Last week I wrote a tongue-in-cheek post about how Hollywood usually depicts gardeners (most often female, young, beautiful, perfectly coifed, and spotless). This week I wanted to list the best Hollywood blockbuster movies which featured gorgeous gardens. So, grab some popcorn, get comfy, and get ready to watch (in no particular order) the ten best garden inspired movies for garden lovers everywhere.
- A Little Chaos. I love this 2014 film not only because this was the last movie the late, great Alan Rickman starred in and directed, but also because Kate Winslet’s character is both a landscaper and gardener in Louis XIV’s stunning garden in Versailles who finds love despite a flood, and some serious blood, sweat, and tears.
- Little Women – This is the beautiful 2019 film adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott novel by Greta Gerwig. Aunt March’s Parisian home gardens are lush, romantic, and swoon-worthy.
- Any Downton Abbey movie – Who doesn’t love Downton Abbey? From the stunning interior shots, the costumes, the characters, and of course, the gardens, I could binge watch every TV episode and movie all day.
- This Beautiful Fantastic – If you haven’t seen this quirky 2017 Indie movie yet, you should. I stumbled across this on Hulu a few weeks back and fell in love with it. The characters and the movie’s plot and understory are heartwarming and reflect how the purity and simplicity of gardens and gardening can be the vehicles which overcome loneliness and isolation – even between highly disparate people.
- A Room with A View – This 1985 movie may be a bit dated, but it remains a favorite of mine. It stars Judy Dench and Maggie Smith (two of my favorites) and features romance which blossoms in the garden of a lovely hotel in Florence.
- It’s Complicated – A 2009 movie which features Meryl Streep as a divorced woman and mother of three children who is also a baker and gardener who has a FANTASTIC kitchen and cooking garden. Every time I watch this, I want to make homemade nasturtium pesto and croque monsieur.
- The Secret Garden – I love the 1993 version the best and sigh every time I catch that first glimpse of those magical healing garden scapes. Ahhhhh. Prepare to rewind multiple scenes from the movie which inspired so many future gardeners.
- Pride and Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility – From the brilliant novels by Jane Austen. Love, romance, and incredible sweeping gardens. Need I say more?
- Greenfingers – This charming 2000 British comedy stars Clive Owen and Helen Mirren (another of my absolute favorite actors). Even better is that this movie is based on a true story of how an amateur prison gardener’s gardening skills at a medium-security prison caught the eye of celebrated gardener Georgina Woodhouse. Love the story and love the movie.
- Star Wars and Lord of the Rings Movies – OK, the gardens of The Shire, the Elves, The Forest Moon of Endor, and Naboo Palace may not be real, but they make my imagination run wild. Who wouldn’t want to have a friendly garden chat with Gandalf or Yoda?
Did I miss any of your favorite garden-themed movies?
