Raise your hand if you’ve ever curled up on the couch and turned on your favorite movie after a particularly rough day? Maybe Bridget Jones’s Diary gave you hope you’d find love again after a brutal breakup, or Erin Brockovich made you feel like you could kick butt and tackle any problem that came your way at work. The truth is, a really good movie can help you cope, inspire you, teach you invaluable lessons, bring you laughter when you need it most—and so much more.
With this in mind, we asked Oprah Daily staffers what movies they think every woman should see at least once in their life. Behold, the flicks that rose to the top.
Sleepless in Seattle
What’s it about? Tom Hanks plays Sam, a widower whose young son attempts to find him a new wife by calling into a national radio show. Annie (Meg Ryan) happens to be listening and is intrigued—so she writes to Sam asking him to meet her at the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day.
Why we love it: “Back when Sleepless in Seattle released, I really loved it (I even went to see it with my now ex-husband in the middle of our divorce). It may not be your typical romance pick, but it really struck a nerve with me. It strikes the perfect balance of sweet and sad. The soundtrack is melancholy but so freeing, and if there’s a chance any other woman can feel even a fraction of what I felt watching that story unfold, then I recommend it as a must-see.” —Gayle King, Oprah Daily editor at large and cohost of CBS Mornings
Fatal Attraction
What’s it about? Released in 1987, this film has Glenn Close playing a jilted lover who begins stalking Michael Douglas (and his family) after they have an affair.
Why we love it: “Fatal Attraction is an extreme example of what could go really, really wrong when you break with monogamy. My suggestion? See it with your significant other. Sometimes men need a reminder to not act a fool.” —Gayle
20th Century Women
What’s it about? Though this movie was released in 2016, it is set in California in 1979. Annette Bening plays a single mother raising a son who is on the threshold of manhood—and enlisting two younger women to help.
Why we love it: “I love this movie not only because it delves into the complicated business of raising young men—a subject near and dear to my heart as the mother of two boys—but also because it captures a slice of Southern California in the 1970s on the heels of Title IX and Roe v. Wade. At the heart of the narrative is the relationship between a single mother and a son and the multigenerational female trifecta—each representing different stages of a woman’s life--that she enlists to help her shepherd her punk-obsessed son into manhood.” —Pilar Guzmán, Oprah Daily editorial director
Moonstruck
What’s it about? Cher plays a Brooklyn bookkeeper who falls in love with Nicolas Cage’s character in this 1987 film. The problem? She’s already engaged to his brother.
Why we love it: “One word: Cher. In all seriousness, it’s a movie about a woman who chooses herself and her needs over what she’s ‘supposed to do.’ She could have stuck with the safe route and stayed with her fiancé. Instead, she takes a risk and allows herself to fall for Ronny—played flawlessly by Nicolas Cage—and finds love, joy, and desire.” —Paulie Dibner, Oprah Daily executive editor
Broadcast News
What’s it about? Holly Hunter, William Hurt, and Albert Brooks make a competitive newsroom trio in this film about a type-A producer who finds herself oddly attracted to a rather vapid anchorman±even though she can’t stand him.
Why we love it: “Broadcast News is a smart, grown-up comedy about a young female TV news producer in Washington, D.C. Released in 1987, when I was in high school, it made me want to be a journalist. But even more so, I wanted to be the main character, played by the feisty Holly Hunter. Her character is brilliant and formidable at her job but makes colossal mistakes in her personal life. She starts every day with a messy, solitary cry, then pulls it together for work. And ultimately, she chooses professional integrity over a romance with a pretty-boy anchorman (a flawless William Hurt, playing a precursor to Ken). That’s the kind of happily ever after more women need to see.” —Jennie Tung, Oprah Daily senior director, wellness and features
Terms of Endearment
What's it about? Widow Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger) are deeply bonded—even if they annoy the heck out of one another half the time. After Emma's husband cheats, she packs up her kids and moves in with her mom.
Why we love it: “Terms of Endearment is a love story about relationships between mothers and daughters—and an ode to just how powerful and, at times, complicated that bond can be. Aurora may be overbearing, but, wow, does she show up for daughter, Emma. You’ll laugh at how batty they drive each other and cry at the deep and unbreakable bond they have. Oh, and the side plot of Aurora finding true love and good sex in her 50s with her playboy next-door neighbor (played hilariously by Jack Nicholson)? What’s not to love about that?” —Bethany Heitman, Oprah Daily director, editorial partnerships & integration
Hidden Figures
What’s it about? This 2016 film—which is based on a true story —features Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe. They play Black female mathematicians at NASA who face significant personal challenges, but whose work gets astronaut John Glenn into space (and back to Earth) in the 1960s.
Why we love it: “I knew very little about Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson before watching this movie, which so beautifully tells the story of the important (and under-recognized) work they did at NASA. It shows that no matter what obstacles are put in our way, women can do anything.” —Maggie Maloney, Oprah Daily digital director
Coco
What’s it about? In this 2017 Pixar film, Miguel is a talented young musician whose family forbids music. But on the Day of the Dead holiday, he ends up in the Land of the Dead. There, he connects with his great-great-grandfather, who was a famous singer.
