bittersweet backdrop

Movies with bittersweet vibe

Grandma

1. Grandma

Comedy Drama Family Drama Dark Comedy
6.7
20151h 18min

Overview

Self-described misanthrope Elle Reid has her protective bubble burst when her 18-year-old granddaughter, Sage, shows up needing help. The two of them go on a day-long journey that causes Elle to come to terms with her past and Sage to confront her future.

Themes

Grandparent grandchild relationship strain, Road trip pressure, Abortion access conflict, Day-long journey cohesion, Economic bargaining within family

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Danny Collins

2. Danny Collins

Music Comedy Drama Narrative Musical Satire
7.0
20151h 47min

Overview

An ageing hard-living 1970s rock star decides to change his life when he discovers a 40-year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon.

Themes

Public image vs private life, Illness as catalyst, Betrayal and loyalty, Financial self-destruction, Pursuit of authentic connection, Aging fame vs family

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

This Is Where I Leave You

3. This Is Where I Leave You

Drama Comedy Family Drama Ensemble Comedy
6.6
20141h 43min

Overview

When their father passes away, four grown, world-weary siblings return to their childhood home and are requested -- with an admonition -- to stay there together for a week, along with their free-speaking mother and a collection of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. As the brothers and sisters re-examine their shared history and the status of each tattered relationship among those who know and love them best, they reconnect in hysterically funny and emotionally significant ways.

Themes

Dysfunctional family dynamics, Affair shadow over marriage, Sit shiva tradition, Funeral and mourning, Pregnant status tension

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Before We Go

4. Before We Go

Comedy Drama Romance Romantic Comedy Relationship Drama
6.8
20141h 35min

Overview

All night in New York, a stranded woman just wants to get home to her husband. A street musician risks everything to help her. As sunrise nears, staying together might save her heart—but cost her marriage.

Themes

Deception in relationships, Economic vulnerability, Infidelity and trust, Chance encounters in the city, Marital strain and agency, Urban romance under pressure

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Peacock Premium
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Right Kind of Wrong

5. The Right Kind of Wrong

Romance Comedy Romantic Comedy Awkward Comedy
6.1
20131h 37min

Overview

A stubborn idealist spies a bride on her way to her wedding and immediately falls in love with her.

Themes

Romance under social scrutiny, Fear as obstacle, Pursuit despite disapproval, Unexpected attraction, Marriage as pressure, Public reputation vs privacy

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Celeste & Jesse Forever

6. Celeste & Jesse Forever

Comedy Drama Romance Romantic Comedy Relationship Drama
6.6
20121h 31min

Overview

Celeste and Jesse met in high school and got married young. They laugh at the same jokes and finish each other’s sentences. They are forever linked in their friends’ minds as the perfect couple – she, a high-powered businesswoman and budding novelist; he, a free spirit who keeps things from getting boring. Their only problem is that they have decided to get divorced. Can their perfect relationship withstand this minor setback?

Themes

Public image vs private life, Career vs romance, Friendship after separation, Commitment vs independence, Modern relationship dynamics, Personal growth through dating

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Magic of Belle Isle

7. The Magic of Belle Isle

Drama Comedy Family Drama Buddy Comedy
7.0
20121h 49min

Overview

In an effort to tap into his original talent, a wheelchair-bound author moves to a rural town, where he befriends a single mother and her three kids, who help reignite his passion for writing.

Themes

Mentorship and growth, Grief and renewal, Resilience through art, Mother-daughter bonds, Addiction and recovery, Community-based inspiration

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Friends with Benefits

8. Friends with Benefits

Romance Comedy Romantic Comedy Parody
6.5
20111h 49min

Overview

Dylan is done with relationships. Jamie decides to stop buying into the Hollywood clichés of true love. When the two become friends they decide to try something new and take advantage of their mutual attraction - but without any emotional attachment.

Themes

Career vs personal life, Casual sex boundaries, Independence vs love, Elder care pressures, Platonic romance tension, Trust erosion in dating

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Welcome to the Sticks

9. Welcome to the Sticks

Comedy Drama Romance Romantic Comedy Relationship Drama
7.1
20081h 46min

Overview

Although living a comfortable life in Salon-de-Provence, a charming town in the South of France, Julie has been feeling depressed for a while. To please her, Philippe Abrams, a post office administrator, her husband, tries to obtain a transfer to a seaside town, on the French Riviera, at any cost. The trouble is that he is caught red-handed while trying to scam an inspector. Philippe is immediately banished to the distant unheard of town of Bergues, in the Far North of France...

Themes

Regional prejudice, Relocation and belonging, Deception for mobility, Dialect as social marker, Unhappy marriage, Hospitality and community

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Definitely, Maybe

10. Definitely, Maybe

Comedy Romance Romantic Comedy Ensemble Comedy
7.1
20081h 52min

Overview

In a world where a dad turns his love life into a mystery story, a soon‑to‑be divorcé rewrites his romantic past for his curious daughter, hiding every name and detail. As he jumps between three great loves, he realizes he might have been chasing the wrong ending all along.

Themes

Divorce pressure, Parent-child relationship, Political ambition, Dating woes, Romance vs career clash, Past relationships impact present

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.