We’ve all had 'em: Those days when everything that could go wrong, does. Maybe you missed your train when you were already running late. Or maybe your morning coffee ended up coloring your blouse on the way to work. You could sit and mope about your bad luck—or turn to a little good old-fashioned cinema escapism. But not just any flick will do. You need the best feel-good movies Spielberg and company have to offer—the ones that, when you feel like the dog meme surrounded by fire, will make it all melt away.
We've rounded up the best feel-good movies that have made us laugh and/or cry (happy tears, mind you!), from swoon-worthy rom-coms to heartwarming coming-of-age movies and sweet animated movies. And since what “feels good” is different for everyone (one woman's tearjerker is another woman's comedy), we’ve ordered this list by genre for easy navigation.
So grab your comfiest blanket, a glass of wine, and curl up with one of the best feel-good movies of all time. (Psst: If you want to keep the cozy going, check out the best comfort TV shows.)
The Best Feel-Good Comedy Movies
'The Birdcage' (1996)
If you don't know this film (or only know vaguely of the musical), you're in for a treat. This farcical case of bait-and-switch is so silly and sweet that it's bound to lift your mood (and frankly, we’d expect nothing less from an all-star cast that includes Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, and Gene Hackman). Though the portrayal of the gay couple at its center (Williams and Lane) is a bit less progressive now than it once was, it’s still a film ahead of its time and funny.
'Clueless' (1995)
This modern-day remake of Emma made Alicia Silverstone a household name, and with catchphrases like "As if!" it’s not hard to see why. Matched with "ageless freak" Paul Rudd, Silverstone portrays a seemingly “clueless” young woman with plenty of heart who proves she’s far more complex than she seems. To say that her character's style has also stood the test of time is a major understatement.
'Father of the Bride' (1991)
The best wedding movie of all time? Maybe. A great movie to watch and feel happy butterflies inside, whether you're in the wedding mindset or not? Definitely. A bit dated? Sure, but enjoyable anyway.
'Legally Blonde' (2001)
One thing about Elle Woods? She knows how to turn a bad day, week, or semester around. Like, when the guy she thought was about to propose dumps her for Harvard, and she decides to take up studies at the prestigious university herself, on her terms. Do yourself a favor and watch Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Coolidge, and more iconic women in Legally Blonde if you're looking for a good laugh, the perfect movie for girls's night, or a reason to go to law school. "What, like it's hard?"
'My Cousin Vinny' (1992)
Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei are comedic gold as Vinny Gambini and Mona Lisa Vito—two out-of-town Brooklynites who struggle to fit in in rural Alabama, where Vinny’s cousin is being erroneously held on murder charges. Between their accents, flamboyant ensembles (“Oh yeah, you blend!”), and colorful terminology (we’ll forever be deeming exactitude as “dead-on balls accurate,” thanks), it’s the perfect two-hour escape from reality, be it your first or 100th viewing.
'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion' (1997)
There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing these two high school outcasts triumph over their mean-spirited bullies—even if they completely make up the details of their lives to do it. Honestly, we give them props for their Post-it backstory, but as our heroines, played by Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino, soon discover, sometimes, reality is even sweeter than fiction.
'School of Rock' (2003)
This adorable tale about a slacker rock star played by Jack Black teaching a bunch of kids to compete in the battle of the bands is both sweet and hilarious. Better yet, it's filled with plenty of classic rock jams and original music that still holds up.
'Uptown Girls' (2003)
There’s an inner child inside of all: That’s the message Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning’s characters of Molly and Ray impart in this ‘00s classic. Sometimes, that child needs to grow up to keep their lives on track, as is the case with Molly (Murphy), and sometimes, they grow up too fast, missing out on the joy right in front of them, as is the case with Ray (Fanning). Luckily, they find each other, and over a series of make-you-melt exchanges, can grow together.
The Best Feel-Good Romance Movies
'27 Dresses' (2008)
Anyone who's even been in one wedding can empathize with this poor woman (Katherine Heigl), who's had to plan 27 "special days" for her closest friends and acquaintances. Bonus: A young James Marsden, looking cute and acting snarky, to ground the film from becoming too saccharine.
'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961)
Whether you appreciate her free-spirited lifestyle (who doesn’t love a gal who drinks champagne before breakfast and takes her croissants in front of Tiffany’s on Fifth Avenue in full eveningwear?) or her impeccable style (yes, that's Hubert de Givenchy she's wearing), Breakfast at Tiffany’s Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) is impossible not to fall in love with—just ask her many suitors!
'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018)
This film based on Kevin Kwan's beloved book series showcases an alternate reality of expensive real estate/fashion/lifestyle and a sweet story of two people (Constance Wu and Henry Golding) in love who are determined to make their relationship work despite their meddling families.
