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Coming home is a pivotal plot device in some movies in which a main character is returning home for the first time since leaving. More often than not, this character has transitioned into the adult years of their life and has outgrown the customs that their hometown once offered. This plot houses no restrictions in specific genres, as these films range from dramas to comedies and even tend to pop up in some horror movies.
Similar to coming of age films, movies that focus on a character’s return home focus on a lesson or moral grounding, which the character seeks. Here are some of the best movies about coming home.
10 The Lucky One
Adapted from Nicholas Sparks' novel of the same name, The Lucky One focuses on the romance between a U.S. Marine Sergeant and a woman he believes was his good luck charm while deployed. Upon returning home from his third tour of duty, Sgt. Logan Thibault (played by Zac Efron) seeks out a woman from a photograph that he acquired while he was away. Logan believes that the woman in the photo was his good luck charm, and soon learns that her name is Beth (played by Taylor Schilling).
While Logan struggles to find the words to explain to her who she is to him, the two work together at Beth's kennel, all while their romance begins to bloom. The Lucky One follows the expected formula of most Nicholas Sparks' plots. However, this movie in particular focuses heavily on a veteran's adjustment to acclimating to a daily routine.
9 Now and Then
Now and Then is a female-driven coming-of-age drama about a group of girls recollecting on the summer of 1970. This particular summer was special to them because they collectively agreed that this was the summer in which they "grew up." The movie is told in both past and present form, as the scenes shift between the four as pre-teens and then as adults. The four friends reunite in their hometown to support Chrissy (played by Rita Wilson) through the birth of her first child. The most reluctant to return home is Samantha, who is played by Demi Moore.
Now and Then uses the four protagonists to its benefit by focusing on separate, troubling story-lines for each, and holds a similar message to films like The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Lady Bird, whose main protagonist suffered from a complicated relationship with her mother.
8 Sweet Home Alabama
After leaving Alabama behind, a prominent fashion designer named Melanie (played by Reese Witherspoon) must return home to officially divorce her high-school boyfriend after becoming engaged to her latest boyfriend Andrew (played by Patrick Dempsey). Once Melanie is home and confront Jake, she realizes that there is much more to their tumultuous story than meets the eye. Apparently, according to a mutual friend, Jake followed Melanie to the city, but felt as though he was now out of her league. Jake never signed the divorce papers in hopes that he would one day win her back.
In true rom-com fashion, Melanie's current boyfriend Andrew makes his way to Alabama as a surprise. Melanie soon realizes that she left more behind at home than she thought. Sweet Home Alabama is certainly a Witherspoon rom-com classic, and a film that truly depicts the complications of returning home to settle unfinished business.
7 10 Years
High School reunion movies are few and far between, but 2011's 10 Years hits the nail on the head for the genre. According to Collider, the rom-com feels more like a slice of life indie despite the bigger names in the film. After 10 years have passed, Jake (played by Channing Tatum) and his girlfriend Jess (played by Jenna Dewan) return to his hometown to attend his ten-year high school reunion. Jess meets some of his closest friends from school, and the group realizes that some of their past business if very much unfinished.
At some point in the night, Jake must confront his high-school ex after eight years apart and the two share a dance that they never got to share at prom. Jake and his ex Mary (played by Rosario Dawson) find the closure that they never had and Jake returns home to Mary. Although 10 Years doesn't hit the same beats as Romy and Michele's High School Reunion or American Reunion, the film is a heartfelt take on revisiting the past.
6 The Best of Me
The Best of Me may not be the highest-grossing Nicholas Sparks adaptation, but still is a half decent watch if you're in the mood for a romance flick. Main characters, Adam (played by James Marsden) and Amanda (played by Michelle Monaghan) were high-school sweethearts, who reunite at a friend's funeral after 20 years apart. The two realize that the love they shared all those years ago never died, and a flame reignites between the two of them. However, the very things that pulled their younger selves away from each other seem even more pressing in present days.
5 Garden State
Garden State has been a long-debated film since its release in 2004. The off-beat rom-com has often been criticized for some of the directorial choices, as well as the way the film depicts depression. However, Braff who both wrote the film and stars in it, commented that he struggled heavily with depression while writing it.
Braff's character in the film, Andrew, returns home to New Jersey for his mother's funeral and comes to find that he has left more unfinished business behind than intended. He seeks refuge in both old friends and new, but immediately feels drawn to Sam (played by Natalie Portman) upon meeting her. Andrew's return home brings him both healing and solution as he mends past relationships and learns new outlooks on life.
4 It: Chapter 2
It was originally produced as a miniseries, and infamously cast Tim Curry to portray Pennywise the clown. Over two decades later in 2017, Bill Skarsgard took the reins and put on his best Pennywise face for It. The first film focused on the cast as children, during their first encounter with the bloodthirsty clown. The second installment followed the novel's structure, having the Loser's Club return to Derry in their adults years after receiving a call that Pennywise is back. It is an interesting film to anaylize when thrown in a pile with movies about returning home. S
tephen King's most notorious literary trait is that of child-like wonder and capturing the thin line between childhood and adulthood. It: Chapter 2 brings the group back home to make them remember the very things they were destined to leave behind. The It franchise only houses two films, but sits as one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time.
3 American Reunion
American Reunion is the fourth and final installment that features the original cast of the American Pie franchise. The film was released in 2012, almost 10 years after American Wedding, which featured the marriage of Jim (played by Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan). Reunion finds the gang of four reunited once again, but with issues that are much larger in scale even though personality wise, very little has changed.
The movie follows the standard American Pie formula with raunchy comedy, and of course the ongoing affair between Finch (played by Eddie Kaye Thomas) and Stiffler's mom (played by Jennifer Coolidge). All in all, American Reunion is a nice end cap for the franchise and the characters as a whole.
2 Just Friends
Just Friends portrays the timeless story of a male and female best friend pairing in which one of them is in love with the other, but the feelings aren't reciprocated. Chris Brander (played by Ryan Reynolds) is in love with his high school bestie Jamie (played by Amy Smart), however, she only views him as a friend. In high school, Chris wasn't the type of guy that would be on Jamie's radar as a love interest.
Flash forward several years later, and Chris is now a successful record executive who has no problem attracting women. When his Christmas plans in Paris fall through, he returns to his hometown of New Jersey, ready to show Jamie exactly who she missed out on. As the two get to know each other almost all over again, they rebuild their bond, and Jamie realizes that she is in fact in love with Chris. Just Friends is an all-year watch, but a solid rom-com staple around the holidays.
1 Hook
In the most simplistic of terms, 1991's Hook is a Peter Pan story. The film depicts Peter, (played by Robin Williams) as a grown adult and working as a lawyer with a family of his own. One night, his children are abducted, and he must return to Neverland to not only find them, but also connect with his past. Peter's Lost Boys and Tinkerbell must help him remember who was when he was Peter Pan in order to save his kids.
The film was directed by Steven Spielberg, whose sentimental plot tones and ability to perfectly encapsulate childlike wonder shine through in most of his work. Hook has a cast that is predominantly composed of child actors, and Spielberg has a special ability to bring out their best work. Hook is a quintessential staple in films about returning home because it focuses heavily on what it means to grow up and the aspects of childhood that are so easily forgotten.