It's hard to resist a good old romantic comedy or gripping crime flick, but I'm here to make a case for one of the most underrated movie genres of all time: the friendship movie. When the relationship doesn't work out or you can't defeat the villain alone, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend? From tear-jerking classics like The Bucket List to feel-good children's movies like Paddington, we've rounded up the best movies about friendship that you can instantly stream on Netflix during your next BFF night in.
Ed (Jack Nicholson) is a corporate billionaire who finds himself sharing the same hospital room as Carter (Morgan Freeman), a salt-of-the-earth mechanic. Both terminally ill, the two men decide to dash from their cancer ward and check off the craziest goals on their bucket list.
In the quaint British children's film Paddington, a kind family takes in Paddington, a Peruvian bear without a home. Things are looking up for Paddington until an evil taxidermist (Nicole Kidman) tries to capture him.
Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton team up in Joyful Noise, portraying two fiercely independent women who form an unlikely alliance in order to save their choir.
In this black-and-white comedy-drama, Greta Gerwig plays an aspiring dancer named Frances who lives with her best friend Sophie in New York. Things stir up when Sophie decides to move into a more expensive neighborhood, which forces Frances to learn how to figure things out on her own.
Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather is one of the best films of all time for a gamut of different reasons. Besides being a great cinematic experience, it'll also teach you a thing or two about friendship. In Don Vito Corleone's eternal words, "Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family."
In this charming comedy, Peter (Paul Rudd) proposes to the love of his life, but now needs to go find a best man for his wedding. While shopping around for friends, he becomes close with Sydney (Jason Segel), who's a bit too much of a bro's bro for Peter's fiance Zooey (Rashida Jones).
Shot on three iPhone 5s smartphones, Sean Baker's critically acclaimed comedy-drama Tangerine is about Sin-Dee, a transgender sex worker who, after a short stint in prison, learns from her friend Alexandra that her boyfriend has been cheating on her. Sin-Dee and Alexandra team up to make sure that he pays.
Ryan (George Clooney) fires people for a living and gives motivational speeches about living a life free of attachments to people. He forms an unconventional friendship and mentor relationship with Natalie (Anna Kendrick), a young new hire at his company who develops a system to fire people over video call.
Friends at a strict all-boys prep school meet an inspiring, free-spirited teacher who changes their lives in Dead Poets Society. You'll laugh and cry in this star-studded film that features career-changing performances from Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, and more.
Friendship exists in a range of different genres, especially fantasy. The hobbit Frodo is joined by his loyal friends on a dangerous journey to destroy the ring of Sauron in The Fellowships of the Ring.
In this emotional drama, Matthew McConaughey portrays Ron Woodroof, a real AIDS patient who created the Dallas Buyers Club to distribute drugs to treat HIV patients in the '80s, a time when scientists did not understand the virus. In the movie, Ron strikes a friendship with Rayon, an HIV-positive transgender woman who helps him set up the club.
Complicated and unlikely bonds of friendship form between a black and white family in rural Mississippi after World War II in Dee Rees's moving historical drama Mudbound, which has received widespread acclaim. The Netflix original movie stars Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blige, Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, and Jason Mitchell.
In this sweet and charming comedy, the world's ending, and Dodge (Steve Carell) decides to go look for his high school sweetheart. He convinces his neighbor Penny (Keira Knightley) to join him on his quest.
As his parents go through their divorce, a lonely child befriends his curmudgeonly Vietnam war vet neighbor in St. Vincent. This indie comedy features performances from Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, and Naomi Watts.
Paul Rudd is a writer-turned-caregiver named Ben in the sweet Netflix original The Fundamentals of Caring. During his first job as a caregiver, Ben strikes up a friendship with his client Trevor, a snarky teenager with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Ben and Trevor go on a road trip to see The World's Deepest Pit and meet interesting personalities along the way.
Besides being a kickass superhero movie, Captain America: Civil War is also about the tensions and divides in friendship. At the end of the day, Cap and Iron Man care about each other, but they definitely have issues to sort out.
Brought to life in this hilariously animated film, Dav Pilkey's universally beloved children's novel is about two best friends who hypnotize their principal into becoming a tighty-whitey-wearing superhero. The movie adaption features voices from comedians Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, and Nick Kroll.
In Marti Noxon's emotional film To the Bone, Lily Collins plays a troubled college dropout who struggles with anorexia. Under the advice of her eccentric psychiatrist (Keanu Reeves), she moves into a group home with his other patients, with whom she forms incredibly close relationships.