3. The Shawshank Redemption
In Frank Darabont's 1994 prison drama The Shawshank Redemption, the rain is used as a terrific metaphor. After spending almost 20 years behind bars in Shawshank prison for a murder he didn't commit, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) makes a daring escape through the bowels of the prison on a stormy night. After climbing through the sewer system, Andy comes out the other end into freedom. He stands up and embraces the rain coming down on him. He even laughs a bit to himself. The scene is quick but it adds so much emotion to a moment in the film that makes you realize this is somewhat of a baptism for our hero. That rain washes him clean from the last 20 years of his life, and it makes us appreciate the simple power a bit of rain can have in a movie.