10 Emotional Dramas To Watch If You Loved Tom Hanks’ Here

Those who loved the multiple timelines and emotional turmoil of Tom Hanks’ 2024 drama, Here, should check out the following ten movies, which also pull on family, love, and the pᴀssage of time. Based on a graphic novel by Richard McGuire, Here is set in a single house in an American suburb, where different families love, mourn, and experience life together. In particular, the core of Here’s cast is Richard Young (played by Hanks), who spends his entire life in the house, facing the highs and lows of his family, and his own fears and failures.

Here is the definition of an emotional family drama, but it also has many features that make it stand out among other films in the genre. For example, Here not only takes place in one house over many decades, but the camera stays at the same angle for most of the movie. Furthermore, Here uses CGI technology to age and de-age its actors, allowing audiences to stay with certain characters over the entire course of their life. In this way, the best movies to watch after Here are those that play with time and reality, while also exploring relationships.

10

Past Lives (2023)

Childhood Friends Reconnect After Decades Apart

A recent drama that could scratch the same itch as Here is 2023’s Past Lives. This movie centers on Nora, a woman who is born in South Korea but moves to the United States during her childhood. This move forces Nora to leave behind her close friend, Hae Sung, until they reconnect online in their early 20s. Eventually, when the two are older, they meet in real life and must decide whether to unpack their old connection or move on with the new lives they’ve built.

Nora and Hae Sung’s relationship is a masterclass in showing how people can move in and out of each other’s lives in shocking and painful ways.

Past Lives may be lacking the family aspect that Here focuses on, but the movie still has plenty of emotional punch, alongside themes of time and loss. Nora and Hae Sung’s relationship is a masterclass in showing how people can move in and out of each other’s lives in shocking and painful ways. Nora’s struggle to balance her old life with her new one will almost certainly hit audiences in the gut. Plus, Past Lives offers an interesting intercultural element that Here does not have.

9

Big Fish (2003)

A Son Investigates His Father’s Colorful Life Story

Another family epic that goes beyond the norm is Big Fish. Released in 2003, this movie is about Will Bloom, a young man who travels to be with his dying father. All his life, Will has resented his father’s colorful stories, which Will is convinced are not real. However, once he begins looking into what his father says, he realizes that perhaps these tall tales hold more water than he ever could have imagined. Big Fish stars Ewan McGregor and Billy Crudup.

Like Here, Big Fish is not satisfied with just being a family drama. Instead, the movie infuses family with fantasy elements and vivid cinematography that makes the film feel more like an adventure than a drama. Of course, that isn’t to say that Big Fish isn’t emotional, because it will definitely pull on audiences’ heartstrings. But if viewers are seeking another generational drama that is on the quirkier side, Big Fish is the way to go.

8

Aftersun (2022)

A Woman Reflects On Her Final Holiday With Her Father

Among Here’s many plotlines, there is a specific focus on parent-child relationships. Those who want more of that should definitely check out Aftersun. In this movie, a woman named Sophie looks back on the last vacation she spent with her father, when she was 11-years-old. At the time, Sophie couldn’t grasp the difficulties her young father was facing, but as an adult, she has a better sense of who he was and the parts of him that she was never truly able to see as a child. Aftersun stars rising Hollywood star, Paul Mescal.

Aftersun is an absolute heartbreaker of a movie. At first glance, the film simply follows a vacation between a young girl and her father, but the subtext that is revealed is deeply emotional. Like Here, the movie delves into the complicated dynamics between children and their parents, as each party tries to understand where the other is coming from. Aftersun is incredibly emotional, but the pain is worth suffering through for an incredibly meaningful story.

7

Ordinary People (1980)

A Young Man Reconnects With His Parents After A Tragedy

A second movie that revolves around children and parents in 1980’s Ordinary People. In this film, a teenager struggles with grief and guilt after the accidental death of his older brother. Following an attempt to take his own life, the boy returns home and tries to rekindle his relationship with his parents, both of whom are coping in their own ways. As the тιтle suggests, Ordinary People explores how grief can break apart those who used to be incredibly close to one another.

In Here, audiences see the tragedies that strike families, and Ordinary People is a way to really see these moments through.

Ordinary People is a great companion to Here because of how it portrays the darkest of moments for families. From death to mental illness, Ordinary People is compᴀssionate yet realistic, unafraid to explore these difficult themes. In Here, audiences see the tragedies that strike families, and Ordinary People is a way to really see these moments through. Ultimately, this is a classic family drama that more people should see.

6

His Three Daughters (2023)

Three Sisters Return To NYC To Care For Their Father

When it comes to family dramas, sibling dynamics are just as important as those between parent and child. A fantastic movie to see these play out is His Three Daughters. The movie centers on three women who reunite in New York City to care for their ailing father. After so much time apart, the women rehash old arguments and finally explore issues that may have been ignored in the past, all while coping with their father’s declining health and inevitable death. The movie stars Elzabeth Olsen, Natasha Lyonne, and Carrie Coon.

