During the theater’s closure, Chicagoans were blessed to have all the encyclopedic knowledge of its movie-buff staff at our fingertips, for free. Shoot the Music Box an Instagram message containing your likes, and its staffers will handpick recommendations sure to impress your quarantine cohort. We gave it a test run.

A classic but under-the-radar old black-and-white flick L’Atalante

Something experimental that my mom will like In the Mood for Love

A kid movie that adults can watch by themselves and maintain their self-respect Ponyo

A movie with a standout animal character Wendy and Lucy

A bestie movie like Frances Ha but not in English Rudo y Cursi

Portrait of a Lady on Fire but make it funny — and still directed by a woman Slums of Beverly Hills