Friendship is one of the most common relationships portrayed inmovies, witha few select on-screen duos being heartwarming examples of connection and support. From timeless animated pals like those in theScooby-Doofranchise to newer on-screen friends seen inWicked, friendship is presented in various ways. Several film characters are placed in friendships due to adventurous circumstances, but these duos come to be through more natural means of connection.
Part of why friendship is so often explored throughout films is because ofthe instant connection made with audiences. The most heartwarming movie friendships explore the highs and lows of platonic relationships that reflect those experienced by audiences in real life. This includes being there for one another through challenging life changes and feeling insecure about the security of one’s friendship, as seen in films likeToy StoryandBridesmaids, respectively.
10Bill & Ted
Bill & Ted franchise (1989-Present)
AfterBill & Ted’s Excellent Adventurewas released in 1989, the titular duo became two of the mosticonic ’90s movie characterswith the sequel film and spin-off TV series. In the first film, Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are introduced astwo high school students whose music will one day create a utopian society— if they can pass their history class and graduate high school.
Bill & Ted
TheBill & Tedfranchise is a science fiction comedy series that follows two metalhead slacker friends, Bill S. Preston, Esq., and Ted “Theodore” Logan, as they travel through time and alternate dimensions in a quest to fulfill their destiny of creating a utopian society through their music. The franchise includes three main films, two television series, comic books, video games, and other media. Known for its humor, catchphrases, and portrayal of friendship, the franchise has developed a cult following since its debut in 1989.
Throughout theBill & Tedfilm series, the duo is thrown into wild adventures using a phone-booth time machine to travel to the past and future.The performances by Winter and Reeves make their characters all the more likableand endearing. More heartwarming than the on-screen bond is seeing the two reunite in the 2020 filmBill & Ted Face the Music, which sees the famous friendship still going strong in adulthood.
9Annie & Lillian
Bridesmaids (2011)
Highlighting adult friendships among women is the 2011 comedy filmBridesmaids. The film follows a large group of women acting as Lillian’s (Maya Rudolph) bridesmaids, but the heartwarming duo at the center of the film is that of Lillian and Annie (Kristen Wiig).The two have been friends for years, but the foundation of their relationship begins to crack when Annie gets the idea that she’s being replaced by another bridesmaid.
Bridesmaids
Cast
Bridesmaids is a comedy film featuring Kristen Wiig as Annie, who becomes the maid of honor for her best friend Lillian amidst personal turmoil. As she navigates the costly and eccentric demands of wedding preparations, Annie strives to prove her devotion despite numerous comedic challenges. Released in 2011, the film explores friendship and rivalry among bridesmaids.
Bridesmaidshandles insecurity in friendships and reluctance to change with a lot of humor and heart, withLillian and Annie proving to be an unbreakable duo. After vulgar comedies had been centered around men for quite some time, a film likeBridesmaidswas refreshing. The comedyfilm performed better than anyone had expectedboth critically and commercially and kickstarted a trend of successful women-led comedies that would release in the following years.
8Elphaba & Glinda
Wicked (2024)
Jon M. Chu’sWickedmakes a few changes to Gregory Maguire’s book, but what remains is the essence of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda’s (Ariana Grande-Butera) friendship. The two meet at Shiz University and their relationship begins with them at odds due to their differing magical abilities and the contrasting ways in which they’re viewed by others.
15 Best Movies About Friendship
From coming-of-age dramas like Stand By Me to wedding comedies like Bridemaids, filmmakers have made all kinds of great movies about friendship.
However,a pivotal moment in the Ozdust Ballroomchanges the trajectory of their relationship. Elphaba and Glinda put themselves in vulnerable situations, allowing them to finally see one another as friends. With their adversarial relationship behind them,Elphaba and Glinda choose to support one another, with the latter offering up her beauty and social skills to give Elphaba a makeover.
Wicked
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
The two travel to the Emerald City together, arm in arm, beforeWicked’s emotional cliffhanger ending. Several questions surround the fate of Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship for audiences unfamiliar with previous adaptations of L. Frank Baum’s original novel.
