Coming Of Age: The Best Friendship Movies To Share With Your BFF
It may not come as a surprise that there are many movies about friendship. Good friends can provide support, help you learn about yourself, and make you laugh. In addition, research suggests that friendship has many benefits for both physical and mental health.
If you are looking for a movie about friendship to share with your friends, read on to discover popular friendship movies like Bridesmaids, Waiting to Exhale, and The Breakfast Club, as well as the lessons we can learn from them. Those who struggle to maintain healthy friendships may benefit from speaking to a therapist about their challenges.
Coming-of-age, comedy-dramas, and more: Types of friendship movies
Movies about friendship are not necessarily limited to one genre, but one thing they all tend to have in common is the close bond between the characters. Whether the story is about friends who have known each other their entire lives or those who have just met, you and your best friend may identify with the characters’ connections. Here are a few genres of friendship movies and what sets them apart.
Coming-of-age movies
Coming-of-age movies usually focus on growing up and maturing from childhood to young adulthood. They typically focus on a critical event or challenge in the main characters' lives. Because so much of the plot tends to depend on the characters’ inner growth, these types of movies may be very heavy on dialogue.
Buddy movies
A buddy movie may tell the story of a group of friends who solve a problem or go on an adventure together. Many of these movies are comedies, but buddy movies can also belong to other genres. The characters often fall out during the story, and one or all of them must change something in order to come back together and complete their mission.
Comedy-drama movies
Also known as dramedies, comedy-drama films usually combine elements of comedy and drama. While these films can address very serious topics, the comedic aspect often balances the heavy subject matter, making them more relatable.
Any type of friendship movie can be impactful, but here are a few of the most popular. (Note that there are spoilers ahead!)
Bridesmaids, starring Kristin Wiig and Maya Rudolph
Bridesmaids is a buddy movie starring Kristin Wiig as Annie, whose life is falling apart when she is asked to be her best friend Lillian’s maid of honor. Lillian, played by Maya Rudolph, has other bridesmaids who are key to the film's antics, including Rose Byrne’s Helen, who becomes Annie’s main rival as they compete for Lillian’s friendship.
Cast highlights: Kristin Wiig and Maya Rudolph
Annie and Lillian eventually make amends, realizing that friendships can last a lifetime, but they may change as time goes on. This can be an important lesson for all friends to learn.
Waiting to Exhale, starring Angela Bassett and Lela Rochon
Waiting to Exhale focuses on the love lives and friendships of four African American women: Savannah (played by Whitney Houston), Bernadine (Angela Bassett), Gloria (Lorette Devine), and Robin (Lela Rochon). The women want romantic relationships, but they all have trouble finding a good man and turn to each other for advice and support while enjoying city life in Phoenix.
Cast highlights: Angela Bassett and Lela Rochon
One of the most interesting juxtapositions of the female friendships in this film may be Bernadine’s and Robin’s storylines. Bernadine, who abandoned her career to help her husband build his business and raise their children, ends up alone after her husband leaves her for his mistress.
Meanwhile, Robin is the long-time mistress of a married man, and she believes he will one day leave his wife for her. Ultimately, things work out for the two women: Bernadine gets a nice divorce settlement and finds love with a man who encourages her to pursue her dreams. Robin becomes pregnant with her married lover’s baby, ultimately choosing to end the relationship and raise the baby on her own. Through the ups and downs, the two characters, along with Savannah and Gloria, remain friends and continue to support one another.
The Breakfast Club, starring Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald
This classic 80s movie tells the story of an unlikely friendship forming between five high school students in different social groups who are stuck together in Saturday detention: Andy “the athlete” (played by Emilio Estevez), Allison “the basket case” (Ally Sheedy), Brian “the brain” (Anthony Michael Hall), John “the criminal” (Judd Nelson), and Claire “the princess” (Molly Ringwald). Throughout the film, each character tells their story, the members of the group form new friendships, and they all question whether high school will ever be the same.
Cast highlights: Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald
The movie's focal point is the letter the students must write as a condition of their detention. There are two versions of the letter, one written at the beginning of the day and one at the end, with the final letter showing just how much their perspectives about one another have changed. There is possibly no better illustration of this than the budding romance between Claire, “the princess,” and Bender, “the criminal,” played by Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson.
This film demonstrates how you may never really know what someone else is going through and that friendship and connection can be found in people with whom you may not think you have anything in common.
Other friendship movies
The above are only three of the most popular friendship movies. Here are several more to consider watching with your friends.
- Stand by Me: A writer tells the story of searching for a missing boy with his childhood friends.
- Beaches: This movie follows the highs and lows of lifelong friends Hillary and CC over decades.
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower: A socially awkward teen learns about friendship and love from his new friends.
- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: Four friends go their separate ways for a summer of adventure while sharing a pair of jeans that fit all four girls.
- Wonder: A boy born with facial deformities becomes an unlikely hero when he enters a mainstream school for the first time.
- Booksmart: Two friends who are about to graduate from high school set out to let loose at a house party on their last day of school.
- Dead Poets Society: A new teacher at a boys' prep school uses unorthodox techniques to engage his students, inspiring the friends to go after their dreams.
- Now and Then: This film provides an examination of female friendship as four old friends reunite when one is about to give birth, reminiscing about the pivotal summer of 1970.
- My Girl: Best friends Vada and Thomas J. face the realities of life and death in this coming-of-age story.
- The Sandlot: The new kid in town makes friends with the kids in the neighborhood over games of baseball in the sandlot.
- The Goonies: In this adventure story, a group of kids go up against a property development company and search for treasure along the way.
- When Harry Met Sally: This movie features a classic will-they-or-won’t-they story about two friends who fear sex will ruin their relationship.
- The First Wives Club: Three college friends reunite after the death of a classmate and decide to seek revenge on their husbands for leaving them for younger women.
From Bridesmaids to Waiting to Exhale: What we can gain from friendship movies
Little research exists regarding the effects of friendship movies, but one small 2016 study found that friendship-themed movies can enhance friendship quality. This research included only adolescent study participants and found that friendship movies could increase senses of confidence, acceptance, and safety while decreasing loneliness.
These movies may have real-life impacts, but watching them can also be a meaningful way to spend time with your friends, creating memories for the future and reminiscing about the past. Seeing the connections between the characters on-screen can help you see your friendships through fresh eyes and appreciate the people who give you support and make you laugh.
Therapy can strengthen friendships
Friendships can be valuable connections with many benefits. They often serve as protective factors against many physical and mental health challenges. However, it can be important to remember that quality is usually more important than quantity when it comes to friendships. Nurturing the friendships you have can be key to ensuring they last.
If you are interested in strengthening your friendships, working with a therapist can help. Therapy can enable you to work through challenges that may be holding you back from fully investing in your friendships, like attachment difficulties, low self-confidence, or communication struggles.
Some people may be hesitant to meet with a therapist face-to-face, which is why online therapy can be a convenient option. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can meet with a therapist from any location with a reliable internet connection. Most people who sign up are connected with a therapist in as little as 48 hours, and you can change providers at any time.
Research has found that online treatment can be a viable and effective alternative to in-person treatment. A 2022 meta-analysis reported that online and in-person therapy typically produce the same client outcomes. Both options can effectively address a variety of mental health challenges and concerns.
Takeaway
Friendship movies can help you honor the relationships that mean the most to you, whether you identify with the characters or just want to enjoy a laugh with your good friends. If you’re looking for other ways to strengthen your friendships, consider speaking with a licensed mental health professional in your local area or through an online therapy platform.
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