Good friendships are a great source of strength and, at the very least, teach us many important life lessons along the way. And the film industry has done a great job showcasing friendships. Be it the iconic duo of Jai and Veeru in Sholay or Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff in The Avengers, movies have never failed to portray the sheer power that friendships can have over one’s life.
Here are a few movies about friendship that you and your friend would absolutely love!
1) Sholay, 1975
Movies about friendship would be incomplete without mentioning Sholay, directed by Ramesh Sippy; It is considered Bollywood’s most popular film. Following the journey of two friends, Jai and Veeru, they work together to defeat the notorious bandit, Gabbar Singh. Although Jai and Veeru were very different, they were always partners in crime, life, and laughter and were willing to give their lives for each other. They showcase the significance of friendship and love as the lot faces countless obstacles on their journey of discovering what true friendship is and how friends can become your family.
The iconic song Ye Dosti hum nahi todenge belongs to this movie, and it has since been a symbol of friendship in Bollywood, beloved by Indians. There has yet to be a film based on friendship in Indian cinema that can meet the high standards which were set by Sholay.
2) Léon : The Professional , 1994
Léon: The Professional tells the story of a skilled assassin who takes in his pre-teen neighbor Mathilda after her family is murdered. The movie had launched Natalie Portman’s career and put the French actor Jean Reno front and center in Hollywood. The two characters start building such a close relationship that you might always be concerned if it will cross the line of decency or not.
Although controversial, whether the relationship they had was romantic or familial in nature is still debated to this day. But, we are more focused on how deeply Léon has an undying kindness, love, and care for Mathilda and constantly acts as a guardian and father figure in her life. Even going as far as teaching her how the trade of assassination can fend for herself in the future if he dies (which he does).
On the other hand, Mathilda takes care of the simple-minded Léon. She helps him overcome his emotional inabilities to connect and form relationships with other human beings. Their duo can be considered as the ultimate father-daughter/friend duo in the film industry. This friendship truly helped both sides heal and attain emotional growth.
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3) The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, 2008
This movie was directed by Mark Herman. It is a Historical tragedy based on a novel of the same title, which was written by John Boyne. The movie’s background is set in World War II. It tells the story of the Holocaust through the viewpoint of two 8-year-old boys: Bruno (Asa Butterfield), the son of a Nazi commandant, and Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a Jewish inmate. Although the film has inaccurate information about the happenings during the Holocaust and has sparked controversy for showing the Nazi family in a mellow and glorified light.
What grabs the audience’s attention is the blossoming of an unlikely friendship between these two children who are from completely different backgrounds. Their relationship teaches us how race, gender, and social standing are factors that don’t matter when it comes to making new friends or keeping them.
Bruno and Shmuel demonstrate that in a world ruled by violence, hatred, and propaganda, friendship can still flourish on its own. All we need is empathy and the ability to see people for who they are.
4) Grownups, 2010
The 2010 American comedy Grown Ups was directed by Dennis Dugan and written by the multi-talented actor/stand-up comedian Adam Sandler, who is adored by his fans far and wide. The plot follows the reunion of five childhood friends – Lenny, Eric, Marcus, Kurt, and Rob ( who are now almost 40), upon the death of Coach Buzzer, their high school Basketball team coach.
It shows them having crazy adventures again, reminiscent of the summers they spent together as kids. The theme of friendship and nostalgia is very heavy in this movie as each individual in their friend group is totally different from each other. Yet, all of them manage to find niches where they can connect and relax with themselves. The five childhood friends, along with their families, go through a transformative experience where each side learns to accept the life they have now and, in this process, help each other out in their ‘crippling’ 40s.
5) Toy Story franchise, Pixar
In the hit animation movie franchise- Toy story, the friendship between Woody and Buzz is put under the spotlight. The story takes place in a world where lifeless dolls come to life in the absence of their owners. Toy Story tells the story of friendship between two toys- Woody ( an old-fashioned pull-string doll) and Buzz Lightyear ( an action figure of a famous astronaut cartoon). As they grow from being rivals for their owner Andy’s attention to best friends whose bond is so strong, they have the same chemistry and dynamic relationship until the end of the franchise.
What is most commendable about their friendship is that both Buzz and Woody can set aside their differences and tantrums when their friends (the other toys) require assistance despite having clashes with each other. They are both great leaders, and their teamwork is one of the best ever written, rivaling even that of Jai and Veeru in Sholay!
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6) Little Miss Sunshine, 2006
In 2006, Little Miss Sunshine, an American road movie tragicomedy, was released and was a directing debut of Jonathan Dayton’s and Valerie Jonathan Dayton’s and Valerie Fairs’ husband-wife director team. The screenplay for this movie was the first-ever project of Michael Arndt, a rookie screenwriter. The story follows Olive Hoover, a 7-year-old girl who goes on a road trip with her family from New Mexico to California to participate in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. The plot has many deep themes and concepts.
It shows a rather real and bleak side of the American dream through the dysfunctional Hoover family. But makes up for it with the sweet and heartwarming closures each character gets for their own complexities, helping each other unwind and relax in the process.
The deep and empathetic friendship between Olive (Abigail Breslin) and her foul-mouthed grandfather Edwin is the heartwarming backbone of this dark family comedy. Edwin spends most of the film assisting Olive in perfecting a secret and possibly very explicit dance routine for a pageant she is participating in. Edwin appears to be an irresponsible and bad influence over his 7-year-old granddaughter. Still, in actuality, he is the only member of Olive’s family who gives her the confidence to be herself and truly loves her for who she is.
There have been movies about friendship since the dawn of the Film Industry. And although they have different storylines and plots, all of them sends the same message to their audiences that:
