Movies have a universal way of influencing audiences during life's most pivotal moments. Going through a breakup? There's a movie for that. Making a gigantic career move? There's a movie for that. Need a laugh during one of the most devastating times in your life? There's a movie for that. Like a good self-help book, movies possess the ability to inspire us to move on, over, or to stay put during life's transitions.
These films showcase characters at the foot of life's crossroads, from true stories and book adaptations. Whatever direction they take or the hole they pull themselves out of, the backbones of these stories will inspire you to face that past demon, mend the broken relationship, or move on from what may be holding you back. These movies about fresh starts should be your first choice when you need a nudge in a new direction or a foundation for strength.
15 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006)
Directed by David Frankel
Career changes are often defining moves in starting a new chapter. The Devil Wears Prada is the story of Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) as she seeks a journalism role, writing about topics that matter. When she's sent by a staffing company to New York's notable high fashion magazine run by the ruthless editor, Miranda Priestly, (Meryl Streep), she unexpectedly lands an assistant job at the amusement of Miranda to see if she'd sink or swim. Andy's arc throughout the movie is an interesting case study of changing who one is to embody the requirements of a job.
The Devil Wears Prada sees Andy drastically change her fashion style and relationship with food from harmful diet culture, all the while becoming a workaholic. When the rose-colored glasses of her success wear off, she understands the true toxicity of it all and goes back to her journalism roots, while finding a happy medium with her personal image. The Devil Wears Prada is a dramatic depiction of how new beginnings can be found through success while recognizing what no longer serves as a positive addition to life and pursuing what does.
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The Devil Wears Prada
PG-13
Comedy
Drama8/10
- Release Date
- June 30, 2006
14 'Lion' (2016)
Directed by Garth Davis
Based on the true story of Saroo Brierley and his search for his birth family, this Oscar-nominated drama dissects themes of identity, trauma, and finding your way back home. Lion is the story of Saroo (Sunny Pawar) at age five when he's separated from his brother Guddu (Abhishek Bharate) at the train station. Saroo is carried thousands of miles across India away from his family and forced to survive on his own before he's adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham). Over two decades later, now a man, Saroo (Dev Patel) is determined to use his vague memories and Google Earth to find his family and home.
As Saroo looks to create a new beginning from his past, he reckons with his identity and the relationship with his adoptive parents. He questions what happens if he finds his family and what that means or how to cope if he can't. Lion allows audiences a heartbreaking look into how trauma affects adoptive children and their identities, and Saroo's determined quest to find answers.
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Lion
PG-13
Drama- Release Date
- November 25, 2016
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
13 'Room' (2015)
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson
Winning her first Oscar and nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Brie Larson portrays a mother who is kidnaped as a young woman, raped, and held captive for five years while raising the child she became pregnant with. When Jack (Jacob Tremblay) escapes and leads rescuers to his mother, the two embark on a journey of discovery and healing as Jack's only concept of the world was "Room," the shed they were held captive in.
Ma's resilience in raising her son with an innocent image of the circumstances he was born into speaks to the volumes a mother's love can protect from. Jack's wonder of his new world brings a breathtaking experience through the lens of a young child. The mother-son duo that leaps from page to screen in Room is based on Emma Donoghue's novel.
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Room
R
Drama- Release Date
- October 16, 2015
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
12 'Minari' (2020)
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung
Nothing defines new beginnings like the search for the American Dream. Minari captures the story of a Korean-American family as they settle on a plot of land in 1980s Arkansas. Led by Steven Yeun and Yeri Han, the family's resiliency is tested throughout the film as various obstacles threaten their success. Not only do Jacob (Yeun) and Monica (Han) trek through the challenges of farm life, their children, David (Alan Kim) and Anne (Noel Cho), are forced to adjust to life as kids in a rural community.
Minari swept away critics and movie lovers as it earned dozens of award nominations and wins, including six Academy Award nominations and one win. This drama demonstrates the rollercoaster of emotions and hard work that comes with chasing the American Dream and how it can change your life for better or worse.
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Minari
PG-13
Drama- Release Date
- December 11, 2020
11 'This is Where I Leave You' (2014)
Directed by Shawn Levy
With a star-studded cast, This is Where I Leave You showcases that the end can lead to new beginnings. As the death of their father calls them back home, four siblings (Jason Bateman, Adam Driver, Tina Fey, and Corey Stoll) must confront their past and present as they sit for one week with their grieving mother (Jane Fonda). Each sibling must battle their demons as the week together forces them to confront their regrets in life.
