Self-discovery — often described as the process of finding oneself and gathering valuable insight into one's character — is one of the biggest challenges anyone can face. Although it provides us with understanding regarding our values, needs, and wants, it can be equal parts painful and frustrating.

Fortunately, throughout the years, many incredible movies have showcased that those challenges are often the most enriching and that examining our own behavior and making changes to be better is essential for character development. No matter which stage in life one is in, there is a wide range of films, from Wild to Frances Ha, that are guaranteed to bring comfort and solace. Down below, we look back at the best movies about self-discovery that are assuredly worth the watch.

17 'Eat, Pray, Love' (2010)

Director: Ryan Murphy

This iconic Julia Roberts-led movie is essential when the subject is self-discovery films, despite not being the best film of the bunch regarding this niche topic. Eat, Pray, Love is about a newly divorced woman who realizes that she might need to go on a self-development quest — this ultimately takes her to Italy, India, and Bali.

Based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir of the same name, this Ryan Murphy movie may be a good pick for anyone going through a divorce or a similar, scarring situation. Although it had the potential to be a much better film than it turned out to be, Eat Pray Love is still entertaining and even inspiring at times. It also benefits from stunning location shots that will probably have viewers — especially those who enjoy traveling without leaving the comfort of their homes — glued to their screens.

Watch on Hulu

16 'Wild' (2014)

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

2014's biographical adventure drama starring Reese Witherspoon, directed by Jean-Marce Vallée, and based on the 2012 memoir by Cheryl Strayed, depicts a woman driven to the edge due to the unfolding of deeply tragic events in her life. She decides to put her life back together again by setting out alone to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.

Inspired by an outstanding true story, Wild is about the obstacles that stand in our way and our demeanor towards them. Nailing a depiction of survival in the wilderness and highlighting the importance of bringing out the best in yourself, this 2014 feature provides audiences with insight into healing from traumatic experiences and is undoubtedly worth checking.

Rent on Apple TV

15 'Erin Brockovich' (2000)

Director: Steven Soderbergh

The second Julia Roberts movie on this list is Steven Soderbergh's poignant Erin Brockovich, a dramatized biopic based on an inspiring real-life unemployed and single mother who becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a powerful company that has allegedly polluted a city's water supply.

Soderbergh's must-see courtroom drama is very much a self-discovery film in the sense that it follows the protagonist as she finds her power and confidence, making the best use of them (in this case in particular, it is to make things right and shed light on the cause she's fighting for). Its enthralling narrative and top-notch performances — namely Roberts', won earned a deserved Academy Award nomination — are nothing short of incredible, as likely expected.

14 'Into the Wild' (2007)

Director: Sean Penn

Directed by Sean Penn, Into the Wild is based on a biography written by Jon Krakauer and first published in 1996. In the film, a young man (Emile Hirsch) leaves his middle-class life in pursuit of freedom, giving up his home, family, and possessions after graduating from Emory University.

This enthralling man vs. nature film depicts the unfortunately tragic but real events of Christopher McCandless's life, and it does so in a way that keeps audiences invested and fully immersed. By illustrating how venturing off into nature and connecting with wildlife often helps people find a sense of true meaning in life, Into the Wild makes for a thoughtful movie that sends out a powerful message about innocence, isolation, risk, and self-reliance.

Watch on Tubi

13 'Nomadland' (2020)

Director: Chlóe Zhao

2021's Best Picture Academy-Award winner, Nomadland by Chloé Zhao is a thoughtful meditation on grief and seclusion; it portrays the life of a woman (the talented Frances McDormand in one of her three Oscar-winning performances) in her 60s who, in the aftermath of losing everything in the Great Recession, decides to embark on a life-altering journey through the American West.

Based on Jessica Bruder's 2017 book of the same name, Nomadland offers viewers plenty of food for thought as it draws inspiration from several true stories. In addition to the top-notch performance and beautiful visuals, Zhao's quiet but moving film highlights that there is no such thing as a "late" blooming, self-discovering, and character development.

12 'Soul' (2020)

Director: Pete Docter

One of 2020's best animation pictures, the fantasy comedy-drama Soul is a Pixar production following a middle-school band teacher and aspiring pianist named Joe (voiced by Jamie Foxx) who finds himself lost in life. However, when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he discovers what it really means to have a soul.

Winning two out of the three Academy Awards for which it was nominated, Soul has proven to be a critical success and a fan favorite even if its box office earnings weren't particularly otherworldly. Pete Docter's entertaining and existentialist movie is a beautiful meditation about life and death that also focuses on the path of self-discovery and improvement, and is aimed at audiences of all ages: mature children and adults alike.

11 'Good Will Hunting' (1997)

Director: Gus Van Sant

This Matt Damon and Robin Williams-led drama by Gus Van Sant follows a highly intelligent janitor at M.I.T. who has a gift for mathematics. However, despite his brightness, Will is a troubled kid that needs help to find direction in life. That's when psychologist Sean steps into the picture with incredible results.

Both a commercial and critical success (earning tons of Oscar nominations and gathering over $225 million at the international box office), the heartwarming and inspiring Good Will Hunting endures one of the best psychological drama movies of all time. The Best Picture-nominated feature written by life-long friends Ben Affleck and Damon has captured the attention of many ever since its release, and part of Good Will Hunting's charm has to do with its utterly humanistic narrative that highlights the protagonist's search for identity.

10 'Her' (2013)

Director: Spike Jonze

In this Joaquin Phoenix-led Spike Jonze movie set in a beautiful, futuristic, pastel-colored world, viewers get a glimpse into the life of lonely Theodore, a heartbroken writer who finds himself struggling with his monotonous daily basis in the aftermath of a painful divorce. That is, of course, until he meets Samantha, an artificially intelligent virtual assistant voiced by Scarlett Johansson.

Making for the perfect double feature to watch with Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation, which is also a movie about self-discovery, Her is a compelling slice-of-life story that examines humanity's relationship with technology and its consequences. Furthermore, one of the film's strongest assets is how it provides audiences with a thoughtful message about self-improvement and encourages human connection.

9 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' (2013)

Director: Ben Stiller