Buzz
I’ve always found immense satisfaction in watching movies alone. While action-packed blockbusters and hilarious comedies are enjoyable in a group, some films require undivided attention and are best appreciated without the distractions of kids, partners, or even friends.
Below is a curated list of 27 films ideal for solitary viewing, offering a chance to immerse yourself in their quiet, reflective narratives. These movies are contemplative and deliberate, yet far from dull—and there’s nothing wrong with a film that takes its time.
(Note: This list features many American films, as quiet introspection is somewhat unique in Hollywood. A similar list for Swedish cinema, for instance, would be considerably longer.)
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
Charlie Kaufman’s masterpiece, featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman as a theater director who constructs a life-sized replica of his existence, is often debated as either profoundly pretentious or deeply transformative. The film’s allure lies in its exploration of the human yearning to step outside our own struggles and observe them from a detached, objective perspective.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Waking Life (2001)
While the experimental rotoscoped animation in Waking Life may seem excessive, given the effort required to film actors first, the film’s philosophical musings on free will and existentialism create a compelling narrative. The protagonist’s journey through an existential awakening is enriched by the surreal, dreamlike visuals, elevating it beyond mere intellectual discourse.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Arrival (2016)
While quiet, introspective alien invasion films are rare, Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival breaks the mold, establishing him as a master of intelligent, thought-provoking genre cinema. The film explores the complexities and beauty of communication, enhanced by a uniquely sci-fi narrative twist.
Where to stream: Paramount+, digital rental
The Man from Earth (2007)
Penned by sci-fi icon Jerome Bixby during his final days, a somber tone envelops this low-budget film about a man who may or may not be 14,000 years old. David Lee Smith portrays John Oldman (*wink*), a professor hosting a farewell gathering for friends. As the evening unfolds, he reveals his extraordinary secret, sparking an intense discussion where his peers interrogate him from their academic viewpoints. A deeply intellectual narrative.
Where to stream: Tubi, digital rental
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Promoted as the most provocative film to hit mainstream theaters, Eyes Wide Shut instead offers a surreal journey into a world of cold, mechanical sexuality. The film suggests that sexual fixation, rather than being liberating, can strip away humanity, a theme consistent with Stanley Kubrick’s exploration of dehumanization.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Pi (1998)
Darren Aronofsky’s debut film is more intense than many on this list, centering on a mathematician consumed by the belief that mathematics can unlock the universe’s secrets. However, his deteriorating mental health as a flawed human being renders his quest increasingly futile.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Paterson (2016)
Jim Jarmusch, known for his unique indie style, delivers a deeply contemplative film chronicling a week in the life of a New Jersey bus driver, played by Adam Driver. Paterson writes poetry during his downtime, supported by his wife (Golshifteh Farahani), but his aspirations are dashed when his notebook is destroyed by a dog. Featuring standout performances, this understated yet poignant film highlights how small events can disrupt our personal worlds.
Where to stream: Prime Video
My Dinner with Andre (1981)
Louis Malle’s My Dinner with Andre boasts a devoted following comparable to many cult classics in American cinema. The film features two actors portraying versions of themselves, engaging in a lengthy conversation at a café. Despite its simplicity, the dialogue oscillates between humor and melancholy, captivating audiences with its unpredictability and the compelling performances of its leads.
Where to stream: Max, The Criterion Channel, digital rental
An Elephant Sitting Still (2018)
Hu Bo’s sole cinematic work offers little solace, revolving around a tale of a circus elephant in Manzhouli that remains motionless regardless of external stimuli—perhaps at peace, perhaps merely existing. The characters, drawn to visit the elephant, collectively embody a profound sense of alienation and disillusionment with life.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Werckmeister Harmonies (2000)
Directed by Béla Tarr and Ágnes Hranitzky, Werckmeister Harmonies stands as one of Tarr’s more accessible films, though that’s a relative term given his seven-hour epic Satan's Tango. The film offers a slow, visually stunning journey through a Hungarian village, capturing the lives of its inhabitants as a mysterious circus arrives. Eschewing traditional plot, it focuses on the quiet, meditative observation of its characters.
Where to stream: The Criterion Channel, digital rental
George Washington (2000)
At its core, George Washington narrates the accidental killing by a child and the subsequent attempts to conceal the crime. However, this summary fails to convey the film’s deliberate pacing and visually stunning, poetic atmosphere.
Where to stream: The Criterion Channel, digital rental
The Lobster (2015)
Yorgos Lanthimos’ dystopian dark comedy stands out as one of the most unconventional films in its genre. In this bizarre world, singles have 45 days to find a partner or face transformation into animals. While undeniably strange, it mirrors the absurdities of modern dating with sharp satire.
