27 of the Best Feel-Good Movies to Watch When You’re Having an Off Day

"Let's just say if I had to choose between watching 13 Going on 30 and any Oscar-nominated movie on an aeroplane, the former wins every damn time. The storyline is just so sweet and pure, and Jennifer Garner's near-perfect response to someone complimenting her dress — 'It's because I've got these incredible boobs to fill them out!' — makes me LOL time and again." — Kelsey Castañon, senior editor, Beauty

"Love Actually — it is such a wonderful film to watch when you need to feel the love that is in the world; it is after all, 'all around us.'" — Vilte Rooney, talent associate

"I always feel better when I watch Centre Stage. It's the goofiest, most poorly acted movie, but I love dance and it uplifts me every time, despite the cheesiness. There are a few superfamous faces [in it] who were less well-known at the time — including Zoe Saldana! — but anyone who knows the ballet world will recognise some stars as well. Even if dance isn't your favourite, it's worth a watch for the music and choreography alone!" — Cynthia Puleo, copy editor

"No matter how much I feel like my life is falling apart, I can always turn on Confessions of a Shopaholic and be comforted by the fact that, at least, I didn't sell my best friend's bridemaid's dress to impress a hot guy; Hugh Dancy is a total catch, though. From the amazing cast — including Joan Cusack, John Goodman, and Krysten Ritter — to the gorgeous outfits, and Rebecca's (Isla Fisher) hilarious attempts to avoid debt collector Derek Smeath, everything about this movie makes me feel good every time I watch it." — Chanel Vargas, editorial assistant, Trending and Viral Features

"I love a movie I can quote backward and forward. Early-2000s rom-coms are perfect for this and they're literally always on TV. Whether I am feeling blue, hungover, or just want to watch a classic with my friends, these types of movies always put me in the BEST mood. I love flicks like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, She's the Man, and Monster-in-Law. Even though they're predictable now that I've seen them each a million times, there's a sense of comfort in watching them which always makes me feel good. Plus, I never turn down an opportunity to quote the lines along with them." — Amanda McKelvey, social media strategist

"Whenever I'm feeling down or uneasy about life, I'll put on Harry Potter. It doesn't matter which movie because I know them all by heart. (I weirdly like to watch them in reverse order). It reminds me of being comfy and being at home. Ron, Harry, and Hermione, plus a cup of tea is the perfect feel-good set up." — Tori Crowther, assistant editor, POPSUGAR UK

"Any time I need a laugh, I can guarantee any Paul Feig flick starring Melissa McCarthy will do the trick. That dynamic duo knows exactly what tickles my funny bone and puts me in instant good spirits. My personal favourites are Spy and Bridesmaids. I think I've seen them both at least five times! Word to wise, however: do not watch them on an aeroplane . . . strangers do not appreciate uproarious laughter in an enclosed space." — Chari Perez, social media and partnerships coordinator

"Legally Blonde! It is the best pick-me-up movie because when Elle Woods thought she had lost it all, she set a new goal and crushed it. Yes, at first her motivation was a guy, but eventually she finds herself, her purpose, and her drive — and she realises she can accomplish everything she sets her mind to while keeping it stylish and fab! It doesn't hurt that the movie has one of the greatest quotes of all time: 'Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands. They just don't!'" — Maria G. Valdez, lead editor, POPSUGAR Latina

"Watching Legally Blonde is like taking a shot of endorphins directly to the brain, and as everyone should be aware by now, 'Endorphins make you happy.' (And happy people just DON'T shoot their husbands, you know?) It's a sparkly, pink-scented, feel-good story about a woman overcoming a ditzy stereotype to achieve her dreams, all the while being able to stick it to her lame ex. What's not to love?" — Quinn Keaney, editor, Entertainment

"I personally love old movies, so I don't think I could ever get tired of watching Breakfast at Tiffany's. It's so relaxing, yet entertaining at the same time. Not to mention, the film is gorgeously made and Audrey Hepburn is iconic in it." — Jessica Harrington, assistant editor, Makeup.com and Skincare.com

