Scroll to see my top 20 picks for the best films and TV series (and more!) to binge in 2020. You might notice a theme – these bingeable media picks all feature talented actors, singers, models, authors, directors and producers who bleed violet!

20. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

This binge worthy TV series follows a Jewish comedian, Miriam “Midge” Maisel, in the 1950s. Midge is played by NYU Tisch alumna, Rachel Brosnahan. Brosnahan graduated in 2012 and recently won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for her role as Mrs. Miriam Maisel. You can catch up on every season of Maisel on Amazon Prime Video.

19. Call me by Your Name

Call Me By Your Name is a modern love story starring Timothèe Chalamet. Chalamet attended the Gallatin School for Individualized Study. Chalamet is also known for his roles in Lady Bird and Beautiful Boy. Don’t miss this film!

Courtesy of GIPHY

18. Project Runway

Project Runway is a reality TV series fashion competition hosted by NYU Alum, Karlie Kloss. Kloss is notable fashion model, who started at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study in Fall of 2015. You can binge watch all the looks on Hulu.

17. Frozen 1 & 2

Frozen is an animated Disney Princess, Musical film that features Elsa and Anna, the Queen and Princess of Arendelle. Elsa is played by Idina Menzel, who graduated the from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 1992. Her co-star Kristen Bell also attended Tisch!

16. Elementary

Elementary is TV series drama that gives a modern take on Sherlock Holmes. Holmes’ sidekick Joan Watson in the series is played by Lucy Liu. Liu attended NYU for short period of time after High School. Liu is also known for her roles in Kill Bill and Charlie’s Angels.

15. A Series of Unfortunate Events

A Series of Unfortunate Events is a Netflix original TV series based on 13 novels by author Daniel Handler. The spine chilling television adaptation follows 3 orphans who are forced to live with their creepy guardian. The series executive producer, Barry Sonnenfeld, attended the NYU Tisch Film program for both his undergraduate and graduate studies. Sonnenfeld is also responsible for producing the Men in Black Trilogy.

14. The Irishman

The Irishman is a Netflix original film that focuses on a crime family in Pennsylvania in the 1950’s. This three  and a half hour epic is an automatic binge watch. The movie is directed by Martin Scorsese. In 1964, Scorsese graduated NYU College of Arts and Sciences with a BA in English. Then in 1968, he graduated the Tisch School of the Arts, with a MFA in film. Scorsese has directed nearly 100 movies, including: Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street and The Departed. Scorsese is currently a member of the Dean’s Council at Tisch.

13. Hunters

This new Amazon Prime original tv series takes place in New York City in 1977. The show features a group of Nazi Hunters, who are trying to prevent a Fourth Reich of Nazis forming in the U.S. The show stars Logan Lerman, who applied to NYU for Creative Writing, but has since deferred his enrollment.

Poster for Hunters television series

12. Hunger Games

This book, turned movie series is about a dystopian society, where kids are sent to fight in the “Hunger Games”. It specifically follows Katniss Everdeen as she fights her way through the injustice. The book series is written by Suzanne Collins. Collins graduated the Tisch School of the Arts in 1989.

11. The Handmaids Tale

The Handmaids Tale is a tv series that takes place in a dystopian futuristic world. The show is sadistic and jaw dropping, but also centers on the strength and perseverance of its heroines. It’s worth a binge watch if you’re in the mood for dark themes. One of the characters is played by Alexis Bledel. Bledel studied film at NYU.

Television poster for The Handmaid's Tale

10. Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds follows the Behavioral Analysis Unit at the FBI as they solve the most difficult of criminal cases. One of the team members is played by Matthew Grey Gubler. Gubler majored in Film and TV at Tisch School of the Arts.

9. Catcher in the Rye

It’s not a film or tv series, but Catcher in the Rye is a classic novel by J.D. Salinger worth binge reading. Salinger attended fall of his first year at NYU in 1936.

8. The Real Housewives of New York

The Real Housewives of New York is a personal reality tv series favorite of mine. Housewife turned Businesswoman extraordinaire, Bethenny Frankel graduated from NYU with a degree in Communications and Psychology.

7. John Tucker Must Die

John Tucker Must Die is an early 2000s rom-com about a serial cheater and the girls he leaves behind. Three of the girls swear revenge and want John Tucker to experience the same heartbreak they did. John Tucker is played by Jesse Metcalfe, a Tisch School of the Arts Alum!

6. The Morning Toast

The Morning Toast is a millennial morning podcast that discusses current events in popular culture. This is my personal favorite podcast, hosted by NYU alum, Claudia Oshry. Oshry is an infamous comedian, instagram model and pop star. She is also known for her instagram account “@GirlWithNoJob” and her hit pop song “Toast.” The comedian graduated the Steinhardt School for Education, Culture and Human Development in 2016 with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication.

5. The Office

The Office is a hilarious TV series capturing the inner workings of a traditional office. The hit comedy stars Rainn Wilson. Wilson obtained his MFA in Acting at Tisch School of the Arts.

Cast photo of

4. Riverdale

Riverdale is based off of the Archie Comics and follows high schoolers in their strange town. The show stars 2 NYU Alumni: Cole Sprouse and Camilia Mendes. Mendes graduated NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 2016 alongside Sprouse, who graduated from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study!

3. A Star is Born

This classic movie remake shows the love story between 2 musicians, named Jackson and Ally. Ally is played by Lady Gaga, or as she was known in her NYU days, Stefani Germanotta. Germanotta/Gaga attended the Tisch School of the Arts for a year. In that year she also represented Third North Residence Hall in NYU’s Ultraviolet Live; she placed in 3rd!

2. Greys Anatomy

This is by far my favorite TV Series. Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama focused around a group of doctors at a hospital in Seattle, Washington. During the show you watch the doctors grow and develop from interns and residents to eventually amazing doctors. One of those doctors is Dr. Miranda Bailey played by Chandra Wilson. Wilson attended NYU gaining a BFA from Tisch School of the Arts.

1. Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada is a piece of comedic genius, in my opinion. The movie is set in NYC and follows the relationship between Andy, a recent college graduate, and Miranda Priestly, a cut-throat high fashion magazine editor. Andy finds herself as one of Priestly assistants and must succeed to help launch her righting career. Andy is played by Anne Hathaway, who attended the Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

Andrew is a rising Sophomore in the Liberal Studies Program transitioning into Steinhardt with a major in Media, Culture, and Communication and a minor in Studio Art. Andrew is from Long Island, so NYC has always been his second home. When Andrew is not dreaming of being a doctor on Grey’s Anatomy, or being the coolest person ever, Andrew is working to become a reality tv-star and more realistically, an event planner. Andrew loves Meryl Streep movies, so in wise words of Miranda Priestly, “That’s all.”