Movies hit home for many reasons. Some movies depict characters so real that audiences feel a special connection to them. Some movies create fantastical worlds that help audiences escape their everyday reality for a few hours. Then there are movies that depict the real world, a world with poverty and its effect on families and people in general. Here are ten movies that accurately portray the struggles of poverty.
10 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
A family classic, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory goes down as one of the most beloved family films since its release. Nevertheless, it tells a heartbreaking story about poverty. Following the story of eleven-year-old Charlie, Charlie lives in extreme poverty with his family near Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. When a contest is announced that the person who finds the golden ticket in a Wonka bar will be able to visit the factory, Charlie uses his few savings to purchase three bars until he finds the golden ticket.
Behind Charlie’s innocent endeavors hides the saddening truth of his family life. His grandfather has been laid off following the closure of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, and his father has lost his job over labor cuts. By the end of the movie, Charlie inheriting Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory feels not only deserved, but a miracle considering his impoverished life beforehand.
9 The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006)
The Pursuit of Happyness depicts what parents will do for their children. When aspiring stockbroker Chris Gardner’s wife, Linda, leaves her family to pursue a better job opportunity In New York, Chris has to juggle his financial struggles, taking care of their son, and impressing his bosses after landing a coveted internship at a prestigious brokerage firm.
From having his wages garnished by the IRS, being temporarily homeless, and struggling between work and providing his son with nurturing amidst their family struggles, Chris doesn't catch a single break throughout the narrative. Though this story has a happy ending, it’s devastating to see Chris and his son struggle to simply secure their next meal.
8 Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump earned Tom Hanks his second Academy Award, and for good reason, he’s brilliant in it. While Forrest goes through ups and lows financially, it is the first act of the film where audiences see Forrest consumed by poverty. Brought up by a single mother, Forrest lives an extremely impoverished life alongside his best friend, Jenny.
While Forrest is able to make a better life for himself due to his athletic skills and tenacity, Jenny goes on a downward spiral with substance abuse, near homelessness, and promises of stardom that lead to her own undoing. A tale of both of them overcoming and succumbing to poverty's tribulations, Forrest Gump is relatable all across the board.
7 Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
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A rags-to-riches story, Slumdog Millionaire follows the story of Jamal, a young man who is on a journey to reunite with a childhood friend, Latika. As their story is told through a series of flashbacks, audiences see Jamal’s childhood and teenage years, and the many hardships he experiences due to extreme poverty.
From stealing, washing dishes day and night, to being exploited by a gangster, Jamal’s a victim of circumstance through and through. Jamal gets his big break when he somehow manages to compete, and win, a famous game show, where the grand prize is 20-million dollars. While Jamal and Latika get their happily ever after, seeing them undergo so many obstacles and abuse is hard to sit through.
6 Les Misérables (2012)
Universal Pictures
Anne Hathaway won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Les Misérables, and though she was only in the film for 15 minutes, it was absolutely warranted. As the struggling factory worker, Fantine, audiences see the poverty many people were subjected to in 1800s France, and the suffering they would endure for their children. From selling her hair, and teeth, to eventually, her own body, Fantine is a tragic hero going to the extremes to provide her daughter a better life.
5 The Florida Project (2017)
The Florida Project follows the story of a single mother, Halley, living in a Floridian motel right next to Magic Kingdom. As Halley goes through trial and error to stay afloat, her daughter, Moonee, spends her days pulling harmless pranks with her friend, Scooty. The movie ends on a bleak note as Halley is arrested and Moonee runs away to Magic Kingdom while pursued by police officers looking to take her into foster care. By far one of the saddest films on the list.
4 The Hunger Games (2012)
This adaption from the popular Susan Collins young adult novel follows the story of Katniss Everdeen, a teenager living in a dystopian society split into thirteen districts. Each year, one tribute from each district is subjected to The Hunger Games, a sadistic competition designed for the enjoyment of the Capitol elite.
When Katniss’ sister is picked as a tribute for the yearly Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Audiences would think that taking part in The Hunger Games would be the worst imaginable thing that could happen for the citizens of Panem, but their nightmare stems in their everyday life due to the poverty the Capitol subjects them to. From barely having enough to secure their everyday meals to children being forced to work to sustain their homes, The Hunger Games depicts widespread poverty amidst a corrupt government.
3 Moonlight (2016)
Set in Miami, this story follows Chiron through his entire upbringing, dealing not only with poverty, but his abusive mother, peers, and his budding sexuality. As Chiron finds comfort in his friendship with Kevin, he starts to experience love for the first time ever. Nevertheless, Chiron falls victim to society’s prejudices, a flawed justice system, and dealing illegal substances to survive in a world where all the odds are stacked against him. A tale of forgiveness and self-acceptance, Moonlight is a tear-jerker from beginning to end.
2 Precious (2009)
Precious is a hard film to sit through. Not only does it depict the extreme poverty Precious goes through ever since birth, but the unforgivable abuse at the hands of her mother and father. With no one to protect her, Precious resorts to substance abuse to cope, seeing no foreseeable end to her suffering. Precious eventually receives the help she needs from Ms. Weiss and Ms. Blu Rain, but she should have never endured such struggles in the first place.
1 Parasite (2019)
The running question during Parasite is, who is the actual parasite? It is the scheming Kim family as they slowly infiltrate the Park home? Is it the Park family as they pass off as respectful members of the elite, but in reality hold their colleagues and the Kim family in contempt.
Is the parasite society as a whole? From the Kim family’s life in Seoul, barely counting with everyday necessities, to the Park family living in excess,Parasite shows the disparity between both the upper and lower class in South Korea, and in the Kim family’s case, the extremes lower class families will resort to for financial stability.
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