Music, paintings, literature, and photography are all forms of art that can change our perspective on life and how we view the world around us. But nothing does it better than film. Film is a relatively new art form, yet it is one of the most popular and most accessible. People go to theaters to experience a form of art that they don’t even think of as art. (Yes, Marvel movies are art.) Yet, every time you watch a movie (unless you totally hated it), it definitely changes your view on something. These five movies will do this better than most.

5. Paris, Texas

Travis Henderson, played by Harry Dean Stanton, has no idea who he is. Found in the middle of the Mojave desert, Travis has been missing for four years and when found, he seems not to remember anything about his life before the desert. When reunited with his brother, Walt, played by Dean Stockwell, Travis must reunite with his family and himself.
“Paris, Texas” directed by Wim Wenders, is a movie about self-discovery. It has a mundane feeling at first, almost like the viewer is in Travis’s head. However, as the plot progresses, the feeling becomes more familiar, as Travis reconnects his life. This movie, even if you aren’t an amnestic drifter who has relearned life, speaks to the viewer. By the end, the audience learns that like Travis, you must forgive yourself and others, confront the past and its traumas, and sacrifice precious things to make others you love happy.
You can watch “Paris, Texas” on Max and Premium Hulu.

4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

After Joel, played by Jim Carrey, learns his manic pixie dream girl ex, Clementine, played by Kate Winslet, erased him from her memory, he does the same. Throughout the film, Joel has to relive the memories he had with Clementine before they’re gone for good, slowly forgetting the woman he once loved.
A movie about loss, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” directed by Michel Gondry, is a visually stunning film. Literally, it stuns the viewer in their seat. The scenes and cinematography are ethereal and enchanting, with some scenes being colorful and vivid, while others are dull and dark, fitting the situation perfectly. Not only is it visually beautiful, but also in the way it tells a story about losing someone you loved. The life Joel and Clementine wanted so badly–the one full of sunshine was out of their reach–even when their memories were erased because pain is unavoidable and ignorance is unattainable. Memories make us who we are and without them, we are nothing.
You can watch “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” by buying or renting it from Amazon or Apple TV.

3. Whiplash

Andrew Neiman, a dedicated jazz drummer played by Miles Teller, starts playing for an elite jazz conservatory in NYC. His professor, Terence Fletcher played by J.K. Simmons, has methods that would break down anybody. Andrew slowly spirals to achieve perfection and validation from his teacher, but this same teacher pushes him to the edge of sanity.
Directed by Damien Chazelle, “Whiplash” is a downward spiral of perfection and sanity. Andrew wants to be perfect at his drumming. He wants to be the best, but Terence doesn’t allow this. He breaks down Andrew and hurts him, causing him to feel that whatever he does isn’t perfect or good enough. This puts Andrew on the brink of insanity; he even hurts himself severely. It’s an addiction to Andrew. However, Andrew gets away from that teacher and creates a healthier relationship with his passion. He wanted to give up drumming after he got away, but he didn’t. And by the end, Andrew became amazing at it. So whatever happens, don’t fall into a perfectionist mindset, but also don’t give up.
You can watch “Whiplash” on Netflix.

2. Fantastic Mr. Fox

A story originally written by Roald Dahl, “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a stop-motion film about Mr. Fox, played by George Clooney, and his family. After moving from a burrow to a tree, because of an identity crisis, Mr Fox starts to go back to an old habit: raiding human farms. By doing this, Mr Fox puts his family and friend’s lives at risk.
“Fantastic Mr. Fox,” directed by Wes Anderson, is a movie about putting your family before your ego and pride. Mr. Fox, prideful and happy he is able to provide for his family by stealing, eventually learns that, by doing this, he is putting his whole town at risk. The humans come after him and even try to kill his family in order to get Mr. Fox. However, when being hunted down, Mr. Fox enjoys the hunt and his family is in more danger due to that. It’s not until the end of the film that he realizes that he put pride in front of his family.
You can watch “Fantastic Mr. Fox” on Disney Plus.

1. Little Miss Sunshine

The Hoovers, a family full of chaos and instability, find themselves on a road trip after their daughter, Olive, played by Abigail Breslin, wins a beauty pageant and is on her way to the Little Miss Sunshine Contest in California. The family’s sanity is challenged as they travel to the contest, creating a closer bond between them.
By the end of “Little Miss Sunshine,” co-directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, the Hoovers learn that even if you fail and lose, there is still joy in that. They still win in their regards, even if they don’t officially win; also, you have to get through the hardest parts to find the joy in life. The Hoovers went through some crazy stuff while being on the road like their van breaking down constantly and some other events that test their patience, yet by the end of the movie, they find that they’re happy they went through all that crazy stuff and finally won.
You can watch” Little Miss Sunshine” on Hulu and Disney Plus.