Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019)

A love story about two overseas Filipino workers trying to survive in the bustling city of Hong Kong, this film broke records, becoming the highest grossing Filipino film of all time. The struggles of the two leads—hardworking domestic helper Joy (Kathryn Bernardo) who just wants to move to Canada and playboy bartender Ethan (Alden Richards) who is already building a life in the city—are relevant to any Pinoy, even if it’s all set far away from our own home, most especially evident in the struggle of finding your own path in life while trying to survive day by day.

Watch this if you’re feeling a bit lost, not knowing which direction you’re steering your life into.

Three Idiots (2009)

A trio of engineering students (Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, and Sharman Joshi) strike up a friendship when they end up as roommates. While two of them were essentially forced to take up their course, the third member, Rancho, is genuinely interested in the subject. But Rancho’s carefree and unorthodox love of learning makes him bump heads often with the higher powers of their school administration. 

To be honest, we wish we had Rancho’s courage to really stand up for what he believes in. When can our society ever?

Watch this if you’re feeling stifled by the many societal restrictions of adulthood.

Sleepless (2015)

Night shifts. Hellish traffic. Adulthood anxieties. So many things make all of us suffer from insomnia. And when you’re wandering the streets of this urban jungle at night, just feeling lost and exhausted, you’d want to find kindred spirits with your fellow insomniacs. Here is a film where two lost and broken souls (Glaiza de Castro and Dominic Roco) find some solace in each other.

Watch this if you’re feeling disconnected from the rest of the world.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Are you that kid who did so well in school, staying on top of the class with teachers singing you praises, that everyone thought it was inevitable that you’d go places? And now, in adulthood, you’re feeling like you’ve wasted your potential. Well, that’s exactly what is happening to the film’s Tenenbaum siblings (Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow), all of them in a post-success slump trying to grasp the reasons behind how they ended up as dysfunctional adults.

Watch this if you’re feeling inadequate as an adult in comparison to your younger years, because it’s not just you. It’s more common than you think.

Never Not Love You (2018)

Commute. Hustle. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. That’s basically how your life is going now, right? It’s hard to find time for yourself, much less love, and sometimes, it just gets annoying seeing all these romcoms waxing poetic about the awesomeness of romantic love. Sometimes, you just need that true-to-life movie that hits you in the face with reality. The young couple (Nadine Lustre and James Reid) in Never Not Love You will show you exactly what you need as they are forced to become pragmatic and choose between continuing their young reckless love or furthering their careers.

Watch this if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the banality of your everyday life.

Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Love or hate your job? Well, regardless of what you’re feeling about your work right now, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) would make you question everything about your job/clothes/life as she makes Andy’s (Anne Hathaway) life a living hell.

Watch this if you’re feeling displaced and unsure of where you are right now. Or maybe if you’re just curious what the exact shade of cerulean is.

Four Sisters and a Wedding (2013)

Now considered a Pinoy pop culture icon, Four Sisters and a Wedding might seem like it’s just full of tropes, but it’s also definitely full of relatable situations from that infamous family confrontation to Angel Locsin dragging Mocha Uson by her hair. You’d really find a part of yourself in at least one of the Salazar siblings, even Rebreb (Toni Gonzaga, Bea Alonzo, Angel Locsin, Shaina Magdayao, and Enchong Dee). It’s no wonder there’s a whole bunch of memes that came out of this film.

Watch this if you’re feeling a little crazy over familial relationships. Or when you just want to ask the world, bakit parang kasalanan ko pa?

One More Chance (2007)

Another Pinoy pop culture fixture, One More Chance is that ultimate hugot movie that broke all of our hearts, just like Popoy and Basha (John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo) broke each other’s. But it’s already been telling us so many years ago that yes, it’s fine to put yourself first and love yourself. And that’s a message we all need to hear whenever we’re drowning in adulthood anxieties.

Watch this if you’re feeling stuck at whatever point in your life, because Popoy and Basha will show you that you can get out of there, no matter how long it will take.

What other films would you put on this list? Tell us below!