Dark academia is an aesthetic that emphasizes writing/poetry, books, yearning for knowledge about classical literature and studies, classical arts all of this in a very romantic way. Nowadays dark academia aesthetic has gained a lot of popularity on social media with countless posts on Instagram and Pinterest. Cinephiles have shared their world of dark academia through films and considering that here are the 5 best dark academia movies that you should watch.
Maurice, 1987
IMDb: 7.7/10
Release Date: September 18, 1987
Based on E.M Forster’s 1971 novel, Maurice is a romantic drama that follows an extraordinary story of a young boy and his love for his friend. Maurice Hall who met the rich Clive Durham at Cambridge University befriends him and later confesses how deeply he’s in love with him. Clive who first steps away later realizes that he’s also attracted to Maurice Hall but Clive being conscious of his reputation decides to go separate ways. The whole intensity of love and loss combined with the dark academia aesthetic definitely makes this movie worth the watch.
Kill your darlings
IMDb: 6.4/10
Release Date: September 19, 2013
Directed by John Krokidas, Kill your darlings follows the story of young poet Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe), who’s attending Colombia university. The events happening at the university got Allen Ginsberg and Lucien Carr involved in the murder of one of their acquaintances. The relationship between the two has gotten unusual which has caused more problems. The movie exhibits alliance and betrayal that turns deadly.
Sherlock Holmes
IMDb: 7.6/10
Release Date: December 25, 2009
Directed by Guy Ritchie, Sherlock Holmes follows the story of detective Sherlock (Robert Downey Jr.), and his crime-solving partner Dr. Watson. Sherlock and his partner are on a mission to find the Killer Lord Blackwood who has committed brutal murders in London. However, not everything goes as planned since Blackwood has much bigger schemes in mind. The whole movie is quite action-packed and fans will be stuck to their seats most of the time. The whole atmosphere and dark setting definitely make this movie fall in the category of dark academia aesthetic.
The Riot Club
IMDb: 6.0/10
Release Date: March 27, 2015
The Riot Club is a British thriller drama, directed by Lone Scherfig, it narrates the story of two first-year students who are attending Oxford University. Here, they join a secret society called the riot club, not knowing that in this society reputations can be made or shattered in the course of just one night.
Dead Poets Society
IMDb: 8.1/10
Release Date: June 9, 1989
When talking about dark academia one can never miss dead poets society. Released in 1989, dead poets society will definitely inspire anyone to read more poetry and fall in love with the dark academia aesthetic. Directed by Peter Weir, it follows a story of a teacher and his students. Mr. Kiettng (late Robin Williams) is an English teacher in an all-boys boarding school. With his unconventional teaching method, he inspires the young boys to follow their love for poetry. This heartwarming movie also showcases the importance of freedom of speech, the proper way of life, and its rights and wrongs in a very profound manner.
That is all on the 5 best dark academia movies. For more best-ofs and entertainment-related content, keep following Retrology.
