As much as I claim to be organised and obsessed with planning, even I don't always plan on the things I read and watch, and I honestly think that these accidental watches turned out to be some of my favourite and most impactful movies I've watched recently.

Being a film enthusiast, I am always looking forward to movies; I am up to date with upcoming movies, watching trailers, and anticipating watching the ones that intrigue me. But, it is of course normal that I miss a lot of movies anyway; so when I stumbled on these on Netflix, I was stunned.

Each of the movies I will talk about explores different relationships and issues that I think are important for us to look at now.

I watched these movies with no expectation at all, and they were life-changing. While three of these are romcoms to some extent, the other two are not, and they are quite unique in that way in general. These inspire thought and discussion, they bring emotion and understanding, and they leave you as a person changed. I hope you check them out and let me know what you think.

Like Father (2018)

As a workaholic woman, Rachel, is left at the altar, she locks eyes with her dad, trying to escape quietly—oh, and by the way, she hasn’t seen him in 26 years. Somehow, this encounter leads her on her Caribbean cruise honeymoon without her to-be husband, but instead, with her father. Even though they start as strangers, they soon gain appreciation for love, life, family and each other.

It is a heartwarming movie about situations, phases of life, and our relationship with life itself as well as each other.

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I Care A Lot (2020)

A dark satirical comedy that follows a woman, Marla Grayson, who owns a business as a legal guardian for senior citizens—well, legal but still shady… So when she tries to defraud a woman with ties to a powerful gangster, she lands in some hot water…

This was one of the movies that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s dark and funny, and the whole premise of it is concerning to some extent, but it is real. As disturbing as it seems, her “profession” is happening around the world on different faces. The unapologetic humour and attitude are only emphasised since Rosamund Pike plays Marla Grayson. It has action and comedy and even some romance and family, while also leaving you with something to think about with its take on ethical responsibility and consequences. So be warned and check the triggers and age ratings, and I hope you love it as much as I did!

Purple Hearts (2022)

I have been the die-hard Sofia Carson fan ever since she was first on Disney, so when I found Purple Hearts, I was immediately on board. It is about a struggling singer-songwriter, Cassie, who agrees to marry Luke, a troubled Marine, for the military benefits. As they keep up with the pretence of their marriage, they begin to form a friendship, but it doesn't stay one for long…

While it sounds like any random fake dating romcom, there is so much more to it. It explores the holes in the healthcare system, addiction, and other struggles that people experience in life that we often get lost in without the context. All of these themes are bottled up with the most poetic music, deep character development, and gorgeous aesthetics.

Lonely Planet (2024)

When Katherine, a newly single writer, reluctantly agrees to join an idyllic writers’ retreat in Morocco, she finds the one thing she never thought she could again—a connection with a younger man re-evaluating all his life choices, Owen. As their connection grows deeper, so does their relationship.

For me, this movie wasn’t just about romance and moving on from old loves to find new ones. The reason it was so impactful was because of its portrayal of relationships, and true to its name, the exploration of loneliness within relationships. It was a deep dive into such tiny aspects of relationships that one never sees until it all accumulates, and there’s one large hole of resentment and unhappiness. It brought me to tears and laughter, and fear, and I was left with all this to think of, and that is what I would call an effective movie.

The Life List (2025)

Saved the most recent for last. Again, starring Sofia Carson, we get a romcom that is about so much more than romance. The movie follows Alex as she deals with the grief of her mom’s death, but that’s not it, her mother has left her a list—The Life List. As she sets out on this quest of self-discovery in her worst period of grief, she finds things about her life she never knew, taking her through an emotional rollercoaster while she navigates old passions, new romances, and rebuilding relationships as an adult.

It is one that is so much more than a rom-com. It is about grief, love, but not just romance; it highlights the importance of friendships and self-knowledge, and I would be surprised if it doesn’t leave you with tears in your eyes.

Conclusion

In the end, you should watch movies for entertainment, and while all these give you that, they also give you so much more—emotions, understanding, and something to truly think about. I hope you check these movies out and let me know if you feel the same way about them as I do.