Whiplash / Sony Pictures

6 Movies Every Recovering Perfectionist Should Watch To Finally Let Go

It's literally impossible to be perfect, so you might as well stop trying.

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You know deep down that perfection is impossible. And yet, you let your desire to be as perfect as possible keep you from truly finishing anything or enjoying life.

But what if you’re having trouble completely departing from your perfectionism? Spare two hours to watch one of these great movies. They might just inspire you to finally let go and embrace being wonderfully imperfect.

Inside Out (2015)

Disney Pixar

Perfectionism isn’t just about the world you create around you, but what you’ve got going on inside. If you’ve been extra hard on yourself every time you’ve experienced a negative emotion, watch Inside Out. It’ll remind you that all emotions are important, even when they make you sad or mad.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Fox Searchlight

Have you ever wanted something so badly that it consumes your whole life? Or maybe the fear of failure (spurred on the by fear of not being perfect) has kept you from doing what you love. Watch Little Miss Sunshine for two outstanding characters, Dwayne and Olive, who can show you that you’re in the wrong mindset.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

20th Century Fox

If your perfectionism often paralyzes you, keeping you from doing the things you love, this movie will show you exactly what you’re missing. As soon as Walter Mitty decides to stop worrying and start living, his entire life changes for the better.

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Universal Pictures

Is your perfectionism all about your appearance? Being hypercritical of the way you look, always striving for unattainable standards of beauty, can truly tear you down. If this resonates with you, watch Death Becomes Her, a dark, funny look at the lengths people will go to be young and beautiful.

Black Swan (2010)

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Professional ballerinas have to be perfect, right? It goes hand-in-hand with the industry, but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy. In Black Swan, you’ll watch as extreme perfection wreaks havoc on the mental health of an otherwise capable dancer. This may just be the perfect warning to help you finally let go.

Whiplash (2014)

Sony Pictures

What if the desire for perfection isn’t coming from you, but instead being thrust upon you from someone in your life? Whether it’s a parent, partner, or in the case of Whiplash, a music teacher, outside pressure can be just as bad as internal perfectionism. Watch this so you can get the courage to fight back.


About the author

Trisha Bartle

Trisha’s your resident tarot reader, rom-com lover, and horror connoisseur. In addition to using her vast knowledge of all things cinema to helm Thought Catalog’s TV + Movies entertainment section as Lead Entertainment Editor, she also offers her tarot expertise to Collective World. Trisha splits her time between making art and being awesome.

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