The coastal grandmother aesthetic is a very recent phenomenon. Characterized by comfort, coastal living, and joy, it is in many ways an all-encompassing aesthetic, one that embraces movies, TV, and fashion. At the same time as it emphasizes comfort, the coastal grandmother aesthetic also emphasizes sophistication, though not in an ostentatious way.
Fortunately for those who find something appealing about this approach, there are a number of movies, particularly from the 1990s and 2000s, that perfectly capture this particular approach to life and filmmaking, immersing the viewer in a world of rich and textured comfort.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
It’s hard to deny that there is something truly magical about the movie Mamma Mia!, one of the best musicals of the 2000s. Based on the stage musical of the same name and starring some of the biggest names in Hollywood–including Meryl Streep–it is very much in the coastal grandmother tradition. In addition to starring Streep (an avatar of the coastal grandmother), it is also a movie that emphasizes joy and pleasure, both in its musical numbers and in its celebration of the bond between a mother and her daughter.
Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
The 2000s was something of a golden age for the romantic comedy, and there are many fine examples of the genre from the decade. One of the best, and one of the most paradigmatic examples of the coastal grandmother aesthetic, is Something’s Gotta Give, which stars Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson as two older people who manage to fall in love, despite the fact that they’re complete opposites. In perfect coastal grandmother style, it’s a movie all about the pleasures of life on the beach, as most of the action takes place in the Hamptons.
Julie and Julia (2009)
Amy Adams has been in many great movies, and there’s no doubt that Julie and Julia is one of her finest. Based on the memoir of the same name, it follows her character as she recreates the recipes of the famous chef Julia Child (played by Meryl Streep). The performances from Adams and Streep are pitch perfect–the latter manages to almost inhabit the essential self of Child–and its emphasis on the power of food is sure to appeal to anyone who loves that particular aspect of the coastal grandmother aesthetic.
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
One key aspect of the coastal grandmother is its emphasis on finding the self and discovering new ways of taking pleasure in the world and what it has to offer. All of these are very much on offer in Under the Tuscan Sun.
Like many other coastal grandmother movies, it is based on a memoir of the same name, and in this case focuses on a woman who buys a villa in Tuscany after she discovers her husband’s adultery. It is a warmly-shot and well-acted movie that reminds the viewer to take time to savor the simple joys of life.
Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
Many of the movies that best encapsulate the coastal grandmother aesthetic tend to be romantic in nature, and Nights in Rodanthe is no exception. In this case, it focuses on the powerful romance between Diane Lane’s Adrienne Willis and Richard Gere’s Dr. Paul Flanner. Though there are some components of the plot that can feel contrived–particularly from a 2022 point of view–the movie still manages to enchant, and there’s an undeniable chemistry between Gere and Lane.
The First Wives Club (1996)
There are many stars associated with the coastal grandmother aesthetic, but none as much as Diane Keaton. In this movie, she is joined by Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler, who join together to strike back against their ex-husbands. There’s an undeniable chemistry among the three leads, who emerge as women determined to take control of their own destinies and who, in the course of the movie, forge an extraordinary friendship with one another. And, just as importantly, the movie also allows the women to showcase their considerable comedic talents.
Chocolat (2000)
One key aspect of the coastal grandmother aesthetic is its emphasis on food and the power of cuisine to change one’s life. That is what makes Chocolat such a perfect example of the genre, focusing as it does on a mysterious chocolatière who comes to a remote French village and upends its peaceful life, upsetting the governor in the process.
Juliette Binoche turns in a nuanced and suitably silken performance, and she is joined by other great actors, including Judi Dench (herself an avatar of the coastal grandmother aesthetic).
Tea With Mussolini (1999)
At first glance, it might seem strange to think that a movie set in Italy during the rise of Mussolini would fit into the coastal grandmother aesthetic. Nevertheless, it does so precisely because it focuses so intently on the lives and desires of the women who comprise the expatriate community in Italy. To add to its coastal grandmother aesthetic, it includes in its cast many of those who would come to be identified with it, including Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.
Calendar Girls (2003)
Even though many of the movies that appeal to the coastal grandmother aesthetic are American in origin, Calendar Girls is an exception, taking place as it does in the UK. Led by Helen Mirren (in one of her best roles), it focuses on a group of women who set out to raise funds for cancer research by creating a nude calendar. It has an understated sense of humor that is more pleasurable than simple laugh-out-loud hilarity, and there’s an undeniable warmth and generosity to it that is further bolstered by its extraordinary cast.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
As its title suggests, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel takes place at a hotel in India where a number of British retirees go, believing it to be a posh retirement home. Though matters aren’t quite as they expected, they soon strike up a bond with one another, even as they all have to contend with the secrets of their lives. Like so many other coastal grandmother movies, it has a warmth and a tenderness of spirit, and it also features some extraordinary performances from the likes of Judi Dench and Penelope Wilton.