7Jesse & Leslie
Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
Regarded as one ofthe most depressing kids' movies,Bridge to Terabithiais a moving fantasy film that handles its subject of grief incredibly well. The film revolves around the new friendship between the young Jesse (Hutcherson) and Leslie (Robb).
The two instantly connect, capture audiences' hearts, and cope with their real-life troubles by escaping into the titular fantasy world.
The two instantly connect, capture audiences' hearts, and cope with their real-life troubles by escaping into the titular fantasy world. When in Terabithia, Jesse and Leslie’s problems melt away, andit’s endearing seeing the two have one another through tough times. As heartfelt as their friendship is, it is unfortunately cut short byBridge to Terabithia’s tragic death.
Bridge to Terabithia
Bridge to Terabithia is an adaptation of the novel by Katherine Paterson which follows a group of children with challenging backgrounds who create their own fantasy realm to escape from the troubles of life.
What comes as a result of Leslie’s unexpected death is an affecting exploration and the grief and guilt felt by Jesse. Hutcherson handles the emotional intensity extremely well, and Jesse’s coping with his best friend’s death signifies the strength and importance of their connection.
6Romy & Michele
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)
High school reunions can be a daunting event, and the leading best friends inRomy and Michele’s High School Reunionhandle it in a way that is relatable and heartfelt. In the comedy, Romy (Mira Sorvino) and Michele (Lisa Kudrow) are introduced astwo women in their late 20s who feel insecure about where life has taken them in the years after graduating from high school. Before coming face-to-face with their former classmates and bullies, the women are determined to adopt fake lives that are sure to impress.
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion is a 1997 comedy film directed by David Mirkin. Starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow, it follows two quirky best friends who reinvent their lives in a bid to impress former classmates at their high school reunion. The film explores themes of friendship and societal expectations with a humorous and light-hearted tone.
The lies appear to be too much for the lifelong friends to handle at times. However, Romy and Michele learn what’s most important is not their glamorous outfits and extravagant jobs, but their authentic selves and their continued friendship. Sorvino and Kudrow are comedically in sync throughout the film, making their adventures all the more enjoyable for audiences.
5Cher & Dionne
Clueless (1995)
Easily one of the most beloved coming-of-age films from the ’90s isClueless. The Alicia Silverstone-led film is a looseadaptation of Jane Austen’s popular novelEmmaand follows Cher Horowitz (Silverstone), a popular high-schooler playing matchmaker, who decides to take a new student under her wing and give her a makeover.
Cluelessis most remembered forits iconic catchphrases, eye-catching outfits, and a career-highlight performance by Silverstone. However,Cluelessalso has a heartwarming portrayal of friendship, particularly that between Cher and Dionne Davenport (Stacey Dash). Throughout the film, the two remain close.
Clueless
Clueless is a 1995 comedy film that follows Cher Horowitz, a wealthy and popular high school student in Beverly Hills, who navigates adolescence while matchmaking friends and discovering her own feelings. The film offers a modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma, set in a contemporary American high school.
Cher and Dionne find a connection in their similar wealthy upbringingand appear to always be in sync on-screen, containing just enough differences in style and in their dating lives to be the perfect match. However, the new student, Tai Frasier (Brittany Murphy), quickly turns the friendship into a trio.
4Maverick & Goose
Top Gun (1986)
Full of heart-pounding action scenes in the air,Top Gundetails the training at the United States Navy’s Fighter Weapons School. However, amidst all the action and memorable use of music, the heart ofTop Gunis the friendship between Maverick (Tom Cruise) and Goose (Anthony Edwards).The friendship between the two men goes beyond their professional and training duties, as multiple times throughout the film they’re seen leaning on one another for support.
Top Gun
In this classic action flick, Tom Cruise stars as daring young pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Among the other students at the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school, he competes to be best in the class, and learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.
Maverick and Goose have a few key differences in their lifestyles that help balance one another out and better the other half of the friendship. The heartbreaking end to their friendship isTop Gun’s saddest moment, and it has a lasting effect on Maverick. The poignancy ofGoose’s death continues inTop Gun: Maverick, which sees Cruise’s character reminded of his late friend when he trains Goose’s son.
