Looking for something fun to watch, that firmly ticks the ‘feel good’ box? Then you need a movie (or movies) which feature colourful characters, plenty of laughs, and some showstopping moments.
In this post, I am serving up a collection of feel good movies perfect to blow away the blues. From stone cold classics, to overlooked gems, this list should give you plenty of treats to dive into when you need a little sunshine in your life.
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Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
First up is Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, a hilarious musical comedy starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. The film focuses on two Icelandic singers who pursue their dream of entering Eurovision, and is loaded with great pop songs, various cameos, a heap of comedy.
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Christopher Robin (2018)
Next up, Ewan McGregor takes on the title role of Christopher Robin in a Disney movie about a man losing the fun and imagination he once had when he was a child. Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger all feature in this truly marvellous fantasy comedy.
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Mamma Mia! (2008)
Mamma Mia! is a fun romp about a young girl desperate to discover the identity of her biological father. The film features a wealth of songs – all famous ABBA tracks – and is guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
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Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)
In this sequel to Mamma Mia!, all of the characters from the first movie return for yet another musical extravaganza with more ABBA songs. The story acts as both a sequel and a prequel to its predecessor, and includes a scene-stealing turn from Cher!
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Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Robin Williams steals the show as Daniel Hillard – a recently divorced husband who masquerades as a female housekeeper in order to spend time with his children. Chris Columbus directs; Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan co-star.
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Sister Act (1992)
Whoopi Goldberg takes centre stage in this feel good comedy, loaded with laughs and thigh-slapping tunes. Goldberg plays a Las Vegas lounge singer who witnesses a murder and has to be hidden in the one place the bad guys won’t ever think of looking – amongst a group of nuns!
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The Nutty Professor (1996)
Eddie Murphy takes on multiple roles for this sci-fi comedy packed with some seriously laugh-out-loud moments, and some good visual effects. The Nutty Professor is a reworking of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, with Murphy playing the part of Sherman Klump and Buddy Love (amongst others).
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Mary Poppins (1964)
In this delightful Disney movie, two British children meet their new nanny, Mary Poppins – an eccentric woman with a song in her heart and a spring in her step. Julie Andrews takes the title role, with support from Dick Van Dyke and David Tomlinson.
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Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Emily Blunt takes on the role of Mary Poppins for this belated, but imaginative sequel. Packed with songs and exciting new characters, the film is a worthy follow-up.
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Return to Me (2000)
David Duchovny and Minnie Driver lead the way in a delightful comedy about a girl given a heart transplant. Bonnie Hunt directs, while Robert Loggia, James Belushi, and Carroll O’Connor play supporting roles.
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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Adapted from the Roald Dahl novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this 1970s movie is an imaginative musical about a boy who wins the trip of a lifetime – an epic tour around Willy Wonka’s bizarre chocolate factory. Gene Wilder stars, Mel Stuart directs.
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The Lego Movie (2014)
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller deliver an animated offering based around the popular toy line, Lego. The Lego Movie features the vocal talents of Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell and Elizabeth Banks, and is awesome. In fact, everything is awesome about this picture (it’s sequel is worth a watch too).
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The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Sticking with the Lego theme, but this time placing the focus purely on the Caped Crusader, The Lego Batman Movie is a delightful film about friendship and heroism. Filled with colourful characters for the younger members of the audience, and loaded with gags for parents, this is a brilliant film whether you’re a Bat-fan or not.
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Steve Martin and John Candy lead the way as two strangers, forced together during a nightmarish trip across country. John Hughes wrote, produced and directed Planes, Trains and Automobiles, which is in my opinion one of the greatest and most heart-warming comedies of the 1980s.
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Superman: The Movie (1978)
Christopher Reeve dons the famous red and blue outfit for an epic adventure of hope and heroism in Superman: The Movie. The film is one of the best comic book movies of all time, and includes a stand-out performance from Reeve.
