So many movies are preoccupied with loneliness. It’s something we’ve all experienced, whether we’re constantly surrounded by others or spend our time alone. The universality of this feeling means it crops up time and time again — across genres, languages, and locations. Loneliness and isolation can stem from such a variety of places, such as sexuality, ethnicity, mental health, and more, that it can really be a tool to unite us. For example, an adult who recently moved to a new city away from their family and friends could deeply connect with a movie about an isolated teenager experiencing bullying. It’s this thread of loneliness that can help us understand each other in new ways.
This also makes it a great lead to follow if you’re looking to expand and diversify your watchlist. If you’re already into movies likeHerorFrances Ha, then it’s more than likely that there will be more of these lonely movies that will speak to you. In the words ofRoger Ebert, “the movies are like a machine that generates empathy.” It’s an incredibly powerful tool for connecting us with one another. So, here are the top 15 movies that explore different forms of loneliness, and may help you feel less lonely yourself.
15Columbus (2017)
The understated dramaColumbusstars John Cho— recognizable for his roles inStar TrekandHarold and Kumar— and Haley Lu Richardson, whom you might have seen inThe White LotusorFive Feet Apart. Their characters meet in Columbus, Indiana, where Richardson’s character lives with her mother and Cho’s character is visiting his father in a coma. Both are feeling stuck and isolated in their differing situations, meaning that the friendship formed between them is not so unlikely after all. The city’s famous architecture forms a gorgeous backdrop to the events of the movie, becoming a character of its own with the way it affects the plot. Director Kogonda has since been praised for his work onAfter YangandPachinko, butColumbusis just as excellent.
14Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Celine Sciamma’sPortrait of a Lady on Fireis a poetic and compelling movie about a woman hired to paint a portrait of another woman to be sent to her suitor. It takes place on a French island that is seemingly only occupied by the few characters present. Vast depictions of the sea and landscape emphasize this sense of isolation. Slowly, over the course of the movie, the two women open up to each other and their connection is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Although the relationship they develop is beautiful and deep, it also highlights the lack of connections on that level in their lives outside of one another as it cannot last forever.
Related:8 Good Movies to Watch When You’re Feeling Lonely
13Eighth Grade (2018)
Eighth Gradestars Elsie Fisher in her last week of eighth grade. She is introverted and shy, struggling to connect with her peers. The movie can be uncomfortable to watch, but also feels incredibly tender and loving toward its main character. It’s very grounded and real, and will be relatable to anyone who has struggled to fit in, even if they’ve never been a 13-year-old girl. Fisher’s character has a YouTube channel that provides an insight into who she hopes to be, the contrast between her online persona and real character creates an interesting dichotomy. Using social media in film in a way that feels authentic is not so easy, but writer and director Bo Burnham has created a truly genuine story.
12Shoplifters (2018)
In an original story by writer anddirector Hirokazu Kore-eda,Shopliftersis about a family who makes their money through small-scale crimes. When they come across a child on her own in the cold, they take her in and end up not attempting to return her to her family. The movie presents interesting questions about ownership, family, belonging, and loneliness, all while remaining an entertaining and poignant watch. Some of the cast includes Lily Franky, Sakura Andô, and Kirin Kiki, with some excellent child actors making up the rest of the family. The plot is highly original and comes together really nicely as it unfolds. It’s not hard to see why it was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars, narrowly being beaten byRoma.
11Pariah (2011)
Adepero Oduye stars as Alike inPariah. The plot follows Alike, a young lesbian who is struggling to come to terms with, and understand, her identity under the scrutiny and criticism of her mother.Pariah’s title speaks volumes about the presence of loneliness and isolation in this movie, especially with the definition of the word being used in its poster. Alike’s journey is tumultuous and emotional, as are the journeys made by those in similar positions in real life. Viewers who identify with this “pariah,” are reminded by writer and director Dee Rees that they’re not the only ones who feel like an outcast. This movie is undersung and deserves to reach as many audiences as possible.
10Short Term 12 (2013)
Short Term 12tells the story of the staff and residents at a residential treatment center for children and teenagers. The movie provided many of its actors with a break-out role, such as LaKeith Stanfield, Kaitlyn Dever, Brie Larson, Rami Malek, and Stephanie Beatriz. Stanfield’s first acting role was in the short film version of the movie. As a result of the set-up of the narrative, each young person is obviously experiencing mental health struggles, or else they wouldn’t be at the center. With such a strong cast, the performances are all nuanced and believable. Watching the characters grow and experience connections with each other is heartwarming, but the movie maintains a realistic portrayal of these events; there are no miracle changes overnight.
9Roma (2018)
Alfonso Cuarón’sRomadepicts the life of a maid in Mexico City. Yalitza Aparicio excellently plays the lead role with subtlety and clarity. When the husband of the family Aparicio’s character, Cleo, works for runs off with a mistress, Cleo is invited by the wife on holiday with her children. The movie does not feel didactic in the way it presents class divisions and conflicts; the issues are presented simply to the audience. Cleo’s conflicting status as both within and outside the family unit drives a lot of the tension in the film. This kind of loneliness, the result of a class division, is not so commonly explored in movies despite being common in real life.
8The Double (2013)
The Doubleis a movie directed by Richard Ayoade and based on a novella by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Jesse Eisenberg plays the main character whose life is taken over by an exact physical double of himself, but who is much more confident and charming. The cast also includes Mia Wasikowska and Wallace Shawn. As the story plays out, the events become more absurd and extreme, reinforcing the age-old notion that if we were to see a clone of ourselves it would lose our minds. Although it’s absurdist and stylized, there is a lot to unpack about corporate isolation, feeling out of control of your own life, and depression. For fans of Ayoade or Dostoyevsky, this is the perfect black comedy.
7High Life (2018)
Space is arguably the perfect setting to explore loneliness; there aren’t many places more isolated.High Lifetakes place on a spaceship whose crew is made up of criminals who volunteered to take part in a reproduction experiment. The characters become more desperate for the experiment to succeed as time goes on, and this mirrors a need for connection and companionship. With the experiment focusing on creating new life, they are quite literally attempting to create companions for themselves. Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, André 3000, and Mia Goth make up the main cast and all are on top form. The fact that the participants are disenfranchised criminals adds another layer to the abjection present in this movie.
6Spirited Away (2001)
InSpirited Away,a young girl, Chihiro, and her family are moving to the countryside, and she’s unhappy about the decision. The family comes across an abandoned theme park where Chihiro’s parents stop for food while she explores the park. She then discovers that the park is home to several sinister creatures, including demons and spirits, and realizes she is in danger. Chihiro’s journey away from her home to a completely isolated and abandoned theme park makes her loneliness evident. However, it is there that she meets Haku and the pair forms a close friendship that also helps her reconnect with her parents. Her loneliest moment is what helps her find company and connection.
