We’ve all experienced a movie or show that was immersive and beautiful but was immediately taken out by some of the dialogue. Whether it is awkward or weird, dialogue that isn’t realistic can be a red flag for many viewers. So what are some movies with realistic dialogue that will make your viewing experience that much better?
Movies are all about storytelling, but if the dialogue doesn’t match the emotions or story, it’s just a bunch of images on a screen. There’s even a whole subgenre focused on dialogue over a plot called mumblecore, which emphasizes creating real dialogue. Let’s dive into the best movies with realistic dialogue if you want to enjoy good conversations between characters.
5. The Social Network, Max (2010)
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, and Max Minghella, The Social Network is one of the best movies with realistic dialogue that you can find, especially with its stellar opening scene.
The 2010 biographical drama film is based on the 2009 book by Ben Mezrich that portrays the founding of the social networking website, Facebook. The movie follows Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg who creates the social networking site and is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business.
The dialogue is realistic, and the opening scene is constantly talked about. The opening scene, which is common in Aaron Sorkin’s work, is created around misunderstandings, which can be broken down here. Snorkin’s writing style is known for being sharp, witty, and realistic, capturing the essence of real-life conversations, and the opening scene is just three minutes showing off the movie skills
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4. Manchester by the Sea, Prime Video (2016)
Changing course from the witty, intelligent individual to something a bit more somber, we have Manchester by the Sea. The 2016 drama film stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges, and revolves around themes of depression, guilt, grief, responsibility, dysfunctional families, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The plot follows a depressed and grief-stricken man who becomes the legal guardian of his teenage nephew after the death of his brother. The movie is devastating, to say the least. And that’s thanks to the amazing dialogue that we see in the film. The movie is known for its ability to generate emotional scenes from its stellar acting and masterful script with natural and realistic dialogue.
The grieving emotions and the depression that are on screen are realistic, believable, and understandable. Even through the video editing process, Manchester by the Sea is a brilliant movie that takes viewers on a realistic journey through grief, and proves to be one of the best movies with realistic dialogue for those whowant to be shattered emotionally.
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3. Lady Bird, Max (2017)
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothee Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Lois Smith, Lady Bird is considered one of the best movies with realistic dialogue.
Set in California from the fall of 2002 to the fall of 2003, the movie focuses on a high school senior girl who longs for adventure, sophistication, and opportunity but finds little of that in her Catholic school. She hopes that her senior year will change that, even with her dealing with a turbulent relationship with her mother.
The coming-of-age film is one of the best ones thanks to its rich emotional depth and narrative complexity. But Lady Bird features sharp, witty, and authentic dialogue that captures the age of the characters accurately. The dialogue feels organic and contributes significantly to character development, not only moving the plot forward but revealing deep layers of the characters. The movie is renowned for its plot, its accuracy, and the relatability that many feel when watching it.
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2. The Meyerowitz Stories, Netflix (2017)
One of the best movies with realistic dialogue has to be The Meyerowitz Stories, a 2017 comedy-drama written by Noah Baumbach, starring Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Elizabeth Marvel, and Emma Thompson. The movie follows a group of dysfunctional adult siblings trying to live in the shadow of their father who gather together in New York City for an event celebrating his artistic work.
Baumbach is known for creating realistic dialogue and does so once again in this fantastic film. His dialogue is believable as if you were watching a family in real life struggle to get along, and he does this in numerous ways.
For instance, The Meyerowitz Stories often features people talking over one another, which happens every day, and he also has diverse emotions, with some exploding while others guard their feelings. The diversity and the realistic dialogue make this one of the best movies if you want an enjoyable comedy.
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1. Before Sunrise, Prime Video (1995)
A movie renowned for its dialogue is Before Sunrise, along with its other installments Before Sunset and Before Midnight. The 1995 romantic drama written by Linklater and Kim Krizan stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. The movie follows a young man and woman who meet on a train in Europe and end up spending one evening together in Vienna.
Unfortunately, both know that this will probably be their only night together. What makes this one of the best movies with realistic dialogue, which contributes to making it one of the best romantic movies, is the dialogue. It has a natural flow, that meanders and digresses, which is similar to actual conversations to make it authentic.
There’s character depth that talks about experiences, dreams, and fears to create realism. Plus there’s chemistry that makes the interactions feel genuine and unscripted. Even the long takes that feature almost only dialogue create an immersive experience for viewers, drawing them in for more.