3Shaggy & Scooby
Scooby-Doo franchise (1969-Present)
Bonding over their shared appetite for Scooby Snacks and a similar intense fear of monsters, Shaggy Rogers and Scooby-Doo are an iconic and heartwarming pair of best friends. The massiveScooby-Doofranchise includes over 30 moviesand over a dozen TV series.
While other components of theScooby-Doocharacters have been updated with every new adaptation, the loyalty and bond between Shaggy and Scooby remains just the same.
Regardless of who they’re depicted by or whether they’re seen as live-action or animated characters,Shaggy and Scooby are the heart of the overall mystery story presented to audiences. Despite being fearful of the monsters they’re tasked with tracking down, Shaggy and Scooby often find a roundabout way of helping to solve a mystery.
Scooby-Doo
TheScooby-Doofranchise is an iconic animated media series that began in 1969 withScooby-Doo, Where Are You!created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears. The series follows the adventures of Mystery Inc.—a group of teenagers and their talking Great Dane, Scooby-Doo, as they solve mysteries involving supposedly supernatural creatures. Over the years, the franchise has expanded into numerous animated series, films (both animated and live-action), comic books, video games, and specials. Its blend of mystery, humor, and memorable characters has made it one of the longest-running and most beloved franchises in animation.
Compared to the rest of the Mystery Incorporated gang, Shaggy and Scooby aren’t the most skilled detectives, butthey are consistent in providing laughs for audiences. While other components of theScooby-Doocharacters have been updated with every new adaptation, the loyalty and bond between Shaggy and Scooby remains just the same.
2Thelma & Louise
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Considered to be one ofRidley Scott’s best movies, the themes and friendship seen inThelma & Louisecontinue to resonate with audiences. To escape the routine of their everyday lives, the titular best friends (played by Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon) set out on a road trip for a weekend. However, their initial plans are scrapped when they find themselves on the run from the police after killing a man who attacks Thelma.
Thelma & Louise
Thelma & Louise is a 1991 drama directed by Ridley Scott, featuring Geena Davis as Thelma and Susan Sarandon as Louise. The film follows the journey of two friends on a road trip that spirals into unexpected and intense circumstances, challenging their friendship and transforming their lives. Brad Pitt makes an early appearance in a supporting role, helping to cement the film’s enduring legacy.
The threat of both being doubted by authorities and of legal punishment lingers throughout the film, but it’s nothing the strong on-screen duo can’t handle. Throughout all the uncertainty that lies ahead of them,Thelma and Louise reassure one another that they’re in it together until the very end.Thelma & Louiseis considered to have one of the moreperfect movie endings, which sees the friends go to extreme lengths to ensure they’re in control of their fates.
1Woody & Buzz
Toy Story franchise (1995-Present)
TheToy Storyfranchise introduces new toys to the group of friends with every movie, but one of the best duos is that of Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen). The toys aretwo of the most iconic charactersassociated withDisney and Pixar’s portrayal of friendship. Throughout theToy Storyfranchise, the relationship between the cowboy and the space ranger has changed, and it has become a key part of the film’s emotional aspects.
Toy Story
Toy Storyis a beloved animated franchise created by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The series centers on the secret life of toys, primarily focusing on the friendship between Woody, a cowboy doll, and Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger action figure. The films explore themes of friendship, loyalty, and growing up, resonating with audiences of all ages.Toy Storyis widely credited with revolutionizing animation, as the first film was the first fully computer-animated feature. The franchise is not only a critical success but also a cultural icon, influencing a generation of films and storytelling in animation.
In the first film, Woody is jealous of Buzz’s ability to impress his owner, Andy, and the other toys. Woody feels as though he’s being replaced, but throughoutToy Story,the two work through their differences and become an unbreakableduo as they remain by Andy’s side throughout his life.The ending ofToy Story 4sees a tearful goodbye between Woody and Buzz and leaves the future of their friendship up in the air.
