These feel-good movies are a perfect way for a little pick-me-up if you’re having a bad day, or you want to cozy up with your family and get the feel-good vibes going!
We’ve put together 12 feel-good movies that are inspiring, warm, enchanting and will lift your spirits in no time.
Here are 12 feel-good movies for the whole family:
#1. Christopher Robin (2018)
via Giphy Walt Disney studios
Who: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell.
What: A young Christopher Robin leaves his beloved friends from hundred-acre wood and returns in adulthood to discover his inner child again.
Why: Watch this to see the whole gang of Winnie the pooh of course! Tiger, Eeyore, and Piglet are all back in a beautiful story about friendship and the importance of family. The beautiful special effects bring the loveable honey-eating characters alive, and bring you into a world that is uniquely charming, cozy and super adorable!
Feel Good Rating: 7.5/10
#2. Hook ( 1991)
via GIPHY
Who: Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts.
What: Peter Bannings (Robin Williams) returns to Never Land after his children are kidnapped by his old nemesis Captain Hook. ( Dustin Hoffman.)
Why Watch: Watch it if you want to be thrown into a world full of magic and fantasy! The kids will be entertained (ok and maybe a bit creeped out by the scary pirates) and the adults can return back to their childhood.
Feel Good factor: 7/10
#3. Whale Rider (2002)
via Giphy
Who: Keisha Castle-Hughs, Cliff Curtis.
What: A 12-year-old Maori girl wants to become the chief of the tribe in her local coastal village in New Zealand, but only males are allowed this privilege. With the help of her uncle, she trains herself to claim her birthright.
Why: This unique and original film with a fresh seawater flavour given by the director Niki Caro will sure to inspire and empower anyone (especially our youth.) This has girl power written all over it; she challenges herself and rides a freakin whale! Enough said, go see it.
Feel-Good Factor: 7.5/10
#4. The Ultimate Gift (2006)
via Giphy
Who: Drew Fuller, Abigal Breslin.
What: A trust fund baby Jason Stevens is used to living a life of luxury, but when his billionaire Grandfather dies, instead of inheriting the money he is sent on a series of tasks to complete in order to receive “The ultimate gift”.
Why: If you can get past the cheese, this is an ultimate feel-good movie to watch! We all know that money isn’t everything, and this movie drives that message in a heartwarming way that’s perfect for the whole family.
Feel-Good Factor: 7/10
#5. Bridge To Terabithia (2007)
via Giphy
Who: Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel.
What: Two 5th graders forget about their real-world and create an imaginary one called Terabithia.
Why: This movie is full of imagination, fantasy, friendship and life lessons with a dash of tragedy that will pull at the heartstrings.Overall a treat for the whole family to watch on a rainy day.
Feel-Good Factor: 8/10
#6. My Girl (1991)
via Giphy
Who: Anna Chlumsky, Macaulay Culkin, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis.
What: A coming-of-age story about an 11-year-old girl who lives in a funeral home with her dad and has her life changed by her best friend who is allergic to everything.
Why: Another all-time must-watch movie classic! If you don’t shed some tears in this movie or at least try really hard to hold them back because you don’t want anyone to see you, then you have no soul.
Feel-Good Factor: 8.5/10
#7. Wonder (2017)
via Giphy
Who: Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson.
What: August Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) is about to start elementary school for the first time and must face his insecurities of being born different from others.
Why: This film highlights the beauty of family, friendship and the importance of kindness. It has bundles of heart that will warm the soul and embraces the idea that it’s a good thing to stand out from the crowd. Amen to that!
Feel-Good Factor: 7/10
#8. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
via Giphy
Who: Abigal Breslin, Steve Carell, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette.
What: A dysfunctional family takes a road trip to California to support their daughter who enters a beauty pageant.
Why: A perfect feel-good movie for the whole family that’s full of colorful and dynamic characters that certainly aren’t perfect, but what family is!? Some elements of this movie can seem a little dark, but it’s dealt with in a lighthearted, quirky and endearing way. If this movie doesn’t make you feel good, it’ll definitely make you appreciate your own dysfunctional family.
Feel-Good Factor: 8.5/10
#9. Peter Rabbit (2018)
via Giphy
Who: Domhnall Gleeson, James Corden, Rose Byrne, Sam Neil.
What: Now that Mr McGregor is gone Peter Rabbit and his siblings try to take over his house, which Mr McGregor’s relative now occupies.
Why: Peter Rabbit is much more mischievous and risky in this movie than I remember in the books. But it all adds to a fun and entertaining ride. If you’re not into Peter Rabbit, watch it because of the pig and the roster characters. They are awesome!
Feel-Good Factor: 7/10
#10. The Goonies (1985)
via Giphy
Who: Josh Brolin, Sean Austin, Cory Feldman.
What: A group of kids finds an old pirate map in an attic, leading them on an adventure of a lifetime to find some treasure.
Why: An old-time classic that can’t be missed! Packed full of action, and adventure, with a dash of cute teenage romance and a group of kickass friends that stick together through an entertaining journey.
Feel-Good Factor: 8/10
#11. The Muppets (2011)
Who: Jason Segal, Amy Adams, Emily Blunt.
What: Walter, a big-time muppets fan goes on vacation to Los Angeles along with his brother Gary and his girlfriend Mary. They discover the Muppet’s studio is in danger of being erased and plots a plan with the help of the muppets to save the studio.
Why: Kermit and the gang are all back in this timeless, colorful, musical, and fun ride that is without a doubt a winning choice that will make the whole family feel good.
Feel-Good Factor: 7.5/10
#12. Enchanted (2007)
via Giphy
Who: Amy Adams, Patrick Demsey, James Marsden.
What: Walt Disney presents a story about princess Giselle who lives in a fairytale world, but gets separated from her prince when his stepmother sends her to New York.
Why: This movie is ENCHANTING, to say the least! Full of action, humour, singing, and animation. It has all the ingredients you need in a film that will make you feel good. Amy Adams is perfect for the role of Giselle and the film successfully intertwines a classic fairy tale into a modern-day twist. Love it!
Feel-Good Factor: 8/10
What’s your go-to favourite feel-good movie? Comment below!
Emmy is the founder and content writer at woopdedo. With a background in the performing arts, she then had a career working on cruise ships, until she decided to return to NZ where she spends most of her time storytelling and freelance writing. You can contact her on the social media links below or visit the work with us page.