In light of recent events, I could use some uplifting movie suggestions. I would really appreciate some where it seems the world is a little better at the end than at the beginning. Extra credit if they are streaming on Netflix or Amazon Prime. Thanks.
Tomorrowland tries hard to put forth that message. It’s not perfect, but it’s not a bad movie.
I’m also a big fan of Love, Actually*. I think people feel threatened by its cheerful message about love and romance, so they dump on it, but most criticism never gets the point of the film.
Local Hero, Waking Ned Devine*, and Hear My Song are charming and quirky comedies.
If you can find it, Best Boy and The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill are great documentaries (the latter has the best twist I’ve seen in a documentary).
*On Netflix
Thanks RealityChuck. I don’t think I know anybody who saw Tomorrowland so you’re the first person to recommend it to me. I’ll give it a go. I loved Waking Ned Devine, so I assume you have good taste.
I remember liking the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill but now I can barely remember it. I love it when that happens – I get to watch a beloved movie again for the first time.
Thanks also for the Best Boy recommendation. I’ve never heard of it but it looks like it’s on Youtube here: - YouTube That might be what I watch tonight.
Please keep the recommendations coming!
The Road Warrior
Good Guys win, Bad Guys killed, The Innocent get away.
Beerfest
The title says it all! 
Cameo by Willie Nelson, too.
Starman might be making its point in large block letters, but it works for me.
Some more ideas:
Strictly Ballroom – Baz Lurhmann’s first film, set at a ballroom dancing competition.
Frances Ha* – about a quirky young woman trying to find her place in life.
Topsy Turvey – Biopic of Gilbert and Sullivan and the creation of The Mikado
Mary and Max – fun animated film about a young Australian girl who starts up as a penpal with a randomly chosen old man in NYC who has Aspergers.
Holiday – Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn learning what’s important in life.
The Book of Life – Terrific animated film about a couple of Mexican men who vie for the hand of one woman – helped (and hindered) by the king and queen of the afterlife.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec – Film by Luc Bresson about an adventuress. How could you not love a film with mummies and pterodactyls?
Free Enterprise – about a couple of Star Trek fans who manage to get William Shatner to appear in their independent film. Worth it for this scene.
Arthur Christmas – animated by Aardman. One of the top five Christmas films of all time.
*On Netflix
I’ve been avoiding election news by watching the series The Crown, about Queen Elizabeth II. Netflix released all 10 episodes on Nov. 4. It’s incredibly well done, and it definitely calms me down and makes me feel like no matter what happens, we’re all going to be O.K.*
My favorite uplifting movie is Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing.
*Note: May not apply in Canada. I recommended this series to a friend with a Canadian husband, and she told me that he is strongly politically opposed to the British monarchy, and watching a series about the Queen would make him crazy.
Babette’s Feast is the best sob-like-a-hot-mess-because-life-is-so-wonderful movie I know.
Times like this, I turn to Apollo 13.
SCIENCE!!!
Searching for Sugarman, a modern day fairy tale.
Cloud Atlas - has everything, heroism, villainy, tragedy, comedy, action, farce and more. Bring tissues. Beautiful ending.
Amelie - simply adorable.
The Martian is uplifting as well. The rescue sequence had me jumping and screaming while it played and I loved it. Again, science and math!!!
The link I posted for Best Boy turned out to be bad and then my internet failed in the middle of Frances Ha. I couldn’t catch a break and watched The Princess Bride on DVD. That lifted my heart.
Although it’s a good movie, it’s not quite the spirit I was looking for. Thanks for the suggestion though.
This is one of those movies that keeps coming up on these boards. I have to watch it.
Great suggestion! And no surprises about how it ends. I could use some certainty.
One of my favorite movies and I should rewatch it soon.
Agreed but I saw it pretty recently in movie watching terms so I might wait a while.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions and please keep them up. It’s going to be a long winter.
Here are some that I find uplifting:
“The Way Way Back”
“Cinema Paradiso”
“Life is Beautiful” - okay it involves the Holocaust, but that is the setting for “keeping hope/alive” despite the worst possible situation.
Mulan
Yes, there are some goofy departures from the “real” legend, but perseverance wins in the end. Plus cross-dressing works out OK.
In lieu of a really uplifting movie: I’ll provide a movie that is crazy, completely unpredictable, and still makes me very happy that I’m a carbon-based descendant of bacteria, fish; and in turn, monkeys.
Steven Soderbergh’s Schizopolis (if a moment of a man’s bare behind is NSFW, don’t click on that at work) doesn’t attempt to make a lick of sense, but it still communicates to you it’s love of life. It’s available on YouTube for free, it might be available on Netflix. But, I believe every man, woman and child in this country should see this film and pay full ticket price, not some bargain matinee cut-rate deal.
Even if it doesn’t make you as happy as it makes me, it’s almost guaranteed to distract.
Try the original Manchurian Candidate (1962).
I made an effort to introduce my firstborn to cinematic classics, and we screened it together when she was about 12. When it was over she said “Jesus…why did I just WATCH THAT??? What is wrong with you?”
Whoops, sorry! Meant to post this in the “Movies to Make You Suicidal” thread.
I mentioned it in another thread, but Breaking Away always makes me happy.
The Dish - a warm and funny look at an oft-overlooked aspect of the first Apollo moon landing. A lovely film.
Most films with a sports theme tend to be uplifting. Some include:
**The Blind Side
Mystery, Alaska
Remember the Titans
**