There are certain birthday milestones that pack quite a punch. The early ones are usually connected to when certain things become legal, a focus of numerous coming-of-age movies about the teenage years. After that, the focus shifts to the round ones that signal the start of a brand-new decade. Turning 30 is the first big milestone that has a genuine emotional impact which ranges from fear, excitement, and sheer panic. With so many expectations placed upon certain achievements and a lot more financial responsibility, it’s understandable that it can all get a bit much sometimes.
Age doesn’t always bring with it emotional maturity, and in the grand scheme of life, people in their 30s are still relatively young. There may be more confidence and less of a focus on wanting to come across a certain way, but it’s OK not to have everything figured out. Of course, the experience is very different depending on the decade people live in. As usual, films are able to offer some relatable characters and situations that make it easier to navigate this tumultuous decade of a person’s life.
10
Office Space (1999)
Because Sometimes Work Does Suck
Someone’s 20s are meant to be all about getting work experience, learning the ropes, and acquiring the necessary skills to build a future career. Those who choose to go to college may work part-time while studying, and their first “real” job is usually an entry-level role that requires a lot of work for not necessarily much reward. Once people hit their 30s, they’re not only expected to have a career, but they’re expected to be thriving. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
’90s cult classic movie Office Space does a great job of showing how corporate burnout can affect a person, and how office politics can influence how workers feel on a daily basis. One’s job is such a huge part of life, as it’s where most people spend their days, and Peter is a prime example of how easy it can be to just become a worker drone. His journey also shows that there comes a point in one’s 30s where it’s important to evaluate what the priorities are, and try and make sure there is a healthy balance between them. A very relatable premise.
9
Eat, Pray, Love (2010)
Because Sometimes It’s Important To Leave It All Behind
Those who are able to build a whole life in their 20s might find themselves feeling lost when it suddenly comes crashing down in their 30s. It’s common to hit that point in life when it feels like going through the motions just to tick certain boxes that are arbitrarily imposed by society. Looking a certain way, having a particular type of career, and a stable relationship seem to be what a lot of people aspire to, but there may come a moment after turning 30 that brings all of that into question like it did for Liz.
Not everyone has the opportunity to travel to Italy to eat delicious pasta and indulge in cheese and wine, or channel their spirituality in Bali. And, even fewer people have been able to find love with Javier Bardem, but the idea of following one’s pᴀssions and working on their emotional well-being. Julia Roberts delivers many monologs that perfectly show how important self-discovery and the focus on healing are throughout this decade of change and uncertainty.
8
The Big Chill (1983)
Because Sometimes Friendships Fade
Young people often think their friendship groups will remain close forever, but the truth is, people move away, they evolve, and sometimes, they die. In The Big Chill, a group of friends that has fallen out of touch over the years is brought back together for one of a mutual’s funeral. As they reminisce and reconnect, it becomes apparent that their lives had gone in completely different directions. But, it also shows the importance of channeling one’s youth and trying to find that joy and optimism again.
A lot of the core characters are dealing with the usual issues that face thirtysomethings, as they navigate unstable marriages, stagnant careers, and deal with the fact that dreams might not always come true. The dark humor and signature ’80s sarcasm help deliver some of the more hard-hitting truths, and performances from the cast that includes Glenn Close and Jeff Goldblum offer a glimpse into what life looked like for 30-year-olds of the era.
7
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Because Relationships Can Be Messy
The film focuses a lot on how much someone’s mindset can change when they reach their 30s. The relationships that these women find themselves in are far from perfect, and it shows how much clarity age and experience can bring. At a younger age, people react differently to infidelity, and there is usually much less on the line. But when a shared home and children are involved, each decision made becomes that much harder. It might also be a time when the realization occurs that the expectations someone had at the beginning of a relationship have not been met.
Bernadine’s story shows the struggles of rediscovering one’s independence and rebuilding a life in a new reality. The film does not shy away from messy topics and heartbreak, all of which feel much more complicated and final when in one’s 30s. The overarching theme is balance, and trying to achieve it within everything that the four women have to juggle in their hectic lives. There is a lot of inspiration to be found in their stories, especially for viewers who are going through some big changes in their personal lives.
6
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Because Everybody Has To Go To One At Some Point
There comes a time in one’s life when it feels like they have to go to a wedding every other weekend. Friends from school reach the point when they want to settle down, new friends from work are also on the path to marriage, and the social calendar seems to fill up very quickly. While weddings can be very fun and exciting, they can also make the guests feel like their life choices and relationships haven’t led them anywhere. They’re also very expensive.
