Shubhabrata Dutta
It can be challenging to come out of the feeling of loneliness. After all, it has nothing to do with having people around. Feeling left out can result from heartbreak, a loved one going away, moving to a new place, and more. To help you cope with these, we bring you the best movies to watch on Netflix when lonely. Each of these addresses loneliness differently, and we are pretty sure there is at least one for every kind of loneliness.
12. Me Time (2022)
If you are alone, you are in dire need of some “me time.” This is why we have added this movie to the list. Starring the dynamic duo Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg, this buddy comedy flick follows best friends Sonny (Hart) and Huck (Wahlberg), who catch up after 15 years at Huck’s birthday bash. However, Sonny has been a family man for years now, and what Huck seems to offer is stuff that Sonny has moved on from. This includes skinny dipping, partying in the middle of a desert, using a bucket for number two, and getting a finger broken by a hammer. Get the idea? Whacky and hilarious, ‘Me Time’ is the perfect binge-watch, especially if you need to be charged up. The movie can be watched here.
11. Nowhere (2023)
This film will probably make you feel better even if you are alone. After all, you aren’t alone in a floating shipping container that is slowly filling up with water in the middle of an ocean. This is the situation Mia (Anna Castillo), who is pregnant, is in. Unforeseen circumstances amidst political unrest in Spain have led her here, and she has no idea whether she will live. As you join her in her struggle to stay alive, a connection is established that is expected to make you stronger emotionally. To join a mother is a fight against Nature; you can watch ‘Nowhere’ here.
10. Orion and the Dark (2024)
This movie proves that even alone, you aren’t so because darkness is your ally (no Bane puns intended). Directed by Sean Charmatz, this animated flick shows how Dark, the manifestation of darkness, helps 11-year-old Orion overcome his fear of darkness by showing him all the beautiful things that occur only at night. He introduces Orion to Quiet, Insomnia, Sleep, Sweet Dreams, and Unexplained Noises. So, to make your lonely time enjoyable and fruitful, you might want to watch this sweet film. It is based on Emma Yarlett’s 2014 children’s book of the same name. You can watch it here.
9. Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
This one is for those looking for a laugh and entertainment to relieve their loneliness. Directed by Steve Pink, ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ is about four friends (played by John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Clark Duke, and Craig Robinson) who end up in 1986 after taking a dip in a hot tub at the now-run-down Kodiak Valley Ski Resort, a place they used to hang out at when they were young. Their experiences and how they navigate their new past to lower the butterfly effect to avoid changing the future, which is basically their present, make ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ a satirical comedy underscored by coarseness. The movie is a ride, and the question is: are you ready for it? If so, you can stream it here.
8. Your Place or Mine (2023)
A chick flick in case you are feeling lonely because you cannot share your feelings with that one person you love but are good friends with, ‘Your Place or Mine’ is your go-to movie for this list. Starring Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher in the leads, it shows Debbie, a single mom in Los Angeles, and Peter, a just-broken-up successful businessman in New York, who swap places. While they have slept with each other, it was 20 years ago, and they are now best friends. One day, Peter agrees to come to LA to care for Debbie’s son, Jack, so Debbie can go to New York for work. While it serves as an outing and a change from regular life for the two, they soon realize they never stopped loving each other. But isn’t it too late for them? To find out, you can stream ‘Your Place or Mine’ here.
7. A Walk to Remember (2002)
A cult-classic rom-com that can serve as a good way to cope with loneliness, ‘A Walk to Remember’ brings together two contrasting characters: Landon (Shane West), the cool high schooler, and the meek and quiet Jamie (Mandy Moore). When community service brings the two together, sparks fly. However, it is soon revealed that Jamie has leukemia and has stopped responding to treatment. So, the end is inevitable. But does that stop them from celebrating love? No, they spend time together and make sure the time spent is filled with love. So, if you are in such a situation, remember that when time is less, love twice as much because love is never too much. Directed by Adam Shankman, ‘A Walk to Remember’ can be streamed here.
