It happens to the best of us.
You oversleep; you misspell a name in an email; you fight with your partner. Or, in the absence of a partner, you get ghosted by your 44th Dave and then eat too many Pringles and throw up. If you happen to also be a character in a Hollywood movie, then your car subsequently explodes.
No matter how your “bad day” looks, it’s no cause for shame or alarm. There’s also a way out. All you need to do to cure this momentary condition is watch a good movie. Incidentally, there are plenty of movies that can inspire you in ways both satisfying and surprising. We’re not just talking about the obvious choices like Dead Poets Society and Remember the Titans. We mean movies that dig deep and flirt with darkness — movies that sneak up on you and reveal life lessons that stay with you for years.
Cloud Atlas (2012)
Watch if you’re: aching for purpose, feeling isolated, or losing faith in humanity.
Why it helps: As one of the most ambitious big budget movies of the 21st century, Cloud Atlas unsurprisingly has a bit of everything. Comedy, tragedy, romance, action … It’s all there. However, what sets this movie apart is its underlying philosophy: that every human, no matter the miles or even centuries between them, is connected by their actions, their values, and their desire for a better world. Set across six centuries and just as many storylines, Cloud Atlas is a demanding watch, but this theme shines through and inspires even the most casual viewers. Love, kindness, and rebellion recur throughout history, echoing longer than you’d imagine.
The Impossible (2012)
Watch if you’re: overwhelmed and struggling to smile.
Why it helps: At first, this movie is a grueling, arduous watch, but since you’re already in a mood, you can handle it. Plus, you’ll be rewarded in the end: Despite the odds, despite the impossible, this family survives their ordeal (in this case, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami), and reunites. That’s not a spoiler since this is based on a true story. Also, the conclusion truly makes you think that anything, including your upcoming project with your least favorite coworker, is possible.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Watch if you’re: feeling like a disappointment or struggling to connect with your loved ones.
Why it helps: This movie is all about failure — failure to deliver, failure to grow, failure to connect. It’s also about embracing that failure and accepting one’s flaws. As you watch this hilarious, dysfunctional family transport their prodigal daughter Olive to a beauty pageant, you’ll find that love flourishes in unexpected forms, inspiring self-improvement.
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Watch if you’re: questioning your existence and crying into an everything bagel.
Why it helps: Initially struggling with her taxes, Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) is instantly relatable. But her subsequent journey, despite traversing multiple dimensions, is just as relatable. Battling against nihilism, generational trauma, and the floppiness of hot dog fingers, Evelyn and the characters surrounding her discover that they are worthy of love — all infinite versions of themselves.
Amélie (2001)
Watch if you’re: stuck in a rut or craving for something beautiful.
Why it helps: The dreamy and color-saturated Paris of this movie is meant to feel like a fantasy, and if you’re truly feeling down, then pure fantasy may be the perfect panacea. This movie’s protagonist Amélie floats through life improving people in fortuitous and even magical ways; in doing so, she proves there’s more than one way to have a meaningful life. This movie is about the thrill of connection and the presence of majesty in quiet acts.
Up (2009)
Watch if you’re: grieving.
Why it helps: Whether you’re grieving a person, a plan, or even a lost version of yourself, Up will snap you from your reverie and inspire you to restart your life. As you watch Carl and Russell forge an unsteady friendship and soar into the horizon, you’ll find that everyone deserves a second chance and that there’s never a wrong time to move on. The first ten minutes of this movie famously make people cry, but everything that follows is tender, wise, and, yes, uplifting.
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