Everest is still a visually stunning movie.