If you’ve ever sat alone, questioning your purpose, your relationships, or even the meaning of life, don’t worry, you’re not alone. These movies explore those very thoughts. They’re deep, emotional, and sometimes even a little confusing, but they’ll leave you thinking long after the credits roll.
1. Taxi Driver (1976)
“You talkin’ to me?”
This classic from Martin Scorsese follows Travis Bickle, a lonely taxi driver in New York City who slowly loses touch with reality. Surrounded by crime and corruption, he starts to believe he can “clean” the world himself. It’s a dark journey into isolation, madness, and the search for purpose in a meaningless world.
2. Her (2013)
Love in the digital age.
Set shortly, this film is about Theodore, a heartbroken man who falls in love with an AI voice assistant named Samantha. What begins as a sweet romance becomes a deep reflection on human connection, loneliness, and how technology shapes our emotions. A gentle yet powerful film that makes you question what love really means.
3. Solaris (1972)
Space meets the soul.
In this Russian sci-fi classic, a psychologist is sent to a space station orbiting the mysterious planet Solaris. There, he encounters strange phenomena, especially when people from the crew’s memories start appearing. The film isn’t about aliens or action, but about grief, memory, and confronting your deepest emotions.
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Can we erase heartbreak?
After a painful breakup, Joel discovers that his ex-girlfriend Clementine has erased all memories of him through a special medical procedure. He decides to do the same. But as his memories fade, he realizes he still loves her. This beautiful and poetic film explores love, pain, regret, and whether forgetting is ever the answer.
5. Arrival (2016)
Not your usual alien movie
When mysterious spaceships land on Earth, a linguist named Louise is called to help understand their language. But as she communicates with the aliens, she begins to see time and life differently. It’s a sci-fi movie with a soul, exploring fate, choice, and the beauty of moments, even the painful ones.
Existentialism is all about those deep questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Does any of this matter? These films don’t give you all the answers, but they do something better: they make you feel, reflect, and maybe even see life with a new perspective. So, the next time you’re feeling a little lost, grab some popcorn, press play, and let these movies guide you through the maze of existence.
-Prachi Mehta
