Not everything is about being in a relationship. Social media and movies have forced relationships onto people for years. And thanks to dating apps, it’s almost weird to be single rather than to be constantly in a relationship. But don’t let the pressure get to you.
If you want to enjoy the best movies about being single that show just how much fun it is to just be with your friends and explore who you are, then here are the best recommendations. From comedies that will make the pain subside, to dramas that share the importance of not being with someone, these are the best movies about being single.
6. How to Be Single, Netflix (2016)
Starting off strong with this 2016 romantic comedy, but is anything but romantic, we have How to Be Single starring Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, and Leslie Mann.
While the show received mixed reviews from critics, it’s a lighthearted watch that is a great movie to watch if you’re newly single. The movie follows four women who are learning how to be single, as there’s a right way and a wrong way.
Whether they explore hook-ups, a deep connection that goes terribly wrong, or somewhere in between, the four women are doing everything they can to master being single and being happy while doing so. It revolves around empowerment and friendship.
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5. Frances Ha, Netflix (2012)
Another great comedy entry for movies about being single is Frances Ha, a 2012 black-and-white comedy-drama directed by Noah Baumbach, and written by Baumbach and Greta Gerwig.
Gerwig stars in the movie as Frances Halladay, a struggling 27-year-old dancer, who’s not really a dancer, who lives in New York, but doesn’t really have an apartment. Even so, she throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality dwindles.
While her life is not that great, she really focuses on the joy and freedom that she has and is a great film that follows the feeling of being single and independent. Even while Frances’s friends are in a relationship, she just doesn’t see herself being tied down in a commitment yet, and there’s something inspiring about that.
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4. Elizabeth, Starz (1998)
Need to be proven that being single is completely fine? And that even without a significant other you can accomplish great things. Then give this biographical period drama a try. Elizabeth is one of the best movies about being single because it focuses on a monarch who never married and still did great things in her life.
The 1998 stars Cate Blanchett in the title role of Elizabeth I of England. The movie follows her early years during her reign where she is elevated to the throne after the death of her half-sister Mary I, who has imprisoned her. As she establishes herself on the throne, she has to face plots and threats to take her down.
She never married, but even so, she had so many accomplishments like providing a period of stability and peace, and a period of exploration, promoting religious tolerance, encouraging the flourishing arts, and even having a stable and functional government.
3. (500) Days of Summer, Hulu (2009)
Back again with another comedy drama is (500) Days of Summer, a 2009 movie starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. If you want more movies about being single that also help you process past relationships, this might be a great option.
The movie follows Tom and Summer in a nonlinear narrative structure where Tom essentially chronicles the story of his relationship with Summer, who he thought was his soulmate after they break up. He thinks back to the great times that they’ve had and tries to figure out what went wrong in hopes of winning her back.
But ultimately, he has to choose to respect her wishes and move on or to follow what he thinks is right for both of them. It’s a heartwrenching film that is a must-see for anyone who wants to explore the grief of relationships.
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2. Thelma and Louise, Pluto TV (1991)
In honor of celebrating female friendship and standing against toxic masculinity, Thelma and Louise is one of the best movies about being single, especially for those who want to see a darker side of being single.
The movie has dark humor and violence but does everything an empowering film should do. The 1991 crime drama stars Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as the titular characters, two friends who embark on a road trip that ends in unforeseen circumstances.
When one of the women is almost assaulted, they realize that the police will do nothing to convict her attackers, so the two of them decide they’ll take matters into their own hands. It’s a powerful film that deserves a place on the list but can be disturbing for some viewers.
Warning: This movie does feature sensitive topics, so make sure you read up on it before watching.
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1. Bridget Jones’s Diary, Max (2001)
Sometimes being single is the best way to improve yourself in order to find true love, and that’s exactly the hope in Bridget Jones’s Diary.
The 2001 romantic comedy film starring Renee Zellweger is based on a novel sharing the same name released in 1996. The titular character is a 32-year-old British single woman who writes a diary, which focuses on the things she wishes to happen in her life.
However, her life changes when two men vie for her affection. Even so, the movie really focuses on the ups and downs of the heart and emotions, focusing on single life in an honest and relatable manner. It’s a great film that has themes of love, self-acceptance, and the struggle of navigating the complexities of being single.