10 Movies whose Main Characters' Problems Can't Be Solved by Romance, According to Reddit

Many movies use romance as a way to solve all the problems of the protagonist, but these movies find alternative solutions to the conflicts of the story.

After a three-year production hiatus and awkward releases due to the coronavirus pandemic, 2022 will be a banner year for movies. With unique, thought-provoking, scary and family-friendly films hitting theaters and streaming throughout the year, it looks like the film and TV industry may be stabilizing after a period of uncertainty. Films like Nope, Barbarian, and Tár are highly original in their ideas and presentation, and hopefully, audiences will receive more of the same in the coming months.

The themes and emotions of films are constantly changing, and it's always nice to see a film stray from popular stereotypes. One of these common tropes is for a movie to end with a romance to resolve the film's main conflict. It's seen in most romantic comedies and many other genres to end the movie. Some Redditors discussed movies that didn't fit that trajectory. These movies deftly resolve the main conflict without resorting to romance to end the story.

Planes, Trains And Automobiles (1987)

Redditor Bocephus8892's post, "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" is a Thanksgiving comedy, but it's really about two people who change the way..." In Steve Martin and John Candy's comedy "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," Martin's character Neal and Candy's Del are certainly not looking for romance on their journey.

What happens in the film is that the prudish, preppy Neil and the depressed, outwardly happy Del are forced to spend an inordinate amount of time together. There's no romance in the film, but the camaraderie they develop sees them spend the holidays together.

Chef (2014)

Sometimes the solution to a movie's problems is for the main character to rekindle their interest in something they once loved rather than someone they lost. Reddit user Infernalism posted, "Chef is a good guy... he turned things around and rediscovered what he really loves working..." Hates working in a restaurant. Instead of looking for romance to fix his problems, he decided to leave the restaurant world behind and work driving a food truck across America. The freedom and creativity of the character made him fall in love with the profession again.

A Redditor, TommyShelbyDon, wrote, "Swiss Army Man...absolutely no romance or work 'joy' Swiss Army Man, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano, is an absurd black comedy about a man stranded on an island who befriends a corpse that begins to wake up. Corpse, two characters who encourage each other to grow. Hank shows Manny how to be human, and Manny helps Hank out of his self-seriousness and personal immobility. At the end of the movie, neither of them got the girl, but they still parted ways because they knew each other.

Swiss Army Man (2016)

Reddit user VectorJones posted a movie that doesn't use romance to solve the protagonist's problems, "Bad Santa...has no traditional love interest...he's a much better man Billy Bow Bur Thornton's dark comedy Bad Santa is an R-rated Christmas movie about a man who uses his identity as Christmas Santa to steal. A friendly but fussy young boy. Their friendship begins with Willy Use Thurman, and ultimately make him better. Finally Willie realizes that Thurman needs a A father figure who might actually improve his own life by doing so.

Manchester by the Sea is an incredibly moving dark film with a sad and tragic story that begins with a broken relationship that can never be resolved romantically. In one of Casey Affleck's best films, he played Lee Chandler, a father who is accidentally killed in an avoidable accident own children.

Bad Santa (2003)

Reddit user ADinnerOfSnacks posted about the film, "Manchester is one of the best films about grief I've ever seen...very touching and sometimes very Interesting." Lee won't allow himself to be romantically involved with anyone again, but his relationship with his nephew has taught him that redemption and a chance to try again is possible.

Redditor Friend-Beast wrote, "John Wick solved his depression by mercilessly slaughtering humans and raising a new puppy." While this comment is tongue-in-cheek, it does illustrate that in many of these action movies , the hero finally finds love to settle down.

Manchester By The Sea (2016)

In John Wick, Keanu Reeves' titular character recently lost his wife to illness. John topples the syndicate when the monster relentlessly kills the puppy she gave him in revenge. John has already found his true love in these movies, so there's no room for another one. Instead, he solved his problems himself and in his wife's name.

Just because there is a romance in the movie doesn't mean the romance solves the protagonist's central problem. Reddit user BelicianPixieFry posted, "Good Will Hunting is a good example, but there are also love interests." While Matt Damon's Will Hunting fell in love, it only happened after he solved his own problems .

John Wick (2014)

Good Will Hunting stars Damon and Robin Williams as his assigned therapist, Dr. Sean Maguire. Will is a super bright kid who can't get over his abusive past. It's Sean who forces Will to face things from his past that he wants to bury. Their breakthrough together allows Will to pursue love and a better life, and makes this one of the most inspiring films of all time.

Reddit user Shipwreck_Kelly wrote that a movie with romantic hints doesn't address the story, "Jurassic Park...Dr. Grant and Dr. Sattler are romantically involved, but their relationship is very The small part..." the user continued It can be said that Dr. Grant's change is mainly because of his relationship with the children. Sam Neill stars as Alan Grant, a paleontologist visiting Jurassic Park who gets stuck with two kids during their escape from the dinosaurs.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Jurassic Park is primarily concerned with human arrogance and man's inability to control nature, but it also has Alan's core themes about relaxation and understanding what it means to care for those who are more vulnerable, through his time spent with his children.

Redditor dinosaurfondue wrote, "Kiki's Delivery Service is one of my all-time favorite movies. There are hints of romance in it, but that's not what the story is about." Kiki's Delivery Service is a Studio Ghibli film with a compelling An unforgettable character. She's a young witch who goes to live in the big city and learn about the world.

Jurassic Park (1993)

This is a simple and lovely film about growing up and dealing with the loneliness many feel when they are teenagers trying to find themselves. Gigi loses her powers over the course of the movie, but manages to regain them after passing her Feel inadequate and find your inner courage.

Redditor kennyisok posts, "Dead Poets Society. There is a small love interest, but that's not the point of the movie. Doesn't affect anything". Dead Poets Society stars Robin Williams as an unusual teacher John Keating and a young Ethan Hawke as his student Todd Anderson.

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

This film tells the story of a group of students at a prestigious college under strict and intense pressure from the headmaster and parents. But John Keating taught them to live life on their own terms. His selfless and playful attitude transforms confused and restricted boys without any romance needed to help them.

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Dead Poets Society (1989)