The romantic, comedic Four Weddings and a Funeral does a great job of showing the repeтιтive and sometimes absurd nature of these ceremonial traditions, and how important it is to have a great group of people to experience them with. So many conversations and small talk made at the dinner table feel so relatable, as guests try to find the connection they share with the couples, and some of the wedding hook-ups feel very real as well. The funeral scene is a poignant reminder to make sure to try and enjoy and appreciate every moment.
5
I Love You, Man (2009)
Because Making Friends Is Hard
There comes a time in one’s 30s when canceling plans is the best feeling in the world. One’s social circle tends to dwindle to a much smaller core group of friends and higher groups of friends from school become colleagues or work acquaintances. It’s certainly possible to make new friends in one’s 30s, but it’s not quite as easy as it was at a younger age. When Peter realized that he didn’t have enough close friends to celebrate his engagement with, let alone fill a wedding party, he went on a mission to find some mates.
The film also accurately shows how hard it is to find someone that shares the same interests and values, so it’s a great reminder to embrace it when it does come along.
What ensues is a great example of the lengths some people have to go through to strike up new friendships. From online matches to being set up by family members, there are many unusual ways to meet new people. The film also accurately shows how hard it is to find someone that shares the same interests and values, so it’s a great reminder to embrace it when it does come along. The scene at the Rush concert has to be one of the most relatable examples of men in their 30s taking in a show.
4
Bridesmaids (2011)
Because New And Old Friends Don’t Mix
With weddings such a huge part of one’s 30s, many people will have had to be part of someone’s bridal party at one point in time. It’s always interesting to see the co-mingling of old and new friends, as they’ll both have very different memories and experiences. Sometimes, it’s a seamless mix, but other times, there can be clashes. Very often, people tend to keep their work friends and school friends separate, and weddings are often the few times they all come together.
The forever quotable Bridesmaids takes this very relatable phenomenon and takes it to the extreme. The motley crew of women selected to be part of the bridal party all represent different stages of being in their 30s in a great way. There is a happily single, strong, independent woman, a newlywed, a frustrated housewife, a smug new friend, and the childhood bestie who hasn’t quite got her life together. So many people can relate to either of those people, and it’s a great mix of different 30s tropes.
3
Swingers (1996)
Because They’re So Money
While women are often expected to marry at a younger age due to their “biological clock”, men would often pursue single life with much more excitement. Swingers was a film that resonated with that demographic when it came out, and although times have changed, there are still so many aspects that it got exactly right. There is heartbreak and the subsequent need to get back into the dating life, the rebounds, and the night life. But, at its heart, there is a focus on the importance of healthy male friendships.
Though hidden under a lot of bravado and outlandish stories, there are some heartwarming moments that show just how close the friend group is. During moments of uncertainty, when one realizes that the plans they had in their 20s never materialized, having someone to vent to is crucial. This mix of fun, chaos, and trying to solidify one’s idenтιтy make Swingers an important watch for anyone worried about their 30s.
2
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Because Sometimes Love Takes A While
Seeing these two rom-com heroes at different parts of their lives was such a clever way of showcasing how perspectives can change with time. Disappointment, fear, and heartache have turned two very different people into soulmates. Through their conversations, the audience learns how viewpoints can shift, and what seemed like the most profound discovery at age 21 seems utterly ridiculous at age 34. But, Sally’s very particular way of ordering also shows that somethings never change.
The film is a great example of dating in one’s 30s, with the two main protagonist’s friends’ love story being a prime example of what can happen. There is a lot of hope throughout, and so many reflective moments that hit really close to home for anyone who has experienced life in their 30s. Dealing with exes, watching the same film with someone on the phone, and playing charades at an awkward dinner party are all on the table.
1
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Because It’s Genuinely Hard
A messy love life, office drama, and friends who share all the gory details are all parts of being in one’s 30s, and Bridget Jones embodies all the anxiety and Sєxiness of the decade. She masks her insecurities with confidence, and perfectly embraces the ups and downs of this tumultuous time. There may be a lot of joy found in the life of a singleton, like nights out with her friends and New Year’s Day hangovers, but then there are the unbearable dinners with the smug married couples, who enjoy flaunting their apparent happiness.
The fact that she is able to navigate life with humor and little shame is empowering, and she is living proof that sometimes it’s important to embrace every part of oneself and stay “just as you are”.
A lot of her actions are also very familiar to many people in their 30s who may not have all their proverbial ducks in a row. Ill-advised office relationships, a shelf stacked with self-help books, and eating cereal straight out of the box are all great examples of the emotional roller-coaster of being in one’s 30s. The fact that she is able to navigate life with humor and little shame is empowering, and she is living proof that sometimes it’s important to embrace every part of oneself and stay “just as you are”.
