Hollywood is no amateur when it comes to creating heart-warming and empowering films that highlight the importance of self-love and acceptance; some of the greatest cinema classics inspire the proverbial ‘you’ to ‘believe in yourself’ and realize your worth. It’s refreshing to see a movie that contains a positive and uplifting message without coming off as preachy and trite. Some of life’s best lessons can be demonstrated on the big screen, providing comfort and support to those who truly need it. Hollywood successfully relays such messages through an array of genres, whether it be through humor, romance, or moving drama.
Updated: September 2022: To keep this article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Lauren Perry.
From modern-day Cinderella stories to a fourth grade rock band and even a sorority queen taking on Harvard, cinema loves a good story about self-love. Now, it may be important to take a step back from worrying about being loved by someone else and discern how well you actually love yourself. Let’s take a look at some of the best movies about learning to love yourself.
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12 The Holiday
Nancy Meyer’s 2006 rom-com Christmas staple The Holiday features the excellent foursome of Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black. The cozy winter film follows Amanda (Diaz) and Iris (Winslet), two lovelorn women on opposite sides of the world who arrange a home exchange in an effort to evade their heartbreak during the holiday season. Despite trying to escape their messy love lives, the ladies find two worthy suitors who immediately capture their attention: Iris’ brother Graham (Law) and film composer Miles (Black). The Holiday is a beautiful and moving story that inspires audiences to embrace who they are, flaws and all. Amanda is chastised by past flames for being emotionally distant, but she ultimately overcomes her roadblocks. Silver screen legend Eli Wallach co-stars as a famous screenwriter from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and poignantly reminds insecure Iris, “In the movies we have the leading ladies, and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend.”
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
11 Mulan
Buena Vista Pictures
A lot of Disney movies touch on themes of self-love and self-acceptance, but perhaps none more than Mulan, the best 2D-animated Disney princess movie. This movie explores the way that Fa Mulan, the main character, sees herself and her place in society, and her family. The whole film she struggles with finding the real her - someone she can look in the mirror and recognize. The real story, more than saving China or finding a love interest, is Mulan finding her true self.
10 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
20th Century Fox
This inspiring movie stars Ben Stiller as the titular Walter Mitty, a man who works for Life magazine processing photos. Walter feels unaccomplished in his life, letting himself be bullied and struggling with his online dating profile. He has a long list of unfulfilled dreams, and a habit of losing himself in epic and adventurous daydreams. Spurred into action by a quest to find an important missing cover photo, Walter wakes up out of his daydreams and into adventure, discovering his own inner bravery on his quest to find a legendary photojournalist and the missing picture.
9 Legally Blonde
MGM Distribution Co.
The iconic and beloved 2001 comedy Legally Blonde follows sorority queen Elle Woods, who attempts to win back her Ivy League boyfriend Warner by earning a degree at Harvard Law School. Along the way, she discovers that she’s much more than just a pretty blonde and triumphs against stereotypes and naysayers. Starring the charming Reese Witherspoon as the determined Elle Woods, Legally Blonde showcases the character’s growth and realization that she’s capable of so much more than simply fitting in the status quo. Elle’s fighting spirit and can-do attitude is admirable, and it’s wonderful to watch her come into her own and rattle some cages along the way. CNN perfectly summed up the message of the movie, proclaiming it to be a “sassy satire that retains its message: believe in yourself and follow your dreams.”
8 School of Rock
Paramount Pictures
The 2003 beloved comedy film School of Rock is an endearing and hilarious flick that centers on struggling rock guitarist Dewey Finn, who is kicked out of his band and becomes a substitute teacher at a stuffy elementary private school. After witnessing the musical talent of some of his students, he forms a band of fourth-graders to win the Battle of the Bands contest. Starring the charismatic and always funny Jack Black as Dewey Finn, the movie depicts the diverse group of students embracing their talents and overcoming their insecurities in a heart-warming way. Dewey also grows as his reasons for joining the contest become about more than just money or fame; he genuinely loves teaching and inspiring his students. School of Rock was a critical and commercial hit and is both an inspiring and rocking good time for moviegoers.
7 The Help
DreamWorks
2011’s period drama The Help is based on the Kathryn Stockett novel, and follows an aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s as she writes a book detailing the African American maids’ point of view on the white families they work for. The moving and emotionally driven film features a talented cast including Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, and Octavia Spencer. The Help is a beautiful tale of self-love and expression and encourages viewers to find their voice and hold on tightly to it. The women were able to be honest and feel heard during a time in which their voices were trying to be stifled. The drama was nominated for four Academy Awards, with Spencer winning for Best Supporting Actress.
