51 hopeful movies that will make you feel good about life, now streaming on Netflix and more – AL.com
We might all feel a bit down right now the midst of a pandemic, but it’s important to remain optimistic. Thankfully, we can depend on art to help us through difficult circumstances.
We found 47 movies you can stream while everything is canceled, so we thought we’d focus on life-affirming films that will give you hope and make you feel good about the world. And we don’t have much to do while stuck in our homes, so let’s fire up Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon Prime or your streaming service of choice and find us a happy flick or two.
If you select “Movies” on the Netflix homepage, the top category on that page is currently “Dark Movies,” and the first title on the list is the 1995 pandemic thriller “Outbreak.” And yeah, that’s a no. Try these instead.
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About Time (Netflix)
A young man discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think. Emotional time travel film from “Love Actually” director Richard Curtis stars Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy and Margot Robbie. Makes you cherish and reconsider what to do with the time you have left.
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As Good As It Gets (Netflix)
A single mother and waitress, a misanthropic author and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery. Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt each won Oscars for their performances in James L. Brooks romantic dramedy, also starring Greg Kinnear. We all have difficult relationships that demand more than we feel we can give, but sometimes we must put in the extra work to understand each other’s value.
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Babe (HBO)
A pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep with a little help from a quiet farmer. George Miller’s charming fantasy teaches us to never underestimate a tiny pig. You’d never know the director of “Mad Max: Fury Road” made this.
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Big (HBO)
After wishing to be made big, a teenage boy wakes the next morning to find himself mysteriously in the body of an adult. Tom Hanks plays the adult version in a career-making performance in the late great Penny Marshall’s comedy that teaches us to hold on to our inner child.
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Bohemian Rhapsody (HBO)
The story of the legendary British rock band Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury, leading up to their famous performance at Live Aid. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more inspirational figure in pop music than Mercury. Rami Malek won an Oscar for playing him here.
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Brian Banks (Hulu)
A football player’s dreams to play in the NFL are halted when he is wrongly convicted and sent to prison. Years later, he fights to clear his name within an unjust system.
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Bruce Almighty (HBO)
Jim Carrey stars as a guy who complains about God too often and is given almighty powers to teach him how difficult it is to run the world. Sometimes you have to trust in the good of humanity and understand others are in greater need than you.
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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Netflix)
A down-on-his-luck inventor turns a broken-down Grand Prix car into a fancy vehicle for his children, and then they go off on a magical fantasy adventure to save their grandfather in a far-off land. A little adventure is good for the spirit.
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Creed II (Hulu)
Under the tutelage of Rocky Balboa, heavyweight champ Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) faces off against Viktor Drago, the son of Ivan Drago. A mix of “Rocky III” and “Rocky IV,” decent follow-up to the beloved “Creed.” It’s a “Rocky” movie. You will feel great by the end.
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The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (HBO)
The true story of “Elle” editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffers a stroke and has to live with an almost totally paralyzed body, only his left eye isn’t paralyzed. An inspirational story that attempts to prove life is worth living even when you’ve lost nearly everything.
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Emma (HBO)
While matchmaking for friends and neighbours, a young 19th Century Englishwoman nearly misses her own chance at love. Gwenyth Paltrow stars in this delightful adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.
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Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog (HBO)
When life gets you down, stare at a dog for 81 minutes. Any dog will do, but try a brave yellow lab that helps a stranded boy find his way out of the wilderness.
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Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (Netflix)
A high school wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, with a suspicious principal on his trail. If you want to smile nearly two straight hours, pop on John Hughes’ timeless comedy starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck and Mia Sara.
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Fighting with My Family (Amazon & Hulu)
A former wrestler and his family make a living performing at small venues around the country while his kids dream of joining World Wrestling Entertainment. The true story of WWE superstar Paige, here played by “Little Women” and “Midsommar” standout Florence Pugh. Produced by and co-starring Dwayne Johnson. Believe in your dreams, kids.
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Free Solo (Disney+ & Hulu)
Free solo climber Alex Honnold prepares to achieve his lifelong dream of scaling the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without a rope. It’ll stress you out watching him do it, but you won’t believe what we can achieve as human beings until you see it for yourself in this Oscar-winning documentary.
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Free Willy (Hulu)
When a boy learns that a beloved killer whale is to be killed by the aquarium owners, the boy risks everything to free the whale. A boy and his whale, with a heck of an exciting ending. What’s not to love?
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Good Will Hunting (Hulu)
A janitor at M.I.T. with a unique gift for mathematics needs help from a psychologist to find direction in his life. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won Oscars for writing this winning drama about relationships and identity, co-starring fellow Oscar-winner Robin Williams and a career-best performance.
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Groundhog Day (Netflix)
A misanthropic weatherman (Bill Murray) finds himself inexplicably living the same day over and over again. The late Harold Ramis directed this comedy that challenges us to live our lives as best we can.
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Hairspray (Netflix)
A teenager teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show. You might just sing and dance your heart out.
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Hello, Dolly! (HBO)
Matchmaker Dolly Levi travels to Yonkers to find a partner for “half-a-millionaire” Horace Vandergelder, convincing his niece, his niece’s intended and his two clerks to travel to New York City along the way. Remember that Wall-E watches and loves this musical every day in that Pixar classic. That should be enough for us.
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Her (Netflix)
In a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need. Spike Jonze’s Oscar-winning peek into the future features a sensitive performance by Joaquin Phoenix and terrific voice work from Scarlett Johannson. An affirming piece on loneliness and human connection.
