Introduction to Films About Married Life
Films about married life often explore the complexities, joys, and challenges that come with being in a long-term partnership. These films can delve into themes like love, communication, fidelity, and the evolution of relationships over time. They can be comedic, dramatic, or a mix of both, providing viewers with a range of emotions as they reflect on their own experiences in marriage.
Films About Married Life
“The Incredibles”, 2004
Director: Brad Bird
An animated film that showcases the dynamics of a married superhero couple, Bob and Helen Parr, as they balance family life with their secret identities. It humorously tackles the challenges of marriage and parenting amidst an adventurous backdrop.
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Dominique Louis, Teddy Newton, Jean Sincere, Eli Fucile, Maeve Andrews, Wallace Shawn, Spencer Fox, Lou Romano, Wayne Canney, Sarah Vowell, Michael Bird, Elizabeth Peña, Bud Luckey, Bret «Brook» Parker, Kimberly Adair Clark, John Ratzenberger, Mark Andrews, Nicholas Bird, Louis Martin Braga III, Mary Elizabeth Clark, Pete Docter, Louis Gonzales, Elizabeth Greenberg, Juliet Greenberg, Billy Guardino, Dennis «D.J.» Jennings, Ollie Johnston, Bradford Lewis, Ted Mathot, Jazzie Mahannah, Randy Nelson, Bob Peterson, Jeff Pidgeon, Juliet Pokorny, Joe Ranft, Lori Richardson, A.J. Riebli III, Katherine Ringgold, Bob Scott, Peter Sohn, Andrew Stanton, Frank Thomas, Pamela Gaye Walker, Patrick Walker;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: animation, science fiction, family, action;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “The Incredibles” on the website imdb.com
“Before Midnight”, 2013
Director: Richard Linklater
The third installment in Richard Linklater's “Before” trilogy, this film takes place nine years after the couple's last encounter. It offers a raw and honest look at the realities of long-term relationships, filled with deep conversations and emotional conflicts.
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Prior, Charlotte Prior, Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Walter Lassally, Ariane Labed, Yiannis Papadopoulos, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Panos Koronis, Enrico Focardi, Manolis Goussias, Anouk Servera, Yota Argyropoulou, Serafeim Radis, Tety Kalafati, John Sloss;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 109 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
“Couples Retreat”, 2009
Director: Peter Billingsley
A comedy about four couples who go on a vacation to a tropical resort only to find themselves forced to participate in couples therapy. The film humorously addresses the issues faced in marriage and the importance of communication.
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, Malin Åkerman, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Kali Hawk, Tasha Smith, Carlos Ponce, Peter Serafinowicz, Jean Reno, Temuera Morrison, Jonna Walsh, Gattlin Griffith, Colin Baiocchi, Vernon Vaughn, James aka Jersey Jim Comedy Magician Wells, Paul Boese, Daniel Cage Theodore, Phillip Jordan, John Michael Higgins, Ken Jeong, Charlotte Cornwell, Amy Hill, Karen David, Alyssa Julya Smith, Alexis Knapp, Joy Bisco, Janna Fassaert, Xavier Tournaud, Justin Deeley, Scott Burn, Micah Mason, Christophe Santoro, Yann Marequa, Sacha Perreault, Zofia Moreno, Steve Byrne, Brendan Wayne, David Merheb, Billy Loa, Chu Vang, Jeremy Olson, Bronx Style Bob, J-ray, Hanna Brophy, Lyndsay Magellan, Marketa Janska;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 107 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,5;
More information about the film “Couples Retreat” on the website imdb.com
“Little Children”, 2006
Director: Todd Field
This drama explores the lives of two suburban parents who become involved in an affair. It examines the complexities of marriage, infidelity, and the search for fulfillment in their lives.
Starring: Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Noah Emmerich, Gregg Edelman, Phyllis Somerville, Raymond J. Barry, Jane Adams, Ty Simpkins, Sadie Goldstein, Helen Carey, Sarah Buxton, Mary B. McCann, Trini Alvarado, Marsha Dietlein, Will Lyman, Catherine Wolf, Thomas Greaney, Anna Audia, Celestial Hakim, Hunter Reid, Chadwick Brown, Phil McGlaston, Bruce Kirkpatrick, Adam Mucci, Chance Kelly, Rebecca Schull, Crystal Field, Lola Pashalinski, Walker Ryan, David Cole, Weston Elrod, Erica Berg, Christopher Nicholas Smith, Adam Sietz, Stan Carp, Sandra Berrios, Ivar Brogger, Myra Turley, David Rowden, Paul Mott, Margaret Pace, Beatrice Rigaud, Mary Goggin, Jillian Lindig, William Harvey, Casper Andreas;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 137 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Little Children” on the website imdb.com
“The Birdcage”, 1996
Director: Mike Nichols
A comedy about a gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner who put up a false straight front when their son brings home his fiancée's ultra-conservative parents. The film explores themes of acceptance, love, and the challenges of being in a committed relationship.
Starring: Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Hank Azaria, Dan Futterman, Calista Flockhart, Christine Baranski, Tom McGowan, Grant Heslov, Kirby Mitchell, James Lally, Luca Tommassini, Luis Camacho, André Fuentes, Tony Gonzalez, Dante Henderson, Scott Kaske, Kevin Alexander Stea, Tim Kelleher, Ann Cusack, Stanley DeSantis, J. Roy Helland, Anthony Giaimo, Lee Delano, David Sage, Michael Kinsley, Tony Snow, Dorothy Constantine, Trina McGee, Barry Nolan, Amy Powell, Ron Pitts, James Hill, Mary Major, Steven Porfido, John Pontrelli, Herschel Sparber, Francesca Cruz, Brian Reddy, Jim Jansen, Al Rodrigo, Marjorie Lovett, Sylvia Short, James H. Morrison, Robert K. Baruch, Jordan Ancel, Patrizia Barretto, Elisa Bridges, Scott Burkholder;
Production year: 1996;
Genre: comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 117 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “The Birdcage” on the website imdb.com
“Crazy, Stupid, Love.”, 2011
Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
This romantic comedy follows a middle-aged man who learns how to navigate the dating scene after his marriage falls apart. It intertwines multiple stories about love and relationships, emphasizing the ups and downs of married life.
Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Lio Tipton, Jonah Bobo, Kevin Bacon, Marisa Tomei, John Carroll Lynch, Beth Littleford, Joey King, Liza Lapira, Josh Groban, Mekia Cox, Julianna Guill, Zayne Emory, Crystal Reed, Reggie Lee, Cait Thompson, Karolina Wydra, Tracy Mulholland, Katerina Kopel, Janine Barris, Jenny Mollen, Charlie Hartsock, Algerita Wynn, Wendy Worthington, Dan Butler, Tiara Parker, Laurel Coppock, Rasika Mathur, Joshua Ryan, Jasen Salvatore, Michael Long, Dillon Neaman, J-ray, Janae Nicole Caudillo, Christopher Darga, Rich Hutchman, Richard Steven Horvitz, Lauren Stone, Megan James, Rebecca Flinn-White, Billy Atchison, Ehrin Marlow, David Orosz, Camille Abelow, Maija Polsley, Christian Pitre, Heather La Bella;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 118 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” on the website imdb.com
“Marriage Story”, 2019
Director: Noah Baumbach
A raw portrayal of the breakdown of a marriage, showcasing the emotional turmoil of a couple as they go through the legal and personal challenges of divorce while trying to remain amicable for their son.
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta, Julie Hagerty, Merritt Wever, Julia Greer, Azhy Robertson, Wallace Shawn, Matthew Maher, Eric Berryman, Mickey Sumner, David Turner, Gideon Glick, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Motell Gyn Foster, Raymond J. Lee, Mary Wiseman, Pete Simpson, Irene Choi, Matthew Shear, Becca Blackwell, Brooke Bloom, Hannah Dunne, McKinley Belcher III, Roslyn Ruff, Santiago Mallan, Robert Smigel, Amanda Rovner, Sarah Jones, Carlos Jacott, Dean Wareham, Bashir Salahuddin, Vinny Chhibber, Mark O'Brien, Ayden Mayeri, Erin Sullivan, Lucas Neff, Annie Hamilton, Tunde Adebimpe, Jordyn Curet, Justin Claiborne, Kyle Bornheimer, Pilar Holland, Emily Cass McDonnell, Andrew Steven Hernandez, Amir Talai, Juan Alfonso, Connie Marie Flores;
Production year: 2019;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 137 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “Marriage Story” on the website imdb.com
“Hope Springs”, 2012
Director: David Frankel
Starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones, this film tells the story of a married couple who attend an intense week-long counseling session to work on their stagnant marriage. It highlights the importance of intimacy and understanding in relationships.
Starring: Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell, Jean Smart, Ben Rappaport, Marin Ireland, Patch Darragh, Brett Rice, Becky Ann Baker, Elisabeth Shue, Charles Techman, Dan Flaherty, Damian Young, Mimi Rogers, Ann Harada, Jack Haley, Susan Misner, Rony Clanton, John Srednicki, Madeline Ruskin, Lee Cunningham, Paul Jude Letersky, Rogina Bedell-O'Brien, Stephen Lee Davis, Lori Hammel, Elias Azzi, David Boston, Amy Casey, Mary A. DeBriae, Bob Dio, Frank Durant, John Franchi, London Hall, Bill Ladd, Mike Messier, Kayla Ruhl, Luis Sanchez, Christina Sciongay, Alexis Tarasevich, Jamie Christopher White;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
More information about the film “Hope Springs” on the website imdb.com
“An Unmarried Woman”, 1978
Director: Paul Mazursky
This film chronicles a woman's journey of self-discovery after her husband leaves her for a younger woman. It addresses themes of independence, identity, and the changing dynamics of marriage.
Starring: Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates, Michael Murphy, Cliff Gorman, Patricia Quinn, Kelly Bishop, Lisa Lucas, Linda Miller, Andrew Duncan, Daniel Seltzer, Matthew Arkin, Penelope Russianoff, Novella Nelson, Raymond J. Barry, Ivan Karp, Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker, Chico Martínez, Clint Chin, Ken Chapin, Tom Elios, Karen Ford, Alice J. Kane, Pamela Meunier, Donna Perich, Vincent Schiavelli, John Stravinsky, Ultra Violet, Paul Jenkins, Marianne Muellerleile, David Rasche, Alison Tucker;
Production year: 1978;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 124 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “An Unmarried Woman” on the website imdb.com
These films provide a diverse perspective on married life, each offering unique insights into the challenges and triumphs that come with long-term relationships.
In conclusion, films about married life offer a rich tapestry of emotions and experiences that reflect the complexities of love, commitment, and partnership. From the heartwarming to the heart-wrenching, these narratives explore the joys and challenges that come with sharing a life with another person. They serve as mirrors to our own relationships, prompting reflection and conversation about the nature of love, fidelity, and personal growth. Whether through humor, drama, or poignant moments of vulnerability, these films remind us that marriage is not just a destination but a journey filled with evolving dynamics and shared stories, ultimately enriching our understanding of what it means to be truly connected to another human being.
