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When you’re reeling from a recent breakup, sometimes you just need some quality time with your favorite (or new-to-you!) breakup movies. You can feel all the feels with a sad romance, get empowered to find your fresh start, or get your rage on with a good revenge fantasy. Whatever your aim, there’s a movie to quench the thirst.
Grab some gelato and peruse our huge list of movies to soothe your poor hurt heart…
Best breakup movies
Kill Bill (2003)
Bad-ass women kicking ass and needing nobody’s help. That’s us, right?
John Tucker Must Die (2006)
When you’re in the anger phase and want to get some revenge fantasies out of your system.
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Fill your broken heart with Italian vistas, hunky contractors, limoncello, and new family.
Frozen (2013)
There’s more love to go around than just the love of a partner. Sisters before misters, y’all.
Moana (2016)
When most of us came of age in a time when the end of every single Disney movie was marriage, it’s awesome to see a Disney movie with no prince in the picture.
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Four women (including Whitney!) navigate the choppy waters of a shallow dating pool. Watch this when you’re in the burn-it-to-the-ground stage where you just need your friends.
Thelma and Louise (1991)
Friends are so important… all the way to the end.
Amelie (2001)
This IS a love tale, I know. But it’s also about taking chances and being courageous in finding new love. Watch this when you’re almost ready to get back in the game.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Watch this when you’re in that “fuck love” stage and ready to dig in your heels on all your other talents.
Sliding Doors (1998)
This parallel plot film will remind you that life is essentially chaos and bad things happening now doesn’t always equal bad things later.
Love Actually (2003)
I know, “love” is in the title, but it’s always good to get a reminder that heartbreak is just a part of life and a stepping stone to the next stage. Plus, it’s just good.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
This graphic novel-inspired tale teaches us that the Power of Self-Respect > Power of Love to win the day.
The Big Chill (1983)
When it’s time to focus on friendships, this is the movie to watch.
Bridesmaids (2011)
Okay, you might feel as rock bottomed as Annie (Kristen Wiig), but she does meet Chris O’Dowd in the middle, so there’s hope yet! Just know that you’ve moved on from your own Jon Hamm character.
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Nothing like a little shared heartbreak experience with Julia to get us in the mood to commiserate.
Private Benjamin (1980)
Goldie Hawn shows us that when life gives you lemons, you join the Army? But actually, this one is pretty perfect for subverting the typical romance genre.
Her (2013)
A tale of futuristic love is remarkably similar to today’s love. Human nature really is timeless. And a little weird.
13 Going on 30 (2004)
Or watch Big (1988) if you prefer. But a little dose of alternate reality never hurt anyone.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
A little dose of “it could be worse” via our Bridget never goes amiss. Plus, it’ll give you some faith that someone will love you “just as you are.”
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Maybe you too wish you could erase your memories of better (and worse) times, but at least we learn it may not make any difference at all. Even if we could.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Revenge is a dish best served with a law degree. Take that, Warner!
Chocolat (2001)
The soundtrack is amazing, the love plot is totally secondary (or maybe tertiary), and Juliette B. needs no man. Grab some chocolat to nibble while you’re watching.
How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
Stella reminds us that the worst of times can lead to the best of times. And the sexiest of times.
Annie Hall (1977)
The love story that kind of isn’t. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, it just isn’t going to work. And that’s totally okay.
The Princess Bride (1987)
You might be stuck in your own symbolic engagement to Prince Humperdinck, but it doesn’t mean that life won’t change sooner than you can storm a castle. Life is inconceivable.
About the Author: Catherine Clark
Catherine Clark loiters at her local library, makes art, watches movies en masse, plays video and tabletop games, poorly cooks healthy things, cuddles with her feline fur babies, and blogs at BijouxandBits.com.
First Wives Club!
YES! I love this movie and it fits perfectly on this list.
I could write a literal essay on how watching “Silence of the Lambs” is the best break up movie ever. I do NOT want to watch couples get together right after someone’s broken up with me. What I want is a movie where EVERY dude is creepy, Clarisse becomes the badass she’s supposed to be, and another woman (a size 12-14 woman! who isn’t the butt of a joke!) embraces her own fate and holds a small dog hostage.
I have become a Silence of the Lambs evangelist in my friend group following every break up. It’s the best.
When ever I need a movie to distract me from real life (grad school, breakups, etc) I always turn to ‘Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,’ ‘Fifth Element’ and ‘Legally Blonde.’ They are not my normal movies of choice but man can they always make me happy.
This list is definitely missing Chicago. That was my go-to breakup movie in university.
Cell Block Tango! How could I forget?!
500 Days of Summer!
After my first major break-up, I marathoned as much of The Muppet Show as I could. It was silly and frivolous without ever really touching on romance, and it was so refreshing to indulge in something that had nothing to do with my ex.
Man, Love Actually was the most depressing movie EVER when I was single. It’s why I still hate it, 13 years later. I would caution people going through bad breakups on that one…
Better Off Dead is fantastically absurd. It IS about finding new love after a breakup, but it’s also too silly to think about anything else. The amount of cliches and tropes they play up to the point of absurdity is just entertaining.