Collection: Film Studies and Movie Analysis Full Year Curriculum Collection (4 Quarters)

Film Studies and Movie Analysis Full Year Curriculum Collection (4 Quarters)

This collection delivers a complete, standards-aligned, entry-level high school film elective organized into four quarters and eight thematically linked units. It prioritizes clear scaffolds, broad appeal, and school-friendly films that are easy to stream and find. Planning and pacing are mapped day-by-day to the included movie guides and extension activities. Videos are not included; teachers should verify streaming availability and follow site permissions.

What you get

Over 800 pages of planning and pacing for each quarter
Weekly lesson plans aligned to guides and extension activities
Year-at-a-Glance pacing + CCSS Alignment Matrix
Full-year Educator Planning Guide (rubrics, schedules, differentiation tips)
Student Syllabus, parent guide, and editable permission slips
Full-year movie streaming spreadsheet (Disney Plus / Netflix / Amazon Prime Video)

Quarter and unit overview

Quarter 1 — Unit 1: Dystopia and Environment; Unit 2: The Underdog
Quarter 2 — Unit 3: Blockbusters (Oldies) + Three-Act Structure; Unit 4: Blockbusters (Modern) + Three-Act Structure
Quarter 3 — Unit 5: War Movies + Cinematography; Unit 6: Historical Biographies + Cinematography
Quarter 4 — Unit 7: Literary Classics + Theme; Unit 8: Shakespeare in Movies + Theme

Representative films and skills by unit

Unit 1 — Dystopia and Environment: WALL·E; The Social Dilemma; Before the Flood; David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet — visual storytelling, systems maps, cause-and-effect chains.
Unit 2 — The Underdog: Rudy; Greater; Edward Scissorhands; The Karate Kid; The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind — grit, mentorship, symbolism, decision → outcome analysis.
Unit 3 — Blockbusters (Oldies): Toy Story; The Princess Bride; Jurassic Park; Aladdin; Home Alone — three-act beats, set-piece analysis, theme via spectacle and song.
Unit 4 — Blockbusters (Modern): National Treasure; Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; Avatar; Black Panther — worldbuilding, antagonist argument, “canon events,” heist and clue chains.
Unit 5 — War Movies + Cinematography: 1917; Midway; Unbroken; The Six Triple Eight — camera movement, sound, point of view, leadership under pressure.
Unit 6 — Historical Biographies + Cinematography: Hamilton; Hidden Figures; Remember the Titans; McFarland, USA; Queen of Katwe — rhetoric, data and advocacy, coaching styles, timeline construction.
Unit 7 — Literary Classics + Theme: Holes; Treasure Island; Of Mice and Men; A Christmas Carol — symbolism, foreshadowing, precise theme statements.
Unit 8 — Shakespeare in Movies + Theme: 10 Things I Hate About You; West Side Story (2021); Hamlet (1990); The Lion King; Macbeth (2015) — adaptation, motif, ethics, argument through choreography and lyrics.

Cross-quarter extension strands

Loglines and Presentations — compress plots into 1–2 sentence pitches; peer critique.
Three Acts and Plot Points — locate Hook → Aftermath; compare old vs. modern blockbusters.
Cinematography — exposure, mise en scène, movement, angles, shot size, color/lighting.
Theme — write declarative theme statements supported by scenes, symbols, and dialogue.

Assessments

Two comparative analyses per unit plus a targeted summative (proposal, ranked list with justification, category matrix, timeline, theme comparison, or creative translation), all anchored in scene evidence.

Standards alignment

Targets Common Core Anchor Standards in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language (R.1–R.9, W.1–W.9, SL.1–SL.3, L.4–L.5). Explicit standards are listed on each guide and assessment.

Digital or print workflow

Digital: Convert uploads to Google Docs editor format; assign via Classroom.
Print: DOCX/PPTX ready; print slide decks as handouts (two-up or four-up).

Availability reminder

As of 2025, all featured films stream on one or more of Disney Plus, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video with strong subtitles, but catalogs change. Verify availability before lesson day and keep a backup plan.

Discoverability phrases: high school film studies curriculum, full year movie analysis elective, three-act structure lessons, cinematography mini-lectures, theme writing from evidence, substitute-ready film guides, CCSS-aligned film course.