Virgos are methodical, coordinated (often by color), and ambitious. Most importantly, nothing brings them more joy than a neatly ordered list. In honor of the most organized zodiac sign, it’s only fitting for a list of movies and TV shows perfect for Virgo Season, starting August 22.
Zodiac (2007)
Let’s kick off the list with something a bit meta: Zodiac, directed by David Fincher, a textbook Virgo. Fincher’s films feature Virgo’s keen eye (Se7en), procedural flair (Gone Girl), and knack for social commentary (The Social Network). While any of these would make for great Virgo Season watches, given the topic of this list, it’d be a shame not to recommend Zodiac. The 2007 investigative thriller showcases Virgo’s sharp, observational approach to life’s mysteries and the tendency to unspool every last thread that interests them.
Days of Heaven (1978)
The sign of Virgo is symbolized by a young maiden carrying a shaft of wheat. As the only mutable Earth sign, this is a time of harvesting and fruition. A film that encapsulates this theme is Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven. Set against the backdrop of rural Texas in 1916, the film is defined by its stunning landscapes, which won the Oscar for Best Cinematography at the 51st Academy Awards. With an unforgettable climax taking place during a wheat harvest, Virgo Season is the optimal viewing period for the gorgeous Days of Heaven.
Hacks (2021 – Present)
Virgos are the funniest zodiac sign, consisting of comedians like Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Billy Eichner, Jack Black, John Mulaney, Keke Palmer, Lily Tomlin, Melissa McCarthy, Molly Shannon–and that’s just the first half of the alphabet! Watch a comedy! While you’re at it, why not a comedy about comedy? Hacks stars Virgo legend Jean Smart as a stand-up comic reviving her decades-long career, and features another Virgo, who steals every scene she’s in, the up-and-coming actress Megan Stalter. As one of the funniest shows currently airing, you can take this time to catch up, as it was recently renewed for a fifth season at HBO Max.
You can read my colleague’s full review of season four here.
Journey to Italy (1954)
Ingrid Bergman, a classic (and classy) Virgo, is defined by her demure demeanor in trying circumstances–for instance, she’s in quite the pickle in Casablanca (1942) but retains her composure. While she may always have Paris, what about Italy?
Journey to Italy, directed by Bergman’s then-husband, Roberto Rossellini, features another sticky scenario: a wife and husband journey to beautiful Italy while their marriage crumbles like the ruins of Pompeii, turning the trip abroad into a nightmare vacation for an itinerary devotee like Virgo.
In Journey to Italy, Bergman delivers a striking performance of rare vulnerability and deep sorrow. This Virgo Season, honor the inimitable actress by taking a Journey to Italy, perhaps on August 29–Bergman’s birthday and the day she died.
Phantom Thread (2017)
No sign is perfect, but Virgo comes close. Whether it’s designing ball gowns or making spreadsheets, they constantly chase perfection. One movie character that undoubtedly, and quite fashionably, fits this bill is Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis), from Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread.
Played by Day-Lewis with exacting precision, the film lets you briefly step into the stylish shoes of a Virgo-esque mind as Woodcock’s maddening devotion to detail is thwarted by the imperfect, lovable Alma (Vicky Krieps).
Election (1999)
Virgos swing big and rarely miss. On the rare occasions that they can’t overachieve their way to success, I can’t imagine the aftermath looking much different than Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) in Election, directed by Alexander Payne.
A testament to Virgo’s signature dedication and grit, the film centers around Tracy’s eager determination to become her high school’s student body president. Election is a black comedy at its core, with the funniest plot point being the lackadaisical Mr. McAllister (Matthew Broderick) thinking he could actually stop someone like Tracy. If a Virgo wants something, they’re likely to get it–all while hiding behind a polite facade and tidy sweater vest.
13th (2016)
This season is a time to get things done–tackling to-do lists, ticking boxes, and seeing to all those improvement projects you’ve been putting off. One way to approach self-improvement through movies is to educate yourself on important topics.
Virgos love a good lesson, making documentaries apt viewing material. 13th, directed by Virgo filmmaker Ava DuVernay, dissects the modern-day American prison-industrial complex, connecting forced labor to slavery and mass incarceration to a country built on racism. It’s one of the most important documentaries of our time and is easily accessible on Netflix.
My Own Private Idaho (1991)
What do you get when you put together two of the biggest dream boys of the 1990s and let them wander aimlessly against the backdrop of abandoned highways to the tune of Shakespeare? That would be the lovely My Own Private Idaho, starring, not one, but two Virgos: Keanu Reeves and the late River Phoenix. Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film has become a landmark of New Queer Cinema. Mike (Phoenix) and Scott (Reeves) are two hustlers traveling cross-country, vaguely in search of something.
The film evokes an otherworldly energy through a dissonance between its Shakespearean dialogue and its ‘90s street setting. At the same time, it’s deeply rooted in the natural world through its nomadic narrative, atmospheric tone, and magnetic leads.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Zendaya, a tried-and-true Virgo, graced us mere mortals with her on-screen presence twice in 2024, in Challengers and Dune: Part Two—both of which give off big Virgo energy. While there is unfortunately no confirmed plan for a Challengers: Part Two, production has begun on Dune: Part Three, set to release next year.
Given the earthy nature of the franchise (sand, worms, spice), Virgo Season calls for another deep dive into the depths of Dune. If you’re itching for even more Zendaya to tide you over until December 2026, give both parts a rewatch.
Rope (1948)
Planning the perfect murder is such a Virgo thing to do, warranting a watch of an underseen Alfred Hitchcock gem, Rope. Based on the true story of a murder carried out by University of Chicago students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb in 1924, two young Manhattan socialites throw a dinner party to celebrate pulling off the perfect murder.
One guy you wouldn’t want at that party, however, is a curious James Stewart sniffing around, asking questions. Hitchcock flexes his usual expertise here, this time in a contained setting with tight dialogue and tension you can cut with a knife–or rope.
The Rehearsal (2022 – 2025)
Preparation, planning, perfection–three of Virgo’s favorite things and three words that sum up the goals of Nathan Fielder’s wildly off-the-wall docuseries The Rehearsal. The Virgo funny man known for his antics on Nathan for You (2013-2017) has escalated his shenanigans to new heights (literally) in The Rehearsal.
The first season is funny in its own right, but season two gets downright weird, falling into the uncanny valley at times, then lifting back up to talk earnestly about aviation safety. It’s bizarre, but it works, and only a Virgo like Fielder could make it work. It’s TV you simply can’t turn away from, and if anything, might leave you with an ounce of optimism that if you prepare enough, you can accomplish anything this Virgo Season.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Ending on a sweet, nostalgic note, take a flight away from home during Virgo Season with Kiki’s Delivery Service by Hayao Miyazaki. Virgos are naturally a bit witchy–how can you not be when you’re born into that wonderful, fleeting moment between summer and Spooky Season? With her talking black cat, Jiji, by her side, Kiki sets out on her own to complete her training as a young witch. Kiki must find her own purpose in life, not just as a witch but as a young girl growing up in a confusing world. The film has just the right mix of slightly cynical mysticism and a sweet coming-of-age message that embodies what makes Virgo Season such a magical time of year.
List Courtesy of Kasey Dunifer
Feature Image Designed by Kasey Dunifer
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