What are the best films & DVD’s about divorce?

Hollywood has never been shy of exploring the topic of divorce over the years. Whilst some DVD’s and films about divorce have been extraordinarily serious in tone, other movies about the topic have had a more light-hearted if still bittersweet feel. Let’s take a look at five of the most talked-about films about divorce right now.

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

This late-seventies classic starred Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep as a couple going through a fiery custody battle. The film explores the new bond between Hoffman’s character Ted and his son who he once neglected and is regarded as one of the most powerful explorations of divorce ever committed to celluloid.

Marriage Story (2019)

Marriage Story is a more recent title which explores the events at the end of a marriage. Starring Scarlett Johansson as Nicole and Adam Driver as Charlie, the film sees the pair explore their feelings for each other after an affair and depicts them splitting custody and dividing their assets. The movie won a great deal of critical acclaim upon its release.

The War of the Roses (1989)

The eighties classic starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as married couple Oliver and Barbara Rose. A dark comedy, the film sees the pair attempt to not only ruin each others’ lives but their careers and even their personal safety. The film was based on Warren Adler’s 1981 book of the same name.

Mrs Doubtfire (1993)

This hilarious yet melancholic Robin Williams movie sees the late star transform himself from an out-of-work actor into an elderly nanny in order to regain access to his children. The film also stars Sally Field who portrays his former wife, Miranda and Pierce Brosnan who plays her new boyfriend, Stuart ‘Stu’ Dunmeyer.

Blue Valentine (2010)

Blue Valentine stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as a couple attempting to work out why their marriage failed. It includes scenes of their pair’s first meeting alongside ones that depict their present situation, in which the love they once had for one another has virtually disappeared.

The Parent Trap (1998)

The Parent Trap sees Lindsey Lohan play a pair of twin girls who attempt to get their divorced parents back together. The film has frequently been praised for the way it depicts the effects a divorce can have on any children involved.

Laws of Attraction (2004)

This 2004 romantic comedy was directed by Peter Howitt and was based on a story by Aline Brosh McKenna. Also starring Pierce Brosnan alongside Julianne Moore, the film tells the story of two divorce lawyers who embark upon a relationship though have very different approaches to their legal jobs, with Moore’s character Audrey practising law strictly by the book and Brosnan’s Daniel often adopting a more reckless strategy.

These are just a few of the world’s favourite movies about divorce and divorce law. With divorce rates still rising around the world, it seems likely that this topic will continue to be covered by the movie industry for many years to come.