Movies to Watch After a Breakup From Laughter to Tears
Getting over a breakup is never easy!
Emotions range from sadness to anger, nostalgia, and sometimes even euphoria at regaining freedom.
In times like these, there’s nothing like a good movie to help you through your healing process.
Whether you want to cry your eyes out, laugh out loud, or find a little hope in love, movies are powerful allies.
Why can this be cathartic?
Watching movies after a breakup can be calming and therapeutic for several reasons.
First, movies allow you to escape reality for a while, immersing you in stories that transport you away from your own pain.
It’s a way to step back, see characters going through similar or more difficult situations, and learn lessons or comfort from them.
As you see other characters dealing with loss, grief, or romantic confusion, you realize you’re not alone in experiencing these complex emotions.
Movies also allow you to release your emotions.
After a breakup, you often feel a mountain of emotions that are difficult to express.
A sad movie can bring about a cathartic release of the tears you’ve been holding back, while a romantic comedy or funny movie lets you laugh and remind yourself that happiness and humor are still within reach.
It’s as if the film gives you permission to fully feel your emotions, to move through them, and to let them gradually subside.
Finally, films can also offer perspectives!
Some breakup and reconciliation stories show you that life goes on after a broken heart.
They remind you that even if you’re hurting today, things can change, and that happiness is never out of reach, even if it seems hard to believe at the time.
A film can offer inspiration or simply help you put things into perspective by telling yourself that your story, although painful, is part of a larger process.
It’s a gentle way to begin to look to the future, to tell yourself that it’s not all over, and that you can, at your own pace, heal and move forward.
Who should I watch these movies with?
Watching movies with close friends is often the most comforting option.
These people know you well, understand what you’re going through, and don’t judge you.
They can make you laugh during romantic comedies or hand you a tissue during romantic dramas.
With them, you can be yourself, without having to hide your emotions or pretend that everything is okay.
They are there to share a moment, but also to remind you that you are surrounded by people who care about you.
Family is also a great choice!
If you are close to your parents, siblings, or even more distant relatives, watching a movie with them can bring you a sense of security and unconditional love.
They will support you and help you find your bearings after the emotional storm of the breakup.
If you have a pet, it can also be a good companion for movie night.
Watching a movie with your dog or cat can provide a comforting and calming presence.
Just having your pet next to you reminds you that there is such a thing as unconditional love.
The main thing is to choose people or companions who will make you feel good, without pressure.
The goal is to feel well supported, calm and understood during this period when your emotions are running high.
So here’s a selection of the 10 perfect movies to watch after a breakup, from those that remind you you’re not alone to those that put a smile back on your face.
10. Her (2013)
Lonely Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) falls in love with an artificial intelligence, Samantha (voice of Scarlett Johansson), while trying to heal from a painful divorce.
Why you should watch it:
This film deals with isolation and the search for connection in an increasingly disconnected world.
It explores emotional loneliness and healing through unexpected relationships.
What can be learned:
“Her” shows that it’s okay to seek emotional connections after a breakup, even if they seem unusual.
It reminds you of the importance of intimacy and healing, while exploring unconventional forms of love.
9. Legally Blonde (2001)
After being dumped by her boyfriend, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) decides to enroll at Harvard to prove her worth, discovering along the way that she’s much more than just a superficial girl.
Why you should watch it:
It’s a feel-good movie that shows that after a breakup, you can transform yourself and achieve much more than you thought possible.
What can be learned:
“Legally Blonde” shows you that you don’t need external validation to be strong and successful.
The breakup becomes the starting point for reinvention and personal affirmation.
8. Blue Valentine (2010)
This film chronicles the rise and fall of Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy’s (Michelle Williams) relationship, from their passionate love to their broken marriage.
Why you should watch it:
“Blue Valentine” explores the darker sides of relationships and shows you how love can slowly fade away.
It’s an honest portrayal of complicated relationships.
What can be learned:
This film shows that relationships evolve and change, and sometimes even love isn’t enough to save a relationship.
It reminds you that not all love stories last, but they bring valuable lessons.
7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Peter (Jason Segel) is devastated after being dumped by Sarah (Kristen Bell).
He goes on vacation to Hawaii to forget her, but discovers that Sarah is also staying there…with her new boyfriend.
Why you should watch it:
The film will make you laugh through the absurdity of post-breakup situations.
Watching Peter navigate the divide between despair and resilience is a reminder that even after an embarrassing breakup, you can bounce back.
What can be learned:
“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” shows that it is possible to get back up after a hard blow.
Peter eventually finds his balance and discovers new meaning in his life, proving that the breakup is just a phase.
6. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) is a single thirty-something looking to improve her life while juggling complicated relationships and personal insecurities.
Why you should watch it:
Bridget is the embodiment of the woman who learns to accept and love herself despite romantic failures.
Her humor and resilience will remind you to never take yourself too seriously after a breakup.
What can be learned:
This film teaches you that self-deprecation and self-love are essential.
No matter how many romantic failures you’ve experienced, learning to love yourself as you are is the best way to get through a breakup.
5. 500 Days of Summer (2009)
Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) falls madly in love with Summer (Zooey Deschanel), but she doesn’t share his vision of love.
The film navigates between Tom’s happy memories and disillusionment.
Why you should watch it:
This film shows you the reality of unrequited love and misaligned expectations.
It’s comforting to know that you’re not alone in experiencing relationships that don’t work out as planned.
What can be learned:
“500 Days of Summer” reminds us that love is not always synonymous with shared destiny.
We can love intensely, but it is important to accept that some people are not meant to stay in our lives.
4. Eat Pray Love (2010)
Liz (Julia Roberts) is going through an existential crisis after a divorce.
She decides to leave everything behind to travel to Italy, India and Bali in order to rediscover herself and find a new balance.
Why you should watch it:
This film inspires the quest for self-discovery after a breakup.
Liz takes you on a journey of healing and reinvention, proving that it’s never too late to turn your life around.
What can be learned:
“Eat Pray Love” shows that breakups can be gateways to a new personal adventure.
It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of self-care and learning to love life again after a breakup.
3. The Break-Up (2006)
Gary (Vince Vaughn) and Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) split up, but continue to live together.
Their cohabitation becomes a battlefield where each tries to hurt the other.
Why you should watch it:
This film uses humor to illustrate the absurdities that can occur during a breakup.
Seeing ridiculous situations can remind you that even in pain, there are moments to smile.
What can be learned:
“The Break-Up” shows that holding on to a relationship solely out of pride or comfort is never a good idea.
Sometimes the best decision is to let go in order to heal.
2. La La Land (2016)
Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) are two artists looking for success in Los Angeles.
They fall in love, but the demands of their respective careers eventually drive them apart.
Why you should watch it:
The film beautifully depicts the reality of difficult choices in a relationship. Sometimes, even the most intense love can’t solve everything, but that doesn’t take away from its beauty.
What can be learned:
“La La Land” shows that love and career can conflict, and that it’s possible to truly love each other while realizing that paths must separate.
After a breakup, it’s important to understand that some relationships serve a temporary, but meaningful, purpose.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) have each other’s memories erased after a painful breakup.
The film navigates through the memories of their relationship as Joel realizes he doesn’t really want to forget her.
Why you should watch it:
This film shows the ups and downs of a relationship with a unique approach, mixing science fiction and raw emotion.
It is a profound reflection on love and the desire to escape pain.
What can be learned:
Even after a breakup, every memory has its value!
“Eternal Sunshine” shows that good times, just as much as bad ones, build us up and that trying to erase everything doesn’t solve anything.