500 Days of Summer (2009)

500 Days of Summer is an offbeat romantic comedy-drama that follows Tom Hansen, a dreamer and greeting-card writer who believes in soulmates, and Summer Finn, his charismatic co-worker who insists she doesn’t believe in true love. Told nonlinearly across 500 days of their relationship, the film jumps back and forth through the highs, lows, and quiet in-betweens as Tom remembers how their connection began, unspooled, and changed him. You’ll experience a film that’s equal parts witty and melancholy: playful, conversational scenes with Tom’s friends and sister, flirtatious office chemistry, surreal fantasy interludes, and painfully honest moments of heartbreak. The storytelling uses day counters and clever edits to reveal how a single relationship can look very different depending on where you stand—idealism vs. reality, expectation vs. outcome. Tonally it blends indie-pop soundtrack warmth, smart dialogue, and visually stylish flourishes to make both the joyful beginnings and the aftermath feel immediate and relatable. Performances are charming and naturalistic, and the movie balances humor with emotional truth rather than romantic clichés. If you watch it, expect to laugh at awkward, sweet moments, wince through hurt and self-reflection, and leave thinking about what love means when fantasy meets real life. It’s a fresh, bittersweet take on modern romance that’s as much about growing up as it is about finding — or letting go of — someone.

Actors: Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Geoffrey Arend

Director: Marc Webb

Runtime: 95 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

76 /100 7.7 /10 7.7 /10