Feel-Good Movies
COVID edition
With COVID-19 sending us into self-isolation, we need some cheering up. Thankfully, there are a ton of feel-good films out there to help keep our spirits up. Picks from NAU Social 👇🏼
1. The Breakfast Club
We chose to start the list off with an obvious classic; an 1980’s defining film, in which you find yourself cheering for for the group of kids to successfully leave detention. It shows how much people have in common if you take the time to get to know each other.
2. Mean Girls
A 2000’s classic movie everyone should see. This movie follows the high school experience of a transfer-student from Africa that is just trying to fit in. An overall fun film with quotes like “she doesn’t even go here” that will make you laugh.
3. Crazy Rich Asians
After years of rom-com wilderness came Crazy Rich Asians — delivering a swoon-worthy couple, laugh-out-loud gags, and a visual vibrancy that makes the genre come alive again. It’ll leave you beaming — with a little happy-crying. This is the best rom-com to come out in a while.
4. The Princess Diaries
This film follows a regular girl who finds out she’s royalty and has to transition into a life of fame. With all the change she undergoes, there is a lot of personal growth and it is heartwarming to watch. As seen below, Mia, the newfound princess, is a big MOOD.
5. Forrest Gump
A story of a person trying to find their place and persevering through obstacles. There are moments you want to shout at your t.v., moments you laugh and cry, but overall are left with a sense of accomplishment.
6. Stuck in Love
A movie about a family of writers who are stuck in the roughs of love and all have different views on how to handle love. At the end of the day, family always has your back. And aside from having an awesome soundtrack, t also shows a realistic side of love and family while managing to make your heart happy.
Also, who doesn’t love Logan Lerman and Lily Collins?
7. La La Land
You don’t have to be a fan of musicals to appreciate this one. It takes the audience to the golden days of Hollywood when musicals and the art of dance were used to encourage people to follow their dreams.
8. Lady Bird
Starring Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet, this film takes the idea of a traditional American teen coming-of-age film and makes it unique. It follows the inner lives and struggles of girls and women.
9. Hairspray (2007)
Another musical, but also a very good musical. Hairspray highlights the celebration of youth and growing up to fight for your beliefs. But “Hairspray” is fundamentally a story about being young — about the triumph of youth culture, about the optimistic, possibly dated belief that the future will improve on the present — and its heart is very much with its teenage heroes and the fresh-faced actors who play them.
10. Mamma Mia & Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again
If you watch the first one, there is no way you won’t want to watch the second one. These are the last of musicals on this list, but they may make you want to keep watching more. For starters, we all know Meryl Streep can do no wrong. The movies also take place in Greece and somehow make you feel like you’re right there, dancing under the sun and breeze with the characters.
11. Monster-In-Law
Starring the iconic Jennifer Lopez, this rom-com follows the story of a temp who fell in love with a momma’s boy. This leads to a little mother in law and daughter competition. Who will win? Watch to find out!
12. School of Rock
School of Rock is a crucial music classic that ever so slightly defies expectations at every turn. While cheerily asks young viewers to follow their hearts and be kind, it is also a movie intended for adults who have forgotten what it’s like to believe accomplishing your dreams is possible.
13. Legally Blonde
The theme: Don’t ever let someone tell you that you aren’t good enough.
Legally Blonde is proof that you can do anything you set your mind to despite being discouraged by those around you. Go to law school and stand up for what’s right!
14. About Time
Adventure through time with Tim Lake as he finds the love of his life and builds a family, with a little bit of help of time travel.
15. The Pursuit of Happyness
Probably the most heart string-pulling movie on this list; this movie is about a struggling salesman who takes custody of his son as he’s poised to begin a life-changing professional career. Those father-son moments will make your heart happier than anything.
