13 best films that will make you love being alone

Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell (who made a name for herself making films that empower women) trade rapid-fire wit in this screwball comedy about a divorced couple navigating work and romance. At its heart though, His Girl Friday is about a woman who refuses to be defined by marriage, choosing career and independence over convention. Yes, they end up together, but Russell’s Hildy emphasises a relationship based on equality and capability. Sharp, funny and ahead of its time.

It may have “marry” in the title, but this classic film, starring Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable, is about much more than just landing a wealthy husband. As the three women hatch a plan to secure rich suitors, they end up discovering something far more valuable: their worth, separate from any man.

Revenge is sweet, but self-reinvention is even better. Three women (Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler) band together after being dumped by their husbands for younger women. They first seek vengeance but realise that their efforts are better spent empowering other women, turning their pain into power. Hilarious and sharp, this film proves that sisterhood and self-worth trump any fairytale ending.

Renée Zellweger’s Bridget Jones doesn’t have it all together—and that’s exactly why we love her. Navigating work, friendships and romance, she stumbles (often literally) through the messiness of life. But in the end, it’s not about who she ends up with. After all, Bridget doesn’t treat being single as a problem to be solved. This franchise is famous for its love triangle, but it focuses more on embracing oneself, quirks and all, rather than changing for a man.

Yes, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) ends up with Emmett (Owen Wilson) in the end, but that was more of a sidebar. The story begins with her attempt to win back her ex by enrolling in Harvard Law. However, the journey allows her to discover her capabilities. Ultimately, Elle doesn’t just prove everyone wrong; she proves to herself that she was never defined by a relationship. Who knew a chase for love would lead her to personal success?

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Diane Lane’s Frances impulsively buys a crumbling villa in Italy after her divorce, seeking a fresh start. What unfolds isn’t a love story, but a life story. She builds a home, finds unexpected friendships and learns that happiness isn’t about waiting for the perfect partner, but about creating a life full of love in all its forms.

Not all films under this theme fall under the rom-com category. Quentin Tarantino’s revenge epic is, at its core, about a woman reclaiming her agency. Uma Thurman’s The Bride is done being someone’s victim, and she’s certainly not waiting for a knight in shining armour. With a katana in hand, she carves her own destiny, ascertaining that the most powerful transformation is one of self-determination.

Breakups can be humiliating, but Forgetting Sarah Marshall is once again confirmation that they can be a good thing. Jason Segel’s Peter heads to Hawaii to recover from heartbreak, only to discover his ex and her new rockstar boyfriend at the same resort. His awkward attempts at moving on lead to self-acceptance, new friendships and a creative breakthrough.

Based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling memoir, Eat Pray Love follows Liz (Julia Roberts), who, after a painful divorce, realises she has no idea who she is outside of a relationship. So, she embarks on a year-long journey across Italy, India and Bali, indulging in pasta, meditation and self-reflection. While love eventually finds her, the real takeaway is that happiness isn’t something someone else gives you. It’s something you create for yourself.

Greta Gerwig’s Frances is a dreamer and dancer figuring out life at her own pace. Friendships shift, jobs come and go and money is always tight, but she remains steadfast in her belief that life is an adventure. Quirky and poignant, Frances Ha is a love letter to the beauty of independence.

This is the antithesis to Legally Blonde but it’s just as empowering. Reese Witherspoon returns to the solo journey genre, this time as Cheryl Strayed, a woman who walks 1,100 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail to heal from personal trauma. It’s not an easy path, but as she conquers nature, she reclaims her power. No leading man needed.

Greta Gerwig’s take on the classic novel has an ambiguous ending that reflects the sensibilities of author Louisa May Alcott, who herself didn’t get married. In this version, Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) feels truer to her independent character. While romance exists in Little Women, it’s Jo’s defiant resourcefulness that shines the brightest. In the end, she doesn’t just write her own story. She owns it.

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