For the longest time, cinema has been a way for society to reinsert and internalize its unrealistic beauty standards in its viewers. And that’s not all: over time, they have evolved to reflect the latest beauty trends.
It remains a huge issue in the industry, but here are 10 movies that have openly called out these unrealistic beauty standards.
10. The Face Of Another (1966)
After experiencing severe facial burns and being scarred in a laboratory explosion, Mr. Okuyama receives a new face in the form of a lifelike mask. It might cover the scars, but it starts to develop a new dark personality, and he struggles to reintegrate into society.
As part of the Japanese New Wave, ‘The Face of Another’ rejects conventions of Japanese cinema to explore taboo subjects, especially the idea of appearance. A subplot of the movie follows a girl with scarred cheeks as she tries to deal with neglect and insult.
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9. A Different Man (2024)
All Edward ever wanted to do was become the next top actor. But his medical condition prevents him from meeting the industry’s beauty standards. With his aspirations going nowhere, Edward seizes an opportunity to undergo an experimental medical treatment to drastically transform his appearance.
Now that he has shed his old skin, nothing can hold him back from pursuing acting. But they do say, “Be careful what you wish for.” Because soon he realizes that his new dream face has turned into a nightmare.
8. Eyes Without A Face (1960)
This one shows how unrealistic beauty standards can turn dangerous and dehumanizing. The story follows a doctor who becomes obsessed with restoring his daughter Christiane’s face after it is disfigured, going so far as to harm other women just to “fix” her.
In doing this, he treats people like objects, valuing only their appearance. Christiane herself is forced to wear a mask and live in isolation, which is the perfect example of how the pressure to look perfect can trap a person and strip them of their identity.
7. The Stepford Wives (1975)
The Eberhart family moves to the beautiful suburbs of Stepford, Connecticut. Though her husband loves the calm neighborhood, Joanna realizes there is something wrong with the place’s eerie tranquility and the almost too-perfect-to-be-true housewives.
Soon, she discloses the sinister truth behind the female residents’ behavior: they are being replaced by robots to remain the ideal versions of their husbands’ dreams. Joanna must try her best to escape with her children to a safer place.
6. Perfect Blue (1997)
A landmark study in the dangers of celebrity culture, ‘Perfect Blue’ explores the cost of perfection in a world obsessed with image. Rising pop star Mima quits singing to pursue her career as an actress. Soon after, she successfully lands a role on a popular detective show.
But it all comes to a halt when grisly murders start occurring around her, and she begins to lose touch with her reality. As her public persona and private life collide, her sense of identity starts to disintegrate.
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5. Dumplin’ (2018)
Based on the book of the same name by Julie Murphy, Danielle Macdonald stars as Willowdean Dickson, or in short, Dumplin. She is the plus-size teenage daughter of a former beauty queen.
She signs for her mom’s pageant to prove a point about measuring up and fitting in. Things take a turn when other contestants follow her footsteps, revolutionizing the pageant and their small Texas town.
4. The Substance (2024)
Elisabeth Sparkle, once known as a Hollywood legend, is pushing 50. Leaving her best years behind, all she gets to do is host a fitness show on morning TV. But when she gets fired by her producer for a young presenter, she must take some serious steps.
By chance, the solution presented itself: The Substance, a drug that will make you a younger, better, more beautiful, and the perfect version of yourself. But there is a cost to tampering with time and nature, and soon she begins to face unforeseen dangers.
3. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
When 7-year-old Olive learns that she is qualified to run for the Little Miss Sunshine contest, the entire family sets off in their van to ride cross-country to get to the beauty pageant. Yet, on the way, they lose Olive at a gas station.
The search starts for Olive with a ticking timer to get her to the pageant on time. Though light and fun on the surface, the movie becomes a satire that directly criticizes the unrealistic standards of beauty pageants and the harmful message they send to young girls.
2. The Neon Demon (2016)
The sixteen-year-old and doe-eyed Jesse arrives in the cutthroat world of the Los Angeles modeling agency with dreams to become the next supermodel. Her beauty and youth immediately generate intense fascination and jealousy within the fashion industry.
Overnight, Jesse becomes the next sensation. Yet this uncanny fascination might prove too sinister. Especially to the washed-up 20-year-olds Gigi and Sarah, who decide to seal Jesse’s fate once and for all.
1. To The Bone (2017)
Written by Marti Nixon on her own struggle with eating disorders in the past, ‘To The Bone’ is the story of Ellen, a 20-year-old woman struggling with anorexia nervosa. Lily Collins, who has openly shared her journey of anorexia and balancing her life as a teenage model and actor, portrays the role of Ellen.
By some fate, Ellen meets an unusual doctor and his group home. Through the people she meets and the journey she takes, Ellen finally faces her condition head-on and begins a path of self-discovery and acceptance. Embracing life leads her to places she never would have thought possible.
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