In some parts of the world, November 11 (or 11/11) isn’t just a big sale day on your favorite e-commerce apps. It’s also Singles’ Day, a day to celebrate being single and absolutely loving it.
While indulging in a little online shopping is one way to celebrate Singles' Day, why not take some time to enjoy movies that highlight the beauty of singlehood and the freedom it brings? Here are five films that celebrate being single and thriving:
1. Barbie
Greta Gerwig’s 2023 box office hit Barbie, based on the iconic fashion doll, ackles a wide range of themes, from girlhood to societal expectations, patriarchy, and masculinity. But at its heart, it’s also about the empowerment of individuality. Throughout the film, Ken chases Barbie because he believes that he is nothing without her – it’s always been “Barbie and Ken.” Meanwhile, Barbie is living her best life as an individual. By the end, Barbie teaches Ken that he isn’t just “and Ken,” and that he is his own person. Being “just Ken” doesn’t make him incomplete – it makes him who he truly is.
2. Frances Ha
Frances Ha is a comedic character study about Frances, a happily single woman in her late 20s. She’s a little bit of a mess, and her best friend is leaving their shared apartment to get married, but that’s okay! Frances isn’t looking to be locked down by marriage, or kids, or responsibility. She is instead (literally) dancing through life, pursuing her passions and celebrating the freedom that her single life brings. Noah Baumbach’s 2013 film, starring Greta Gerwig (yes, the Barbie director), ends with a simple yet powerful image of Frances' personal growth and the success she achieves entirely on her own terms.
3. Happy-Go-Lucky
Sally Hawkins plays an almost impossibly happy and perpetually excited single woman in her 30s named Poppy. Her upbeat attitude sometimes frustrates the people around her, but her joy for life is so infectious that it’s hard to stay mad. While Poppy does eventually find romance, it’s clear that love was never her goal. She’s more focused on living her life as she chooses and using her positivity to brighten the world around her. Poppy’s story is a testament to the idea that happiness comes from within, not from a relationship.
4. Perfect Days
Though not directly about being single, Perfect Days is a beautifully contemplative film about embracing solitude and finding joy in the simple pleasures of life. This Japanese film follows Hirayama, a 60-something man who works as a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Despite his seemingly humble existence, Hirayama finds fulfillment in his solitary life, surrounded by his books and rare cassette tapes. He isn’t isolated or a loner, as he does go out and about, meets all kinds of people and lives within his community. And yet, he may be more fulfilled than anyone else. Perfect Days shows us the beauty in a person who has found fulfilling joy in the simple life he has built for himself.
5. Brave
Pixar’s first film that featured a Disney Princess, Brave turns the tropes of a Disney Princess inside out. When Princess Merida discovers that she’s meant to marry the winner of a bow-and-arrow competition, she rebels. Merida isn’t here to be married off to some man – she is perfectly fine on her own. In a powerful moment, she competes for her own hand in marriage and easily wins. Unlike most Disney Princesses, Merida doesn’t end up with a Prince Charming, which made Brave a refreshing and bold take on what it means to be a princess at the time of the film’s release.
These films showcase different individuals who find the joy in singlehood and why it’s important to celebrate it rather than shun it. Being single doesn’t mean you’re alone and unsuccessful. For some, living that solo life is what works for you and that is perfectly okay.