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Paddington (2014)
Paddington bear takes centre-stage in this adorable family movie about a bear, his new-found family, and his love for marmalade sandwiches. Delightful from start to finish, this is a simply wonderful movie for all ages.
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Paddington 2 (2017)
Paddington returns for yet another fun adventure which is just as good (if not better) than the first. The film offers up a good mix of comedy and heart, as well as a standout turn from Hugh Grant as the big villain.
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Toy Story (1995)
Toys come to life in this animated adventure from Disney-Pixar. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen play the lead roles, while Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Jim Varney, and Annie Potts provide the voices of fellow toys.
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Love, Simon (2018)
In this coming of age story, Simon Spier learns about love, life, and the importance of being himself. Based on the book, Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, this is a movie not to be missed.
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Pitch Perfect (2012)
Chuckles and songs a-plenty in this musical comedy from director Jason Moore. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow and Anna Camp, and is delightful from start to finish.
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The Greatest Showman (2017)
Hugh Jackman steps into the spotlight as P. T. Barnum, the self-dubbed ‘greatest showman’ in this ultimate crowd pleaser. The movie includes a great mix of song and dance, and is perfect family viewing.
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Moana (2016)
In Moana, a young girl leaves her home village to embark on an adventure out at sea. Along the way she meets a demigod, who becomes an important friend and ally.
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Pretty Woman (1990)
Julia Roberts gives a career-defining performance in this popular comedy-drama about a call girl and a businessman who fall in love. Pretty Woman is one of the most iconic movies of the 1990s and with good reason – it is charming.
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Babe (1995)
Based on the novel, The Sheep-Pig by Dick King-Smith, Babe tells the story of a big-hearted pig who becomes a sheepdog… er… sheep-pig. A hit when it was released, this film has lost none of its charm over the years and is always ripe for a revisit.
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Connie and Carla (2004)
A hidden gem that few have seen, but everyone will love – Connie and Carla stars Nia Vardalos and Toni Collette as two singers who go on the run after witnessing a murder. To maintain their cover, the pair dress up as drag queens, while jokes and show tunes are thrown at the screen with careless abandon.
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Aladdin (1992)
Disney brings the laughs in this wickedly fun adventure about a boy, his magic lamp, and the princess he has fallen in love with. Robin Williams plays the role of the genie, and the Mouse House proves once again that it knows how to make a superb movie.
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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Marvel Comics’ best-loved superhero takes part in an imaginative adventure which spans the multiverse in this animated epic. Into the Spider-Verse is loaded with great gags and top-notch animation, but is also packed with heart.
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Uncle Buck (1989)
We could debate John Candy’s greatest role for days, but for my money Candy’s best part is that of Buck Russell, the lead character in John Hughes’ Uncle Buck. Candy plays an estranged, dysfunctional uncle who is tasked with babysitting his nieces and nephew while their parents are out of town.
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Lilo & Stitch (2002)
An experimental alien breaks free of his prison and crash lands on Earth, where he quickly befriends a lonely young girl. What follows is a heart-warming, smile-inducing journey about friendship and family.
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The Princess Bride (1987)
Rob Reiner’s fantasy comedy is the perfect antidote to the blues. The Princess Bride tells the story of a young farmhand who travels over land and sea to rescue his true love, while meeting some extraordinary characters along the way.
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The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, Toto, and the Scarecrow all feature in this oft-copied, yet never bettered fantasy movie. You don’t need me to tell you about this one – you know how good The Wizard of Oz is.
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Billy Elliot (2000)
Set during the 1980s, Billy Elliot tells the story of a British working-class boy and his desire to become a ballet dancer. Stephen Daldry directs, while the cast includes Jamie Bell, Gary Lewis, and Julie Walters.
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Matilda (1996)
Another movie based on a book by Roald Dahl, and this time it is the turn of Matilda – the story of a young girl with unique abilities. Directed by Danny DeVito, Mara Wilson takes the title role, while Pam Ferris plays the ferocious Agatha Trunchbull.
