Being in your twenties is a fun and exciting new chapter in life, and is a stark contrast to the more restricting era of childhood and adolescence. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows, and sometimes the rose-colored glasses need to come off to experience life to its fullest.
Everyone has a difficult time adjusting to the pressures of trying to enjoy their new freedom, starting a career, and living up to the expectations of what being in your 20s is "supposed" to be. From the heartbreaking to the hilarious, there are plenty of films that can help the transition into adulthood a little easier.
'Muriel's Wedding' (1994)
Since it first popped into the cultural zeitgeist in 1994, comedy-drama Muriel's Wedding has remained a staple of classic Aussie cinema and is a must-watch for anyone who grew up in a small town and is struggling to find their place in the world. The story follows the socially awkward, ABBA-obsessed Muriel Heslop (played by the iconic Toni Collette) as she attempts to leave the fictional and conservative town of Porpoise Spit for Sydney, and all the life lessons she learns along the way.
The film explores the importance of female friendship, staying true to yourself in a world that wants to cut you down, and still holds up today as an inspirational, tragic, and hilarious portrayal of life in your twenties. Muriel's Wedding depicts all the ups and downs of growing up and emphasizes the happy little moments in life that make you feel like you're on an ABBA track.
'Moonlight' (2016)
Moonlight follows the life of the main character Chiron in three chapters: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The film depicts his experiences with living during the height of the crack epidemic in Miami, and his coming to terms with his sexuality. Dripping with stunning cinematography and excellent acting by Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes, director Barry Jenkins displays a powerful tale of coming-of-age with an often-overlooked black, queer lens.
The blue-hued masterpiece explores the universal feelings of longing, regret, and the questions that can stay in one's mind for a lifetime: Why didn't things go differently? Is it too late to change? Where do I belong?
'How It Ends' (2021)
Described as an "apocalyptic feel-good comedy," How It Ends follows the main character Liza (Zoe Lister-Jones) as she attempts to make amends with the people in her life before a world-ending meteor falls to Earth, and is accompanied by her meta-physical, child-self (Cailee Spaeny) throughout her journey. Although the meteor plays a big part in the film as the catalyst that drives the plot forward, the main message is ultimately about coming to terms with your past and beginning the hard journey towards self-acceptance.
Many people can empathize with the struggles of self-love, and How It Ends shows how even in the face of imminent danger accepting yourself and healing your inner child is one of the most important and difficult life lessons you will ever learn.
'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion' (1997)
Effortlessly fun and stylish, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion is a camp, timeless buddy-comedy starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow as the eponymous Romy and Michele respectively, who (you guessed it) return to meet their high school peers for a reunion. The plot revolves around the two fashionistas trying to gain their former classmates' respect by lying about their lives in order to make them appear more successful.
Things don't quite go to plan, but the main takeaways of the film are to just embrace your weirdness, life really does get better after high school, and your friends will always have your back. Throw in an iconic interpretative dance number, and you have the secret to how to enjoy a post-adolescent life.
'The Farewell' (2019)
Death is an inevitable part of life, and enduring the loss of loved ones is never easy. Told through the eyes of Chinese-American Billi, (played excellently by Awkwafina) The Farewell explores the ideas of family dynamics, the cultural differences between the East and the West, and the difficulty in saying goodbyes. Through the news that Billi's grandmother (Zhao Shu-zhen) is dying of cancer, the film's conflict lies with the family refusing to tell her and using a hastily arranged wedding as an excuse for a final family gathering.
The Farewell is surprisingly funny despite its dark theme, and poignantly displays insightful commentary on the immigrant experience, the divide between generations, and the clash between individualism and tradition. It focuses on the emotions that come up when with family, and the sad reality of one day not being able to see them again.
'Do The Right Thing' (1989)
Racism and discrimination are sadly ever-present and Spike Lee's 1989 classic, Do The Right Thing, remains pertinent in today's world. The comedy-drama film explores a Brooklyn neighborhood on the hottest day of the year and shows the discrimination that is inflicted upon as well as perpetuated by the film's diverse ensemble cast of both young and older adults.
The film ends with a fictional death due to police brutality, however, the real-life tragedies such as the deaths of Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd reflect the all-too-common reality that Spike Lee displays unflinchingly to his audience. It is an important film to watch to recognize one's own internal biases and is vital in understanding just how deeply ingrained racism lies within our society. You cannot grow out of adolescence if you do not understand the world you live in, and the film's title still rings true: Do the right thing.
'Bridesmaids' (2011)
A staple of 2010's comedy, the ensemble-led Bridesmaids shows that at your lowest point, when you hit rock bottom, you can always pick yourself back up. The film follows an aimless Annie (Kristen Wiig) as she attempts to fulfill the role of maid of honor for her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph). while also trying to work through the aftermath of a breakup and a failed job venture in the wake of the global financial crisis.
The film shows how failure is a part of life but does not define your life, and that friends will be there to help support you through all the hardships. It is a must-watch for its unwavering depiction of the messy side of adulthood and will help anyone feel less alone when they feel like their life isn't on the same trajectory as their peers.
'Frances Ha' (2012)
Co-written and starring Greta Gerwig in the titular role, this laid-back indie flick is perfect for anyone who doesn't feel like a "real person" yet. The story revolves around Frances, a 27-year-old aspiring dancer, struggling to make ends meet in the stylish black-and-white layout of New York City, while still trying to hold onto her dreams.
How Frances' life is depicted in this film is extremely relatable. Any twenty-something can see their own personal endeavors of being disappointed with how their life has progressed in comparison to their friends, as well as not living up to the expectations they had when they first entered adulthood. Unstable friendships and career failures can create a quarter-life crisis but instead of giving easy solutions, the film assures us that this is a normal part of life and that you can survive it.
'Tangerine' (2015)
Revolutionary not only for being shot by an iPhone, breaking down the elitist barriers of who has access to filmmaking, this 2015 film also focuses on the extraordinary lives of transgender sex workers in an orange-saturated Los Angeles. Starring Kitani Kiki-Rodriguez and Mya Taylor in the main roles, this classic Sean Baker film humanizes its subjects who have far too long remained the cruel punch-lines of every mediocre stand-up comedy routine, and it displays a tender and chaotic depiction of sisterhood and solidarity.
The film, much like most of Sean Baker's work, explores the prominent class divide in modern America, and how his characters find unity in the struggle. Life is hard, but friendship and human connections are paramount in survival, not only in your twenties but for the rest of your time on Earth.
'Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind' (2004)
Cult classic Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind ventures into thought-provoking territory on the power and complicated emotions towards love and memory, and whether it is better to have loved and lost or to have been unscathed from the pain altogether. Written by the incomparable Charlie Kaufman, this surrealist romantic-science fiction film focuses on a young couple (Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey) after a fight and their attempts to literally erase each other from their own memories.
It is introspective to the universal hurt of heartbreak and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind tells its audience that while relationships sometimes can crumble into bitterness and disappointment, that is ultimately the complexity of love.