16 Films And TV Shows That Help After A Difficult Breakup

    "But to make yourself feel nothing so as not to feel anything – what a waste."

    Scott Bryan
    by Scott Bryan

    BuzzFeed TV Editor

    We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about the TV show or film moments that helped them a great deal following a difficult breakup.

    Please be aware that there are spoilers featured in this article.

    1. When Rachel (Chloë Grace Moretz) encouraged Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to think again about his relationship with his ex, Summer (Zooey Deschanel), in 500 Days of Summer.

    Fox Searchlight

    "It’s always so easy to look at past relationships and only think of the positive memories. This movie helped me really analyse the relationship I had and be honest about why the relationship ended."

    – rhodeelizabetho

    "People can bring all kinds of excuses to break up with you, but it all comes down to that they just don't like you enough anymore. That is always the main reason. And it's okay. Because you're not going to be happy with someone like that, while you are probably more likely to be happier with somebody else."

    – blooomx

    2. When Wanda (Lisa Kudrow) broke up with BoJack (Will Arnett) during the fourth season of BoJack Horseman.

    Netflix

    "I got back together with an ex of mine and after about a month, he began doing the same terrible things that he’d done last time we dated. I was binge-watching BoJack Horseman for the first time one day when things were particularly horrible, and I saw the episode where Wanda and BoJack break up and she tells him about the red flags looking like flags.

    "I broke up with my boyfriend the next day."

    – arielleh4d90f15c9

    3. The song at the start of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

    Netflix

    "The theme song line ‘females are strong as hell’ was a great way to end my days coming out of a long yucky divorce. Kimmy’s optimism and determination reminded me we can all rise above oppressive situations."

    – lauraw4ef42a579

    4. When Greg (Santino Fontana) broke up with Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, summing up their relationship with the song "It Was a Shitshow."

    The CW

    "This exchange made me realise that just because you still love someone, sometimes it's better to let go."

    – charlottebirdo

    5. When Rory (Alexis Bledel) told Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) in Gilmore Girls that she felt mistreated by him and was ready to move on to protect herself.

    Netflix

    "It’s a beautiful and moving scene (and episode) about growing up and moving on to better things. Everything I needed to show me I’d be okay again."

    – sylview45dc9406e

    6. The end of La La Land, when we realise that Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) are no longer together.

    Summit Entertainment

    "If Mia and Sebastian can find happiness apart from each other then we all can."

    – ktisdabestdereissss

    "It was love story, where love isn’t always the path to a happy ending."

    – collindel

    7. When Peter (Jason Segel) experiences all of the emotions after he is dumped by Sarah (Kristen Bell) in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

    Universal Pictures

    "This movie validated the ups and downs that I went through after my breakup and gave me hope that I’ll eventually get over it and move on."

    – jessicap4d98fc0f3

    "What really helped is the scene where the main character Peter gets back home, tries to act like nothing happened, completely melts down, and does absolutely nothing but sit in bed. But then he just has this breakthrough and gets his life back together and makes it better. It showed me that healing after a breakup is on your schedule, not everyone else’s, and you will just have this moment of clarity."

    – whitneyf4ba16792f

    8. The end of Garden State, when Andrew (Zach Braff) gets off a plane and talks to Sam (Natalie Portman), with them both contemplating the future of their relationship.

    Fox Searchlight Pictures

    "It was such a great moment for me because I didn't know what was next but it made me feel like I was going to be okay."

    – Fallon, Facebook

    9. When Dr Owen (Kevin McKidd) confronted Dr Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) in Grey's Anatomy, Owen suggesting that Amelia was ignoring the grieving process following a colleague's death.

    ABC

    "That's being alive. That's the point. That's the entire point. Don't avoid it. Don't extinguish it.

    "It helped me through my breakup, the loss of my brother, and my dad's depleting health. All at different times. A lot of people think Grey's is overrated, and maybe that's true. But it truly is a beautiful show."

    – marandajob

    "Meredith and the entire cast experience so much trauma. It’s soothing that other people go through terrible things and come out okay!"

    – meerap4ca658c49

    10. When Ben (Adam Scott) explains to Leslie (Amy Poehler) in Parks and Recreation the difficulty of staying friends, when both of them still have feelings for each other.

    NBC

    "And that really hit home for me while going through a somewhat similar situation. It made me decide that I didn’t want to be friends with an ex who was being selfish and actually didn’t want to change."

    – bethh480a3cc2c

    "This show made me forget what was going on in my life and it helped me see that things do get better and there probably will be a happy ending."

    – emilyn40ca55a4d

    11. When Frank (Steve Carrell) and Dwayne (Paul Dano) talk about the value of suffering in Little Miss Sunshine.

    Fox Searchlight Pictures

    "My first big breakup happened shortly after I'd dropped out of university and I was feeling pretty lost, lonely, and frankly a bit of a failure.

    "The scene on the pier with Dwayne and Frank after Dwayne finds out he is colourblind and won't be able to join the Air Force really got to me.

    "Dwayne's speech reminded me that though everything may seem hopeless, if I have faith in myself and stay strong and determined, I can achieve."

    – helenaj4436a5182

    12. When Joel (Jim Carrey) accepts Clementine (Kate Winslet) at the end of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

    Focus Features

    "If you try and erase the relationship after a breakup you end up erasing all the things that made it special. It made me sit down and think through all the pain and get to what made the relationship special and how I grew as a result of it."

    – Victoria, Facebook

    13. When Clara (Jenna Coleman) betrayed The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) in Doctor Who, but he continued to help her anyway because he cared for her.

    BBC Wales

    "That quote alone helped me get over the most difficult breakup of my life and allowed me to continue a valuable friendship with that person."

    – davidcrose89

    14. And when Sam (Emma Watson) stood up through the sunroof of the car while the stereo was blasting out Bowie in The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

    Summit Entertainment

    "It helped me to realise that I was still young and had time to enjoy my life where I was at, even if it felt terrible at the time."

    – c4af2f11a4

    15. When Amanda (Kate Winslet) talked to Miles (Jack Black) about her in ex in The Holiday.

    Universal Pictures

    "The scene in The Holiday where Kate Winslet is talking to Jack Black."

    – hollygolightly20102

    16. And finally, when Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and his father (Michael Stuhlbarg) have a beautiful and frank conversation about love and loss in Call Me by Your Name.

    Sony Picture Classics

    "It just put things into perspective for me, thus in a sense helping me be more accepting of what I had and no longer do. Beautiful."

    – audnimrod

    "That movie makes me cry every single time, but it’s so therapeutic."

    – heatherc4427e7715

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    Some entries have been edited for length and clarity.