Feel-good movies: 9 films to lift your mood
Nine feel-good movies to make you happy, from It's a Wonderful Life, The Princess Bride and Amélie to School of Rock, Little Miss Sunshine, Mamma Mia!, The Intouchables, Chef and Paddington 2.
Some films leave you smiling. This list gathers nine feel-good movies, in release order, with posters, the directors and the main cast. They are warm, funny and easy to love.
How we chose
We chose films that are widely loved for their warmth, humor and optimism, across eras and countries. Mood is personal, so this is not a numbered ranking.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Directed by Frank Capra. Starring James Stewart, Donna Reed.
The Princess Bride (1987)
Directed by Rob Reiner. Starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright.
Amélie (2001)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Starring Audrey Tautou.
School of Rock (2003)
Directed by Richard Linklater. Starring Jack Black.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Directed by Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris. Starring Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried.
The Intouchables (2011)
Directed by Olivier Nakache, Éric Toledano. Starring François Cluzet, Omar Sy.
Chef (2014)
Directed by Jon Favreau. Starring Jon Favreau, Sofía Vergara.
Paddington 2 (2017)
Directed by Paul King. Starring Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant.
Use the posters above to decide what to watch first, and come back to rate the ones you have already seen. Share this list with friends and compare which films each of you would put first.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best feel-good movies?
Among the most loved are It's a Wonderful Life, The Princess Bride, Amélie, The Intouchables and Paddington 2.
Which feel-good movie is best for the whole family?
The Princess Bride, School of Rock and Paddington 2 are popular family choices.
What makes a movie feel-good?
Warm characters, humor, friendship and hopeful endings leave viewers in a better mood.
Rate these movies
Which one is your favorite? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews and build your own lists.
Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
