Self discovery movies and TV shows
The list contains the best, new and most relevant self discovery movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out touching, sentimental, feel good, inspirational, thought provoking and emotional films and TV shows about / with self discovery, mentor, destiny, storytelling, friendship, life philosophy, dialogue, transformation, childhood and unlikely friendships plots mostly in Drama, Comedy and Adventure genres shot in USA, UK, Germany and other countries.
6294
TOP 10 movies tagged as self discovery: Into the Wild (2007), Soul (2020), Peaceful Warrior (2006), Wild (2014), Eat Pray Love (2010), The Truman Show (1998), The Last Samurai (2003), Like Stars on Earth (2007), What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), 10 Items or Less (2006).
Best films
New films
List of self discovery movies
692K
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 148 min.
Story:
The true story of top student and athlete, Christopher McCandless, who after graduating from Emory University in 1992, abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness.
Style:
road movie, philosophical, melancholic, inspirational, reflective ...
Audience:
teens, date night, teen drama, adult
Plot:
wilderness, self discovery, survival, road trip, freedom, isolation, solitude, journey, life philosophy, lifestyle change, beautiful scenery, nature ...
Time:
2000s, year 2007, 20th century, year 1990, year 1992 ...
Place:
alaska, los angeles, north america, northern california, america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
A timid magazine photo manager who lives life vicariously through daydreams embarks on a true-life adventure when a negative goes missing.
Style:
feel good, inspirational, motivational, surreal, scenic ...
Audience:
teens, date night, kids, family outing
Plot:
self discovery, daydreamer, travel, life changing experience, loneliness, disorder, adventurer, journey, lifestyle change, photographer, coworker, obsessive quest ...
Time:
year 2013, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
iceland, greenland, usa, new york, los angeles ...
Is relevant?
442K
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
Joe Gardner is a middle school teacher with a love for jazz music. After a successful gig at the Half Note Club, he suddenly gets into an accident that separates his soul from his body and is transported to the You Seminar, a center in which souls ...
Style:
3d animation, philosophical, touching, sincere, captivating ...
Audience:
kids, family friendly
Plot:
jazz, self discovery, life, meaning of life, afterlife, acceptance, lifestyle change, life after death, following a dream, teaching the ways of the world, life & death, musician ...
Time:
2020s, 2010s, future, 21st century
Place:
hawaii, tibet, manhattan new york city, new york
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Country: Germany, Canada, UK, South Africa, USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
Hector is a quirky psychiatrist who has become increasingly tired of his humdrum life. As he tells his girlfriend, Clara, he feels like a fraud: he hasn’t really tasted life, and yet he’s offering advice to patients who are just not getting any ...
Style:
feel good, sentimental, entertaining, emotional, semi serious ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
travel, self discovery, life, psychiatrist, life philosophy, relationships, teaching the ways of the world, happiness, friendship, loneliness, midlife crisis, stereotypes ...
Time:
year 2014, 21st century
Place:
africa, china, tibet, england, london ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
A chance encounter with a stranger changes the life of a college gymnast.
Style:
inspirational, philosophical, spiritual, sincere, motivational ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
self discovery, mentor, teaching the ways of the world, wisdom of life, enlightenment, wise man, human spirit, philosophy, gymnastics, life philosophy, athlete and trainer, guru ...
Time:
year 2006, 21st century
Place:
tibet, california, usa, new jersey
Is relevant?
146K
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
A woman with a tragic past decides to start her new life by hiking for one thousand miles on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Style:
meditative, road movie, inspirational, uplifting, touching ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night, chick flick, adult
Plot:
wilderness, self discovery, survival, nature, hiking, grief, starting over, female protagonist, death of mother, tourism, human spirit, mother daughter relationship ...
Time:
year 2014, year 1995, 2010s, 20th century, 90s
Place:
california, portland oregon, oregon, usa, mojave desert ...
Is relevant?
113K
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA, India, Indonesia
Duration: 133 min.
Story:
Liz Gilbert had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having – a husband, a house and a successful career – yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced ...
Style:
romantic, inspirational, touching, sentimental, road movie ...
