Fresh off the bitey heels of an active Aquarius Season, the sun now enters the final sign of Pisces around February 19 to gently guide us into the end of the astrological year. Pisces Season is a time for reflection, dreams, and otherworldliness. Movies to watch include a mix of reality-blurring headtrips, emotional rollercoasters, and hopeless romances.
3 Women (1977)
Pisces teeters on the line between reality and all things fantasy, dreamlike, and magical. In true Pisces fashion, Robert Altman was inspired to make 3 Women after the idea came to him in a dream. He envisioned Sissy Spacek in a desert and went from there. The ethereal Spacek, in tandem with the ineffable Shelly Duvall, creates a symbiotic relationship between reality and make-believe. As their characters blur into each other, Altman weaves an enigmatic web of womanhood and identity.
The Truman Show (1998)
Sometimes, being around strong Pisces energy can feel like watching a TV show about nothing that instantly grips you. You’re not sure why the mundane is so interesting, but around a Pisces, it is. That’s the draw for the in-film audience in The Truman Show, who tune in weekly to watch Truman (Jim Carrey) live his life out on TV, unbeknownst to him. A masterclass in parasocial relationships, the audience weeps when Truman weeps, laughs when he laughs, and — despite the dystopian premise — emits a strange sense of empathy that pays off at the end.
eXistenZ (1999)
David Cronenberg has many films that prove his Pisces nature, but none quite like his 1999 sci-fi thriller eXistenZ. At the intersection of technology and desire, Cronenberg cooks up a video game called “eXistenZ,” in which players plug into the game through a physical port in their backs. An agent, played by a dreamy Jude Law, is hired to track down the designer of the game, played by a sleek Jennifer Jason Leigh. As they lose their grip on reality, this mindbending tale unfolds in shocking, sexual, sheer ’90s chic fashion.
25th Hour (2002)
As the last sign in the zodiac wheel, Pisces has a lot to do with endings, reconciliations, and focusing on the next chapter. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Pisces auteur Spike Lee turned his camera to his favorite subject, New York City. 25th Hour is often cited as the definitive post-9/11 film for its raw coverage of the aftermath and rebuilding of Ground Zero. Against this backdrop, Edward Norton plays a convicted drug dealer who is forced to face his past mistakes, demons, and the narrowing tunnel of his future in the final 24 hours before being sent to prison.
The Princess Bride (1987)
Remember the late Rob Reiner’s legacy with one of his most fantastic works, The Princess Bride. A true Pisces, Reiner unlocked cinematic worlds with his vivid imagination and masterful storytelling. In one of the most quoted movies of all time, The Princess Bride captures the timelessness of escaping into a magical world, whether through a book, a movie, or stories passed down through generations.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
As the twelfth and final zodiac sign, movies to watch during this season include those focused on endings — especially that last state of life in which we grapple with our decisions and outcomes. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the true story of a man experiencing locked-in syndrome, where he’s fully paralyzed but remains mentally unchanged. As he reflects on his life, the film explores themes of regret, yearning, and acceptance. With its kinetic editing and breathtaking imagery, the film finds unique ways to portray one man’s interior world.
Nope (2022)
When you transition from Aquarius Season to Pisces Season, you’re bound to be left with a little residual alien fascination. Pisces filmmaker Jordan Peele proves this point with his third feature film, Nope. As Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer hunt down an enigmatic UFO circling their horse ranch, Peele creates a commentary on spectacle, voyeurism, and the art of cinema itself. Harnessing the power of IMAX cameras, Nope is a spectacle in its own right with gorgeous cinematography and landscapes.
The Shape of Water (2017)
As the sign symbolized by two fish circling around each other, The Shape of Water is an ideal fit for Pisces Season viewing, as two unlikely figures fall in love, one of whom is part fish. Guillermo del Toro’s sci-fi romance made waves at the 2018 Academy Awards, taking home Best Picture. As only the second fantasy movie to snag the big prize, it’s worth revisiting this Pisces Season, which also always coincides with Oscars Season. Plus, this water sign is often a hopeless romantic, falling in love despite differences (including species).
List and Feature Image Courtesy of Kasey Dunifer