Why we love it: “Every woman should see this animated Pixar film—whether or not they have kids. In fact, if you’re like me, then you’ll prefer watching it by yourself so you can sing, laugh, cry, and sit there fully absorbed and mesmerized without kiddo interruptions. The main character, a boy named Miguel, is surrounded by kick-ass, resourceful Mexican matriarchs who lead their families through generations. They know who they are, they’re fearless, and they're so stubborn (and oh my goodness, do they remind me of my own aunts and grandmother). It’s a beautiful film. I can and have watched it again and again.” —Kate Sandoval Box, Oprah Daily beauty director
Barbie
What’s it about? Life is perfect in Barbie Land—women run things and every day is filled with great clothes and fun parties. But when Barbie (played by Margot Robbie) starts to having deeper thoughts, she decides to travel to the real world to understand herself better and discover her true purpose.
Why we love it: “I’m not a big movie watcher (I haven’t seen a ton of the classics, and everyone gets upset with me for it), but I recently saw Barbie and feel like America Ferrera’s monologue about what society unfairly expects of women is one that women should watch because it’s an experience that many of us can relate to. Watching her talk about the nuance of being a woman who is trying to be successful and independent while navigating societal expectations made me feel seen and validated.” —Genesis Rivas, Oprah Daily beauty editor
The First Wives Club
What’s it about? Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton play divorced women who decide to get revenge on their exes in this 1996 film.
Why we love it: “Cue the classic song ‘You Don’t Own Me’… One film all women should keep in rotation is The First Wives Club! The story is about college friends who reunite and join forces as they seek revenge on their husbands, who left them for younger women. The film allows you to experience a range of emotions and shows that true friendship can handle a number of life’s tests, and that there’s always an opportunity to help others no matter the circumstance. I can’t even recall the number of times I’ve seen this film, but I can recite almost every word. Bette, Goldie, and Diane’s chemistry cannot be matched!" —J’nelle Agee, Oprah Daily senior video producer
Joy
What’s it about? This 2015 movie tells the story of inventor and QVC star Joy Mangano (played by Jennifer Lawrence), detailing how she struggled to start her business but eventually created an empire.
Why we love it: “Joy Mangano knew she had invented something that would be useful to a lot of women and had to fight to be recognized. She’s an example that perseverance pays off. The fact that this is a true story makes it all the more inspiring.” —Stephanie Makrias, Oprah Daily copy chief
Someone Great
What’s it about? Gina Rodriguez’s character and her boyfriend break up in New York City after she gets a job in San Francisco. So she decides to have one last adventure in the Big Apple with her friends in this 2019 Netflix film.
Why we love it: “Heartbreak is always tough, but to see a movie when someone experiences what it’s like to feel that and then really let go is really painful. This movie hits you right in the feels.” —Shelby Copeland, Oprah Daily assistant to the editor at large and assistant, social & livestream events
Waiting to Exhale
What's it about? Based on a book by Terry McMillan, this 1995 film features four friends navigating their careers, tricky love lives, and, of course, friendships.
Why we love it: “Watching the close-knit friendship between Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon was a delight. Who could forget Bassett’s hair-raising portrayal of Bernadine, the character who lights her scheming husband’s clothes on fire in a car parked in their driveway? To me, that scene is a total mic-drop moment.” —Jane Burnett, Oprah Daily assistant editor
Legally Blonde
What’s it about? Reese Witherspoon plays a sorority girl who heads to law school at Harvard to get her ex-boyfriend (and fellow Harvard student) back, but graduates with a degree and a more meaningful path forward.
Why we love it: “It always makes me laugh, inspires me to shoot for lofty/unexpected goals in my career and life, and is the ultimate post-breakup revenge story. All in all, it says that you can do whatever you set your mind to, even if people think you’re incapable of it because of your upbringing or who you’ve been previously.” —Cassie Hurwitz, Oprah Daily assistant editor
Frances Ha
What’s it about? This quirky 2012 film is about a young woman living in New York and working as an apprentice at a dance company—even though she's not really a dancer.
Why we love it: “The perfect movie for women of any age (though particularly those in their 20s and 30s) who are struggling with some of the biggest questions: What do I do with my life? And why does it feel like everyone around me is moving on? Great takes on female friendships and the pain of growing up and older, but all dressed up in a monochromatic slice-of-life style. [Greta] Gerwig as Frances really nails the role: endearingly ditzy, weirdly thoughtful, and even painfully cringe at times—but perfect for the message.” —Sofia Lodato, Oprah Daily editorial assistant
Jane Burnett
Assistant Editor
Jane Burnett is an Assistant Editor at Oprah Daily, where she writes a variety of lifestyle content for the editorial team. She's a journalist with a pop culture sweet tooth—when she isn't catching up on celebrity news, she's usually listening to a podcast! Jane was previously an on-air reporter in local news, and worked at Thrive Global, Ladders News, and Reuters. She also interned at CNBC through the Emma Bowen Foundation, and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