'Dirty Dancing' (1987)
Like your favorite comfort food, the best feel-good movies are often the ones we know like the backs of our hands: Yes, we’re talking about Dirty Dancing. Frankly, it doesn’t matter how many times we’ve seen Baby (Jennifer Grey) nail the lift or Johnny (Patrick Swayze) pull her out of that corner—this cinematic masterpiece is one that invokes the warm fuzzies faster than you can say “Pachanga.”
'The Holiday' (2006)
Yes, this is technically a Christmas movie, but you don’t have to wait for the yuletide season to fall for its charms. And charms, there are aplenty. Between the ultra-touching friendship Iris (Kate Winslet) strikes up with her elderly neighbor (Eli Wallach) and the moving father/daughter dynamic between Iris’s widower brother Graham (Jude Law) and his two daughters, this movie will turn your insides to butter —and we haven’t even started on the two love stories as its center.
'La La Land' (2016)
A nod to the grand set pieces and old-school musical numbers that made Gene Kelly and Irving Berlin legends of the Golden Age, La La Land may not have the most uplifting ending, but the smile the first freeway dance sequence will put on your face is worth it.
'Mamma Mia!' (2008)
A musical movie with a stacked cast and chock-full of ABBA songs? What’s not to love? This feel-good film will immediately transport you to the Greek islands and put you in that carefree summer mood with its fun storyline. It follows bride-to-be Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) on her mission to find out which of three potential men her mom (Meryl Streep) shared a romance with is her birth father by inviting them all to her wedding.
'Pretty Woman (1990)
This rom-com gem is truly a modern-day fairytale. In one of her most iconic roles, Julia Roberts stars as a sex worker who keeps a wealthy businessman (Richard Gere) company for a week, only to end up falling in love with him. Admittedly, it's not a conventional love story, but its more romantic moments will leave you with plenty of butterflies.
'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' (2018)
We seriously wish this movie existed when we were in high school. Lara Jean's (Lana Condor) intense feelings for her crushes feel real and not overdramatized, unlike so many teen romantic comedies that have come before it. At its core, this flick is as feel-good as it can get.
'When Harry Met Sally' (1989)
Filmmaker Nora Ephron was the best screenwriter of her time (and all time, TBH), and listening to Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal deliver the perfect line readings while their characters fall in love is like sipping a cup of warm tea. We could, and probably have, fallen asleep to this movie—it's poetry.
The Best Feel-Good Dramas
'Akeelah and the Bee' (2006)
This is one of those movies that inspires you and makes you feel lighter, all at once. It sees a young girl from southern L.A. named Akeelah (Keke Palmer) studying for a spelling bee with her mentor (Laurence Fishburne), and it's sweet and wonderful and makes you feel things.
'Big Fish' (2004)
Who said fairytales had to end at adulthood? Certainly not Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor/Albert Finney). Even on his deathbed, the old man refuses to concede to his son Will (Billy Crudup) that the tall tales he’s always told him about his life were just that. But maybe he has his reasons—and maybe Will’s old man led a life far more magical than his son could ever have imagined.
'Forrest Gump' (1994)
Forrest Gump is one of those movies everyone should watch at least once. Gump (Tom Hanks), a man with a big heart and an intellectual disability, takes us through his life’s story, which is tied up in major historical events like the Vietnam War and the Watergate Scandal, as he sits at a bus stop. There are moments in his tale when you’ll laugh and certainly cry, but all in all, his mantra is one you’ll never forget: “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get."
'Good Will Hunting' (1997)
The film gets a lot right about the city and its inhabitants. And naturally, Robin Williams is its beating heart—every time he's on screen, you breathe a sigh of relief. He's like the therapist for the viewers, as well as Matt Damon's troubled genius Will, and the role preserves the actor’s memory in the best way possible.
'Little Women' (2019)
Okay, so there will be tears while watching Greta Gerwig's remake of Little Women, but hear us out: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Timothée Chalamet, and Laura Dern's performances (yes, there are a lot!) are incredible. Then, there's the storyline itself. While watching Jo (Ronan) grapple with her career and love, we're reminded of what matters in this life. It's pure and it's excellent.
'Now and Then (1995)
You can’t talk about moving coming-of-age films without paying homage to the '90s classic Now and Then. Flipping back and forth between the past and the present, four women (Demi Moore, Melanie Griffith, Rosie O’Donnell, and Rita Wilson) reunite as adults to remember the epic summer they shared as girls (played by Gaby Hoffmann, Thora Birch, Christina Ricci, and Ashleigh Aston Moore) that changed them all in unique ways. It’s got friendship, nostalgia, and so much heart; yours will be full for days after viewing.
'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' (2005)
A coming-of-age for young women, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants sees Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn portraying four best friends who all magically fit into the same pair of jeans. Since the pants seem to work as a good luck charm for the girls, they decide to share ownership of them, shipping them to each other as they venture off to their summer plans. It's funny and endearing, and it'll make you cry both happy and sad tears.