Audience:
girls' night, teens, family friendly, date night, chick flick
Plot:
self discovery, midlife crisis, travel, lifestyle change, love, starting over, journey, life, changing lives, introspection, fall in love, tourist ...
Time:
2010s, year 2010, 21st century
Place:
italy, india, indonesia, europe, usa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min.
Story:
Truman Burbank is the star of "The Truman Show", a 24-hour-a-day "reality" TV show that broadcasts every aspect of his life -- live and in color -- without his knowledge. His entire life has been an unending soap opera for ...
Style:
philosophical, thought provoking, psychological, surreal, touching ...
Audience:
teens, family outing, teen drama
Plot:
self discovery, simulated reality, video surveillance, alternate reality, fictional reality show, dystopia, freedom, hidden camera, utopia, paranoia, consciousness, loneliness ...
Time:
year 1998, 20th century, 90s, future
Place:
florida, persia, america, usa, los angeles
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 154 min.
Story:
Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare, which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the samurai's way of life in the ...
Style:
epic, breathtaking, exciting, captivating, period piece ...
Audience:
manly, girls' night, adult
Plot:
samurai, sword fight, battles, war, courage, japanese history, warrior, pride and honor, self discovery, human spirit, honor, loyalty ...
Time:
19th century, middle ages, victorian era, year 2003, 1800s ...
Place:
japan, asia, africa, san francisco, pacific ocean ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: India
Duration: 162 min.
Story:
Ishaan Awasthi is an eight-year-old whose world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate. Colours, fish, dogs, and kites don't seem important to the adults, who are much more interested in things like homework, marks, and ...
Style:
touching, motivational, inspirational, captivating, educational ...
Audience:
family outing, kids
Plot:
dyslexia, teacher, teachers and students, childhood, self discovery, coming of age, teaching the ways of the world, dedicated educator, shyness, young heroes, hopes, school ...
Time:
future, year 2007, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
india, middle east, asia, mumbai india, africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
Gilbert has to care for his brother Arnie and his obese mother, which gets in the way when love walks into his life.
Style:
melancholic, depressing, touching, sad, emotional ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, teen drama
Plot:
dysfunctional family, disability, small town, mentally challenged, mental illness, self discovery, responsibility, brothers, character study, coming of age, life philosophy, life & death ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, year 1993, 70s, 60s
Place:
iowa, texas, southern usa, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min.
Story:
An actor who is considering the role of a supermarket manager arrives at a grocery store on the outskirts of Los Angeles to do some field research. He subsequently becomes stranded, without a car or cell phone, and accepts a ride home with Scarlet, ...
Style:
feel good, touching, road movie, humorous, light ...
Plot:
friendship, self discovery, job interview, road trip, research, on the road, movie star, mentor, friends, stranger, actor's life, celebrity culture ...
Time:
2000s, year 2006, 20th century
Place:
los angeles, california, usa, seattle, tokyo
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama
Country: France, UK, USA, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Germany
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
"The Motorcycle Diaries" is based on the journals of Che Guevara, leader of the Cuban Revolution. In his memoirs, Guevara recounts adventures he, and best friend Alberto Granado, had while crossing South America by motorcycle in the early ...
Style:
road movie, breathtaking, touching, political, cerebral ...
Plot:
self discovery, motorcycle, revolutionary, poverty, on the road, road trip, journey, travel, politics, idealism, revolution, biopic ...
Time:
20th century, year 2004, 50s, 1950s, y2k ...
Place:
latin america, south america, chile, bolivia, argentina ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Western
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 181 min.
Story:
Wounded Civil War soldier, John Dunbar tries to commit suicide – and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.
Style:
scenic, touching, sentimental, visually stunning, inspirational ...
Plot:
american civil war, native american, self discovery, culture clash, friendship, native, courage, tribe, native american white relationships, pride and honor, wolf, prairie ...
Time:
19th century, 90s, ancient times, 1860s, year 1990 ...
Place:
south dakota, nebraska, america, usa, kansas ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 137 min.
Story:
Two troubled men face their terrible destinies and events of their past as they join together on a mission to find the Holy Grail and thus to save themselves.
