# Uplifting movies to make me feel good about the world **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 9, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236 "2016-11-09T17:02:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/1 "2016-11-09T17:02:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/2 "2016-11-09T17:24:29Z")
_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 ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/3 "2016-11-09T18:44:38Z")
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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJHhPYl-i4g) That might be what I watch tonight. Please keep the recommendations coming! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/4 "2016-11-09T20:50:44Z")
_The Road Warrior_ Good Guys win, Bad Guys killed, The Innocent get away. _Beerfest_ The title says it all! 😃 Cameo by Willie Nelson, too. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/5 "2016-11-09T23:23:12Z")
_Starman_ might be making its point in large block letters, but it works for me. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/6 "2016-11-09T23:33:36Z")
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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73tjF0bzAi4). _Arthur Christmas_ – animated by Aardman. One of the top five Christmas films of all time. \*On Netflix ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/7 "2016-11-10T00:29:57Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/8 "2016-11-10T00:41:40Z")
_Babette’s Feast_ is the best sob-like-a-hot-mess-because-life-is-so-wonderful movie I know. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/9 "2016-11-10T00:58:55Z")
Times like this, I turn to **Apollo 13**. **SCIENCE!!!** ---
**Author:** ![stolatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@stolatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolatt)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/10 "2016-11-10T01:57:19Z")
Searching for Sugarman, a modern day fairy tale. ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/11 "2016-11-10T10:23:16Z")
Cloud Atlas - has everything, heroism, villainy, tragedy, comedy, action, farce and more. Bring tissues. Beautiful ending. Amelie - simply adorable. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/12 "2016-11-10T14:10:46Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Times like this, I turn to **Apollo 13**. > **SCIENCE!!!** 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!!! ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/13 "2016-11-10T16:36:16Z")
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. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > _The Road Warrior_ Although it’s a good movie, it’s not quite the spirit I was looking for. Thanks for the suggestion though. > [@Sattua](#): > > _Babette’s Feast_ is the best sob-like-a-hot-mess-because-life-is-so-wonderful movie I know. This is one of those movies that keeps coming up on these boards. I have to watch it. > [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Times like this, I turn to **Apollo 13**. > **SCIENCE!!!** Great suggestion! And no surprises about how it ends. I could use some certainty. > [@TPWombat](#): > > Amelie - simply adorable. One of my favorite movies and I should rewatch it soon. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > 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!!! 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. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/14 "2016-11-10T16:52:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/15 "2016-11-10T17:11:26Z")
Mulan Yes, there are some goofy departures from the “real” legend, but perseverance wins in the end. Plus cross-dressing works out OK. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/16 "2016-11-10T17:16:58Z")
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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2E7ArARdaE) (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. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/17 "2016-11-10T17:43:28Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/18 "2016-11-10T19:50:20Z")
I mentioned it in another thread, but _Breaking Away_ always makes me happy. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/19 "2016-11-10T20:05:13Z")
_The Dish_ - a warm and funny look at an oft-overlooked aspect of the first Apollo moon landing. A lovely film. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236/20 "2016-11-10T20:06:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I mentioned it in another thread, but _Breaking Away_ always makes me happy. Most films with a sports theme tend to be uplifting. Some include: \*\*The Blind Side Mystery, Alaska Remember the Titans \*\* [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uplifting-movies-to-make-me-feel-good-about-the-world/771236.md?page=2)