Though the premise of His Three Daughters may seem simple, the execution of the film is impeccable. With a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie perfectly encapsulates the dark humor and tragedy of grief, alongside the strange relationships maintained between adult siblings. All three His Three Daughters actresses give stunning performances that never verge on the melodramatic. Overall, His Three Daughters dives into a small subsection of Here’s story in wonderful detail.

5

Minari (2020)

A South Korean Family Seeks The American Dream

Those who want a family drama that diverges from the typical Western story may be interested in 2020’s Minari. In this film, a Korean family moves to the United States, hoping to find the American Dream. After settling in Arkansas with a plan to become farmers, the family struggles to make their ambitions come true. Amidst prejudice and culture shock, they must learn to rely on each other more than ever. Steven Yeun takes on the lead role in the movie.

In many ways, Minari tells the same story that Here does, but within a certain time frame and focused on a very particular family. Both the Yi family and the Youngs have to face difficult moments that are both personal and societal that not only weigh on them in the current day, but trickle down into the younger generations as well. Minari is a heartwrenching story that will give audiences a good look at the immigrant story and what it means to make your family your everything.

4

All Of Us Strangers (2023)

A Man Reconnects With His Deceased Parents

One of the most devastating movies on this list has to be All of Us Strangers. Released in 2023, this movie follows a writer named Adam, whose chance encounter with his neighbor causes him to reflect on his childhood, which was marred by the deaths of his parents. Soon enough, Adam revisits his childhood home, only to find his parents inside, stuck in the time right before they died and willing to talk to him in a way they never could before. Andrew Scott takes on the lead role, alongside Paul Mescal, Claire Foy, and Jamie Bell.

All Of Us Strangers is very similar to Here in its use of time and speculative elements. Adam’s relationship with his parents is odd and unlikely, but it also leads to incredible moments of growth. The movie offers audiences sneak peeks into a story that they would never get in real life, which makes it even more satisfying. Then again, the movie is also completely heartbreaking and doesn’t pull any punches, so sensitive viewers should proceed with caution.

3

Revolutionary Road (2008)

A Young Couple Are Changed By Suburbia

A major aspect of Here is the suburban setting. Another movie that focuses on the benefits and drawbacks of American suburbia is Revolutionary Road. The 2008 movie is about Frank and April, a young couple in the 1950s who believe themselves to be better than the average suburban couple. However, once they settle down, the pair realize that the lives they always wanted may be out of reach. This spurs them to create a plan for escape that may just pull them apart completely. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio take on the leading roles.

Similar to Here, Revolutionary Road is based on a novel by Richard Yates.

Revolutionary Road can be a bit of a slow-burn, but it is a story that is worth seeing through. The story of April and Frank is so powerful and moving, and their struggles are perfectly portrayed by Winslet and DiCaprio. In many ways, their story reflects that of Richard and Margaret in Here. The two couples love each other and have the best intentions, but become bogged down by societal expectations and their own preconceived notions. Those who enjoyed seeing Richard and Margaret toil with these problems should most definitely try out Revolutionary Road.

2

About Time (2013)

A Man Uses Time Travel To Perfect His Life

One of the greatest time travel drama movies to ever hit the big screen is About Time. Tim is a seemingly average young man whose life turns upside down when he discovers that the men in his family, including him, can travel back in time. Desperate for love, Tim uses his abilities to try and start a romantic relationship. However, as time goes on, he realizes that his powers cannot fix everything, and that life will inevitably throw curveballs that you can’t avoid.

About Time is a beautiful movie about romance, family, and the turmoil of life. Like Here, it is funny and joyful, but also deeply sad. Tim may have time travel abilities, but his story is all too relatable to audience members. Because of this, About Time is a must-watch movie, even for those who aren’t crazy about romance. Ultimately, About Time is a more indie version of Here, with plenty of quirk and charm.

1

Boyhood (2014)

A Boy’s Childhood Over The Course Of 12 Years

A perfect movie to watch for fans of Here is Boyhood. This film focuses on a young boy named Mason and his family over the course of 12 years. Unlike other movies, which would show the pᴀssage of time through increasingly older actors, Boyhood actually takes place over 12 years, with director Richard Linklater returning every year to capture a new vignette of Mason and his family. In the same vein as Here, Boyhood plays with time in a delightful and groundbreaking way.

Boyhood is proof that family dramas do not have to be traditional or predictable.

Boyhood is proof that family dramas do not have to be traditional or predictable. Although the movie pulls on the same themes as any other family drama, it plays with audience’s expectations by making truly awesome directorial moves. Boyhood may use different techniques than Here, but both movies accomplish the same feat of reinventing one of the most moving and pivotal genres. Those who loved Here will almost certainly love this movie too.

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