Because I am a writer, I’m always drawn to movies about writers, especially if the main character is a writer. I love it when the movie portrays the struggle to develop a relationship with characters, put words onto paper, and not get too bogged down by rejection after rejection. Today, I wanted to put together a list of my top 10 movies about writers. Some you will be very familiar with, and others maybe not so much.
- Sideways (2004)
How can I start this list without including one of my favorite movies? Starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Hayden Church, Sandra Oh, and Virginia Madsen, this movie depicts two best friends, Miles and Jack, going on a wine tour vacation in honor of Jack’s upcoming wedding day. These two friends couldn’t be any different from each other. Miles is a writer with an upcoming novel that he hopes will get published soon. Jack is a womanizing slightly successful actor who is hoping to get laid on this vacation. With beautiful shots of wine country, this movie depicts the ups and downs of friendships and uncertainties of love. Forewarning though, it can get crude every now and then; plus there’ aredefinitely a couple of parts I always forward past.
Why it’s great for writers: Throughout the movie, you get little nuggets of one writer’s life, including a friend who probably hasn’t even read his book, excitement over possible publication, unhelpful support from someone who doesn’t get the writer’s journey, and eventual rejection.
Favorite Quote: “There is no new ending. Page 750 on is exactly the same.”
- Neverwas (2005)
Starring the incredible Ian McKellen, the late Brittney Murphy, and Aaron Eckhart, Neverwas is a magical and memorable depiction of an author’s imaginary world that feels oh-so-real to those who are impacted by it. In this movie, Aaron Eckhart plays Zach Riley, a psychiatrist, who returns to his hometown looking for answers about his father, a highly acclaimed children’s author. He runs into a childhood friend, Maggie Paige, who is writing an article about Zach’s father, and wants to help him find answers. Meanwhile, at the hospital he works, Zach meets a patient that knew of his father’s fantasy world and believes he is a character from the story. Neverwas is a movie I think any writer should watch, and left me in tears at the very end.
Why it’s great for writers: I don’t know if I will ever write something that resonates so much with people that they become certain that the world exists. This movie captures the magic of imagination and how real the stories we read (and write) become.
Favorite Quote: “Stories are living things, even at times unpredictable.”
- Stand by Me (1986)
This movie is another classic that I’m fairly certain everyone has seen (and if you haven’t, watch it soon!). Starring Whil Wheaton, the late River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell, it’s a movie about four boys going on journey to find the body of a missing boy. Richard Dreyfuss is the voiceover for his younger self, Gordie, and recounts the memorable time with his childhood friends. Gordie, both young and old, is a writer, who grieves the loss of his brother, yearns for his parent’s approval, and struggles to find himself. A movie about friendship, growing up, and standing up for what’s right, this movie is one for the ages.
Why it’s great for writers: Within the prominent storyline of friendship, you have insight into the world of a young writer. Gordie loves telling stories, and his best friend, Chris Chambers, played by River Phoenix, is quick to encourage him that he has something special. As you watch the movie and silently encourage the young writer, you may realize you are saying that to yourself.
Favorite Quote: “It’s like God gave you something, man, all those stories you can make up. And He said, ‘This is what we got for ya, kid. Try not to lose it.'”
- Ruby Sparks (2012)
Starring real life couple Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan, this movie is a perfect depiction of a relationship between a writer and their character. Paul Dano, plays Calvin Weir-Fields, a novelist struggling with loneliness and writer’s block. When he writes about his dream girl, the unthinkable happens when she becomes real. Yet, things get complicated when Ruby, his dream girl, begins to have a mind of her own and make her own choices. Calvin realizes she’s a real person, and when he tries to control her, he realizes this leads to tremendous consequences.
Why it’s great for writers: As a writer, it’s often hard to describe the relationship with our characters. It’s even harder to explain why a character has a mind of their own, and lead stories in their own unique direction. This movie depicts that relationship perfectly.
