Films about love and romanceare ever-abundant, but movies that truly depict the lives of married people realistically are few and far between. These films don’t come too often, but they manage to capture the essence of what it’s like to be in a committed relationship and the hardships that come with that in a way that is relatable to everyone. Movies like these don’t try to force an opinion but rather exist as an exhibition of reality without judgment. Many of these movies have even won Academy Awards and been celebrated by the masses, some going as far as to be revered as classics.
Such films are crafted by someone who knows what it’s like to be or has been in that situation, often pulling inspiration from the very source that hurt or inspired them. Although not all realistic movies about marriage are dark and bleak, unfortunately, for some reason, a lot of them are. Whatever that says about the institution, these are the most honest and realistic movies about marriage.
Updated July 06, 2025,by Danilo Raul: If you love honest romance movies, you’ll be happy to know we’ve updated this article and added more suggestions for films that showcase the realism of marriage.
20Cherry (2021)
After playing Spider-Man in the MCU, Tom Hollandtook a detour to dramaguided by The Russo Brothers. The result wasCherry, the 2021 film, depicts a romanticized version of a wrecked marriage. Cherry meets and falls in love with Emily but doesn’t feel he’s got something to show for it, so he enlists in the Marines. After returning from war, Cherry has to deal with mental issues and PTSD, which leads him to become addicted to opioids.
His wife cannot help him in any way, joins him into darkness, and fuels Cherry’s misguided attempts at bank robberies to get money and pay for their drug addiction. After multiple heists, Cherry gets one of his friends killed off, which leads him to prison for 14 years. Emily sticks with him despite their toxic relationship and sobers up alongside him to get together with him again after his release.
19Walk The Line (2005)
Walk the Linetells the most remarkable love story ever told in music. It’s not pretty, but it offers a realistic approach that some people may find relatable. The film depicts the road to stardom for Johnny Cash (played by Joaquin Phoenix), from his early days married to Vivian Liberto, who was very supportive of his choices. Vivian plays an integral role in the rise of Johnny as a musician until June Carter (played by Reese Witherspoon) enters the picture.
Vivian can see the writing on the wall, but Johnny only has eyes for June from then on. This moment of conflict drives him to abuse drugs and alcohol until he musters the courage to propose to June, who can’t seem to find the same feelings for this wreck of a man. After he manages to clean up his act, she finally accepts him and becomes the love of his life, as often referred to in his music about her.
18Manchester by The Sea (2016)
Manchester by The Seais a somber film following the story of Lee Chandler, masterfully played by Casey Affleck. He begins the film married to a beautiful woman named Randi with two kids. A house fire happens, and the couple loses both children. The couple cannot deal with the tragedy, which eventually drives them apart to divorce.
We get a hold of Lee some years laterwith no will to livewhen his brother’s sudden passing leaves his teenage nephew, Patrick, at his doorstep, with Lee now being the boy’s sole guardian. Patrick does his best to help Lee move on, but Lee realizes the only way to do so is by going away from everything that hurts him. Ultimately, Lee makes arrangements to leave his nephew with a good family while he moves out to Boston to lead a new life.
17Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Kramer vs. Krameris the film that made Meryl Streep a powerhouse in Hollywood, earning her a second nomination to the Academy Awards for best supporting actressand her first Oscar win. She was competing with Jane Alexander in the same category for the same film.Kramer vs. Kramerhad a significant impact on the year it was released. It was the first time a movie depicted the nuclear family having a meltdown of epic proportions.
The father, Ted Kramer,played by Dustin Hoffman, is a workaholic who lands a big win for his company. His wife Joanna feels relegated and neglected by her husband, prompting her to leave him. Ted realizes he doesn’t have a bond with his son, but he continues to contest custody from Joanna until the couple’s neighbor testifies against him. Ted realizes that he must forge a bond with his son if he genuinely wants his love, thus letting him go with his mother in the end.
16American Beauty (1999)
American Beautyis another film portraying the superficiality plaguing modern American marriage in the twilling of Yuppie Culture. Masterfully played bythe ever-creepy Kevin Spacey, Lester Burnham wakes up one day to realize he’s massively unfulfilled with his life. He doesn’t love his neurotic, ambitious wife, Carolyn (played by Annet Benning). Meanwhile, their daughter, Jane, struggles with self-esteem while deposing them secretly. The film plays with multiple themes related to adult maturity, responsibility, parental roles, and closeted homosexuality.
The Fitts family enters the picture, with their son Ricky (Wes Bentley) dealing drugs. Lester becomes infatuated with Angela, a young girlfriend of his daughter. Carolyn has an affair with a business rival. Frank Fitts, a military man, thinks his neighbor and son are entangled in homosexual behavior when he struggles with his urges.
