8 films about writers

Discover the best films about writers to inspire you to keep writing.

There’s something deeply comforting about watching a film about a fellow writer when the words aren’t flowing. Whether it’s their perseverance, their heartbreak, or the simple sight of someone scribbling away in a notebook, these films can offer just the right dose of inspiration when you need it most.

Many are period dramas (there aren’t too many contemporary films about modern-day authors just yet), but they’re no less powerful for it. Here are some of the best (and my favourite) films about writers, perfect for your next streaming session.

---

Miss Potter

Let’s start with my personal favourite: Miss Potter. This beautiful biographical film tells the story of Beatrix Potter, the beloved children’s author behind The Tale of Peter Rabbit and many others. Renée Zellweger shines as Beatrix Potter, and the largely unknown love story between her and her publisher. Bring tissues! I love how they brought her illustrations to life on screen, using her imagination to share her story.

Bright Star

Bright Star inspired me to write my novel My Mr Keats. This biographical drama is about John Keats and his love affair with Fanny Brawne. Keats died when he was in his mid-twenties, and Fanny was obsessed with him. Their love affair was brief, passionate and entirely platonic, and it’s heartbreaking but beautiful.

Finding Neverland

This whimsical and moving film tells the story, albeit with quite a lot of poetic licence, of how J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, found inspiration in the Llewelyn Davies family. While the real-life story is more complicated than the film suggests, it’s still a touching portrayal of creativity, grief, and childlike wonder.

Testament of Youth

Testament of Youth isn’t my favourite film about a writer, but I still find it inspiring. Before she became a celebrated author and pacifist, Vera fought to attend Oxford and served as a nurse in the First World War. She lost both her fiancé and her brother, but never stopped writing. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s undeniably stirring.

Becoming Jane

Becoming Jane gives us a glimpse into the early life of Jane Austen, arguably one of the greatest novelists of all time (fight me in the comments!). While some artistic liberties are taken, the film explores her brief but intense romance with Tom Lefroy and suggests how her real-life experiences may have shaped the wit and social commentary in her work. It’s a must-watch for Austen fans, even if the real Jane may not have been quite as charming as her characters.

Colette

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette was a literary sensation in early 20th-century France, best known for her Claudine series - a seemingly racy series of vignettes about a young girl’s school experience. But for years, her work was published under her husband’s name. Colette (the film) explores her journey from voiceless ghostwriter to celebrated author, while also navigating her unapologetically unconventional personal life.

Vita and Virginia

And finally, a story of the intense, creative, and romantic relationship between Virginia Woolf and fellow writer Vita Sackville-West. It’s a beautiful portrayal of their tempestuous and passionate love affair, as well as their separate writing careers.

Have you watched any other films about writers? What was your favourite? Let me know in the comments.