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Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (HBO)
Three pets escape from a California ranch to find their owners in San Francisco. Animals can do it all, even talk…at least in Disney movies with the help of Don Ameche, Sally Field and Michael J. Fox.
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Hope Floats (HBO)
A woman must choose between her morals and her heart after her husband divorces her and a charming young man, who her daughter disapproves of, comes back into her life in this romantic drama starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr.
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Indiana Jones films (Netflix)
Folks, if I need to give you any extra reasons to watch Harrison Ford in Steven Spielberg’s adventure franchise, then I’ve lost hope. All four are available. If you want to skip “Crystal Skull,” we understand.
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The Invention of Lying (Netflix)
A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain. Ricky Gervais stars and co-directs this fantasy that seeks to understand humanity and our penchant for misrepresenting the truth.
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Jerry Maguire (Netflix)
Tom Cruise plays a sports agent who has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, as he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former secretary. Cruise, Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding Jr. and Renee Zellweger give winning performances. From writer/director Cameron Crowe (“Almost Famous”).
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Jersey Girl (HBO)
After his career is sidelined by an unexpected tragedy and a personal blow-up, a single man must take care of his precocious daughter. Kevin Smith’s unfairly maligned dramedy is a sweet father/daughter tale that reminds us what’s most important.
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Julie & Julia (Netflix)
Julia Child’s story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell’s 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child’s first book. Meryl Streep and Amy Adams star in this film from late director Nora Ephron.
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The King’s Speech (Netflix)
The story of King George VI, his impromptu ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer. Oscar-winner for best picture, director, actor and screenplay.
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The Land Before Time (HBO)
An orphaned brontosaurus teams up with other young dinosaurs in order to reunite with their families in a valley. Melancholy but adventurous dinosaur story that salutes the bravery of children.
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Love Actually (HBO)
Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London. Usually a go-to during the holidays, but this will make you feel warm and fuzzy anytime.
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Mary Poppins Returns (Netflix)
A few decades after her original visit, Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt), the magical nanny, returns to help the Banks siblings and Michael’s children through a difficult time in their lives. A spoonful of this goodness helps tough times go down.
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Miracle (Netflix)
The true story of Herb Brooks, the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Soviet squad. This year marks the 40th anniversary!
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Moonlight (Netflix)
A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood. Barry Jenkins’ best picture-winner is tough to watch at times, but you take a deep breath of relief at every milestone the young man reaches, as he finds his way in the world.
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Mr. Holland’s Opus (HBO)
A frustrated composer finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher. When you feel like a failure, you may have no idea how much you’re positively impacting other people.
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Mrs. Doubtfire (HBO)
After a bitter divorce, an actor disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend time with his children held in custody by his former wife. A bizarre premise, sure, but it’s heart is in the right place, and we could all use a dose of Robin Williams cheering us up.
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Punch-Drunk Love (HBO)
A psychologically troubled man is nudged towards a romance with an English woman, all the while being extorted by a phone-sex line run by a crooked mattress salesman. Again, odd premise, but Paul Thomas Anderson’s unusual romance will warm your heart and remind you of what’s worth fighting for.
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The Pursuit of Happyness (Netflix)
Will Smith stars as a struggling salesman takes custody of his son (his son Jaden) as he’s poised to begin a life-changing professional career. Painful to watch at times — any parent (or human) would agree — but overwhelmingly joyful and rewarding.
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The Prince of Egypt (Hulu)
Egyptian Prince Moses learns of his identity as a Hebrew and his destiny to become the chosen deliverer of his people. An animated take on the Old Testament story with powerful visuals and music.
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The Shawshank Redemption (Netflix)
“Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman star as two imprisoned men who bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency in this American classic from director Frank Darabont.
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Silver Linings Playbook (Netflix)
After a stint in a mental institution, a man (Bradley Cooper) moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife while meeting a mysterious girl (Jennifer Lawrence) who upends those plans. Uplifting romantic comedy from director David O. Russell (“The Fighter”).
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The Soloist (Amazon)
A newspaper journalist (Robert Downey Jr.) discovers a homeless musical genius (Jamie Foxx) and tries to improve his situation in this inspiring tale from “Pride and Prejudice” director Joe Wright.
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Space Jam (Netflix)
The Looney Tunes recruit Michael Jordan to defeat a squad of evil aliens who have stolen the basketball talents from NBA stars like Charles Barkley and. If nothing else, we know we’ll beat space invaders in 5-on-5.
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Strictly Ballroom (Netflix)
A maverick dancer risks his career by performing an unusual routine and sets out to succeed with a new partner. From “Moulin Rouge!” director Baz Luhrmann.
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Temple Grandin (HBO)
A biopic of Temple Grandin, a woman with autism who has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry. Amazing performance from Claire Danes as Grandin.
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Warrior (Amazon & Hulu)
The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he’s trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament, which puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged older brother. Stars Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte. From “The Way Back” director Gavin O’Connor.
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What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (Netflix)
A young man (Johnny Depp) in a small Midwestern town struggles to care for his younger brother with disabilities (Leonardo DiCaprio) and mother with health problems while attempting to pursue his own happiness. Life might seem drab in Gilbert’s small town, but he finds renewed enthusiasm for it through a series of unexpected circumstances.
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Wonder (Hulu)
The inspiring and heartwarming story of a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time. Stars Jacob Tremblay (“Room”), Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson.
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Yes Man (Netflix)
Jim Carrey plays a man who challenges himself to say “yes” to everything for an entire year. Also stars Zooey Deschanel and Bradley Cooper. Could you say yes to everything for a day?
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