It’s a full-blown exploration of the discontent and disillusionment of married life, leading to tragic consequences… And five Oscars wins, including Best Actor, Director, and Film of the Year.
15Casino (1995)
Casinois a film with multiple stories from different POVs, but the movie also depicts the consequences of transactional marriages. Sam “Ace” Rothstein (played by Robert DeNiro) is sent to Las Vegas by the Chicago Mafia to run the Tangiers Casino; He quickly doubles the profits by evolving the game in the city of lights. Sam falls in love with a hustler and former prostitute, Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone). She doesn’t love him, yet he still wants her by her side. Ginger is very open to Sam about his feelings from the get-go.
Ginger has difficulty letting go of her past, especially her former boyfriend and pimp, Lester Diamond (James Woods). Sam tries to keep tabs on his wife with a pager, butshe can’t be controlled. She cheats on him with Nicky Santoro, Sam’s longtime friend, and enforcer. When the dust settles, Ginger leaves Sam, taking one million dollars in cash and jewelry, which she spends lavishly until dying from an overdose. Sam never really had a chance trying to control such a free spirit, especially in attempting to transform her into a housewife.
14Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
This little film, released in 2012, follows Pat Solitano Jr (played by Bradley Cooper), who is released from a mental health facility after being treated for bipolar disorder. The man puts some effort into trying to reconnect with his ex-wife, Nikki. He eventually meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who offers to deliver a letter to Nikki if Pat agrees to partner with her for a dancing competition.
As they practice, Pat develops feelings for Tiffany while wanting to win Nikki back. Pat struggles to save his marriage,but some relationships are beyond saving, especially when your partner has moved on without you or was never supportive during hard times. Pat eventually realizes his genuine feelings for Tiffany, and they begin a relationship.
13I, Tonya (2017)
Based on actual life events,I, Tonya, depict the life of ice skater Tonya Harding (played by modern Barbie girl Margot Robbie) and the significant role her toxic marriage to Jeff Gillooly played in her downfall. From the start, we can see Tanya always had great potential, but her surroundings conspired against her best efforts. That’s not to say she’s a faultless victim of the circumstances. Throughout the film, Tonya is frequently abused by her husband, yet she chooses to stay by his side.
Even as their marriage becomes increasingly strained and Jeff becomes more controlling and manipulative, she sticks with him. This would eventually lead to the infamous attack on Tonya’s rival, Nancy Kerrigan, resulting in Tonya’s ban from competitive figure skating. Jeff would ultimately implicate Tonya in the attack, leading to her being banned from the sport for life.The film finisheswith a quick recount of Tonya’s life, married to a new partner and happy but a tarnished legacy thanks to Jeff’s actions.
12Husband and Wives (1992)
Woody Allen hasn’t been inHollywood’s best graces for a while, but the man has an undeniable talent to portray life in ways that seem commonplace for some but unconventional for the masses. He’s never been a huge box office drawn, but all his films depict humanity in their most raw form, especially relationships and marriage.Husbands and Wivesis one of those works.The movie tells the storyof two couples in the process of being separated and all the complexities that come after parting ways. Allen and then wife, Mia Farrow, play one of the leading couples, and Judy Davis and Sidney Polack play the other half of the POV characters.
Each character struggles with feelings towards their partners and desires for love and companionship. The film begins with Jack and Sally informing Gabe and Judy about their separation. This inconsequential occurrence involves infidelity, jealousy, and failed attempts at new relationships. After a series of ups and downs, Jack and Sally reconcile, while Gabe and Judy end their relationship. The film ends with all characters reflecting on the difficulties of marriage and their choices to get there.
11Marriage Story (2019)
Noah Baumbach’s intense relationship drama was heavily based on his own experiences when he divorced Jennifer Jason Leigh in 2013. The meticulously-crafted film puts the dying relationship between Nicole and Charlie Barber (played by Scarlett Johanssonand Adam Driver, respectively) under the microscope, closely examining their marriage that’s falling apart while they attempt to keep their family together.
Marriage Storyreceived critical acclaim and was,per Variety, nominated in six categories at the 92nd annual Academy Awards and the 77th Golden Globe Awards, with Laura Dern (who plays Nora Franshaw, Nicole’s lawyer) winning Best Supporting Actress at both ceremonies. Baumbach made a film that’s deeply personal to him, yet is still relatable to anyone who’s going through a similar situation. The film takes no sides in portraying one person to be “better” than the other, but instead just shows the audience the situation as it is. It’s the raw emotion running throughout the film and its performances that keep people on the edge of their seats.
Related:7 Movies Like Marriage Story on Netflix You Should Watch Next
