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.
15. A Family (2020)
Directed by Michihito Fujii, ‘A Family’ revolves around a young guy named Kenji Yamamoto (Go Ayano), a loner taken in by the yakuza boss Shibazaki (Hiroshi Tachi). Finally with a family and purpose, Kenji grows to be a trustworthy lieutenant within his clan. Yet, with a deep-rooted torment within him, he takes the fall for a rival gang member’s murder and goes to prison for 15 years, only to be released and find himself alone all over again. Only this time, the yakuza had almost faded away, and his existence was nothing more than an extension of the crime he committed. Gritty, poignant, and powerful, ‘A Family’ is as much about having a family as it is about not having one. You can watch it here.
14. Migration (2023)
When we feel lonely, we often want to get away or “migrate” to a different place. However, we do not consider the issues or the viable means that need to be considered before making the move. ‘Migration,’ directed by Benjamin Renner and Guylo Homsy, is a hilarious animated take on this, told from the POV of a family of mallards. While protective Mack (Kumail Nanjiani) doesn’t want to migrate, his wife Pam (Elizabeth Banks) wants to see the world. Without further ado, the duo and their children, Dax (Caspar Jennings) and Gwen (Tresi Gazal), set off from their home in Jamaica to New England. Their experiences and adventures along the way make the movie an entertaining drama underscored by the warmth of family. Who knows, it might even make you plan a trip with your loved ones to get rid of your loneliness. There’s only one way to find out, and that’s right here.
13. 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.
12. 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.
11. 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.
10. 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.
9. 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.
8. 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.
7. 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.
6. 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.
5. 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.
4. The Outrun (2024)
Healing is a lonely journey, and Nora Fingscheidt’s ‘The Outrun’ shows it in a compelling and visually stunning manner. The film offers a non-linear sequence of events as experienced by the protagonist, Rona, a young woman who has just come out of rehab for alcoholism. She returns from London to her childhood home in the Orkney Islands in Scotland. As her myriad predicaments collide with the feelings reminiscent of her past, we get a poignant drama about the continuous internal struggle (be it with addiction or life), with only little bits of relapse or relief here and there. Based on Amy Liptrot’s best-selling memoir, ‘The Outrun’ stars Saoirse Ronan as Rona, who pulls off a deep and moving performance. You can watch the film here.
3. Daddio (2023)
A long conversation about life, love, relationships, and existence occurs between a cab driver and his passenger in Christy Hall’s ‘Daddio.’ There is a collision between two worlds on two levels, one between those of Clark (Sean Penn) and Girlie (Dakota Johnson) and another between the world outside the cab and the one established inside it. Gripping, mesmerizing, poignant, and heartwarming, ‘Daddio’ smoothly fades the line of anonymity between two strangers as they start sharing, highlighting two common themes of the human condition, i.e., loneliness and the desire for connection. Satisfying to its core, the film can be streamed right 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 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. The Whale (2022)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky, ‘The Whale’ deserves a solitary watch purely due to its protagonist, who is also a lonesome figure. Charlie (Brendan Fraser) is a chronically obese guy who is living the final days of his life. In the wake of a personal tragedy, he is trying to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, whom he left long back. Despite being in such a helpless state mentally and physically and risking heart failure, for which he denies treatment, he makes do with his English teaching and junk-eating to get himself going. His nurse, Liz (Hong Chau), is his only friend and support. Atonement is what he aims to achieve, and the film offers us a most poignant take on that labor, one underscored by truths of human existence and emotions that pierce through the heart. You can watch ‘The Whale’ here, and it is suggested that tissues be kept close.
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