Favorite Quote: “Any writer can attest: in the luckiest, happiest state, the words are not coming from you, but through you.”
- Black River (2001)
Starring Jay Mohr and Lisa Edelstein, this movie is about a writer who discovers the town of Black River, the absolute perfect small American town. A little too perfect. Jay Mohr plays the writer “Bo” who finds not only is this town perfect, but he can’t leave it. Yes, that’s right. He can’t leave. At every turn, something – or someone – watches him. When he falls in love with a woman that he’s not allowed to have, he realizes how much he’ll have to fight to live the way he wants.
Why it’s great for writers: Every writer daydreams about writing in the perfect setting. How often do we find it? This movie depicts what it would be like to stay in perfection and never allowed to leave.
- Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have someone narrating your life? Will Ferrell stars as Harold Crick, a man who feels like his life is predictable as they come. When he realizes that he is going to die, he is determined to find the author narrating his life, and convince her to change the ending. Another movie that depicts the relationship between authors and their characters, this is one that is both fun and clever. You also see the acting likes of Queen Latifah, Dustin Hoffman, and Maggie Gyllenhall. As far as the narration goes, I liked hearing Emma Thompson. She made for a great author.
Why it’s great for writers: If you’ve ever imagined a character going after you to change their story, this movie is for you. This is also great for writers who can’t help but take the advice ‘kill your darlings’ far too seriously.
Favorite Quote: “Sitting in the rain won’t write books.”
- Misery (1990)
Alright, so I had to include this movie on my list. Starring James Caan and Kathy Bates, Misery is about a writer who gets into a car crash during a snowstorm and is saved by one of his biggest fans. Annie Wilkes, played by Kathy Bates, loves Paul Sheldon’s (James Caan) books and so when she realizes that her favorite character is about to kill off, she knows she needs to something about it. So, she keeps Paul Sheldon in her home, forcing him to change how his books turn out. Or else. It gets very dark at times, with both bad language and violence, so be in the right mood to watch this. Maybe after 2020 is over.
Why it’s great for writers: Hey, who says you can’t write under duress? Okay, I’m kidding. Really, this is another movie that depicts a very sick portrayal of the relationship between writers, their books, and their fans.
- Another Woman (1988)
Starring Gena Rowlands and Mia Farrow, this movie is about a psychiatrist who rents an apartment to complete her book, but thanks to poor ventilation, ends up eavesdropping on a patient seeing a psychiatrist in a nearby apartment. What results is a reflection on her own life, and she’s not able to take on more step forward the way she has been living. Although the pacing of the movie is somewhat slow, it’s thoughtful and reflective. It’s one of those movies that I’d recommend you watch it on a Saturday afternoon. For anyone who is a fan of Gena Rowlands, you’ll definitely want to check this one out.
Why it’s great for writers: Sometimes what gets in the way of writing is ourselves. I feel like the journey to learn about yourself inspires the best work, and this movie portrays the life altering qualities of what happens when we take the time to do that.
Favorite Quote: “For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace.”
- The Shining (1980)
Okay, how can I not include this movie? Staying in an isolated cabin in the dead of winter sure sounds like a great idea right? Well, we all know what happens to the best laid plans. Anyways, Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall star in this iconic film, where Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson) has an opportunity to take care of the Overlook Hotel with his wife and son all winter. This is a wonderful opportunity for him to start writing his book without any distractions. Unfortunately, he starts losing his mind. The lives of his wife, Wendy, and their psychic son, Danny are now at risk and they have absolutely nowhere to go.
Why it’s great for writers: Distractions are terrible for writing. Distractions are also good for our writing. This movie showcases the terrifying downside of having all the isolation in the world that we desire.
- Midnight in Paris (2011)
I’m a night owl by nature and love the idea of transporting to different eras. Midnight In Paris is about a screenwriter who goes to travels Paris with his fiance, in order to work on his novel. Somehow, he finds a way to travel back in time every night at midnight. Unfortunately, the more he travels back in time, the less he wants to be with his fiancé. Aesthetically a beautiful movie, this will make you feel like you’ve gone somewhere without ever leaving your house.