6. The Sea Beast (2022)
A means of escape underscored by the loneliness that stems from being misunderstood and misjudged, ‘The Sea Beast’ is an animated movie that follows experienced monster hunter Jacob Holland (voiced by Karl Urban), whose aim is to kill the formidable sea beast Red Bluster. In the endeavor, he inadvertently teams up with a young orphan named Maisie Brumble (voiced by Zaris-Angel Hator). After a handful of events, as Maisie forges a friendship with the Red Bluster, Jacob realizes how wrong he has been about the monsters who have all been misunderstood only because humans never chose to find out the truth about them. Now, you can feel like you are the Red Bluster or that you are Jacob; either way, it’s essential to initiate an interaction to come out of the weird space. Directed by Chris Williams, ‘The Sea Beast’ can be streamed here.
5. Tall Girl (2019)
We all have something about ourselves that we wish we could change, but the only thing we can control is how we deal with it. This line is from the movie, and it follows 16-year-old high-school “tall girl” Jodi (Ava Michelle), who is made to feel like a freak, deliberately or otherwise, both at school and home. But when she falls for a guy, she chooses to be confident in her own skin, even if it means coming out of her shell. A story of self-acceptance, teenage complexes, and growth, ‘Tall Girl’ is for those struggling to deal with themselves because they don’t conform to what others find “normal.” Being normal doesn’t depend on how you appear but how you treat yourself and others. Being confident and owning who you are is the first step towards overcoming your insecurities. ‘Tall Girl’ is directed by Nzingha Stewart, and it can be streamed here.
4. The Magician’s Elephant (2023)
Based on children’s author Kate DiCamillo’s eponymous novel, ‘The Magician’s Elephant’ is an animated coming-of-age feature that follows Peter (voiced by Noah Jupe), a young boy who wants to know the whereabouts of his lost little sister Adele. A fortuneteller reveals that his sister lives, but he must locate the magician’s elephant to find her. Peter does find the elephant, but before setting her free and using her help to find his sister, he has to complete three tough challenges. Meanwhile, Adele, who is at an orphanage, has been having dreams of an elephant that will come to take her somewhere. The same is the case with the elephant, who also dreams of being with her family. With the morals of belonging and the significance of belief, ‘The Magician’s Elephant’ is a beautiful film directed by Wendy Rogers that serves as a reminder to never lose hope. You can watch it here.
3. Leo (2023)
At the surface level, ‘Leo,’ an animated musical comedy, seems to be the story of a lonely 74-year-old tuatara (voiced by Adam Sandler) who has spent his lifetime inside a classroom learning about the kids that come and go every year. But despite that, he helps a new bunch of kids cope with their new mean teacher, reaching out to each kid differently. Despite realizing that he has only a year more to live and planning a way to escape, he understands that the kids need help. Through him, the kids and viewers get a lot of wisdom that brings in many realizations. So if you opt for this film, you will benefit, especially if you feel lonely. ‘Leo’ is directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel and David Wachtenheim. You can stream it here.
2. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)
Loneliness often comes with an existential crisis. Macon Blair’s ‘I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore’ is a dark comedic take on it and pretty much sums up the title, which is also how you may be feeling at the moment. The film focuses on Ruth, whose silverware, which basically belonged to her grandmother, is stolen, and the police don’t care. Frustrated and angry at just how obnoxious people can be, she teams up with her neighbor Tony, a guy who shares her feelings about people. Together, they set off to get Ruth’s missing silverware and end up confronting a group of unhinged criminals, fanning the flames of their own view of an absurd and dysfunctional world. Can Ruth and Tony keep themselves from going insane while recovering the silver? A must-watch drama, ‘I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore’ stars Melanie Lynskey as Ruth and Elijah Wood as Tony. You can watch it here.
1. Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017)
Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, ‘Mary and the Witch’s Flower’ is a Studio Ponoc production. This animated epic fantasy feature’s ability to transport you to a different world will, in all probability, prevent you from feeling lonely, thanks to its visuals and background scores. The film centers on young Mary Smith, who inadvertently imbibes the powers of a witch after finding a mysterious flower. A magic broom brings her to the prestigious Endor College, where she is appreciated for her talents. However, there are nefarious forces at play, and Mary soon finds herself fighting these forces that want to claim her powers for their own power-hungry motives. But can Mary overpower these forces? Bewitching, thrilling, and gorgeous, ‘Mary and the Witch’s Flower’ is your escape route to a world of magic. It is based on Mary Stewart’s 1971 book ‘The Little Broomstick.’ You can watch it here.
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