Swear, self-promote, and pretend it's your first date with cinema: A celebrity guide to Letterboxd's Four Favourites
Once a simple app feature, Letterboxd's 'Four Favourites' has evolved into a cinematic confession booth of our time. Users can select (and endlessly shuffle) their top four films, while celebrities and everyday folks alike showcase this ritual to Letterboxd's 2.4 million Instagram followers. It's now a social media genre in its own right: the red carpet backdrop, jaunty music, snappy edits, and cheerful pings as profiles slide into place. Each clip is a perfect blend of fame, fandom, and carefully choreographed spontaneity. But beneath the surface chaos, there are rules. Unspoken (until now), yet as binding as an Oscars embargo. So, if you ever find yourself in the Letterboxd spotlight, here's how to deliver a convincing performance.
- Act Surprised
As Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada famously said, "Why is no one ready?" Celebrity picks are often preceded by feigned unpreparedness, adding an air of authenticity. For instance, Michelle Williams exclaimed "Oh shit" (https://www.tiktok.com/@letterboxd/video/7412701302876015914?lang=en), and Jenna Ortega wailed that she "should've read the email." Writer, director, and museum curator Zoë DeLeon, who was grilled on camera without prior notice, claims her response was genuine. She says, "They asked me very quickly with no time to prepare an answer." Don't forget to express outrage at the mere prospect of choosing only four films, as everyone does that.
- Plug Your Movie and Yourself
In Hollywood, this is a given, but even civilians can boost their Letterboxd followers. Take Monica Bellucci, who listed half of her all-time favorites as films made by her then-partner, Tim Burton. She then linked those choices to his latest film, in which she also starred. Halle Berry's nomination of The Shining (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DABTdfnuzfG/) provided an opportunity to discuss her desire to make Never Let Go, a film she was promoting at the time. Ben Whishaw, promoting Paddington in Peru, humorously speculated on Paddington's top picks, even though he was likely curious if this was the true purpose of his Rada training. Alternatively, go all out and be personal. Geena Davis and Carol Kane both included their own movies in their top four.
- Look Cool
Even if you're not promoting a movie, you're building your image. As Kristen Stewart remarks after sharing her picks (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ33cCuoiM_/?hl=en), "I feel like you can tell a lot about a person from seeing them in Letterboxd." Rappers like Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes protect their tough-guy image by choosing Scarface over confessing to Disney classics. Others showcase their arthouse credentials. Chloe East, star of Heretic, proudly declares her love for Kurosawa, stating, "There’s your pretentious favorite movie and then just your favorite movie."
The key is to create an ambiance, a microcosm of yourself. How you define your favorites is a dynamic process: what constitutes an ideal group, the ones you love today, or always? Technical brilliance or emotional devastation? Highlighting lesser-known artists? Teo Yoo, an actor in Past Lives, explains, "It changes every day because every day I’m another person."
- Coherence is Key
Your four film posters should make sense together. Hugh Grant, however, didn't get the memo. He chose The Sound of Music, followed by The Zone of Interest, an Auschwitz drama, and then Finding Nemo, creating a wild oscillation between genocide and animated clownfish. Mackenzie Davis even switched The Princess Bride and The Night Porter, arguing that The Princess Bride should be watched after The Night Porter. Remember, you're reading the Guardian, so include great directors and performances. Pretend it's your first date with cinema. Be your best self, not the slob re-watching Pee-wee's Big Adventure in your underpants. Willem Dafoe's choices (Onibaba, The Magician, Barry Lyndon, Poor Things) gained popularity, so try to uncover overlooked gems. Include one ironic or deeply personal film, like a film that shaped your early years, but avoid the mistake of choosing only childhood favorites, as your taste has evolved since the days of Bugsy Malone and The Goonies.
In essence, this is a way to associate ourselves with great cinema, even if we had no part in its production. We're still tied to it because we've correctly identified genius. In an age of streaming, Letterboxd is a form of ownership, a way to hold on to and possess art, similar to displaying a DVD or carrying a record. And this is no different from showcasing a poster for The Dreamers to impress your cool factor. Just remember, before, you didn't know that Mia Goth agreed with you (https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9INTYqsMWE/?hl=en).
