Loneliness is a common and unavoidable feeling that often results from significant changes, such as adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings or coping with the painful loss of a loved one. It is a vital part of the human experience, so it is no news to anyone that most people have gone through it more than once. However, luckily for us all,cinema is a therapeutic tool that often provides viewers with comfort and solace, helping audiences feel less alone and more understood.
From being stranded alone in space or disconnected from others in a large crowd, movies have always been a source of emotionally charged and thought-provoking storylines. As such, numerous motion pictures (possibly more than we realize at first thought) have seamlessly captured these complex emotions. FromThe Last Black Man in San FranciscotoLost in Translation, these are the best movies about loneliness and isolation.
17’The Babadook' (2009)
Directed by Duncan Jones
Duncan Jones' horror filmThe Babadookprovides an intriguing and refreshing take on trauma as it follows a single mother (wonderfully played byEssie Davis) haunted by the violent death of her husband as she battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house. She ultimately discovers a sinister presence all around her.
Amelia’s psychological torment as a widowed mother who, after undergoing a massive traumatic event, struggles with the responsibility of educating and raising her son, is quite apparent inThe Babadook. The Duncan Jones picture does a great job ofcapturing feelings of loneliness and isolation through its protagonist’s psyche, illustrating it not just as a physical distance from others but as a complicated psychological struggle that ultimately isolates her from others.
The Babadook
16’The Martian' (2015)
Directed by Ridley Scott
The fact thatThe Martianis the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2015 (grossing aworldwide total of $630.6 millionagainst a budget of $108 million) is not surprising considering how intense of a watch it is. When an astronaut named Mark Watney (Matt Damon) becomes stranded on Mars after his crew assumes him dead on a mission, he must rely on his skills to find a way to send Earth a signal. In the meantime, Mark Watney struggles to survive in a remote world alone.
Ridley Scott’s accurate space movieset in 2035 offers audiences a compelling but nightmarish study of utter isolation, depicting Watney’s fear of being abandoned and ultimately forgotten beyond our stratosphere. Featuring incredible production,The Martianpowerfully reflects on the undeniable importance of holding on to hope in a near-impossible scenario and all the hardship that comes.
The Martian
15’Moon' (2009)
Also a stimulating pick in the sci-fi genre,Moonhas a slightly similar and equally enticing narrative. Set in the near future,Duncan Jones' film seesSam Rockwellas astronaut Sam Bell, a man who undergoes a personal crisis nearing the end of a lonely three-year stint mining helium-3 on the Moon. His only companion? An artificial intelligence named GERTY, which assists with the base’s automation and provides comfort.
LikeThe Martian— and many other movies of the genre set in the cold emptiness of space —Duncan Jones' feature makes for a provocative drama on isolation and bravery, shining a light on the emotional anguish that is unveiled in such a circumstance, and the willpower to endure courageously in the face of adversity.
14’The Elephant Man' (1980)
Directed by David Lynch
A genuinely saddening and heartbreaking picture,The Elephant Man, based on the real-life story ofJosephMerrick, seesJohnHurtas a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while serving as entertainment. Behind his unconventional appearance lies a great amount of kindness, intelligence, and sophistication.
Isolation is a recurrent theme in thisheartbreaking David Lynch picture, as it properly explores the lonely life of its lead character, illustrating the cruel way he is shunned by society and treated like an aberrant side-show attraction. At its core,The Elephant Manis a moving and resonating film because it highlights humankind’s longing for connection while also highlighting everything that Merrick has endured, exploring societal rejection and the importance of empathy and human compassion.
The Elephant Man
13’The Last Black Man in San Francisco' (2019)
Directed by Joe Talbot
This impressive directorial debut byJoeTalbothas astonished many with its heart-wrenching narrative centering on a third-generation San Franciscan (Jimmie Fails, played byJimmie Failshimself) who arches for a sense of belonging in a rapidly changing city alongside his best friend, Mont (Jonathan Majors). In the meantime, Jimmie attempts to reclaim his grandfather’s Victorian home built in the heart of the city.
