Something truly magical about movies and TV shows is their remarkable ability to keep us company in our day-to-day lives and through every one of our states of mind. Nothing could be as exciting as going to the cinema to watch that movie whose premiere you’ve been waiting for months — it’s enough to brighten up anyone’s day. But even on a bad or stressful day, movies can also help. In fact, since there is such a wide range of movies to choose from, they can fulfill every need of the public, whether they are looking for something funny or feel-good and light-hearted to take their mind off their problems, or they prefer to watch a very sad movie for a good cry.
Movies can also keep you company when you feel lonely, as outlined by The Hollywood Reporter. Everyone has gone through loneliness at some point in their lives, and this can be the result of a number of different situations. Fortunately, loneliness is a highly recurrent theme in cinema, and it crosses many productions and genres, which is why turning to films to see other people dealing with their loneliness can be a great idea. Therefore, the following article features several movies with one thing in common: the characters, in some way or another, know what it’s like to feel lonely. Check them out!
8/8 Home Alone
In the 1990 film Home Alone, Kevin experiences loneliness in two different ways. First, he feels isolated in his family, as no one stands up for him against the constant teasing of his siblings and cousins. Then, after his family goes on a trip and accidentally leaves him home alone, this little boy experiences another side of loneliness, which gives him the freedom he’s been longing for. However, this comes at a price: when intruders try to rob his house, Kevin must come up with a plan to defend his home. This Christmas classic directed by Chris Columbus features Macaulay Culkin in his best-known role, alongside Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O’Hara.
7/8 WALL-E
It is 2805 and the situation on Earth is devastating: seven centuries ago, contamination forced humans to evacuate the planet. Now, they travel through space in giant starliners worry-free, and the only inhabitant left on Earth is WALL-E, a small robot that compacts garbage. He wasn’t always by himself: he used to be part of an entourage of robots that eventually stopped functioning. In spite of everything, WALL-E continues working, as he particularly enjoys collecting objects left behind by humans. But everything changes for him when a robot named EVE comes along to turn his lonely life upside down. This 2008 film was widely acclaimed, and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, among many other awards.
6/8 You’ve Got Mail
Kathleen (Meg Ryan) and Joe (Tom Hanks) have a lot in common: they both work in the book industry, they have a partner who makes them feel lonely, and, most importantly, they share an online relationship unaware of each other’s true identity. However, even with the obvious chemistry these characters have, one tiny detail threatens their relationship: they are real-life rivals, as Joe’s massive bookstore threatens to put Kathleen’s cozy store out of business. You’ve Got Mail, the film written and directed by Nora Ephron, was released in 1998 and marked the third time Ryan and Hanks co-starred in a rom-com.
5/8 Pitch Perfect
Aspiring DJ Beca Mitchell is very comfortable with being alone. She doesn’t have many friend, nor does she think she needs them. In fact, if it were up to her, she would spend all day producing and listening to her own music mixes. But one very peculiar group of ladies is about to show her how important friendship is: the a cappella ensemble, the Barden Bellas. As they practice in order to win the 2012 ICCA Regionals, these girls discover that they have a lot more in common than they thought, and that their differences are actually assets rather than detractors. The 2012 film Pitch Perfect is directed by Jason Moore and stars Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Skylar Astin, Anna Camp, and Brittany Snow, among other performers.
4/8 Frozen
In 2013, one of the most popular and profitable movies in Disney’s history was released: Frozen. We all know by now sisters Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) from Arendelle, who had to join forces together with a few allies to save the kingdom from the eternal winter that Elsa accidentally provoked with her powers. What is interesting about these characters is that, while they were completely different from each other, they were both going through similar situations: Anna felt lonely and overlooked by her sister, while Elsa lived in more or less voluntary solitude, gripped by the fear triggered by her uncontrollable powers. Eventually, and thanks to Anna’s persistence, Elsa was able to overcome her fears and make the most of her powers.
3/8 The Breakfast Club
A brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal get together one Saturday morning at Shermer High School for an all-day detention. They all feel a bit lonely: they belong to different social groups, and don’t seem to have anything in common. However, it only takes a day for them to discover how wrong they are. The Breakfast Club is a 1985 film directed by John Hughes and starring Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy. This film, considered one of the director’s best pieces, was both a critical and box-office hit.
2/8 Edward Scissorhands
Edward Scissorhands is probably Tim Burton’s masterpiece. Released in 1990 and starring Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, and Dianne Wiest, this film follows Edward, an artificial humanoid with scissors for hands because his creator died before he could attach them to his body. Having lived in isolation all his life, he is found by a local door-to-door Avon saleswoman who welcomes him into her home, where Edward is first introduced to love and life in society. But after several unfortunate events, Edward, terrorized by a society hell-bent on making him a victimizer, goes back to secluding himself in the solitude of the castle that was once his home.
1/8 Lost in Translation
Lost in Translation is the perfect movie to watch when you feel lonely: its protagonists experience the same thing, only immersed in a society they are not even part of. This 2003 film stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as Bob and Charlotte, two people who are visiting Tokyo for different reasons and meet by chance. Eventually, they bond over feeling lonely in their relationships and staying in a country they don’t know, sparking a unique relationship. Lost in Translation was directed, written, and produced by Sofia Coppola and won, among other awards, an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
