Movies have a universal way of impacting viewers at crucial times in their lives. Experiencing a breakup? A movie has been made about it. Taking a huge career step? A movie has been made about it. Having one of the worst times of your life, do you need a laugh? A movie has been made about it. Similar to a good self-help book, movies have the power to encourage us to move forward, overcome obstacles, or remain where we are in difficult times.
These movies, which are based on actual tales and novel adaptations, feature characters who stand at a crossroads in their lives. The core of these stories will motivate you to face your demons from the past, mend your broken relationships, or let go of whatever may be keeping you back, regardless of the path they travel or the hole they emerge from. When you need a push in a new direction or a solid foundation, these films ought to be your first choice.
‘Fatherhood’ (2020)
Kevin Hart becomes a single father in the story of unanticipated tragedy known as Fatherhood. Based on Matt Logelin’s biography Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love, Hart plays Matt after the birth of his daughter Maddy and the difficulties of raising her alone despite attempts by family to step in.
As Hart went into his emotional side and veered away from the nonstop comedy, the Netflix original struck a chord with the audience. Fatherhood shows Matt’s fresh beginning as he negotiates motherhood, juggles a career, and finds love once more. The movie is full of humorous moments and timing from its main and supporting characters, such as Lil Rel Howry.
‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ (1991)
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Fried Green Tomatoes is an intense, moving film about love and sorrow that tells a story of friendship and tenacity. Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates), a housewife who feels emotionally confined, befriends Mrs. Ninny Threadgoode, a widow who lives in a nursing facility (Jessica Tandy). Mrs. Threadgoode shares the stories of two southern women from her background and how they overcome difficulties in 1920s Alabama as the two quickly become friends. Through the obstacles in her journey, each main character must forge a new route.
Fried Green Tomatoes, co-starring Mary Stuart Masterson as Idgie and Mary-Louise Parker as Ruth, finds its heart in the power of the female-led ensemble and narrative. This two-time Oscar nominee gives viewers a sense of nostalgia, making it a good movie to watch with a close friend. The Roku Channel and Amazon Prime both offer Fried Green Tomatoes.
‘Good Will Hunting’ (1997)
Good Will Hunting is still a go-to drama for self-discovery when life presents a choice on which road to go because it is not only rich in casting but also in feeling. The exceptional mathematical mind of M.I.T. janitor Will Hunting (Matt Damon) requires him to seek counselling from psychologist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) in order to repair the harm caused by a confrontation with a police officer. Williams and Damon do a flawless job playing against each other throughout the movie.
Despite receiving two wins and nine nominations for Academy Awards, Good Will Hunting is still regarded as a classic. Any spectator who sees Will’s narrative and the seemingly endless potential of a young, gifted mind will be inspired to place a small wager on themselves with a little assistance from those around them. On the other end of the scale, the movie also looks at Sean’s background and how meeting Will may have affected it. You can access this motion picture classic if you have an HBO Max membership.
‘Minari’ (2020)
Nothing captures the spirit of fresh starts like the pursuit of the American Dream. As a Korean-American family relocates to an Arkansas parcel of land in the 1980s, Minari vividly depicts their experience. The family, led by Steven Yeun and Yeri Han, experiences numerous setbacks that put their perseverance to the test throughout the movie. Along with overcoming the difficulties of farm life, parents Jacob (Yeun) and Monica (Han) also have to help their children David (Alan Kim) and Anne (Noel Cho) get used to growing up in a rural area.
With scores of award nominations and triumphs, including six Academy Award nominations and one win, Minari wowed critics and moviegoers alike. This drama shows the emotional ups and downs and sacrifice that come with pursuing the American Dream and how it may affect your life both positively and negatively. With memberships to various services like Amazon Prime and Hulu, Minari can be streamed.
‘Room’ (2015)
Brie Larson, who received nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role and won her first Oscar for the role, plays a mother who was abducted as a teenager, raped, and held captive for five years while caring for the child she fell pregnant with. Jack (Jacob Tremblay) and his mother set off on a voyage of exploration and healing after he manages to get away from the “Room,” the shack where they were imprisoned.
