11 Movies on Finding Meaning in Modern Loneliness

Being alone had always been a taboo in my culture. Especially in an Indian family, if someone even sits alone it’s always thought that they are going through some trouble. So it was difficult for me to come out of the closet – as someone who enjoys modern loneliness. 

But, I did it! Told everyone to not come and repeatedly sympathize when I’m just enjoying ‘me time’ – while watching the best lonely movies. 

If you are also someone who enjoys being solitary, then you will relate to movies on loneliness. They can be your best ally in being with the ‘self’. 

Below is the list of the 11 such movies that will help you understand how to feel feelings of aloneness.

1. Life of Pi (2012)

IMDb: 7.9/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 86% │ Metacritic: 79%

Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes
Subgenres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

After a shipwreck, Pi Patel is left adrift on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. His only company is Richard Parker – a Bengal tiger. The theme of the movie is centered around his evolving relationship with Parker, which in some way reflects his own inner journey of finding courage, meaning, and connection in life. This is one of those loneliness films that mixes the meaning of life with adventure and help you understand your spiritual journey stages.

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Hulu, Disney, Amazon

2. Groundhog Day (1993) 

IMDb: 8.1/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 94% │ Metacritic: 72%

Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes
Subgenres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance

In this one of the best lonely movies, Phil Connors is a cynical weatherman who is trapped in an endless cycle of the same day –  Groundhog Day. This leads him to frustration and he tries suicide multiple times – but in vain. Eventually, Phil comes to the point of confronting his own isolation and emotional numbness in life. This leads to his evolution from selfishness to selflessness and he starts to understand exactly what does feelings mean.

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Tubi, YouTube, Fandango

3. The Truman Show (1998)

IMDb: 8.2/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 95% │ Metacritic: 90%

Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes
Subgenres: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi

Truman Burbank lives a life trapped in a beautifully deceptive bubble. He does not know it yet, but he is being broadcast 24/7 as the main character in a reality TV show. One day on being confronted by a woman he starts to get suspicious about the genuineness of his surroundings and the people in it. This leads him to embark on a journey of finding reality and his true self. This movie about loneliness captures the sadness of being surrounded by inauthentic relationships and a fabricated reality. It’s a lonely movie theme that resonates deeply with the human longing to find genuine connection and meaning in life. 

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Paramount, Sling, Roku

4. The Terminal (2004) 

IMDb: 7.4/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 61% │ Metacritic: 55%

Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
Subgenres: Comedy, Drama, Light-hearted 

When Viktor arrives at New York’s JFK Airport, his home country undergoes a sudden political upheaval. This unexpected change invalidates his visa and traps him in the airport terminal. This leaves him with no choice but to live within the confines of the terminal – a place bustling with activity yet devoid of any personal connection. However, it is his perseverance and kindness that lead him to form unexpected bonds with airport staff and travelers. This one of the best lonely guy movies explores how kindness can provide solace, even in the highest forms of modern loneliness. 

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Amazon, Peacock, Paramount

5. Nomadland (2020) 

IMDb: 7.4/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 93% │ Metacritic: 91%

Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Subgenres: Drama, Slice of life, Character study

If you crave to watch an evocative movie on loneliness that delves into the life of modern American nomads, then this one is meant for you. The story follows Fern, a woman in her sixties who after losing her job starts to feel sad for no reason at all. She then embraces the nomadic way of life. As she moves into a van across the American West, she carries on her life through temporary work and momentary relationships. This documentary-style lonely movie highlights themes of loss, survival, and personal freedom – all set against the need of modern humans to find peace in aloneness. 

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Disney, Hulu, Google Play

6. Sound of Metal (2019) 

IMDb: 7.8/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 97% │ Metacritic: 82%

Runtime: 2 hours
Subgenres: Drama, Music

Sound of Metal is one of the best movies about loneliness. Ruben is a drummer in a heavy metal band who lives a nomadic life with his girlfriend, Lou. All was going well for them until in one concert Ruben realized that he was having severe hearing loss. This changes the life of both of them. Soon Rubin admits himself to a rehabilitation center for those with hearing disability. The center uses several ways to help the disabled, including the group mindfulness exercises. However, Ruben is still unable to accept the new reality, and he makes efforts to get his old life back. In the end, life forces him to connect to his deeper identity and embrace the present.

