Exploring the Afterlife: What Movies Get Right About the Other Side
As a psychic medium, I’ve spent years listening to the messages and stories shared by spirits. Many of these experiences offer glimpses into what life is like after death - a realm filled with peace, healing, connection, and often, profound beauty. While no film can perfectly capture the full spectrum of the afterlife, there are a few that come remarkably close. One in particular stands out to me: What Dreams May Come.
What Dreams May Come (1998)
This visually stunning film, starring Robin Williams, follows a man who dies and journeys through a vivid, surreal afterlife to find his wife. What makes this movie so powerful is its depiction of the afterlife as a place shaped by our thoughts, emotions, and soul connections. The landscapes are painted with imagination and feeling (literally, in some scenes) and love continues to be a guiding force beyond death.
From my own experience communicating with spirits, this portrayal aligns closely with what I’ve heard: the afterlife is a realm where our inner world becomes our outer reality. Vibrations of love, healing, and joy create entire environments. It’s not a one-size-fits-all heaven. It’s deeply personal, just like our soul’s journey.
Other Films That Explore the Afterlife
While What Dreams May Come is especially resonant, there are several other films that explore the afterlife in creative and thought-provoking ways. Here are a few worth watching:
Ghost (1990)
This classic film with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore brings tenderness and romance into the conversation around life after death. It portrays a man who, after being killed, lingers as a spirit to protect the woman he loves and find justice. What’s particularly touching is the way love and unfinished business can keep a spirit close. Something that often comes up in mediumship sessions. The presence of spiritual guides (like Whoopi Goldberg’s character) reminds us that help is always available, even in the unseen realms.
Coco (2017)
This animated gem from Pixar is rooted in Mexican traditions and Día de los Muertos. It’s a heartfelt reminder that our ancestors remain close when we remember them. The afterlife here is portrayed as vibrant, colorful, and community-oriented, much like what many spirits describe when they talk about reunions with loved ones on the other side.
The Lovely Bones (2009)
Told from the perspective of a teenage girl who watches over her family after her murder, this film explores the in-between, a liminal space where unresolved emotions and earthly attachments linger. Spirits often describe this transitional phase, and the movie captures both the pain of letting go and the power of healing.
Soul (2020)
Another Pixar creation, Soul explores the spark of life, purpose, and what may exist before and after our human experience. It touches on reincarnation, soul contracts, and the idea that we choose our path before birth. All concepts that have come up in spirit communication and energy work. It’s lighthearted but deeply philosophical in the best way.
The Shack (2017)
This spiritually rich film centers on healing and divine presence after great personal loss. It offers a gentle and compassionate view of what it might feel like to meet God, angels, or ascended beings in a space beyond the physical. The themes of forgiveness, love, and multidimensional understanding echo what I’ve heard countless times from the spirit world.
Defending Your Life (1991)
In this lesser-known but delightful film, the afterlife is imagined as a place where souls undergo a life review to evaluate their growth and lessons. It’s funny, poignant, and sneakily wise. The concept of reviewing our earthly life from a higher perspective is something many spiritual traditions and spirits themselves speak about with surprising consistency.
Why These Stories Matter
Movies have a unique way of helping us process the mysteries of life and death. While they’re fictional, the truths they touch upon can feel deeply familiar to those who’ve had spiritual experiences or communicated with loved ones beyond the veil.
For me, What Dreams May Come remains one of the most powerful depictions not just for its breathtaking visuals, but because it reflects something so many spirits have shared: that love is the thread that weaves our existence together, in this world and the next.
Have you seen any of these films? Did any of them resonate with your own beliefs or experiences around the afterlife? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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