Style:
psychological, inspirational, touching, clever, cerebral ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
redemption, self discovery, friendship, hallucination, homelessness, mental illness, guilt, psychiatry, video store, guilty conscience, transformation, suicidal ...
Time:
90s, year 1991, 20th century
Place:
new york, usa, manhattan new york city, grand central station manhattan new york city
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance
Country: India, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland
Duration: 138 min.
Story:
A love story situated in the Himalayas. A Buddhist monk can't choose between life and the way of the Buddha.
Style:
philosophical, sexy, captivating, atmospheric, sensual ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
buddhism, monk, zen, self discovery, buddha, human nature, hopes, buddhist, buddhist monk, temptation, culture clash, social differences ...
Time:
year 2001
Place:
asia, tibet, himalaya, india
Is relevant?
16K
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
Alice Tate, mother of two, with a marriage of 16 years, finds herself falling for the handsome sax player, Joe. Stricken with a backache, she consults Dr. Yang, an oriental herbalist who realizes that her problems are not related to her back, but in ...
Style:
unusual plot structure, melancholic, touching, sentimental, humorous ...
Plot:
infidelity, invisible man, happy ending, magic, self discovery, female protagonist, magic realism, bored housewife, death, destiny, relationships, identity crisis ...
Time:
80s, 20th century
Place:
new york, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Canada
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story:
Being Erica is a Canadian comedy-drama television series that aired on CBC from January 5, 2009 to December 12, 2011.
Created by Jana Sinyor, the series was originally announced by the CBC as The Session, but was retitled Being Erica before ...
Style:
sentimental, witty, captivating, semi serious, humorous ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
time travel, therapy, self discovery, thirtysomething life, destiny, haunted by the past, changing the past or future, road not taken, therapist, lifestyle, psychology, loss of sibling ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
toronto ontario canada, canada
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
A holiday favourite for generations... George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. ...
Style:
feel good, inspirational, touching, sentimental, uplifting ...
Audience:
family outing, kids, date night, chick flick, adult
Plot:
christmas, holiday, small town, depression, small town life, angel, friendship, self discovery, second chance, life philosophy, life changing experience, alternate history ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, year 1932, year 1945, 1910s ...
Place:
new york, america, new york state, usa
Is relevant?
106K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
Failed London banker Max Skinner inherits his uncle's vineyard in Provence, where he spent many childhood holidays. Upon his arrival, he meets a woman from California who tells Max she is his long-lost cousin and that the property is hers.
Style:
feel good, romantic, sentimental, sexy, romantic drama ...
Audience:
chick flick, date night, girls' night
Plot:
wine, vineyard, countryside, fall in love, love story, character change, inheritance, love and romance, workaholic, stock broker, starting over, doubts and hesitations ...
Time:
year 2006, 20th century, 80s, 21st century
Place:
provence, france, europe, england, london ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America.
Style:
melancholic, atmospheric, cerebral, intellectual, sexy ...
Audience:
girls' night, date night, family friendly, chick flick
Plot:
loneliness, midlife crisis, older man younger woman relationship, age difference, friendship, character study, alienation, fish out of water, melancholy, unlikely couple, actor, hotel room ...
Time:
2000s, year 2003, 21st century
Place:
japan, tokyo, asia, yale university, america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
When his wealthy grandfather finally dies, Jason Stevens fully expects to benefit when it comes to the reading of the will. But instead of a sizable inheritance, Jason receives a test, a series of tasks he must complete before he can get any money.
Style:
touching, inspirational, christian film, sincere, romantic ...
Audience:
kids, family outing, girls' night, chick flick, adult
Plot:
self discovery, inheritance, terminal illness, christian, cancer, introspection, youth, life philosophy, redemption, life turned upside down, parents and children, faith ...
Time:
year 2006
Place:
tibet, ecuador, south america, texas, new jersey
Is relevant?
12K
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
Ben Tyler (Joshua Jackson) has been diagnosed with cancer. With a grim chance of survival in the best case scenario even if he immediately begins treatment, he instead decides to take a motorcycle trip from Toronto through the Canadian prairies to ...
