20 Best Movies to Watch After a Breakup

Movie Poster for La La Land With Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling Dancing Beneath a Starry Night Sky — Courtesy of IMDB

There’s no going around it: Breakups are hard. Even if your relationship was deficient in some way (or even unhealthy) and even if you were the one to end things, splitting from a romantic partner leads to a mournful aftermath. Since you’re concluding a chapter in your life—even if it’s for the best—the experience of loss naturally results in grief. While the post-breakup period looks different for everyone, from feelings of emptiness and loneliness to resentment and numbness, there’s no doubt that it’s painful to endure.

Although the only real way to cope with this emotionally challenging stretch is to feel your feelings and give yourself time to heal, there are ways to shift your focus away from the discomfort: putting on a lighthearted, feel-good flick. Wondering where to start your movie marathon? Bookmark our list of must-watch motion pictures to guide your viewing experience.

In our roundup of recommended movies, which you'll find below, some films feature a failed relationship, which can help validate your experience and make you feel less alone—and possibly get the tears flowing, an important step in the five stages of grieving. But if you’d rather not being reminded of your breakup, you can also queue up a movie that has nothing to do with relationships but that will nonetheless put a smile on your face. And if you want to live vicariously through a thriving partnership that ends in a happily-ever-after to restore hope in your future love life (with a few laughs along the way), consider screening a romantic comedy.

Whether you opt for a solo viewing party or one with loved ones, here are 20 of the best movies to watch after a breakup from the comfort of your couch.

01 of 20

500 Days of Summer

Want to feel less alone in your post-breakup grief? 500 Days of Summer will keep you company. In this endearing rom-com, Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), greeting card writer and hopeless romantic, thinks he’s found “the one,” Summer (Zooey Deschanel), but when she ends things with him, catching him completely off guard, he reflects back on their time together, trying to figure out how it went horribly wrong.

02 of 20

Legally Blonde

At the beginning of this film, a movie you’ll definitely want to watch after your breakup, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) has one goal: to become Mrs. Warner Huntington III. But when Warner fails to propose, her planned future crumbles. To win Warner’s heart once again, the sorority girl decides to join him at Harvard Law (which she manages to pull off after hours of studying for the LSAT), but instead, she finds her personal prowess. By emphasizing the importance of discovering your own potential, apart from a significant other, this movie will leave you feeling empowered.

03 of 20

La La Land

For a movie that’s equal parts fantastical, romantic, and heartbreaking, screen La La Land. When Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) meet, their lives are forever changed—even if it doesn’t necessarily end in marriage. Follow the characters along as they fall in love with each other and chase their professional dreams, which may threaten to upend their romance. With a raw look at real-life relationships, set against a dazzling backdrop with an upbeat soundtrack, you’re in for a wild, rewarding ride.

04 of 20

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Cal Weaver’s (Steve Carrell) life looks picture-perfect until it starts to unravel. Once he learns his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), wants a divorce (and reveals she's been unfaithful), Cal struggles with navigating singlehood, until he meets the charming Jacob (Ryan Gosling), who teaches him how to impress the ladies. Filled with humorous moments and relatable characters, this movie will make you feel warm and fuzzy.

05 of 20

Love & Basketball

A young couple, who grew up in the same neighborhood, must navigate adulthood as they balance their relationship and their mutual first love: basketball. We join Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) and Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) through their growing romance, including high school, college basketball, and hopefully, the big leagues. With a heartwarming soundtrack and a beautiful love connection, what more could you ask for?

06 of 20

Pride and Prejudice

Movie Poster of Pride & Prejudice With Keira Knightley — Courtesy of IMDB

In this film adaptation of the famous novel, Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) as she lives with her family in the English countryside and faces mounting pressure to marry. When Elizabeth meets Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), the two begin to fall for each other. While the pair’s attraction is no secret, Mr. Darcy’s demeanor threatens the fledgling relationship.

07 of 20

Mamma Mia!

When 20-year-old bride Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) reveals that she secretly invited three men, one of which could potentially be her father, to her upcoming wedding—without telling her mother (Meryl Streep)—chaos ensues. Based on the Abba musical, this film includes many of the Swedish band’s top hits that you can sing along to, a guaranteed mood booster.

08 of 20

Eat, Pray, Love

For an inspiring story of self-discovery, you can try coping with your post-breakup grief by putting Eat, Pray, Love—based on the candid, bestselling memoir—on your big screen. Following her divorce, Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) travels to three different destinations around the world (Italy, India, and Bali), where she learns a lot about herself and what she’s capable of—her quest will help you remember your worth, too.

