Culture reflects in what we do, what we believe in. We all have different cultures that make us unique. Now bringing this culture in movies- movies are just a mere reflection of culture. Watching these movies, we adopt the culture and try to imitate it in our lives too.
From wanting to dress like Cher Horowitz in Clueless to smoking like Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, culture shown in movies impacts our lives to a great extent. Now, get ready to capture the culture shown in our best picks.
15 Movies About Culture and Society
1. Coco (2017)
- Cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt.
- IMDb Ratings: 8.4/10
Mexican culture and music are the richness of Coco. Trust me, the music and soundtrack in this movie will trigger your cells to dance. Set in a Mexican holiday season – ‘The Day of the Dead’, Miguel (Anthony Gonzelez) and his guitar take us on a journey exploring the colors and cultures of Santa Cecilia (the town where the movie is based on).
You can know more about Coco officially here.
2. Before Sunrise (1995)
- Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Andrea Eckert.
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1/10
A minimalistic one with very complex dialogues, this movie is a must-watch for all the people who have butterflies in their stomachs but make sure they don’t escape. The movie is set in Vienna, where two strangers Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) meet on a train to Paris.
Strolling on the streets, listening to music in the booth, lying supine on the grass gazing at stars, ‘Before Sunrise’ has got everything to make us fall in love with the duo. Vienna culture also wanders with them in the movie.
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3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
- Cast: Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller.
- IMDb Ratings: 8/10
Hands down this is the best teen high school movie. Based on Chbosky’s novel, the movie explores various emotions such as love, loneliness, pain, and happiness. The story revolves around Charlie (Logan Lerman), an introvert who tries to make friends on the first day of high school but ends up befriending his seniors who help him to overcome his dark past.
This movie reminds us to value the relationships in our lives and hold the people we love close. Take notes people, valuable lessons coming through!!
You can watch The Perks of Being a Wallflower officially here.
4. Slumdog Millionaire (2000)
- Cast: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Irfan Khan.
- IMDb Ratings: 8/10
Mumbai is the city that never sleeps. When we think of Mumbai we imagine a city full of lights, concrete buildings, all the metropolitan life. But this movie explores the Juhu slums and the other side of Mumbai where people may not even have heard the word ‘metropolitan’.
The story revolves around Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), an orphan who becomes a contestant on the show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati?’. He travels through his past, filled with poverty and its effects while playing the game.
5. A Girl in The River: The Price of Forgiveness (2015)
- Cast: Asad Jamal, Saba.
- IMDb Ratings: 7.9/10
The documentary tells us the story of a 19-year-old Saba Qaiser who survived an honor killing by her own family just because she fell in love. Sharmeen (director) exposes the cruel judiciary system of Pakistan and shameful acts of honor killing. This documentary will definitely touch everyone’s heart and question our own humanity.
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6. Call Me by Your Name (2017)
- Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer.
- IMDb Ratings: 7.9/10
We never get tired of watching reels of Italy and its beautiful cities on Instagram, don’t we? Well, in this movie Italy itself is a character.
In the summertime along with the trees, love also blossoms between Elio (Timothee Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer) as they explore their sexualities and find each other. Like in the novel (same name), the movie captures the raw romance and portrays it in the most beautiful way.
7. Jojo Rabbit (2019)
- Cast: Roman Griffin Davis, Taika Waititi, Scarlett Johansson.
- IMDb Ratings: 7.9/10
Set in World War II, Jojo Rabbit is a comedy-drama movie that connects war and humanity. It takes us through extreme hitlerism and how the kids were raised at that time. Jojo (Roman Davis), a ten-year-old boy is taught to follow Hitler and Anti-Jew principles.
However, he is startled when he finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl. He now has to fight his instincts, whether to kill her by standing with his beliefs or to consider humanity above all.
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8. Apocalypto (2006)
- Cast: Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez.
