Movies To Watch After a Breakup That Don’t Include Love Stories.

I’m not the sort of woman who enjoys watching emotional romcoms after a breakup. I don’t enjoy crying into a tub of ice-cream while watching happy lovers on-screen. After a breakup I find any movies or TV shows that feature relationships and love super triggering and upsetting, and so I tend to watch things that avoid relationships and don’t include love stories…which is surprisingly tough when 95% of movies seem to have some sort of love story included.

I mean come on, even Legally Blonde and Bridget Jones feature love stories, which is enough to have me balling into a blanket! After a recent heartbreaking break-up, I’ve returned to my old favourites, and added some new ones to the list too, so I thought it would be helpful for others to round-up my best movies to watch after a breakup that don’t include a love story!

Like a Boss

A relatively new movie that came out in the pandemic year of 2020, Like a Boss cheered me up SO much after my most recent breakup. It’s a comedy starring Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne, and Salma Hayek, about two best friends who live together and own a beauty company, and the storyline features zero love stories. Aside from a small scene involving a bootycall, the entire movie is about the power of friendship and these women absolutely bossing it in business.

Moana

So many of Disney’s movies feature love as the main storyline – the Princess getting saved by the Prince, etc etc. Moana is brilliant for being purely about a young girl who has to go on a quest to save her island. No Princes involved. Also, the music makes my heart so happy, and the scenery reminds me so much of my trip to Samoa back in 2017 so gives me all the feel-good vibes.

Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion

Okay, so technically this one does involve a small love story at the very end, but it’s not the focus and the key focus is Romy & Michele’s friendship. I’ve loved this movie since I first watched it with my best friend back in 2008 when we were sixteen years old, and every time I go through a breakup I turn to it again just because it makes me laugh so much. It’s SO quotable, and just absolutely hilarious.

Hustlers

Hustlers is such a good movie if you’re feeling a bit fed-up and down. It stars JLO, Cardi B, and Julia Stiles, and follows a crew of New York City strippers who begin to steal money by drugging stock traders and CEOs who visit their club, then running up their credit cards. It’s brilliant and genius, is about female friendships and hustling to get by, and a great movie to watch after a breakup.

Dead Poets Society

“O Captain! my Captain!” Dead Poets Society has to be one of the most beautiful movies that has ever been made. The story is very special, but the cast is something else. It’s undoubtedly one of Robin Williams’ best works, and perfect if you’re like me and love poetry. I just love how it really reminds you of that one teacher that everyone loved, that tried so hard and made such a huge effort with you all to inspire and help you grow and learn.

Sister Act 1 & 2

These were my favourite movies when I was a child, and even now I love watching them when I just want something happy and light and full of music and singing. The movies are about Deloris Van Cartier, a lounge singer, who in the first film is persuaded to go into witness protection as a nun at a convent after she witnesses a murder. In the second film, she returns to her role as ‘Sister Mary Clarence’ to teach music at a school and save the school from closing down.

Paddington

Paddington and Paddington 2 are two of my favourite movies. They make me so happy, and honestly someday if I ever have a baby the entire nursery is going to be Paddington themed. It’s just such a heart-warming story of friendship and family and cheers me up every time I watch it. I also have fond memories of watching Paddington 2 when I was living in Australia, and it made me so excited to go home to London for Christmas a few weeks later.

The First Wives Club

Ironically I watched this the week before my boyfriend broke up with me, but it’s also perfect for after a breakup. The film stars the absolutely incredible Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, and Goldie Hawn as three divorcées who seek reparation on their ex-husbands for having left them for younger women. It’s hilarious and brilliant and I recommend it to anyone struggling with heartbreak.

Girls Trip

I watch this everytime I feel nostalgic for New Orleans. It’s one of my favourite cities, and Girls Trip really encapsulates the vibe and party atmosphere of the city. There is some love and coupley bits in it, but the ending is incredible and I love how it focuses on friendship and teaches you that you can always rely on your girls rather than a man.