Ma’s determination to raise her son with an innocent perspective of the circumstances he was born into speaks eloquently about the protection that a mother’s love can provide. Through the eyes of a little child, Jack’s awe of his new environment creates a breathtaking experience. Emma Donoghue’s book served as the inspiration for the mother-son combo that comes to life on screen in Room. Hulu and HBO Max both offer streaming versions of this adaption.
‘Someone Great’ (2019)
In a touching tale about loss and growth, Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) must relive the best and worst moments of her nearly ten-year relationship with Nate after a risky career move forces a devastating breakup for her. Her best friends come together to spend one last unforgettable night in New York before their lives change forever (LaKeith Stanfield). In many ways, the chain of flashbacks is tragic.
While Rodriguez is the main protagonist of the film, Brittany Snow and DeWanda Wise also play important roles. Together, the three bring to the screen camaraderie and the skill of letting go. Anyone who has just had a difficult breakup will cry the hardest watching Netflix’s Someone Great. It challenges viewers, especially young women, to evaluate and make difficult decisions about love, professions, friendships, and happiness in their lives.
‘The Judge’ (2014)
A well-known city attorney makes a risky return to his small-town roots in The Judge, demonstrating how visiting the past affects your present and future. As a father and son who are no longer together, Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr. feature. Hank (Downey Jr.) travels back to his hometown in order to keep his elderly father out of jail when Judge Joseph Palmer (Duvall) is named as a suspect in a murder investigation.
Despite not being a hit with the critics, the movie was well received by the public and got Duvall a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In spite of their mutual animosity, Downey Jr. and Duvall make an ideal pair since they both have to become closer to succeed in the trial. In order to decide which path to take in life moving ahead, Downey Jr. must confront his own issues both inside and outside of the courtroom. You may watch The Judge on Hulu.
‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ (2006)
The Pursuit of Happiness, a different true-life story-based film, illustrates how the modern world’s quest for survival can result in a new chapter in a person’s life. Chris Gardner, played by Will Smith, is a homeless single father who fights day in and day out to get back on his feet while trying to maintain as much composure as he can for his small son Christopher (Jaden Smith).
Smith would receive the movie’s lone Best Actor Academy Award nomination. Over ten years later, fans continue to seek solace in this picture, which has become a mainstay in the “lift yourself up by your bootstraps” genre. Netflix offers streaming of The Pursuit of Happyness.
‘This is Where I Leave You’ (2014)
This is Where I Leave You, with its all-star cast, shows how a conclusion may usher in fresh beginnings. Four siblings (Jason Bateman, Adam Driver, Tina Fey, and Corey Stoll) are forced to face their past and present as they spend a week with their grieving mother after their father’s passing (Jane Fonda). As the week spent together forces them to face their life regrets, each sibling must battle their own demons.
Even though the film never makes the most of their abilities, Bateman, Driver, Fey, and Stoll work wonders together. The picture received a mediocre response from audiences since critics couldn’t support it. This Is Where I Leave You, written by Jonathan Trooper, is based on his book of the same name. Despite its lengthy title, the movie achieves exactly what it promises, leaving spectators to mull about their personal problems and how to either move on or forward from them. With a membership to a number of services like HBO Max, Hulu, or The Roku Channel, the film is accessible for streaming.
‘Wild’ (2014)
Wild, a film about emotional survival in the wilderness, is based on the actual account of Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon), who hikes the 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. This 2014 motion picture is based on Cheryl Strayed’s autobiography Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, in which she sets out to recover from a life spiralling out of control after the death of her mother.
Cheryl’s desperate attempt to restart her life reveals how survival and nature coexist and are not always opposed to one another without any knowledge or competence. Witherspoon’s portrayal in this true-to-life story led to her receiving an Oscar nomination. The journey of this movie and its story of how soothing nature can be captured the hearts of viewers. Amazon Prime offers a renting option for the movie Wild.