Style:
road movie, sexy, philosophical, realistic, bad ending ...
Audience:
teens, kids
Plot:
road trip, self discovery, motorcycle, terminal illness, travel, cancer, love story, depression, solitude, coming of age, beautiful scenery, wanderlust ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
canada, pacific ocean, ontario canada, toronto ontario canada, british columbia
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
When Sophie, a shy young woman, is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking home.
Style:
anime, fairy tale, atmospheric, touching, captivating ...
Audience:
family outing, date night, family friendly, kids, pre-teens ...
Plot:
witch, steampunk, magic, supernatural ability, magical, fantasy world, love story, curses spells and rituals, imaginary, self discovery, transformation, demon ...
Time:
year 2004, year 2005, 20th century, 1900s, 2000s ...
Place:
japan, seattle, tokyo
Is relevant?
131K
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
An emotionally desperate investment banker finds hope through a woman he meets in Chicago.
Style:
melancholic, philosophical, romantic drama, psychological, touching ...
Plot:
death, depression, death of wife, grief, existentialism, father in law son in law relationship, nervous breakdown, self discovery, widower, loss of wife, honesty, car accident ...
Time:
year 2015, 2010s, year 2016
Place:
new york
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Brazil, France, Italy, USA
Duration: 132 min.
Story:
Elio Perlman is spending the summer with his family at their vacation home in Lombardy, Italy. When his father hires a handsome doctoral student, the curious 17-year-old finds himself developing a growing attraction to the young man.
Style:
touching, lgbt cinema, disturbing, independent film, sexy ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, girls' night, date night, pre-teens ...
Plot:
lgbt, gay, summer, gay love, love, homosexual, gay relationship, gay romance, homosexuality, first love, gay interest, father son relationship ...
Time:
80s, year 1983, 2010s, 2000s, year 2017
Place:
italy, nebraska, mediterranean sea, europe
Is relevant?
228K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
Andrew returns to his hometown for the funeral of his mother, a journey that reconnects him with past friends. The trip coincides with his decision to stop taking his powerful antidepressants. A chance meeting with Sam - a girl also suffering from ...
Style:
sentimental, funny, indie film, sweet, independent film ...
Audience:
chick flick, teens, date night
Plot:
depression, self discovery, melancholy, coming of age, female nudity, paraplegic, love story, love, family relations, relationships, drug, dealing with death ...
Time:
year 2004, near future, medieval times, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
new jersey, los angeles, new york, usa, seattle
Is relevant?
Genre: Comedy, War
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
A sheltered young high society woman joins the army on a whim and finds herself in a more difficult situation than she ever expected.
Style:
sentimental, funny, semi serious, light, parody ...
Audience:
girls' night, date night, chick flick, teens
Plot:
basic training, self discovery, wedding, boot camp, gender, military training, fish out of water, paratrooper, women, military, transformation, soldier ...
Time:
80s, 70s, 20th century
Place:
belgium, paris france, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Russia
Duration: 52 min.
TV show
Story:
Fashionable uptown Moscow: psychologist Artem practices "provocative therapy", convinced that the fastest and most effective cure is to brutally confront his patients with their fears. Yet his own life is in chaos after he was sentenced to ...
Style:
captivating, thought provoking, tense, suspenseful, disturbing ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
psychological manipulation, psychotherapy, entrapment, shock treatment, psychotherapist, psychologist, investigation, self discovery, father son relationship, uncover truth, false accusation, life turned upside down ...
Time:
2010s
Place:
moscow russia
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
Amidst her own personality crisis, southern housewife Evelyn Couch meets Ninny, an outgoing old woman who tells her the story of Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison, two young women who experienced hardships and love in Whistle Stop, Alabama in the ...
Style:
feel good, sentimental, captivating, touching, sad ...
Audience:
girls' night, chick flick, kids, teen drama
Plot:
small town, friendship, lesbian, feminism, self discovery, feminist, small town life, lgbtq, cannibalism, midlife crisis, female bonding, female protagonist ...
Time:
1920s, 1930s, 90s, year 1991, 20th century ...
Place:
alabama, southern usa, usa, georgia, louisiana ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