09 of 20

Crazy Rich Asians

Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is excited to visit Asia for the first time with her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), one of Singapore's most eligible bachelors. She's in for a complicated visit filled with familial and societal politics when she learns that Nick belongs to one of the country’s wealthiest families. The striking scenery and over-the-top displays of the family’s wealth—including a multi-million-dollar wedding scene—will provide an entertaining escape.

10 of 20

Lost in Translation

Not all connections are romantic ones. If you need to lean on your inner circle to navigate and eventually overcome this difficult time, Lost in Translation is an excellent film to add to your list. In this touching tale, a movie star and a newlywed meet in Tokyo and find comfort in one another’s company during a time when they’re feeling lost.

11 of 20

He’s Just Not That Into You

Following interrelated story arcs among a group of people in their 20s and 30s (with star-studded appearances from Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Drew Barrymore, Ginnifer Goodwin, and the likes), this flick explores the relationship challenges that individuals face in the modern world, from trust issues to fear of commitment. This movie sheds light on knowing when to leave a relationships, and it even offers a slew of helpful dating advice.

12 of 20

Blue Valentine

If you’re in need of a good cry following your breakup, Blue Valentine will get the tears flowing. This poignant tale uncovers the dissolution of the relationship between Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) and how they’ve come to fall out of love. It’s both heartwarming and heart-wrenching.

13 of 20

50 First Dates

In this motion picture, Henry (Adam Sandler) sets his heart on winning over Lucy (Drew Barrymore), only to find out she has short-term memory loss and can’t remember what happened the day before. Every day, he has to woo her again (and again) while trying to convince her loved ones that he’s the real deal. Both laugh-out-loud funny and delightfully charming, 50 First Dates will help you mend your broken heart.

14 of 20

Begin Again

Begin Again is another reminder that some people can change the course of your life (and could potentially be one of your soulmates) without leading to a long-term romance. When Gretta (Keira Knightley), a musician, discovers that her singer boyfriend, Dave (Adam Levine), cheated on her, her life takes a turn—that is until Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a recently fired record executive, discovers Gretta’s talent and decides to work with her to produce her own album. As the two of them record tracks around New York City, they help one another overcome this period of perceived hopelessness, thanks to their bond.

15 of 20

Hello, Love, Goodbye

Sometimes, even if you find “the one,” external circumstances can get in the way and threaten your connection. Such is the case in this flick about a bartender and domestic worker who fall in love—but their relationship plummets when their visions for the future don’t align. The realistic look at relationships and the awe-inspiring backdrop of Hong Kong will make this a relatable, entertaining watch.

16 of 20

John Tucker Must Die

Your former significant other didn’t need to be unfaithful in order to justify adding this breakup movie to your queue. In John Tucker Must Die, three high school students from different cliques realize they’re all dating the same person, John Tucker (Jesse Metcalfe), so they join forces to get revenge. It’s a satisfying watch and a 2000s classic.

17 of 20

Moana

With music you can’t help but sing along to, Disney’s Moana is the story of its namesake character, who was chosen by the ocean to reunite a relic with a goddess. She begins her search for the demigod Maui in hopes of saving her people. A true departure from anything romantic-related, this fantasy will take your mind off of your breakup.

18 of 20

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Peter (Jason Segel) retreats to a Hawaiian resort to nurse his broken heart. But there’s a catch: His ex-girlfriend, Sarah (Kristen Bell), has checked into the same resort with her new British beau (Russel Brand). If you're looking for a quirky and raunchy rom-com with a star-studded cast, watch (or re-watch) Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

19 of 20

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

The love letters that introverted high school student Lara Jean Lana Condor) wrote to her crushes when she was younger were supposed to be private, and yet, somehow all five of them end up receiving her heartfelt admissions. We love this rom-com, based on Jenny Han's trilogy of novels, for a revealing look at the power of being vulnerable and leading with your heart, not your head.

20 of 20

Celeste and Jesse Forever

Movie Poster for Celesta & Jesse Forever With Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg — Courtesy of IMDB

In Celeste and Jesse Forever, longtime sweethearts Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) begin to drift apart after marrying young. Celeste initiates a divorce, believing she and Jesse can remain friends, and Jesse goes along with it—even though he still loves her. As the separation starts to sink in, Celeste begins to have second thoughts. While rekindling your former romance may not be feasible (or even worthwhile), this movie will help you realize it’s completely possible to find someone after a breakup.

50 Best Rom-Coms to Watch Right Now