With Shazam coming out this weekend, our contributors and gurus dug deep into the archives to find the best movies where people swap bodies. I’m thrilled to say we found some true gems to pair with the classics. There are even some movies here that you may have missed or forgotten. So grab your “movies to watch” list and scroll on!
Can we do a Best Ever Challenge of “Movies that were discounted from the start so no one saw them but they were good”? We could also do a Best Ever Challenge of “Movies lost to time that we need to revisit.” What I’m getting at here is 17 Again could easily be in the top ten of both of those lists as well as this list here for body switching. Zach Efron shows he is more than just a pretty Disney face with this hilarious role. His interactions with his son are heartfelt and his interactions with his daughter are cringe worthy humorous. He also has some really funny moments interacting with his wife. This is one of the few times a movie capitalizes on their concept to make excellent humor and story moves rather than quick gags. If you wrote this off at the start all is forgiven. If you still don’t watch it now that you know, you will be judged. (Blake Hodges)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is often criticized for being the pointless, filler, camping Harry Potter movie. But when you take a closer look, it’s actually deeply meaningful and enormously important. It lets the audience spend lots of intimate moments with these characters we have come to know and love over the course of the six prior movies, as well as fun adventure moments, such as Harry, Ron, and Hermione planning and working together for basically the last time as they search for horcruxes in the forest, in the Ministry of Magic (disguised as Ministry employees), and in Gringotts Bank. We see the culmination of everything that has taken place over that time and how it has shaped them into the people they are now. It shows them as they struggle to grapple with the importance and danger of their overall predicament. This is so important because there aren’t many of these moments in the final film, which is the shortest of the series and contains mostly action. Part 1 holds together as a cohesive, well-made, and emotionally-driven film. (Robert Bouffard)
I’ll watch anything with Ryan Reynolds. Add in a world where you can transfer consciousness to body donors and Ben Kingsley wants to live forever and you may need a team of trained bouncers to keep me out of my seat. Though the movie doesn’t deliver on the ending I wanted, it makes good use of this interesting world, and a couple of great performances that end up making the whole experience a very entertaining ride. Plus, if you want to transfer my mind into Ryan Reynolds body, let’s just say I’m not saying no. (Aaron Dicer)
When I first heard that Jumanji was getting a long awaited sequel with The Rock…I was confused. Who sat there and thought “This is a great idea!”? But then I saw it. To be perfectly honest, this might be one of my top ten most pleasant surprises in the history of film. The idea to throw a group of teenagers (they are still kids right?) into the bodies of some of Hollywood’s most famous stars turned out to be genius! The laughs alone from watching Jack Black acting like a teenage girl was worth the price of admission. Full of goofy fun, big laughs, and a charming cast of actors and characters, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a blast and really capitalizes on its “teenagers in adult bodies” concept. (Shane Conto)
Are there two funnier leading Hollywood men out there right now than Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds? These two take the “city mouse, country mouse” concept and modernize it. One man is deep into the “suburban” life with a wife and kids. The other has a “playboy” lifestyle. While one seeks the other’s excitement, the other wants their counterpart’s stability and status. The two of them give top notch performances and are on top of their game with every joke and laugh. If you want a comedy that will make you laugh as much as it will make you appreciate your life, this is the one for you. (Blake Hodges)
Don’t let the subtitles keep you away from this incredible animated sci-fi tale of a boy and a girl trying to figure out why they have swapped bodies. Your Name certainly takes use of the usual body swap fish out of water tool box, but throws some extra curves at you that create a wholly unique story and experience. It’s funny, emotional, meaningful and downright gorgeous, and one that has unfortunately fallen through the pop culture cracks. Find it, watch it, write a thank you letter to SiftPop, and move on with your now more complete life. (Aaron Dicer)
The Lord of the Rings geek in me came for Andy Serkis, but the pre-teen girl on the edge of starting high school in me stayed for the slumber party sing-a-longs, Thriller reenactments, and the all too relatable desire to finally be taken seriously as an adult. The casting of Christa B. Allen as a young Jennifer Garner is inspired. So much so in fact that she went on to play a young Jennifer again in 2009’s The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. I don’t think I could narrow down one reason why this movie continues to speak so much to me, but a decade and a half later and on the precipice of turning 30 this September, I still see myself in this movie more and more each year. Perhaps it’s the way Mark Ruffalo’s Matt is slowly drawn back into his childhood with a simple candy and visit from an old friend. Or the way our protagonist Jenna comes to accept that simple actions can have lasting consequences. Whatever the reason, I am forever in love with this adorable tale of learning from your mistakes and setting your life on the right path. (Lauren Groen)
I’d like to start this of with a disclaimer: I love Jamie Lee Curtis. If you feel the same way, then this movie is right up your alley. Curtis is an absolute delight in this film as she plays the mother who swaps bodies with her teenage daughter, played by Lindsey Lohan, who at the time was on the cusp of transitioning from Disney star to edgy actresses. Both ladies are great here, and this movie is such a joy to watch. The movie really belongs to Curtis as she brings out her ever present young-at-heart side to light up the screen with sizzling charisma. We shall not forget that Curtis delivers a timeless quote we all can relate to, and a line that has etched its way into GIF history: I’M OLD! (Daniel Posey)
There may be a slew of body swapping films, but no film captures the same heart and sweetness that Big does. Tom Hanks stars as Josh Baskin in this all-time classic about a young boy who just wants to be treated like a grown up. Hijinks ensue when Josh wakes up to realize he’s now a fully grown adult man and with the help of his best friend Billy must find a way to become his normal self again. The thing that makes this movie so magical is Tom Hanks and his performance as Josh. He really captures that childhood-like innocences by having so much fun in the role. But beyond that, it truly captures the magic of what it’s like to be a child and how sometimes we can lose that magic as we grow older and become more cynical. (Ben Davis)
The Beast is hunted by the personification of his former nature in Gaston. In a moment of true character, the Beast has overtaken Gaston and dangles him over a ledge, only to spare his enemy. With no other characters watching, the Beast has let go of the child that he was. True exuberance comes as he climbs to Belle, in utter disbelief she would return. As if to parallel the beginning of the film, Gaston is still overcome with disgust at the Beast. His hubris drives his knife deep into the Beast’s back. Belle grabs her love before he plunges to his demise; but, with no true love of his own, Gaston loses his grip and plummets to his death, symbolically taking the childish nature of who the Beast was with him. (Dexter Hansen)
Also See:
18 Again, Face Off, Mulholland Drive, Heaven Can Wait, Chances Are, Down to Earth, Freaky Friday (1976), Vice Versa, The Hot Chick, Dating the Enemy, Tournabout, Prelude to a Kiss, All of Me, Detention