Some completely missed the mark
‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ is an unusual twist on the divorce tale but the main theme is the same. A father going through a separation is trying to maintain close contact with his children. The protagonist, played by the late Robin Williams, does this by disguising himself as a British nanny to infiltrate their household.
The 1986 movie 'Heartburn' is based on the autobiographical book written by Nora Ephron about the end of her marriage. Ephron, of course, is the woman who wrote 'Sleepless in Seattle' and 'When Harry Met Sally,' so you know you're in for a treat with this one. She never portrayed her female characters as victims, and in this book and film she made sure the same was true.
'Her' is an unusual take on the breakup theme. Joaquin Phoenix plays a lonely writer going through a divorce. In this futuristic setting he falls in love with a highly sophisticated virtual assistant. Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, is a cut above Alexa or Siri!
'Shoot the Moon' follows an educated couple who are doing their best to be grown up about breaking up. Diane Keaton gives a searing performance as she passes through all the stages of divorce: resentment, jealousy, lust, and violent rage.
'A Separation' tells the story of an Iranian couple who cannot agree on where to raise their children. Simin, played by Leila Hatami, doesn't want to raise their daughters in Iran, but Nader, played by Peyman Moaadi, has an ill father to care for. This movie is rich with cultural insights about life in Iran, but it also shows how universal our emotional experiences are.
'The Squid and the Whale' follows two intellectual parents going through a rough separation. Their story is told without side-taking. Instead, we see the perspective of their two sons as they struggle with their allegiances. It stars Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney, with a young Jessie Eisenberg playing the eldest son.
This one is a tearjerker, be warned. Susan Sarandon plays a mother who is threatened by her ex-husband's new wife, played by Julia Roberts. It's a tricky situation that gets even more complicated when a cancer diagnosis is thrown into the mix.
'Blue Valentine' is not a feel-good movie. It's definitely one for wallowing. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play a couple whose toxic relationship comes crumbling down under the pressure of their recent marriage.
We've got Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, and Goldie Hawn. What more could a person ask for? Our three heroines play a trio of maligned divorcees who team up to get revenge.
This heartwarming comedy about two people who find love after divorce stars the amazing Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini. It shines a light on how we can be different things to different people, when Louis-Dreyfus' character discovers that her new love is the ex-husband one of her clients is always complaining about.
Julianne Moore stars in this tale of a secondary coming of age post-divorce. The newly liberated Gloria Bell is experiencing a sexual awakening and starts frequenting night clubs. She finds herself falling in love and struggling to avoid the complications that come with relationships.
This classic Disney comedy starring Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith sees the reunion of two twin sisters who were separated as babies when their parents divorced. They two eventually plot to get their parents back together.
'Marriage Story' is a gut-wrenchingly raw depiction of a couple negotiating their way through an emotional divorce. The Oscar-nominated movie starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson is both heartbreaking and compassionate.
If you're content to miss out on Maureen O'Hara, you can check out the 1998 re-make starring Lindsay Lohan!
Steve Carrell plays a middle-aged dad, heartbroken when his wife asks him for a divorce. He runs into a slick womanizer (played by Ryan Gosling) at a bar and begins to learn the ways of the pickup artist.
'Waiting to Exhale' follows four female friends all experiencing different relationship issues. The all-star cast features Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon. The soundtrack features African-American women exclusively, including Whitney Houston, and we get to see Angela Bassett set a car on fire. It's just great.
'The War of the Roses' is a comedy movie directed by Danny DeVito, in which Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas play a separated husband and wife battling for the right to keep the house.
Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin star in this wacky rom-com about a couple who get divorced after the husband cheats, only to start having an affair together years later once he's remarried. Like they say, it's complicated.
'Kramer vs. Kramer' is both a courtroom drama and a deep exploration of human emotions. Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman play a couple going through divorce and custody battles. It's considered the go-to divorce movie and is frequently referenced in popular culture. 'Kramer vs. Kramer' won five Oscars the year of its release.
Jill Clayburgh plays Erica Benton, a chic New York woman rediscovering the benefits of single life after her cheating husband leaves her. This iconic film created a feminist hero for women of the 1970s.
Melissa McCarthy plays a middle-aged woman whose husband divorces her, prompting her to return to college. She ends up in the same class as her daughter. It's a kind-hearted comedy overflowing with messages about empowerment and body positivity.
Reese Witherspoon plays a self-invented New York socialite who has to return to her hometown in Alabama to obtain a divorce from her childhood sweetheart. Their reunion makes her question what kind of life she really wants for herself.
'Under the Tuscan Sun' follows a recently divorced writer who buys a villa in Tuscany and begins to build a new life for herself there. We see the protagonist, played by Diane Lane, go through the five stages of grief as she mourns her married life.
'Hope Floats' is all about the pain of infidelity. Sandra Bullock plays a dedicated housewife who finds out her husband has been cheating on her with her best friend on live TV. She flees to her hometown to deal with the aftermath.
This sweet story stars Josh Hutcherson as a 10-year-old who falls in love for the first time. The secondary theme is his confusion as his parents navigate their divorce.
'Along Came Polly' begins with Ben Stiller's character getting cheated on during his honeymoon. He returns to deal with the fallout and get his life back on track, deciding to take risks and break old habits.
Mila Kunis plays an overachieving working mom who discovers her husband has been cheating on her. She kicks him out and goes on a bender with her best friends, played by Kristin Bell and Kathryn Hahn. It's the comedy dream team.
'Scenes from a Marriage' is a Swedish film by legendary director Ingmar Bergman. We follow the leading couple through the minutiae of their crumbling 20-year-marriage. Bergman finds incredible drama in the most mundane details of their lives.
Whether you've been through a divorce or are just living vicariously, these movies will provide all the necessary laughs and tears. There's something for everyone here: hopes of reconciliation, the pain of infidelity, and the newfound freedom that comes once the dotted line has been signed. Not to mention divorce movies have been exceptionally well cast over the past few decades.
Prepare for a mash-up of Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, and Julia Roberts (and many others, of course)! Click through this gallery to see the best movies ever made about the universal subject of divorce.
The best movies about divorce
Get your mind off yours by watching somebody else's!
MOVIES Breakups
Whether you've been through a divorce or are just living vicariously, these movies will provide all the necessary laughs and tears. There's something for everyone here: hopes of reconciliation, the pain of infidelity, and the newfound freedom that comes once the dotted line has been signed. Not to mention divorce movies have been exceptionally well cast over the past few decades.
Prepare for a mash-up of Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, and Julia Roberts (and many others, of course)! Click through this gallery to see the best movies ever made about the universal subject of divorce.