Movies - TV
The 15 Best Movies About Divorce, Ranked
By LIAM GAUGHAN
15. Joy
Loosely based on a true story, "Joy" follows single mother and inventor Joy Mangano (Jennifer Lawrence) and allows Lawrence to step into a slightly more mature role. The film shows the stigma around divorce that so many women have to deal with, as Joy has trouble finding career opportunities while she raises her children.
14. Gloria Bell
Gloria doesn't apologize for her divorce and chooses a single life rather than risk another divorce when she realizes the man she’s been flirting with isn't willing to commit to her fully. It's refreshing to see a woman with real agency, and the only reason the film ranks lower is that it borrows heavily from director Sebastian Lelio's original film "Gloria."
13. Interiors
Renata (Diane Keaton) is a depressed poet whose husband resents her success, and she must choose between her career and marriage. "Interiors" shows how people going through a divorce still have to live their everyday lives — Renata has to deal with her stressful divorce proceedings as well as the mental health issues that her mother is coping with.
12. Thunder Road
"Thunder Road" breaks oft-repeated unrealistic standards of masculinity in Hollywood, as the protagonist Jim Arnaud gets vulnerable, shows emotions, makes mistakes, and tries to fix them. The film does a great job of showing how the divorce affects every aspect of his life, and it's worthy of inclusion on this list despite its simplicity.
11. Carol
"Carol" shows how Carol (Cate Blanchett) isn't granted any freedom by her divorce, as she's unable to pursue Therese Belivet, whom she loves. The film also shows how toxic masculinity extends far beyond divorce — even though Carol and her husband are in the midst of a breakup, he still feels he owns her.