Why it’s great for writers: What would it be like to meet your favorite artists, writers, and musicians? It’s a dazzling movie sure to please any creative spirit, and hopefully inspire you to finish your own novel.
Favorite Quote: “That’s the problem with writers. You are so full of words.”
- As Good As it Gets (1997)
This is absolutely one of my favorite movies, and I encourage anyone and everyone to see this one. Helen Hunt plays Carol the waitress and is the only one fully capable of handling the prickish Melvin Udall (played by Jack Nicholson). Meanwhile, Simon Bishop (played by Greg Kinnear) is an artist, who is also gay, and is a neighbor to Melvin Udall. When Simon gets attacked, he finds himself in need of Melvin’s help. And don’t forget, Cuba Gooding Jr. is in this one too. He plays Simon’s friend and art dealer, and “encourages” Melvin to help Simon out, whether he likes it or not. This is a fun movie about friendship and romance between an unlikely group of people.
Why it’s great for writers: Melvin Udall is the writer in this one, and it’s so shocking to realize he writes romantic novels. This is a fun one, especially if we tend to romanticize our literary greats. There’s always a person behind the story, and they aren’t always all that great.
Favorite Quote: “What if this is as good as it gets?”
- Swimming Pool (2003)
Okay, I want to preface this one by saying I only saw an edited-for-TV version, and never saw the one made for theaters. So, I never realized how much nudity was in this movie. With that said, this turned out to be a great film. A British mystery author, Sarah Morton, stays in her publisher’s home to get inspired to write. While there, she ends up meeting his reckless, and wild daughter Julie. Sarah ends up getting involved in a real-life murder mystery and things begin to take a dangerous turn.
Why it’s great for writers: You never know what you may find when you go off to write a book! And sometimes you find inspiration from an incredibly unlikely source.
- Shattered Glass (2003)
I saw this movie for the first time when I was a senior in high school, and it’s been one of my favorites ever since. Meet Stephen Glass. He is a young journalist writing for “The New Republic,” and, as the movie portrays it, he’s loved by his colleagues and very respected in the industry. Except he’s not exactly all that honest. Stephen Glass has made up many of his articles, and when it’s found out, everything around him falls apart.
Why it’s great for writers: Everyone wants to be good at what they do, but it’s important – at least, in my opinion – to be honest in your pursuits of achieving success. And let’s leave the fiction out of the news, am I right?
Favorite Quote: “He handed us fiction after fiction and we printed them all as fact. Just because… we found him ‘entertaining.'”
- The Savages (2007)
When a brother and sister find out their father is suffering with dementia, they join forces to get him the care he needs. What makes all of this more difficult is that they haven’t seen their father in 20 years, and, as adults, are still trying to recover from his abuse they experienced in their childhood. Both are battling personal issues, and not really able to develop normal, healthy relationships with people. It’s a multi-layered touching movie about the complications of family.
Why it’s great for writers: I don’t know how other writers feel, but it can be hard to use your own life as material for stories and other written works. Many writers do it, but I think it involves a lot of healing along the way to get there.
- Secret Window (2004)
Last, but surely not least on my collection of movies for writers is Secret Window. Starring Johnny Depp as author Mort Rainey, who is going through a terrible divorce, he is confronted by a man who accuses him of plagiarism. Even after Mort denies the allegations, things get much worse in his life, and his grasp on reality begins to loosen. What makes this movie worth watching is the shocking ending, so you will absolutely want to see this one.
Why it’s great for writers: It’s a writer’s greatest fear their writing will be stolen. So, how far would you go to prove plagiarism?
Favorite Quote: “You know, the only thing that matters is the ending. It’s the most important part of the story, the ending. And this one… is very good.”
That’s my list! I’d love to know what movies about writers you’d recommend. Hey, while you’re here, check out my recent post about feel-good movies to put a smile on your face!