The Very Best Movies About Life After Divorce

Ranker Film
Updated July 6, 2023 1.4K votes 261 voters 23.2K views
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Very Best Movies About Life After Divorce
Voting Rules
Vote up the best movies about being newly single and navigating life after a divorce.

This list contains information on the best life after divorce movies, ranked from best to worst by user votes. The best films about life after divorce come in many forms. Some good life after divorce movies find women reconnecting with themselves while other good films about life after divorce are about raising kids. Many of the best newly single movies star award-winning actors and actresses.

What films will you find on this top life after divorce movies list? Sideways has to be near the top. Paul Giamatti stars as an unpublished author struggling with life after divorce who joins his best friend on a single-guys road trip in this 2004 film. Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor took home the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for writing the film's script. Mrs. Doubtfire is another great film about post-divorce life.

Under the Tuscan Sun is a beautiful film about a woman (played by Diane Lane) rediscovering herself – and learning to love again – in Italy. Other good life after divorce movies featured on this list include Boyhood, The Squid and the Whale, and Hope Floats.

How will we ever determine which film deserves the top spot on this list? Help us decide by giving your favorite movies a thumbs up and get in on the conversation in the comments section.

Most divisive: Thunder Road
Ranked by
  • Mrs. Doubtfire
    1

    Mrs. Doubtfire

    Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan
    100 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Chris Columbus
    In the heartwarming comedy-drama Mrs. Doubtfire, Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is a fun-loving father who finds himself distanced from his children after a bitter divorce. Resorting to an unconventional solution, he transforms into the affable Scottish nanny, Mrs. Doubtfire, played with remarkable conviction by Williams. The film, directed by Chris Columbus, explores themes of family and identity in its engaging narrative. Sally Field co-stars as Miranda Hillard, Daniel's ex-wife, while Pierce Brosnan plays her suitor, Stu. This delightful film bagged an Academy Award for Best Makeup.

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  • The First Wives Club
    2

    The First Wives Club

    Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Diane Keaton
    88 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: Hugh Wilson
    In The First Wives Club, a comedic romp, three middle-aged friends‚ Elise (Goldie Hawn), Brenda (Bette Midler), and Annie (Diane Keaton)‚ reunite after the death of a college classmate. Shockingly, they discover they've all been dumped for younger women by their husbands. This shared misfortune ignites a pact: to exact revenge on their exes. As the trio navigate the complexities of divorce, friendship, and vengeance in New York City's high society, the movie offers a comic yet poignant exploration of love and self-worth. Notable for its star-studded cast and witty dialogue, this film is a testament to female resilience and solidarity.

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  • Under the Tuscan Sun
    3

    Under the Tuscan Sun

    Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan
    70 votes
    • Released: 2003
    • Directed by: Audrey Wells
    In the heartwarming film Under the Tuscan Sun, Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) is a writer who, post-divorce, buys a dilapidated villa in Tuscany on a whim. She embarks on an unpredictable adventure of self-discovery and restoration - both of her new home and her spirit. Enriched by the charm of local characters like real estate agent Mr. Martini (Vincent Riotta) and Polish worker Pawel (Pawel Szajda), Frances navigates through unexpected romance and friendships. This engaging drama-comedy, based on Frances Mayes' memoir, showcases the beauty of Italy alongside life's complexities.

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  • Stepmom
    4

    Stepmom

    Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris
    60 votes
    • Released: 1998
    • Directed by: Chris Columbus
    Three years after divorcing Jackie (Susan Sarandon), the mother of his children, Luke Harrison (Ed Harris) decides to take the next step with his significantly younger girlfriend, fashion photographer Isabel Kelly (Julia Roberts). But, when the flaky Kelly meets Harrison's children for the first time, their fierce allegiance to their mother is obvious. Try as she might, Kelly fails to endear herself to her young charges -- and to Jackie -- until a looming family crisis changes everything.

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  • Waiting to Exhale
    5

    Waiting to Exhale

    Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon
    49 votes
    • Released: 1995
    • Directed by: Forest Whitaker
    Navigating through careers, family and romance, four friends bond over the shortcomings in their love lives -- namely, the scarcity of good men. Both as the "other woman," Savannah (Whitney Houston) and Robin (Lela Rochon) carry on relationships with married men, each believing their lovers will leave their wives for them. On the flip side, Bernadine (Angela Bassett) ends up alone when her husband divorces her for his mistress. Meanwhile, Gloria (Loretta Devine) finds love with a new neighbor.

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  • The War of the Roses
    6

    The War of the Roses

    Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito
    54 votes
    • Released: 1989
    • Directed by: Danny DeVito
    After 17 years of marriage, Barbara (Kathleen Turner) and Oliver Rose (Michael Douglas) want out. The trouble is, neither one wants to part with their opulent home. So begins a long war between husband and wife, reaching farcical heights that leave much of the house -- not to mention their lives -- in shambles. The couple's children (Sean Astin, Heather Fairfield) watch in horror while lawyer Gavin D'Amato (Danny DeVito) tries his best to stem the bloodshed.

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