15 Best Movies About Gal Pals in Midlife

by | Feb 28, 2026 | Empty Nesting and Midlife, Books and Movies

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Great Movies About Gal Pals in Midlife

The great thing about all of these movies is that each of these situations for the characters is different. Many similar themes obviously, but for many of these characters, age is only a tiny part of the story. This might be something to remind ourselves -we can always make new friends and live good lives, no matter our age!

Best Movies About Gal Pals in Midlife

These movies are in ABC order and are all wonderful in their own right. Most are favorites you have probably seen. A few though, were either new to me or so old, they would be new again if I rewatched them now.

Grab a bowl of popcorn, and sit down with some old friends!

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Best Movies About Gal Pals in Midlife

Beaches

The meeting of two very different girls on the Boardwalk results in a lifelong friendship. This is a tearjerker, but I love this one. It was a great book to movie adaptation.

Book Club

Four midlife friends have a bookclub, and they decide to read Fifty Shades of Grey. The results are hilarious.

Calendar Girls

Twelve extraordinary women create a new way to raise money for a hospital in someone’s memory.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Lifelong friends tell stories to one of their offspring who is struggling with the relationship she has with her mother. I love this movie!

First Wive’s Club

Three friends come together at the funeral of an old, dear friend. They realize that they all have being dumped in common. They band together to get revenge. So funny!

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Food Club

A friend recommended this one to me, and I loved it. Three old friends head to Italy for a cooking class and get the chance to start a few things anew.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Various generations of women’s friendships are followed in this wonderful story. This is an old favorite of mine, and I loved the book as well!

How to Make an American Quilt

The main character in this is a young woman, but she spends her days surrounded by her grandmother and grandmother’s friends. They have a lifetime of friendship and wisdom to share with Finn, who is about to get married.

Ladies in Lavender

Two aging sisters find a young man washed up on their beach in Cornwall.

Poms

I thought this one would be silly, and it was, but really sweet too. It should the strength of women’s friendships, and how often we never outgrow needing friends and dealing with mean girls. A little similar to Queen Bees below.

Steel Magnolias

Multigenerational friendships centered around their local hair salon and various holidays, this move is about the power of love in this group of hometown friends. There is a new remake now!

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Tea With The Dames

This is a documentary interview with Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Eileen Atkins, and Dame Joan Plowright. This is a wonderful way to spend an hour and a half listening to them chat away like the old friends that they are.

Queen Bees

This was another recommendation from a NPP reader, and it was so fun to watch. Ellen Burstyn is a favorite of mine, and she is wonderful in this role. Making a deal and moving into a retirement community, is just the start of her adventures which includes new friends and mean girls. A little similar to Poms.

Wild Oats

What would you do if you received $5 million instead of $50,000? Knowing Shirley MacLaine and Jessica Lange, the results are hilarious.

80 for Brady

A trip to see the Super Bowl and meet Tom Brady is a way for four best friends to achieve a bucket list item. They are hilarious, and they have so much fun together!

Movie Night Add-ons

It's always nice to have some extra props of your own to enjoy watching a great movie.

Related posts to Movies About Gal Pals in Midlife:

Great Movies About Midlife Romance

Best Ways to Celebrate Love in Midlife!

Mom’s Guide to Coping With Empty Nest Syndrome

10 Midlife Self Care Ideas

How to Cook for Two: 10 Easy Tips

Over 50 Empty Nest Hobbies

10 Things I Love About Being An Empty Nester

Schitt’s Creek Forever

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