6 Last Holiday
The 2006 romantic dramedy stars Queen Latifah as department store assistant Georgia, who learns that she has a rare brain condition and only has a few weeks to live. She decides to spend her remaining money on a glamorous European vacation and experience life to the fullest before her time is up. Based on the 1950 British film, Last Holiday highlights Georgia’s embrace of who she is and all the beauty and wonder the world has to offer, letting go of her inhibitions and fears while entertaining audiences along the way. Respected critic Roger Ebert praised the Queen Latifah comedy, saying that the movie “takes advantage of the great good nature and warmth of Queen Latifah, and uses it to transform a creaky old formula into a comedy that is just plain lovable.”
5 A Beautiful Mind
Imagine Entertainment
Ron Howard’s 2001 Oscar-winning biographical drama A Beautiful Mind is a touching and eye-opening film that stars a gifted group of actors such as Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, and Paul Bettany. The film centers on the brilliant but asocial John Nash, a gifted mathematician who develops paranoid schizophrenia and endures delusional episodes, while painstakingly watching the burden his condition brings to his wife and loved ones. Crowe serves up a powerhouse performance as Nash, and the picture was inspired by Sylvia Nasar’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated book. Nash must go on a journey of self-acceptance and understanding of his mental illness, as he attempts to fathom his new reality and what it means for the life he thought he knew.
4 Yes Man
Warner Bros. Pictures
Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel star in the 2008 romantic comedy Yes Man, which follows the negative Carl Allen (Carrey) who decides to embrace the power of yes after attending a self-help seminar. Carl’s new positive outlook on life leads to transformative experiences, such as a new job promotion and a budding romance with songstress Allison (Deschanel). Despite all the good that comes his way, Carl realizes that too much of anything (even something positive) can have its downfalls. He can’t completely give up the person he was, but must remember that life is worth living. Yes Man highlights the power of positive thinking and self-acceptance, while reminding audiences it’s important to have a healthy balance of both.
3 Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
Touchstone Pictures
The ‘90s cult classic comedy Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion stars Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow in the title roles as two discouraged women who prepare for their 10-year high-school reunion. Fearing they haven’t lived up to the success of their former classmates, the pair decide to invent fake careers in order to impress their old classmates. The good-natured flick celebrates the power of friendship and the importance of remaining true to yourself, as Romy and Michele ultimately realize that they’re fine just the way they are and do not need anyone’s validation. It’s a sweet and quirky comedy that inspires moviegoers to believe in themselves.
2 Isn’t It Romantic
Rebel Wilson plays the lead role in this movie that mocks romantic comedies. The lead character, Natalie, is an architect who has internalized a lesson she was taught as a child - that men don’t look at her, and that she isn’t worth much or noticed. She is shy about her work, and cynical about love - especially the kind that is shown in romantic comedies. She hits her head and falls into a surreal situation where her life has become a romantic comedy, moving through all the clichés, such as the stereotypical gay best friend, and even the red herring love interest, who is then substituted for the real love interest. It feels predictable, right up until the final wedding scene, when Natalie’s best friend, whom she has realized she loves, is about to marry another woman. Natalie bursts through the door and interrupts the wedding, to profess her love to him. But at the end of her speech she says, “I love… me.”
The movie flashes back to the way she’s grown through her experience, and opened herself up, taken risks. She has shined, and she realizes in that moment, she also fell in love with herself. It’s a beautiful and moving spin on the typical ending of rom-coms, and it ends with Natalie as a more confident and glowing version of herself, finally free to pursue her career, and love, because of that crucial foundation of loving herself.
1 A Cinderella Story
Hilary Duff stars in the 2004 teen rom-com A Cinderella Story, which is a modern day retelling of the classic Cinderella fairytale. The premise revolves around two internet pen pals who plan to finally meet at their high school’s Halloween dance. The movie features an impressive cast of Chad Michael Murray, Jennifer Coolidge, and Regina King, and follows the downtrodden Sam (Duff) as she combats her wicked stepmother and low high school social status while dreaming about meeting her internet beau (Murray). Over the course of the sweet film, Sam realizes her self-worth and value lies beyond a ridiculous high school hierarchy and her miserable stepmother’s antics, and finds her voice and confidence.
