Over the last decade, we’ve seen a huge popularity surge in what could be called the “home improvement genre.” From HGTV’s “Property Brothers” to “Fixer Upper” (now defunct), and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” audiences love to watch renovation projects succeed and/or fail. Of course, documentaries and reality TV are just one avenue of home improvement on the big and small screens.
The theme of home improvement has also made its way into many Hollywood scripts over the years. In films such as “The Notebook” and “Life as a House,” construction plays a supporting role, with home improvement often representing love, perseverance, and/or self-identity. Here are some of the most notable films (plus one documentary) that feature home improvement and renovation projects.
‘The Karate Kid’
Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in a scene from “The Karate Kid” (Columbia Pictures, 1984).
“Paint the fence.” “Sand the floor.” “Wax on, wax off.” These simple phrases have achieved widespread notoriety since 1984, when the original “The Karate Kid” was released. “The Karate Kid” has spawned numerous sequels and adaptations over the years, but generally speaking, they lack the charm of the original.
“The Karate Kid” tells the story of Daniel, played by Ralph Macchio, who has recently relocated across the country to California with his single mom. Daniel aspires to learn karate and finds an unlikely teacher in his apartment building’s maintenance man, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). Initially excited about his training, Daniel soon becomes disillusioned with his teacher, who appears to be treating him more like an indentured servant than a student.
Of course, Mr. Miyagi’s intentions soon become clear. By having Daniel paint his fence, sand the wooden walkway that stretches across his extensive property, and wax his collection of classic cars, he ultimately instills valuable karate techniques in his young, headstrong student.
‘The Notebook’
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in a scene from “The Notebook” (New Line Cinema, 2004).
One of the most popular love stories of the 21st Century, “The Notebook,” made more than $81 million at the box office and turned stars Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling into household names. And similar to another Nicholas Sparks novel adaptation, 2010’s “Dear John,” construction serves as a vehicle towards the reconciliation of young lovers. In “The Notebook,” those lovers are Allie and Noah, who are star-crossed from the start. Noah is poor yet charming, while Allie is upper-class with disapproving parents.
As an act of love for Allie, Noah purchases a dilapidated old house and sets out to rebuild it to its former glory. The years pass, and the two lovers lose touch with each other. One day, in another town and engaged to another man, Allie reads a newspaper article about Noah and his remodeling project. She decides to go view the property firsthand, ultimately rekindling their romance.
‘Under the Tuscan Sun’
Diane Lane and Raoul Bova in a scene from “Under the Tuscan Sun” (Touchstone Pictures, 2003).
“Buyer’s remorse is a very common affliction among new homeowners,” declares Frances as she takes the audience through a tour of her new, 300-year-old home in Tuscany. The fixer-upper was her attempt to reinvent her life following a bitter divorce, and Frances sure does have her work cut out for her.
She ends up spending a pretty penny to transform the villa back to its former glory when she hires a crew of Polish immigrants, many of whom become her friends, to renovate her villa.
‘The Money Pit’
Tom Hanks in a scene from “The Money Pit” (Amblin Entertainment, 1986).
The 1980s come alive in “The Money Pit,” a blockbuster comedy starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long as cash-strapped couple Walter and Anna. The duo is looking for a home they can afford, only to find a tantalizing opportunity in a mansion outside of New York City that’s advertised as a fixer-upper. If you wanted to buy a house like this these days, you could use a first-time homebuyer loan specific to fixer-uppers.
In the end, Walter and Anna’s real estate deal seems too good to be true, and it quickly lives up to that expectation. As they work to renovate the property, everything that can go wrong seems to do so. For instance, floor drains are clogged across the house, causing rampant water damage. At one point, their second-floor bathtub even crashes through the water-damaged floorboards. Ultimately, “The Money Pit” is a hilarious comedy of home improvement errors.
‘Gut Renovation’
A scene from the documentary “Gut Renovation” (2012).
Not far from the fictional location of the “The Money Pit” sits Williamsburg, a neighborhood of Brooklyn. In 2005, Williamsburg has forever altered thanks to a zoning change and subsequent real estate boom. During that time, the neighborhood changed drastically, and the word “gentrification” was thrown around quite often.
Independent filmmaker Su Friedrich was there throughout Williamsburg’s transformation, and she told the story via 2013’s “Gut Renovation.” The documentary is deeply personal, reflecting on the neighborhood’s evolution from working-class enclave to “Condoburg,” Friederich’s nickname for her formerly beloved home.
‘Life As a House’
Hayden Christensen in a scene from “Life as a House” (Winkler Films, 2001).
Change is also the primary theme of “Life As a House.” Released in 2001, the film didn’t achieve box office or critical success, but it remains a touching story of redemption. George Monroe (Kevin Kline) has lived in a run-down shack on the California coast for more than two decades. Upon being diagnosed with cancer, George decides to finally replace the shack with a true home of his own. He enlists the help of his delinquent teenage son, Sam (Hayden Christensen), and their summer construction project becomes a catalyst for their reconciliation.
Renovations from the Ground Up
Whether you’re embarking on a renovation project of your own or you’re just a fan of on-screen fixer-uppers, Hollywood has you covered. As you can see, home improvement on film often exists in tandem with improved personal relationships and/or self-discovery.
