← Back to Blog

25 Best Movies to Watch When You're Sad

Cinematic comfort food — guaranteed to lift your spirits.

Updated March 23, 2026 · ThumbScore Editorial

1

Paddington 2 (2017)

A warm hug in movie form

2

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Pure optimism and warmth

3

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Bursting with charm and heart

4

School of Rock (2003)

Overwhelmingly positive, warm hug

5

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Charm and heart, incredibly rewatchable

6

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

Pure optimism and warmth

7

Legally Blonde (2001)

Never fails to lift your spirits

8

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Wholesome and positive energy

9

Chef (2014)

Pure optimism, perfect antidote

10

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Bursting with charm

11

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Ultimate comfort watch

12

The Princess Bride (1987)

Wholesome and positive

13

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Bursting with charm

14

Matilda (1996)

Lovable characters, incredibly rewatchable

15

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Iconic moments, positive message

16

Babe (1995)

Wholesome positive energy

17

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Ultimate comfort watch

18

The Goonies (1985)

Bursting with charm and heart

19

A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Wholesome positive energy

20

Mary Poppins (1964)

Iconic, warm hug in movie form

21

Shrek (2001)

Overwhelmingly positive message

22

Toy Story (1995)

Bursting with charm

23

Ratatouille (2007)

Wholesome positive energy

24

Up (2009)

Wholesome and positive

25

Coco (2017)

Bursting with charm, incredibly rewatchable

Need more feel-good picks?

Browse more feel-good movies

Amazon Associates Disclosure: ThumbScore is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this site may be affiliate links.