Despite the movie never fully utilizing their talents, Bateman, Driver, Fey, and Stoll are magic together. Audiences gave the film a middle-of-the-road appreciation as critics couldn't get behind it. Penned by Jonathan Tropper, This Is Where I Leave You is based on Troopers' novel of the same name. Despite its lengthy title, the film does exactly as it says and leaves viewers to simmer with their troubles in life and how to move either forward or on from them.
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This is Where I Leave You
R
DramaComedy
- Release Date
- September 10, 2014
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
Powered by
10 'Fatherhood' (2021)
Directed by Paul Weitz
A tale of unexpected tragedy, Fatherhood features Kevin Hart becoming a single father. Based on the memoir Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love by Matt Logelin, Hart stars as Matt following the birth of his daughter, Maddy, and the challenges of raising her on his own, despite family trying to intervene.
The Netflix original resonated with viewers as Hart tapped his emotional side, straying away from the constant comedy. While the film is packed with comedic moments and timing from its lead and supporting characters like Lil Rel Howery, Fatherhood showcases a new beginning for Matt as he navigates the world of parenthood, balancing a career, and finding love again.
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Fatherhood
PG-13
Drama- Release Date
- June 18, 2021
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
9 'Barbie' (2023)
Directed by Greta Gerwig
Not the narrative audiences were expecting, but one that they needed, Barbie is the comedic but heartfelt story of the iconic doll's voyage out of her comfort zone. When she starts to experience emotional and physical changes, Barbie (Margot Robbie) ventures outside of Barbie Land to bring joy to the young girl Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) who used to play with her. When that fails, Barbie's perception of her purpose crumbles as Barbie Land is overrun by the Kens' newfound patriarchal rule, led by Ken (Ryan Gosling). She must band together with Sasha, her mom Gloria (America Ferrera), and the other Barbies to take back her life.
Paired with the Oscar-winning original song "What Was I Made For" by Billie Eilish and Gloria's now-iconic speech, Barbie reached into the hearts of its women viewers and encouraged them to rediscover womanhood and see their value. While the movie is a high-concept comedy with an explosion of pink, Barbie's journey of learning what she thought she was and who she can be emulates an emotional exploration many members of the audience have been through.
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Barbie
PG-13
Comedy
Adventure Fantasy8 10
6/10
- Release Date
- July 21, 2023
8 'Fried Green Tomatoes' (1991)
Directed by Jon Avnet
A tale of friendship and resiliency, Fried Green Tomatoes is an emotional, touching drama about love and loss. An emotionally trapped housewife Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates), befriends a nursing home widow Mrs. Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy). As the two form a fast friendship, Mrs. Threadgoode recounts the tales of two southern women from her past and how they overcame life's complications in 1920s Alabama. Each leading character must find her new path through the trials and tribulations of her story.
Co-starring Mary Stuart Masterson as Idgie and Mary-Louise Parker as Ruth, Fried Green Tomatoes finds its heart in the strength of the female-led cast and story. Nominated for two Oscars, this film brings a feeling of nostalgia to its viewers, making it one to sit and view with a close friend.
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Fried Green Tomatoes
PG-13
DramaComedy
Documentary
- Release Date
- December 27, 1991
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
Powered by
7 'Wild' (2014)
Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée
A story of emotional survival by way of the wilderness, Wild follows the true story of Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) as she embarks on a 1,100-mile hike across the Pacific Crest Trail. This 2014 film is based on Strayed's memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, where she set out to heal from a downward life spiral following her mother's death.
With no experience or expertise, Cheryl's desperation to reset her life demonstrates how survival and nature coincide and are not always pitted against each other. This real-life-to-film tale earned Witherspoon an Oscar nomination for her portrayal. Audiences fell in love with this film's journey and the narrative of how healing nature can be.
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Wild
R
Drama- Release Date
- December 3, 2014
WHERE TO WATCH
RENT
BUY
6 'Kramer vs. Kramer' (1979)
Directed by Robert Benson
This five-time Oscar-winning feature ventures into personal and parental new beginnings. Starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep as Ted and Joanna Kramer, Kramer vs. Kramer is their story of separation on the same day Ted lands the biggest account of his ad executive career. When Joanna leaves both Ted and their son Billy (Justin Henry) behind, Ted shifts from absentee parent to single dad, forcing him to change his work-life balance and cultivate a better relationship with Billy.
