6. Rachel Getting Married (2008)
In 2008, despite a supporting role in critically acclaimed Brokeback Mountain, Anne Hathaway was still best known by her breakout role of unlikely princess Mia Thermopolis in Disney's teen hit The Princess Diaries. It was her lead role in Johnathan Demme's low-budget family drama Rachel Getting Married that marked a turning point in her career. Nominated for her first Academy Award and garnering widespread critical praise, the role provided the career transition Hathaway needed to become the varied and successful actress she is today. The movie itself garnered widespread praise for its unabashed, realistic depiction of the complications of familial relationships. Taking place over a period of a few days, the film follows protagonist Kym as she temporarily leaves rehab in order to attend her sister Rachel's wedding. Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) is clearly concerned for her sister, but their relations are complicated by Kym's drug addiction. Meanwhile an event in Kym's past, the details of which are only uncovered towards the end of the film, has evidently had an irrevocable effect on the whole family and caused estranged relations between all. Rachel Getting Married is considerably different to the other films on this list in tone and style, but similar in so far as the upcoming wedding is absolutely integral to the story. It is the wedding that causes Kym to reunite with her family and it is the wedding that forces the family to come face-to-face issues from their past. The film's naturalistic style, compelling performances and realistic observation of family relations make Rachel Getting Married a must-see wedding movie.