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
Being There (1979)
Hal Ashby’s film is a sharp satire featuring a simple-minded gardener (Peter Sellers) whose mundane, plant-centric remarks are misinterpreted as profound wisdom by a society craving meaning. While critiquing our tendency to project meaning onto the meaningless, it also celebrates the gentle innocence of Chance the gardener, prompting reflection on whether his uncomplicated worldview is truly flawed.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010)
Though slow-paced and occasionally perplexing, Uncle Boonmee is a humorous and deeply reflective tale about a man’s final moments and the ghosts—both real and metaphorical—that linger in our lives.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Stalker (1979)
In a post-apocalyptic world, a guide leads a writer and a scientist through a surreal wasteland to find The Room, a place rumored to grant one’s deepest desires. While layered with political and religious allegories, the film resists a single interpretation, its elusive nature contributing to its enduring impact.
Where to stream: Max, The Criterion Channel, digital rental
Valhalla Rising (2009)
The protagonist, a mute, one-eyed former captive (Mads Mikkelsen), embarks on a mesmerizing voyage across the sea after joining Christian Crusaders during the harsh medieval era. While the film features violence and conflict, its focus lies in the quiet, introspective moments that punctuate the journey.
Where to stream: Shudder, AMC+, digital purchase
Only Yesterday (1991)
Though few films on this list achieved box office success, Isao Takahata’s Studio Ghibli anime was Japan’s highest-grossing film of its release year. The story follows 27-year-old Taeko Okajima, who escapes Tokyo’s chaos by visiting her rural relatives. Her trip triggers memories of her past, both joyful and painful, compelling her to confront the life she left behind.
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
A Ghost Story (2017)
A spectral figure (Casey Affleck) revisits the home he once shared with his wife (Rooney Mara), only to find himself unmoored in time and space, witnessing events in a disjointed sequence. Struggling to reconnect, he is reduced to a passive observer.
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
Nomadland (2020)
After losing her job at a gypsum plant, Frances McDormand’s character, Fern, sells her belongings and adopts a nomadic lifestyle, traveling in a van while seeking employment, including at an Amazon warehouse. Throughout her journey, fleeting connections come and go, as writer/director Chloé Zhao’s poignant yet humorous film examines life within America’s fragile capitalist system and delves into broader themes of transience and permanence.
Where to stream: Hulu, digital rental
The Whales of August (1987)
A tender swan song for legends Lillian Gish, Bette Davis, Ann Sothern, and Vincent Price, The Whales of August portrays two elderly sisters with contrasting personalities spending another summer at their childhood seaside home in Maine. Davis’ character, Libby, is weary of life, while Gish’s Sarah grows tired of caregiving and finds joy in a budding romance with local widower Price. The film gently explores the dignity and vitality of its aging characters.
Where to stream: Prime Video
The Tree of Life (2011)
Initially criticized as pretentious, Terrence Malick’s visually stunning meditation on the essence of life, set partly in 1950s Texas, is undeniably ambitious. It stands as one of the few films since 2001: A Space Odyssey to capture a similar grandeur and philosophical depth.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Russian Ark (2002)
Beginning as a unique experiment, Alexander Sokurov’s film evolves into a breathtaking journey as a mysterious narrator wanders through St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace, encountering various historical figures and moments. While centered on philosophical dialogue, the film’s technical achievement—a single, unbroken shot involving thousands of actors—elevates it to a cinematic marvel.
Where to stream: Hoopla, Kanopy, Plex
Wild Strawberries (1957)
Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberries features some of his most haunting visuals, yet it remains his most compassionate work. The tale of an elderly man reflecting on his life is bittersweet, ultimately building toward a nearly joyous conclusion.
Where to stream: Max, The Criterion Channel, digital rental
Pariah (2011)
Dee Rees’ semi-autobiographical film Pariah brims with intense emotions, making it less subdued than other quiet dramas. Yet, its mesmerizing performances and striking visuals create a world so captivating, despite its chaos, that it feels endlessly immersive.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Under the Skin (2013)
This enigmatic film follows an alien seducing men on the roadside, exploring themes of sexuality and power dynamics. With a visual style reminiscent of Blade Runner, Under the Skin is both haunting and elusive, leaving a lasting impression.
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
Last Year at Marienbad (1961)
Alain Resnais’ enigmatic masterpiece unfolds in a lavish hotel, where two characters appear unmoored in time and space, possibly recalling a past encounter at Marienbad. The film, hauntingly dreamlike and visually stunning, feels like a ghost story stripped of traditional horror elements.
Where to stream: The Criterion Channel, digital purchase
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring (2003)
Kim Ki-duk’s film traces the life of a Buddhist monk (O Yeong-su) from youth to old age, using the seasons as metaphors for life’s stages and the cyclical nature of existence. Deliberately meditative and sparing in dialogue, it’s a serene yet profoundly moving cinematic experience.
Where to stream: Digital rental