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
Heads up, this one’s a very disturbing movie and is not suitable for all audiences. Although the movie is a good pick to learn about Mayan civilization and their culture, the story is not so civic as it sounds.
Jaguar paw (Rudy Youngblood) and his tribe are captured by some warriors belonging to a gruesome tribe. The story is all about how he manages to escape from the grip of the warriors and try to return to his pregnant wife and child.
9. The Greatest Showman (2017)
- Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya.
- IMDb Ratings: 7.6/10
Circus circles our minds with entertainment. But ever thought of the struggles one has to go to put up a circus? Learn it from Mr. T.P Barnum’s (Hugh Jackman) life. He creates a show with his wild imaginations which becomes world-famous. Looking for comedy?
This movie has got plenty. Looking for music? Music is what makes the movie moving on wheels. Looking for dance? And that’s the wheels of this movie. Learn some cool moves with Mr. Barnum and his circus friends. The cast of this movie is another thing that makes it entertaining.
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10. My Life in Pink (1997)
- Cast: Georges du Fresne, Michele Laroque.
- IMDb Ratings: 7.6/10
Ma Vie en Rose a.k.a My Life in Pink is a 1997 drama movie about a child who comes out as transgender to his parents and faces oppression from society. The movie teaches us how we should embrace ourselves from the life of this child. It also gives us a peep into the french suburban culture. Treating the LQBTQ community as an outcast is not new news in the present time also.
Of course, the situation has improved, but the ugly roots against LQBTQ are still there in society. It’s high time we start accepting people the way they are.
11. Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
- Cast: Elisabeth Shue, Nicolas Cage.
- IMDb Ratings: 7.5/10
Money, casinos, clubs, and chugs – things that come to our mind when we hear Las Vegas. We feel anything can happen in Las Vegas. And that’s the reason why movies are set in Las Vegas. Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage) loses his family and becomes a full-time alcoholic.
He tries to escape reality by moving to Vegas where he meets Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a prostitute, and little does he know his life is going to take a 180-degree turn. Grab some tissues before watching this movie because it’s going to be a rollercoaster of emotions!!
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12. The White Helmets (2016)
- Cast: Khalid Farah, Mohammed Farah, Abu Omar.
- IMDb Ratings: 7.5/10
Superheroes do exist in real life. And what makes them superheroes? Their selfless act of humanity. The white helmets is a short documentary on rescue workers in Syria who selflessly work to save their fellow citizens. They rescue civilians as soon as there is a bomb drop or open fire. They’re living proof that humanity is not dead in this world.
You can watch The White Helmets officially here.
13. Born Into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids (2004)
- Cast: Kochi, Avijit Halder, Shanti Das.
- IMDb Ratings: 7.2/10
Zana Briski’s Academy Award-winning ‘Born into Brothels’ speaks to us in hundred voices. Briski reveals the underworld of Calcutta where children are being forced to be prostitutes, Their innocent and helpless voices call us out to do something against this injustice instead of our silence.
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14. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
- Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis.
- IMDb Ratings: 7/10
“You sing ’cause that’s a way of understanding life.” Powerful dialogues are said with powerful acting, that is the composition of this masterpiece ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’. Based on August Wilson’s play, Ma Rainey (Viola Davis), ‘the mother of blues’ expresses the tension and troubles a black artist goes through in any industry.
When Ma sings, it’s all from the heart and she herself becomes the song. The movie reveals how dangerous it is for black people to live in a white society. This is Chadwick Boseman’s last performance as Levee, a spirited young artist who aspires to start his own band one day. Gone too soon, Chadwick!
15. Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On (2015)
- Cast: Tressa Silguero, Riley Reynolds, Rachel Bernard.
- IMDb Ratings: 6.1/10
This documentary will leave you with second thoughts about watching pornography. It shows a feminist touch to the porn culture through the lives of four amateur girls who were lured into the industry by good money.
You can watch Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On officially here.
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