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Bridesmaids (2011)
If you have not watched Bridesmaids for a while, then you have probably forgotten just how good it is. If you have never watched Bridesmaids, then pop it on now!
Paul Feig directs an all-star cast which looks at the chaos and comedy of getting married – as well as the friendships that can be lost along the way.
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Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Emma Thompson takes on the role of P. L. Travers in this delightful story about the author who created Mary Poppins. Tom Hanks plays the part of Walt Disney, while support comes from Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, and Colin Farrell.
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Groundhog Day (1993)
Bill Murray stars in Groundhog Day – a fabulous time-loop comedy that should be watched repeatedly. And speaking of Bill Murray, the actor stars in Groundhog Day – a fabulous time-loop comedy that should be watched repeatedly.
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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black and Kevin Hart lead the charge in this action-adventure comedy about a group of teenagers who are sucked into a video game. The film is a sequel to 1995’s Jumanji, but with more jokes and even more action.
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Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Disney outdoes itself with an animated tale about a young girl, a beast, and a magical curse. Arguably one of the best animated movies of all time, this film never gets old and deserves a re-watch.
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Nanny McPhee (2005)
Based on the Nurse Matilda books by Christianna Brand, Nanny McPhee is wickedly fun film about an unusual nanny who helps a young family. Similar in tone to the Mary Poppins movies, Nanny McPhee stars Emma Thompson in the title role, in a story which is perfect for the whole family.
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Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010)
Emma Thompson returns to the role of Nanny McPhee for this enjoyable sequel, which is equally is good as the first. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ralph Fiennes, and Maggie Smith also star.
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Shrek (2001)
In this animated comedy, fairy tales get a modern-day reworking as Shrek the ogre goes on a journey of self-discovery, encountering the likes of Pinocchio and the Gingerbread Man along the way.
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Grease (1978)
High school has never been so fun in this all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. If you’ve not watched Grease in a while, now is the time to rectify this little faux pas – you won’t regret it.
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Trolls (2016)
Fun, colourful, and crammed with great characters, Trolls is a treat of a movie, often side-lined as being just for kids. Well, it’s not – this is an amusing romp that will crack even the hardest exterior and make adults feel like kids again.
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Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson team up for this live-action musical fantasy, with animated sequences. Adored by audiences of all ages, this is once again a Disney movie which ticks all the right boxes.
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Miss Congeniality (2000)
And finally, Sandra Bullock is at her very best as Gracie Hart – a tough FBI Agent who sets out to foil a terrorist plot in Miss Congeniality. Throughout the course of the movie, Hart has to go undercover at a beauty pageant, resulting in an enjoyable comedy that will tickle every rib.
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to check out this list of feel good movies, I hope it has proved useful. If there are movies on this list that you have never watched, then now is the time to give them a go.
To save you some time from scrolling back through this post to make some notes, here is the list in full.
- Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
- Christopher Robin (2018)
- Mamma Mia! (2008)
- Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)
- Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- Sister Act (1992)
- The Nutty Professor (1996)
- Mary Poppins (1964)
- Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
- Return to Me (2000)
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
- The Lego Movie (2014)
- The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
- Superman: The Movie (1978)
- Paddington (2014)
- Paddington 2 (2017)
- Toy Story (1995)
- Love, Simon (2018)
- Pitch Perfect (2012)
- The Greatest Showman (2017)
- Moana (2016)
- Pretty Woman (1990)
- Babe (1995)
- Connie and Carla (2004)
- Aladdin (1992)
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
- Uncle Buck (1989)
- Lilo & Stitch (2002)
- The Princess Bride (1987)
- The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- Billy Elliot (2000)
- Matilda (1996)
- Bridesmaids (2011)
- Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
- Groundhog Day (1993)
- Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
- Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- Nanny McPhee (2005)
- Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010)
- Shrek (2011)
- Grease (1978)
- Trolls (2016)
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
- Miss Congeniality (2000)
And for more posts like this one, be sure to take a look at the recommended reads below. Here you will find more information about some of the best-loved movies.
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