The Best Feel-Good Action Movies
'Everything Everywhere All At Once' (2022)
This genre-bending A24 movie became an unexpected hit and for good reason. The story follows an aging immigrant woman (Michelle Yeoh) who wants to file her taxes but goes on an unexpected adventure through parallel universes. It’s trippy, action-packed, and features an emotional message that will make you want to hug your family tighter.
'Men in Black' (1997)
When your villains include a cockroach-like alien species named “Bug,” and the agents sent to handle them include Will Smith, you know you’re in for an enjoyable movie experience. This one has plenty of action, but belly laughs, too. Did we mention it also has one hell of a soundtrack? (Don’t act like you don’t know all the words to the title song.)
'Top Gun' (1986)
Starring Tom Cruise, a very handsome young Val Kilmer, and Meg Ryan before she became America's sweetheart, this prototypical '80s film may be secretly filled with hidden meaning, depending on who you ask. But even if it’s not, it will have you cheering for its speed-chasing heroes as they take to the skies.
The Best Feel-Good Family Movies
'Elf' (2003)
Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf is nothing short of cheerful, even encountering hardened of New Yorkers. It’s a film that will make you laugh and look forward to the holidays, no matter the time of year.
'Encanto' (2021)
We might not talk about Bruno, but we can sing the praises of the film that introduced him to us. With Encanto, Lin-Manuel Miranda has created a mystical, magical world that reminds us of the importance of family. If that wasn’t heartening enough, however, a message of self-acceptance interwoven throughout each character arc, from the Madrigal sisters of Mirabel, Isabel, and Luisa to the mysterious Bruno himself.
'E.T.' (1982)
If you feel the tenderness between Drew Barrymore and E.T. is legit as you’re watching it, that’s probably because it is: She thought he was real and used to bring him lunch on set. “I really loved him in such a profound way,” she has said. That love translates through the screen, as does the closeness between the extra-terrestrial and Barrymore’s onscreen brother Elliott (Henry Thomas).
'The Goonies' (1985)
The Goonies has adventure, pirate ships, lost treasure, and a young Josh Brolin, but the unwavering companionship between Mikey (Sean Astin), Mouth (Corey Feldman), Chunk (Jeff Cohen), and the rest of the gang that makes it so whole-hearted. Who doesn't want to be a Goonie?
'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' (2001)
The first installment in the Harry Potter series is also the best, thanks to its childlike imagination and world-building, which set the series up for its subsequent, more weighty films. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) are figuring out how to navigate Hogwarts in The Sorcerer’s Stone, and it's delightful seeing them enjoy their magical classes.
'Paddington 2' (2018)
We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Paddington 2's Oscar snubs were a total travesty. The first film is sweet and tender, but the second one offers all of that and a scene-stealing performance by Hugh Grant and a brilliant metaphor for Brexit, all wrapped up in a heartwarmingly gooey marmalade.
'The Parent Trap' (1998)
Whether you re-watch this one for the LiLo excellence, the father/daughter scenes with Daddy Quaid, or merely a dose of childhood nostalgia, The Parent Trap will warm your heart.
'The Princess Bride' (1987)
From the start, you know The Princess Bride will be a mood-booster: It begins with a grandfather (Peter Falk) telling his sick grandson (Fred Savage) a story to lift his spirits. This magical movie also has all the ingredients for complete escapism: As the grandpa describes it, we’re talking, “Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles...” Need we go on?
'Up' (2009)
Yes, we know the first few minutes of this Disney film are tragic, but if you can make it through the tearful beginning, the rest of the film is super endearing. A grumpy, old man (Edward Asner) and an upbeat adventure scout (Jordan Nagai) make an adorable (and hilarious) pair as they travel to Paradise Falls. It’s a charming story that will surely make it to the top of your list of Disney favorites.
'WALL-E' (2008)
WALL-E is a cute-as-can-be robot with a curious personality whose mission is to help clean up a trash-ridden Earth. Then he meets EVE, a high-tech robot created to find proof of life on Earth, and the two soon embark on a galaxy-crossing journey. Who knew a Disney film about robots could be so charming and thought-provoking?
'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' (1971)
If you haven't given the OG Willy Wonka a true start-to-finish rewatch since you were a kid, this is your sign to do just that and take a trip inside the fantasy realm that the late Gene Wilder so expertly weaves. Besides, if watching the bratty Violet Beauregarde (Denise Nickerson) turn into a blueberry and the spoiled Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole) gets her comeuppance as a “bad egg” doesn’t restore your faith in humanity, we don’t know what will.
'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)
Heralded as one of the most influential movies of all time, The Wizard of Oz has been beloved by fans of every generation since 1939. To say it’s got heart would be an understatement; there’s a whole character dedicated to the organ (we see you, Tin Man), but it has its roots in other warm and fuzzies, too, ranging from themes of friendship and self-confidence to family and appreciation for what you have. It’s also a delight for the senses—particularly when Dorothy lands in Oz and everything turns to color.
