Because You Deserve It: How Pop Culture Helped Redefine Self-Care

When we think of self-care, we often imagine yoga mats, expensive retreats, or influencers sipping green juice. But real self-care, the kind that sticks, often comes from something simpler: seeing your own struggles, quirks, and quiet victories reflected back at you.

Sometimes, that mirror is pop culture.

Movies and shows aren’t just distractions. They give us space to feel seen, to process what we’re going through, and even to laugh when life feels too heavy. This World Self-Care Day, we look at how a few titles from Lionsgate Play remind us of small but meaningful ways to care for ourselves.

1. Laughing through it: Son of a Critch

Son of a Critch is a coming-of-age comedy that’s not just hilarious, but deeply human. It shows us that humor is a powerful coping mechanism. Sometimes, the best self-care is simply finding the funny, even when things aren’t perfect.

2. Feeling it all: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Self-care isn’t always about calming down. Sometimes, it’s about letting go. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist follows a young woman who starts hearing people’s thoughts in the form of musical numbers. Whether it’s grief, joy, anxiety, or love, the show reminds us that emotional honesty is healing. Crying during a musical montage totally counts as self-care.

3. Decluttering your beliefs: Ramy

A little mental decluttering can go a long way. Ramy explores spirituality, identity, and the pressure to fit into cultural expectations. It doesn’t offer easy answers, but that’s part of its magic. Self-care can also mean questioning what you’ve always believed and giving yourself permission to change.

4. Reclaiming your power: Madam

Taking care of yourself sometimes means refusing to shrink. Madam follows a woman who stirs controversy just by being unapologetically herself. It’s a reminder that boundaries, boldness, and even a bit of rebellion can be radical acts of self-preservation.

The takeaway? Self-care isn’t always a solo ritual. Sometimes it’s letting yourself connect with a character, a story, or even a song that feels surprisingly close to home. So grab a snack, sink into your favorite chair, and watch something that makes you feel. Because healing doesn’t only happen during yoga or journaling. Sometimes, it happens on your screen.