"Without question, The Mighty Ducks. First off, who doesn't love a feel-good sports movie. Secondly, I love seeing the players overcome challenges and find success. Plus, it's just downright hilarious." — Murphy Moroney, assistant editor, Family

"I've said it before and I'll say it again: Matilda was one of the most defining movies of my childhood. Not only did I heavily relate to Matilda's love for books and school, but there was just something so inexplicably hopeful about seeing a kid with magical powers use them for good, even if her methods were occasionally mischievous. Even before my love for Harry Potter blossomed, Matilda was there to prove to me that kids are more powerful than adults give them credit for — plus I still can't believe Bruce ate that entire chocolate cake." — CV

"Miss Congeniality will forever be my go-to movie whenever I need a boost. For one thing, Sandra Bullock is everything to me, and she's Sandra Bullock at her Sandra Bullock-est in that movie. For another, my mom and I have always watched (and quoted) Miss Congeniality together, so hearing those familiar lines gets me every time. 'You think I'm goooorgeous . . . '" — Laura Meyers, content director, Trending and Viral Features

"School of Rock is hands down that movie for me. As a kid, I remember begging my parents for a second copy of the movie on DVD because 'I really needed a backup copy.' 'Zack's Song' will always be a bop, Miranda Cosgrove's acting is worthy of all the gold stars, and the entire movie is filled with more one-liners than Mean Girls. 'You're tacky and I hate you' is a timeless clapback." — Jessica Chassin, senior social coordinator

"Crazy, Stupid, Love: this is honestly just such a great movie! The cast is awesome (Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, etc.) and it's an easy plot to follow, as a middle-aged man with no game learns how to date again from a suave, good-looking younger friend, after his wife asks him for a divorce. It's happy; it's sad; it's emotional; it's funny; it's real! It leaves you feeling happy!" — Amy Schlinger, POPSUGAR contributor

"Anyone who hasn't seen Bubba list every conceivable way to prepare shrimp needs to get in front of a TV screen and watch Forrest Gump right now, if you ask me. The nods to major US historical events are intriguing, while the way Forrest leaves his mark on every person he meets makes his character feel almost magical in the most human way possible. At over two hours in run time, it's a little bit of a long watch, but it's so worth it if you're looking for a movie that's action-packed, full of romance, and heartwarming down to its core." — CV

"Since I was a teenager, The Wedding Singer has had a magical ability to bring me out of even the sh*ttiest of moods. Between Adam Sandler's hilarious one-liners and Drew Barrymore's general delightfulness — not to mention the late Alexis Arquette's iconic performance as a Boy George-obsessed backup singer — it's impossible not to crack a smile. I mean, Julia Guglia? How can you not laugh at that?!" — Britt Stephens, content director, Celebrity and Entertainment

"Mamma Mia!: the first time I saw this movie in theatres, I had a smile on my face the whole time. Between the dreamy, sun-filled setting, the strong female relationships, the romance, and the ABBA tunes, watching this is like a happy escape to Summer in Greece — even if only for two hours." — Stephanie Nguyen, native editor, Style

"Mamma Mia! When I'm feeling down, there is literally nothing better than having a good ol' laugh at Pierce Brosnan's singing. The entire film plays out like the cast is in on a joke that the audience isn't. It's so ridiculously over the top — even Meryl is over-acting . . . but everyone seems to be having so much fun and that's totally infectious. I suppose the joke is 'Ha, we got paid to go to a Greek island and film this, so who's laughing now?' Also, ABBA songs!" — Gemma Cartwright, senior editor

"I love anything Hayao Miyazaki creates, but my absolute favourite is Kiki's Delivery Service for its ability to transport you to Kiki's serene seaside town and idyllic lifestyle. It has all the makings of a true winner: adventure, romance, magic (literally), and self-discovery, not to mention a really cute talking cat. Plus, I appreciate that the movie progresses at a pace that keeps me calm, but happy — I don't like emotional rollercoasters — and that there are no 'bad guys,' one of my personal requirements for a feel-good movie." — SN

