Movies are one of the timeless forms of pop culture. They are entertaining, emotionally evocative, and can reflect people’s realities. They elicit different kinds of emotions from viewers.
Some movies are even dramatic and so effective in sending a message that they encourage self-reflection, like these movies that people claim changed their lives for the better.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” tells of an ex-couple who exhausts all means to forget about each other and their painful past. They both undergo a procedure to erase their memory from their brain.
This romantic drama exposes the different facets of a relationship, both good and unpleasant. It has made viewers reflect on their relationships and realize that joy, pain, regret, guilt, and moving forward are all part of the journey.
2. Arrival
“Arrival” is for people who have lost loved ones to illness or have loved ones who are suffering a health crisis. It is a beautiful story of how life becomes worthwhile despite and because of suffering.
It makes you think of the focal question, “Knowing what I know now, would I do it again?” People are made to ponder: despite knowing how their life will end, would they be willing to go through everything again?
3. Dead Poets Society
“Dead Poets Society” is a film inspired by the life of a revolutionary teacher, John Keating. Keating’s unconventional teaching style taught his students to live their dreams, carve their own paths, and seize the day.
Each student has his own “carpe diem” story, and each has something people can learn from. Although some viewers found the movie depressing because of some sensitive scenes, it undeniably sends a message that encourages self-expression and loving one’s unique self.
4. Contact
It may seem like another sci-fi movie, but “Contact” is more than that. It is the story of a woman scientist who went on a mission to prove extraterrestrial life. The events that unfolded during her mission made her look deeper into her religious faith. She was an atheist.
With how things turned out, Foster started believing in God and his omnipresence. She started to acknowledge that there is a being higher and greater than all forms of life known to men. The religious theme has made people consider a renewal of faith.
5. Groundhog Day
“Groundhog Day” is about a man stuck in a time loop, waking up on Groundhog Day every day. At first, he uses his knowledge of the future to his advantage, even attempting to make a woman fall in love with him. But after realizing that he cannot manipulate her feelings, he starts changing himself and uses his “power” to help people.
The movie got many people thinking about what they would do if today were on a loop. Would they do the exact same things? Would they do things differently? Or would they try to undo something?
6. The Shawshank Redemption
“The Shawshank Redemption” is the story of Andy Dufresne, who was wrongly accused of taking the life of his wife and her lover. During his time in prison, he befriended an inmate named Red, was ganged up on by a group of other inmates, and had the opportunity to teach some wardens how to manage their finances.
After all the injustices Andy endured, he never lost hope. He lived by the mantra that hope is good, keeping him alive and going. Ultimately, he could get out of the situation and live the life he dreamed of. The story is a beautiful example of how even the most dire circumstances can lead to a happy ending as long as one never loses hope.
7. Big Fish
“Big Fish” is a movie filled with fantastical tall tales that a father, Edward, tells his son, Will. However, Edward’s exaggerated storytelling method strains his relationship with Will. Only when he got sick with cancer did Will make the effort to be with him again.
During the days they spent together in the hospital, Will slowly learned more about his father’s life and the truth behind the stories he told.
8. Office Space
“Office Space” is for people in a 9-5 job. It has a funny and satirical take on office workers’ daily realities. People who have seen this movie start to realize that there is more to life than the four walls of their office.
It has even inspired some to quit and start their own businesses. This is after learning from the movie that they can take charge of their happiness, success, and life.
9. Good Will Hunting
In “Good Will Hunting,” Matt Damon plays a university janitor with an IQ level of genius. Nobody knew his mental ability until one professor caught him answering a challenging math problem that even graduate school students could not solve. To save him from wasting away his talent and help him unlock his full potential, Professor Lambeau takes Will to a therapist, Dr. Maguire.
The therapy sessions eventually led to Will and Dr. Maguire resolving their own past traumas. Although Will took a different route from a job offer, he realized how gifted he was and knew the path he wanted to take. The movie teaches viewers that it sometimes takes other people to show us how lucky we are with what we have. It also shows how different people have different versions of success, and it is okay to go after their own concept of success.
10. Everything, Everywhere All At Once
“Everything, Everywhere All At Once” is an amazing mix of different genres—sci-fi, action, drama, and comedy—that touches on mental health, family, and innate goodness. It won seven Oscars at the 95th Academy Awards. It tells the story of a dysfunctional family and how their alpha versions from other universes set out to destroy their world. Their versions of their present reality must fight back to save everyone.
11. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Walter Mitty struggles to fit in and is too scared to leave his comfort zone. He is stuck in a routine and scared to leave it and his comfort zone. That is until he finds himself on a mission to look for a missing photography film.
He goes on a thrilling adventure where he learns to overcome his fears. After conquering seemingly impossible feats, Walter discovers that the piece he had been looking for was with him all along. One takeaway from the movie is that people are often crippled by their fears. But when they find the strength to overcome, they can become invincible.
12. The Color Purple
“The Color Purple” is a movie that addresses issues of gender equality, abuse, and independence. It is about a young woman, Celie, who experiences abuse at a tender age and her journey to healing and finding power beyond her traumas. Celie learns to embrace her wounds, which makes her realize that being a victim does not necessarily mean defeat. She learns to fight her way to happiness.
The movie also highlights her relationship with her sister, Nettie, and how they prove their bond is stronger than anything that tries to come between them. The movie reflects the harsh realities that women of color experience. But it also conveys that women possess inner strength and can go against all odds.
13. The Truman Show
“The Truman Show” is the story of Truman Burbank, who lived his life being followed by cameras. He did not mind the media following him, but he did not know that his life was broadcast live on TV. The world he lived in and all the people he knew were all part of a show.
When something out of the script happened, everything went wayward. This is a story about taking a leap of faith and taking courage to find freedom and genuine happiness.
14. What Dreams May Come
“What Dreams May Come” is a movie about how Chris Nielsen (Robin Williams) navigated through the afterlife. When Chris passed away and went to heaven, he met his 2 children who passed away ahead of him. Shortly after his death, his wife wanted to join him in heaven. Because of the manner of her death, she was not allowed to enter heaven. This is when Chris sets out to rescue her from the underworld.
The movie talks of life, death, and life after death. It is about family and what one would do for love. It inspires people to never give up and believe they can make it come true if they can think it.
15. Harold and Maude
Everyone deserves to love and be loved – regardless of age, gender, race, or social status. This lesson can be derived from the heartwarming classic, “Harold and Maude.” It is about the romance between a 20-year-old boy obsessed with death and a 79-year-old woman with a carefree disposition. Their unlikely romance defied society’s standards and proved that love knows no age.
11 TV Shows That Lost Audiences in Record Time
With an ever-expanding selection of TV shows, it can be tough to sift through the ones that aren’t worth our time. Recently, I discovered an online thread where fellow TV watchers shared honest opinions about disappointing shows.
I found the conversation really intriguing and compiled the top-voted inputs in this article.
10 Movies Fans Have Seen Once and Absolutely Don’t Want to Watch Again
Are you ready to dive into a collection of films that left audiences uneasy, stressed, or scarred? Users shared their experiences with these intense and unforgettable cinematic journeys in a thread discussing the most impactful movies.
Korina is a licensed English and Journalism teacher. After leaving the academe, she decided to pursue what she loved most – writing. Travel, health and wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, and science and technology are some of the niches she is passionate about. When not working on freelance tasks, she spends her time deciphering the magical journey of being an introvert mom to an extrovert child.