This article contains references to grief, death, and terminal illnesses
Movies are capable of making audiences feel plenty of different emotions, and one of the most important is an appreciation for life. For example, in Searchlight's latest drama Not Okay, Zoey Deutsch and Dylan O'Brien star as two pretentious influencers whose selfish actions allow the audience to appreciate the simplicity and morality of their own lives.
It's not easy for a film to completely change an audience's perspective on life, but it's certainly possible and happens more often than the world would expect. The whole point of cinema is to reframe life from various different perspectives, so it's not surprising that so many stories resonate with people constantly.
Groundhog Day (1993)
Harold Ramis' Groundhog Day is not only one of the best-written comedies of the 1990s, but it also features plenty of insightful philosophy that makes its story infinitely more moving. It's so much more than a rom-com, but rather a deep exploration of the purpose of life.
This Reddit user agreed, writing: [Groundhog Day] made me wonder about the decisions I have made in the past, the randomness of certain events, fighting with life as opposed to accepting it, and having a goal that matters to me in a deep way as opposed to sort of pursuing one thing after another without a clarity of purpose."
The Big Sick (2017)
For some people, The Big Sick can be a huge source of comfort for individuals as they remind the world that no one is ever alone in their pain. This film in particular, which navigates one man's attempts to comfort and support his terminally ill wife whilst bonding with her parents, is one that a tragic number of audiences will heavily relate to.
Redditor rgdraconic shares their personal story, stating how The Big Sick helped them to grieve: "My mom had passed away a few months earlier and I hadn't cried or processed it. Halfway through the movie with all the hospital scenes, I just broke down and sobbed."
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Despite being the screenwriting debut of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the classic drama Good Will Hunting still holds up today as one of the most thoughtful and life-affirming movies ever made. It explores the purpose of our lives with such confidence and clarity that it's impossible not to feel moved by its optimistic philosophy.
Reddit user myer_byier2 agrees that Good Will Hunting is one of the most important movies ever made, writing that "this movie pumps me up and makes me want to chase after my dreams and cherish my friends." The character of Will Hunting is obviously a unique one, but he's still incredibly easy to relate to and learn from.
Boyhood (2014)
For many people, watching Richard Linklater's Boyhood for the first time was a revelatory experience that presented life in a way it had never been considered before. It caused so many audiences to see their own lives from the outside, and consider their actions in a powerfully critical way. Ethan Hawke's character was a particularly important one for many audiences struggling with complex family relationships - which is one of the reasons that Boyhood is considered one of Hawke's best movies.
Reddit user finkettle19 writes: "I was going to uni at the time and it just resonated with me so much, just made me appreciate what I had and my upbringing and made me appreciate my parents a lot more... Linklater just gets those small, seemingly insignificant moments that seem so universal to so many."
The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013)
Ben Stiller's crowning directorial accomplishment, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is one of Reddit's favorite films when it comes to underrated gems that more people should see. The film has an endlessly important message at its heart about self-discovery and our own pointless need to be perceived, which can be extremely eye-opening upon first watch.
Redditor mcsmackthe1st writes about the film's unique philosophy: "It really hit home that sometimes we think we’re a nothing or nobody but others see us in an entirely different light. And also to enjoy the journey of life and have some adventure every once in a while."
Paddington 2 (2017)
There's a reason that Paddington 2 is considered one of the best family movies of the 2010s, and that's because of its overwhelming optimism and love for humanity. Despite all the conflict and trials that Paddington has to face, the story remains rooted in hope and friendship, which makes it constantly uplifting to watch.
Redditor radioheader5 comments on this, using one of the movie's most famous quotes as proof of its innate optimism: "If we're kind and polite, the world will be right." It's an important message that runs throughout the film, making it one of the best movies for children to grow up with.
Arrival (2016)
Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi masterpiece Arrival might not be the first film that comes to mind when considering the most life-affirming or epiphanic, but many Reddit users have pointed out the beautiful simplicity of the movie's overall message. In the face of global destruction, the film proposes that the only solution is communication, not conflict.
Reddit user timeformorecake explains it perfectly, writing: "I was floored that in this day and age, the solution to the conflict in a big sci-fi plot is... learn to communicate. That's it. There's a profound lesson to take away beyond the story of the movie."
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
As one of the most recent releases, Everything Everywhere All At Once has the benefit of being fresh in the minds of many Reddit users - but that shouldn't take away from the film's truly life-affirming philosophy and intensely relatable narrative. There's a reason Everything Everywhere is being called one of 2022's best movies so far.
The final 30 minutes of Everything Everywhere All At Once are full of insightful commentary about life, family, and autonomy - which is why fans such as darkestdayofman have been praising the movie so much: "Everything Everywhere All At Once helped reaffirm that I'm on the right path in my life after a period of extreme self-doubt."
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
Charlie Kaufman's mind-bending drama Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind offers one of the most effective and authentic examinations of love and relationships ever put to film, presenting plenty of eye-opening ideas along the way that will surely have stuck with audiences for many years after its release.
One of these people is Redditor winterbike, who has a special relationship with the movie: "I dumped my girlfriend at the time because of it. I realized our relationship wasn't going anywhere, and that it was ok to move on because I'd always have the memories of the good parts with me. Great movie."