The utterly movingThe Last Black Man in San Franciscoevokes nostalgiawhile depicting Fail’s return to his childhood home to reconnect with old friends and family. Additionally, the visually stunning film, which earned a Sundance Award and wasa Barack Obama favoritethe year it came out, reflects on the Black American experience and highlights how loneliness seems to be inherent in humanity.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
12’The Lighthouse' (2019)
Directed by Robert Eggers
Featuring two powerhouse performances fromWillem DafoeandRobert Pattinson(that should have earned them awards), this moody film (one ofthe best in A24’s horror catalog) byRobert Eggerstakes isolation to whole ‘nother level by depicting two lighthouse keepers on a small, remote island off the coast of Maine. As time goes by, the two slowly begin to descend into madness.
The ambiguous plot that explores the terrible consequences of prolonged reclusiveness isThe Lighthouse’s vital facet, but its beautifully bizarre black-and-white imagery and well-crafted screenplay elevate the unsettling journey to despair even further. It expertly combines the most valuable aspects of an atmospheric horror film and an intriguing psychological thriller, with the results being nothing short of spectacular. Surreal elements aside, the film was partially inspired by the true story of a pair of Welsh lighthouse keepers.
The Lighthouse
11’Cast Away’ (2001)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
TomHanks, who received critical acclaim for the film (including a Best Actor Academy Award nomination), steps into the shoes of a troubleshooter who travels the world resolving productivity problems. When he is stranded on an uninhabited island after his plane crashes, he desperately attempts to survive against all odds in order to finally return home.
Cast Awaywas the third highest-grossing movie of 2000, as it grossedover $429 million worldwide. This is not to wonder, given how the film’s message about survival really sticks with viewers. Dealing with loneliness and isolation,Robert Zemeckis' movie serves as a reminder that perseverance and determination are the greatest assets when it comes to surviving— some, but not all — difficulties in life.
10’Inside Llewyn Davis' (2013)
Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Those who enjoy intriguing character studies may find thisempathetic Coen brothers filma worthy pick.Oscar Isaacdelivers a tour de force performance as a young folk singer who navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961 and struggles to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Featuring an immersive atmosphere that is equal parts beautiful and melancholic on top of a standout soundtrack,Inside Llewyn Davisis a thoughtful and somewhat underrated slice-of-life movie that clearly meditates on themes of loneliness and monotony. Art’s loneliness is quite evident throughout the film. In a way, it reinforces the idea that artists often feel lonely as they pursue their independent goals and different journeys, even when all doors close around them.
9’Melancholia' (2011)
Directed by Lars von Trier
From the mind ofcontroversial director Lars von Trier,Melancholiais, too, a must-see when it comes to films about such topics. The tragic psychological drama starsKirsten DunstandCharlotte Gainsbourgand follows two sisters who find their strained relationship challenged even further as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with Earth.
While both characters technically have each other despite their complicated bond,Melancholiahighlights emotional disconnection from those you love and from the rest of the world. It is a compelling study of mental health, with Justine’s depression and Claire’s anxiety emphasizing the existential loneliness and sense of impending doom that the film tackles through its dark themes. It’s also a great examination of people’s potentially different reactions to a collapsing world.
Melancholia
8’Blade Runner 2049' (2017)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
A cult classic fan favorite, the neo-noir science fiction filmBlade Runner 2049is the 2017 sequel to the celebratedHarrisonFordmovie of the same name (spoiler: he reprises their roles from the original film). Set a few years in the future, it starsRyanGoslingas a new LAPD officer who unearths a long-buried secret powerful enough to launch a dystopian society into chaos.
Dennis Villeneuve’s futuristic film is visually striking, containing one of the most absorbing and well-defined world-building of recent times. However,Blade Runner 2049has captured the attention of many thanks to its precise illustration of solitude and its impactful effects, shown through Joy (AnadeArmas) and K.’s unconventional relationship. Out of eight Academy Award nominations, Villeneuve’s movie rightfully took home Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.
