6 Best Widow and Widower Starting Over Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 19, 2026

The difficult, tender journey of rebuilding a life after losing a spouse has powered some of cinema’s most moving dramas and heartfelt comedies. In Up (2009): A grieving widower ties thousands of balloons to his house to fulfill a lifelong promise to his late wife. Don’t overlook A Man Called Otto (2022): A grumpy, grieving widower’s plans to end his life are repeatedly interrupted by his lively new neighbors.

A Man Called Otto (2022)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A grumpy, grieving widower's plans to end his life are repeatedly interrupted by his lively new neighbors.

Directed by Marc Forster · 2h 06m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A withdrawn man returns to his hometown to care for his nephew after his brother's death, forcing him to confront a devastating past loss.

Directed by Kenneth Lonergan · 2h 18m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Up (2009)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 98% Metacritic 88

A grieving widower ties thousands of balloons to his house to fulfill a lifelong promise to his late wife.

Directed by Pete Docter · 1h 36m · Rated PG

Won 2 Oscars81 wins & 88 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Return to Me (2000)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A grieving widower unknowingly falls for the woman who received his late wife's heart transplant.

Directed by Bonnie Hunt · 1h 56m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex · Buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

About Schmidt (2002)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A recently widowed, newly retired man embarks on a cross-country road trip to reckon with his unfulfilling life.

Directed by Alexander Payne · 2h 05m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: The Roku Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A widower's heartfelt radio call about his late wife captures the attention of a woman across the country.

Directed by Nora Ephron · 1h 45m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Widow and Widower Starting Over Movies

A Man Called Otto (2022)

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Up (2009)

Return to Me (2000)

About Schmidt (2002)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

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