Kramer vs. Kramer is an authentic portrayal of divorce and the emotional toll single parenting and custody battles inflict. Ted and Joanna both suffer wounds from their separation and the fight for their son. The narrative explores how emotional and relationship tragedies can call for a reassessment of priorities while simultaneously promoting the potential for growth and change.
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Kramer vs. Kramer
PG
Drama- Release Date
- December 19, 1979
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
5 'Good Will Hunting' (1997)
Directed by Gus Van Sant
A drama not only rich in casting, but in emotion, Good Will Hunting is still a go-to film for self-discovery when life places a choice on which path to take. Will Hunting (Matt Damon) is a janitor at M.I.T. who has a gifted mathematical mind; however, he must seek counseling from psychologist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) if he wishes to undo the damages from an altercation with a police officer. Williams and Damon are impeccable as they play opposite each other throughout the film.
Good Will Hunting remains an iconic film, earning nine Academy Award nominations and two wins. The story of Will and the limitless possibilities of a young, talented mind is enough for any viewers to bet on themselves with a bit of help from those around them. On the other spectrum, the film also explores the past for Sean and how it can shape his future after meeting Will.
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Good Will Hunting
R
Romance Drama7/10
- Release Date
- December 5, 1997
4 'Someone Great' (2019)
Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
After a bold career move forces a devastating breakup for Jenny (Gina Rodriguez), her best friends band together to spend one more epic night in New York before their lives change for good; in a heartfelt story about loss and growth, Jenny must relive the best and worst moments of her almost-decade-long relationship with Nate (LaKeith Stanfield). The series of flashbacks are devastating in many ways.
While Rodriguez is the driving force of the movie, she is joined by Brittany Snow and DeWanda Wise, the trio bringing friendship and the art of letting go to viewers. Netflix's Someone Great elicits the deepest ugly cry from anyone fresh from an intense break-up. It forces audiences, particularly young women, to assess and make difficult choices in their life when it comes to love, careers, friendship, and happiness.
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Someone Great
Comedy
Romance- Release Date
- April 19, 2019
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
3 'The Judge' (2014)
Directed by David Dobkin
Proving that returning to your past influences your future, The Judge finds a prominent city lawyer returning to his rural hometown, putting his professional and personal life on the line. Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr. star as an estranged father and son. Judge Joseph Palmer (Duvall) becomes a suspect in a murder case, and Hank (Downey Jr.) returns to his hometown to keep his aging father out of jail.
Not a favorite with critics, audiences appreciated the film enough that it earned Duvall a Best Supporting Actor nomination. Downey Jr. and Duvall are perfectly matched as they resent each other but must learn to trust each other if they want to successfully come out the other side of the trial. Downey Jr. must face his personal troubles inside and outside the trial, deciding which direction he must take in life going forward.
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The Judge
pg-13
DramaCrime
- Release Date
- October 10, 2014
WHERE TO WATCH
RENT
BUY
2 'Marriage Story' (2019)
Directed by Noah Baumbach
The death of a relationship, especially a marriage, is one of the most difficult endings that demand a new beginning regardless of whether the participants want it or not. Just as the title suggests, Marriage Story is the raw portrayal of a couple's (Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson) grueling divorce, beginning the movie with the end of the relationship, flashing back throughout to the moments where their love began to crack. Caught in the middle is their son (Azhy Robertson) as each parent fights for custody.
With gripping performances from Driver and Johansson, Marriage Story showcases how their young marriage led to such resentment and unhappiness. Charlie and Nicole go through journeys of self-discovery as they reflect on how they changed from the beginning to the end of their marriage. In one of the most emotional break-up movies, Marriage Story illuminates with poignancy how the end of one story is the start of another.
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Marriage Story
R
DramaComedy
- Release Date
- December 6, 2019
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
1 'The Pursuit of Happyness' (2006)
Directed by Gabriele Muccino
Another movie based on a true story, The Pursuit of Happyness, showcases how the hunger for survival in the modern world can turn over a new page in your life. Will Smith stars as Chris Gardner, a single father who fights every second of the day to get back on his feet after becoming homeless, keeping it together as much as possible for his young son Christopher (Jaden Smith).
Smith would earn the film's only Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. A staple movie in the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" genre, audiences still turn to this film over a decade later for an inspirational story.
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The Pursuit of Happyness
PG-13
Biography
Drama10/10
- Release Date
- December 15, 2006
NEXT: Great Quarter-Life Crisis Movies