"Whenever I would stay home from school sick as a kid, I would watch The Princess Bride. Maybe I just liked the idea of Peter Falk reading a story to his grandson Fred Savage! No matter how terrible I was feeling, The Princess Bride never failed to cheer me up. I'd lose myself in the story of the Dread Pirate Roberts, R.O.U.S.es, Inigo Montoya's revenge, and the love story between Westley and Buttercup, leaving all my worries behind for just a few hours." — Annalise Mantz, associate native living editor and content strategist

"Clueless: anytime I see this playing on TV, I have to stop and watch it. I can't help it! The fashion? The one-liners? The will-they-or-won't-they between Cher and her brother Josh? Over two decades later, it remains perfection and an instant mood booster." — QK

"One of my all-time favourite feel-good movies is About Time. It's British in the most British-y way, it's sweet and sentimental without relying on tired or cliché plot devices, it's authentically funny, and there aren't any throwaway characters — every single one of them is memorable and exceptionally cast. It's got a dash of magical realism — it is a time travel movie, after all — that adds to the storyline but doesn't take away from the relationships, both romantic and familial, at the heart of it. You really find yourself smiling from start to finish, even if there are tears streaming down your face by the end." — Tara Block, content director, Growth and Strategic Features

"Chasing Liberty: girl explores Europe with guy and falls in love with said guy — if that doesn't sound like the perfect life, it definitely makes for a perfect feel-good movie! From Prague to Venice to Austria, I feel like I'm on a summertime adventure right alongside Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode's characters every time I watch this. Also, it doesn't hurt that Matthew Goode is cute." — SN

"I am a total Disney child at heart and one of my favourite movies of all time is The Emperor's New Groove. I truly believe it is one of the most underrated movies of all time. Even though it came out nearly two decades ago, the jokes are still hilarious and it never fails to cheer me up when I am having a bad day. My favourite part of the movie is Yzma, who is hands down the best Disney antagonist ever. The movie is well written, so it stands the test of time and in my opinion is a classic Disney tale suitable for people of all ages. Do yourself a favour — stop reading this and go watch The Emperor's New Groove. You can thank me later." — Zara Patel, editorial intern

"'Are you wearing the . . .' 'The Chanel boots? Yeah, I am.' From the song playing over the opening sequence to Meryl Streep's deadly cerulean sweater speech, I can probably quote every minute of The Devil Wears Prada by heart. Emily is by far my favourite character and I still can't believe she survived that long on a single cube of cheese. But Andy's character is who I relate to most — a hardworking writer just trying to figure out where she wants to be in life. And even though she faced more than a few obstacles along the way — including dropping her super rude group of friends — she ended up figuring it out." — CV

"This always surprises everyone who knows me, but Talladega Nights is one of my all time favourites! It's Will Ferrell and Adam McKay at their best — awkward and goofy and weirdly smart and ultimately kind-hearted. It's one of the only movies I can actually quote dialogue from, and I can't imagine anyone frowning while watching. Are there some 'outdated' jokes that make me cringe just a little bit these days? Definitely! But ultimately, the dedication to a feel-good storyline always wins with me." — Jessica DiGiacinto, native editor

"Mine is Mrs. Doubtfire! It's totally the movie I default to when I'm not sure what I want to watch, and even though I know every single line, it never fails to crack me up. I recently forgot headphones on a flight and watched it without subtitles, just completely silent, and still lost it at all the funniest bits. Robin Williams was a true treasure." — Alessia Santoro, editor, Family

"Nothing takes me back to the good old days more than seeing Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, Princess of Genovia scooter down the streets of San Francisco with her best friend Lilly at her side to make it to school on time. While Michael and his M&M-covered keyboard did catch my eye, I mainly love The Princess Diaries because it's dramatic, silly, romantic, and it definitely fed into my childhood fantasy that maybe we're all secretly royalty. Also, who could forget that incredible (and hilarious) transformation scene?" — CV