Beaches

Two women, one from wealth and privilege, the other from struggle, forge a powerful, lifelong bond that survives the tug of fame and different life paths. As children in a sun drenched coastal town, CC Bloom, a bold aspiring entertainer, and Hillary Whitney Essex, an equally sharp but more sheltered debutante, become inseparable friends. Their streetside adventures give way to different directions, with CC chasing stage glory and romance, Hillary maneuvering through high society, yet their connection remains a touchstone through laughter and heartbreak. Across the years, their friendship is tested by professional successes, personal losses, and the price of ambition, yet the core trust between them continues to shape who they become. Together their story blends humor and grit.

Directed by Garry Marshall and released in 1988, Beaches adapts Iris Rainer Dart's novel with a screenplay by Mary Agnes Donoghue and Dart, delivering a glossy yet emotionally intimate portrait of friendship to the screen, anchored by the leads' chemistry.

Beaches earned $57,041,866 worldwide against a $20,000,000 budget, marking a solid box office performance for a drama comedy of its era and underscoring its appeal across a broad audience at the time, drawing audiences well beyond expectations and critics' admiration.

Held up by Bette Midler's powerhouse turn and the evergreen ballad Wind Beneath My Wings, the film cemented Beaches as a touchstone for female friendship in popular culture. The song itself became a signature moment at awards shows and beyond. It remains a reference point for conversations about friendship today.

Critics often praised the performances and emotional backbone while noting some melodrama. The film investigates class differences, ambition, and the cost of friendship across decades, balancing light humor with earnest drama to ask what loyalty really means when dreams pull people apart and pull them back together for many viewers.