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Amazon, Netflix

7. The Station Agent (2003) 

IMDb: 7.6/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 94% │ Metacritic: 81%

Runtime: 1 hour 29 minutes
Subgenres: Comedy, Drama

Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage) is a reclusive man of short stature who seeks solitude in the wake of his best friend’s death. To take refuge from the world, he inherits an abandoned train station in a small New Jersey town. However, his solitude is disrupted by two unlikely friends. One of them is Olivia Harris, a chatty, warm-hearted local who runs a nearby snack stand. The other is Joe Oramas, who is a talkative yet affable hot dog vendor. Despite Finbar’s initial reluctance, he slowly starts to get out of his shell and move towards the stages of emotional healing. If you want to watch a witty lonely guy movie with rich character development and contemplative story-writing, then it is truly meant for you.

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Pluto TV, Google Play, Apple TV

8. Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019) 

IMDb: 7.5/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 92% │ Metacritic: 79%

Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes
Subgenres: Drama

Ugyen is a young Bhutanese teacher who lives in the capital city. He has just been assigned to a remote village school in the Himalayan mountains to which he agrees reluctantly. This sudden change leads him to dismay, especially when he gets one-on-one with the daily struggles of living in an underdeveloped village. However, his interaction with the village people and children leads him to appreciate the simplicity and peace they have in their lives. If you are looking for a movie to practice and understand the ancestral healing meaning, then this one is meant for you.

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Tubi, Roku, Pluto TV

9. Wild (2014) 

IMDb: 7.1/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 88% │ Metacritic: 76%

Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes
Subgenres: Adventure, Biography, Drama

Reeling from the death of her mother, the dissolution of her marriage, and struggles with addiction, Cheryl feels lost and disconnected from herself and the world around her. In her attempt to seek solitude, she embarks on a solo journey of hiking over a thousand miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. The grueling and often dangerous trek becomes a physical and emotional trial for her, forcing her to confront her inner demons. This lonely lady movie emphasizes the transformative power of solitude in overcoming personal trauma amidst the chaos of modern life. 

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Amazon, Fandango, Apple TV

10. Paterson (2016) 

IMDb: 7.4/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 96% │ Metacritic: 90%

Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes
Subgenres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

In this loneliness film, Paterson is a bus driver who lives in Paterson, New Jersey. Though he lives a routine-driven life, he is still able to find his peace and joy during breaks – when he writes poetry. All of his poems are inspired by finding mindful awareness of everyday life around him. Paterson’s relationship with his whimsical and supportive wife, Laura, further adds warmth and contrast to his introspective nature. If you want to watch a contemplative drama based on the theme of finding beauty in the mundane, then this one will be the right pick for you.

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Netflix, Amazon, Fandango

11. Her (2013) 

IMDb: 8.0/10 │ Rotten Tomatoes: 94% │ Metacritic: 91%

Runtime: 2 hours 6 minutes
Subgenres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi

Her (2013) is a thought-provoking science-fiction romance. This one of the best lonely movies centers on Theodore Twombly who is dealing with the aftermath of a failed marriage. He purchases an advanced operating system, Samantha, designed to adapt and evolve. As their relationship deepens, Theodore rediscovers joy and connection, finding solace in Samantha’s company. However, as she evolves beyond her initial programming, their bond raises profound questions about the nature of love and human connection. This movie is perfect for you if you want to watch the modern-age human-AI romance and the complexities that surround it. 

Watch Trailer: YouTube
Watch Movie: Max, Hulu, Amazon

All in All

If you want to pass your ‘me time’ or find meaning in modern loneliness, then watching lonely movies could be a wonderful way to do it. 

Just grab your cozy blanket, some snacks ‘n’ soda, and start with any of the 11 best movies on loneliness.