reflective backdrop

Movies with reflective vibe

Rudderless

1. Rudderless

Music Drama Comedy Narrative Musical Family Drama
7.4
20141h 45min

Overview

A grieving father in a downward spiral stumbles across a box of his recently deceased son's demo tapes and lyrics. Shocked by the discovery of this unknown talent, he forms a band in the hope of finding some catharsis.

Themes

Parent child relationship, Memory and guilt, Authenticity in music, Mourning to catharsis, Rock band dynamics, Legacy within family

Available on

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

If I Stay

2. If I Stay

Drama Coming-of-Age Drama
6.7
20141h 46min

Overview

After a brutal car crash, Mia’s broken body lies in a hospital bed while her spirit roams the corridors, watching her family fade away. Trapped between life and death, she must decide whether to cling to a shattered world or let go before the choice slips away forever.

Themes

Artistic ambition vs personal life, Life and death decisions, Family sacrifice and support, Adolescence and identity, Pressure of pursuing dreams, Resilience through trauma

Available on

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

When Marnie Was There

3. When Marnie Was There

Animation Drama Family Mystery Anime
7.6
20141h 43min

Overview

Upon being sent to live with relatives in the countryside due to an illness, an emotionally distant adolescent girl becomes obsessed with an abandoned mansion and infatuated with a girl who lives there - a girl who may or may not be real.

Themes

Appearance versus reality, Unseen family ties, Foster care payments, Memory across generations, Trust and secrecy, Loneliness and belonging

Available on

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

Wish I Was Here

4. Wish I Was Here

Drama Comedy Family Drama Awkward Comedy
6.6
20141h 47min

Overview

Aidan Bloom, a struggling actor, father and husband, is 35 years old and still trying to find a purpose for his life. He and his wife are barely getting by financially and Aidan passes his time by fantasizing about being the great futuristic Space-Knight he'd always dreamed he'd be as a little kid. When his ailing father can no longer afford to pay for private school for his two kids and the only available public school is on its last legs, Aidan reluctantly agrees to attempt to home-school them. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn't find.

Themes

Homeschooling versus private schooling, Economic pressures on education, Faith and practical ethics, Pursuit of uncertain career, Family obligations under stress, Caregiving across generations

Available on

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

The Fault in Our Stars

5. The Fault in Our Stars

Romance Drama Bittersweet Romance Tragic Drama
7.6
20142h 6min

Overview

In a world where every breath feels borrowed, a sharp-tongued girl with cancer meets a boy who refuses to treat her like she’s fragile. As their shared obsession with one haunting novel pulls them across an ocean to confront its reclusive author, they discover the story waiting for them is far more dangerous than the one on the page.

Themes

Friendship under pressure, Memory and longing, Coming of age under crisis, Care as mutual reliance, Terminal illness in youth, Deception in communication

Available on

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

The Invisible Woman

6. The Invisible Woman

Drama History Romance Historical Drama Passionate Romance
6.1
20131h 51min

Overview

In 1857, at the height of his fame and fortune, novelist and social critic Charles Dickens meets and falls in love with teenage stage actress Nelly Ternan. As she becomes the focus of his heart and mind, as well as his muse, painful secrecy is the price both must pay.

Themes

Power dynamics, Reputation risk, Secrecy and longing, Age disparity, Clandestine relationship, Public and private life

Available on

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

Saving Mr. Banks

7. Saving Mr. Banks

Comedy Drama History Historical Drama Biographical History
7.5
20132h 6min

Overview

Author P.L. Travers looks back on her childhood while reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.

Themes

Parental influence on art, Memory shaping creative work, Artistic control vs studio demands, Pen-name and identity, Adaptation ethics and openness, Outsider perspective in familiar stories

Available on

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

Like Father, Like Son

8. Like Father, Like Son

Drama Family Drama
7.8
20132h

Overview

Ryota Nonomiya is a successful businessman driven by money. He learns that his biological son was switched with another child after birth. He must make a life-changing decision and choose his true son or the boy he raised as his own.

Themes

Family loyalty under pressure, Deception and consequences, Biology vs nurture, Economic disparity in parenting, Legal battles over parenthood, Emotional attachment to children

Available on

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

What If

9. What If

Drama Comedy Romance Romantic Comedy Awkward Comedy
6.8
20131h 38min

Overview

Medical-school dropout Wallace has been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan, seems to be finding the perfect partner, Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry, an animator who lives with her longtime boyfriend Ben. Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend?

Themes

Friendship versus romance, Boundaries and desire, Distance and commitment, Social expectations in dating, Career versus relationship, Trust under ambiguity

Available on

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

Mr. Morgan's Last Love

10. Mr. Morgan's Last Love

Drama Comedy Relationship Drama
6.7
20131h 51min

Overview

A widowed professor living in Paris develops a special relationship with a younger French woman.

Themes

Intergenerational tension, Meaning of life, Age gap relationships, Boundaries and loyalty, Care and companionship, Autonomy vs attachment

Available on

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