Top 20 Movies That INSTANTLY Make You Happier

Subverting the usual princess story, “Ella Enchanted” has its titular hero go on an adventure to free herself from a curse. She meets a prince along the way and gradually finds her own independence. Throughout the journey, Anne Hathaway sells both the dramatic and humorous parts of the plot. Her performance gives viewers young and old an inspiring character to admire. She finds ways to circumvent her obedience curse and discovers a heroic side all her own. Additionally, the movie also features musical performances. “Somebody to Love” in particular allows Hathaway to show off her vocal skills. Between the fun adventure and musical interludes, this movie is guaranteed to enchant any viewer.

You don’t need to be a fan of the original TV show to fall in love with this screen adaptation. “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” sees the title hero go on a fun trip to Rome. While there, she discovers that she looks exactly like a local pop star named Isabella. When Lizzie is asked to step into the singer’s shoes, she gets a taste of the celebrity life we all dream of. This film gives Hilary Duff a chance to shine on the stage and sing some absolute bangers. Naturally, the most famous moment from the movie comes when Duff gets to sing “What Dreams Are Made Of.” Incorporating that classic and inspirational song was the perfect way to bring this uplifting film full circle.

Bringing a semi-autobiographical tale to the screen, writer and star Nia Vardalos tells the story of her Greek family. The plot concerns her character meeting a non-Greek man and the community’s reaction to it. With this clash of cultures comes several jokes, including ones about not understanding each other’s family rituals. There’s also light-hearted humor throughout about the main character Toula’s overbearing relatives. Ultimately, the movie is a feel-good narrative about a woman finding happiness and two very different groups accepting each other. It’s all done with a positive attitude that’s sure to lighten up any bad mood.

Who doesn’t love a fun adventure? “The Princess Bride” offers up everything you could want from the genre with a healthy dose of humor throughout. Instead of being too self-serious, the movie is a self-referential experience full of wacky characters. And thanks to compelling characters like Inigo Montoya, we’re excited to see where the story will go next. The central romance between Westley and Buttercup is the sweet frame that brings everything else together. Their turbulent love story will make you believe that anything is possible. This inventive fairytale never lets up on its way to a satisfying conclusion that will have you cheering every time.

What would you do if you only had a short time left to live? “Last Holiday” answers this question with the lovable Queen Latifah in the main role. While it could have been overly sentimental, the plot instead focuses on making the main character’s remaining life as lively as possible. Latifah soars in a part that allows her to tap into her natural charisma. During her adventures, she does everything in her power to help others that need advice and support. The movie has a few sweet surprises that catch audiences off guard in the best way. Reminding viewers not to take life for granted, this film has all the ingredients to be an instant pick-me-up.

After a teenager makes a wish to become older, she accidentally finds herself in the body of her 30 year old self. Jennifer Garner completely sells the role by infusing her performance with wide-eyed innocence and teenage awkwardness. Outside of the comedic premise, the story’s true heart centers around Jenna reconnecting with a childhood friend played by Mark Ruffalo. As she helps the jaded adult embrace the fun side of life, we’re encouraged to do the same at home. The optimistic plot also leaves plenty of room for nostalgia. In one of the best moments, Garner and her co-stars put on an unforgettable performance of Thriller. That sequence alone is pretty much guaranteed to improve any mood.

This legendary sci-fi comedy centers around Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly and his accidental journey to the past. After the lead character accidentally interferes in his mom and dad’s lives, he has to make sure they fall in love in the past so he can exist in the future. Fox’s charming performance is complemented perfectly by Chrisotpher Lloyd’s eccentric role as Doc Brown. Not only are they both hilarious, but they are both incredibly quotable. Watching this duo work together to save the timeline is always entertaining. And watching them overcome tons of obstacles is incredibly inspiring. Whether you tune in for the jokes, sci-fi madness or performance of Johnny B. Goode, “Back to the Future” will give you 1.21 jigawatts of joy.

Set during Baltimore in the 1960s, this musical follows Tracy Turnblad’s journey to The Corny Collins Show. The would-be dancer faces hurdles along the way, including a sinister manager named Velma that doesn’t want plus-size performers on the program. But Tracy doesn’t let anything stop her from living her dreams. As her inspirational story unfolds, the narrative also tackles issues surrounding civil rights and acceptance. Watching all the characters face their problems and find solutions together makes for a supremely uplifting movie experience. If you’re not won over by the upbeat numbers, the project’s good vibes and progressive plot will likely bring a smile to your face.

Often called one of the best Hollywood musicals, “Singin’ in the Rain” includes many of the finest talents of the era. Star Gene Kelly once again showed that he’s one of the greatest dancers ever during this classic. As Don Lockwood, the actor guides viewers through a transitional period in film history. The numbers are all exuberant showcases of tight choreography and pristine singing. Whether it's Donald O’Connor performing “Make ‘Em Laugh” or Kelly dancing in the rain, the movie never fails to give us numbers that constantly entertain and delight. It's the kind of experience that converts even non-musical lovers into fans.

In preparation for her wedding, Sophie invites three men to the ceremony that she suspects could be her father. The ensuing mystery and celebration happens with the inclusion of film legends like Meryl Streep. All of this comes together courtesy of ABBA’s glorious catalog of hits. Using a Mediterranean setting, the movie also features a magical location that only adds to the peppy mood. We wouldn’t even mind if the cast secretly used the jukebox musical as an excuse to take a vacation. Watching them sing and dance fills us with so much happiness that we wish we were a part of their eclectic family too.

Early aughts teen movies will always give us the nostalgic feels, and one of the best has to be the definitive cheerleader flick, “Bring It On.” Starring Kirsten Dunst as Torrance, who has just become captain of her high school cheerleading squad, the movie is endearingly over-the-top from its opening sequence. There’s bitter rivalry, fun cheer routines, an adorable romance, and plenty of cattiness. It may not have been a major blockbuster upon release, but it has since become a cult classic and even two decades later, we can’t get enough.

When a movie opens with an elaborate musical sequence set on a busy Los Angeles freeway, you know it’s going to be good. “La La Land” is one of the more serious picks on our list, and while it may not be uplifting all the way through, it’s full of enough music, color, and gorgeous California scenery that the film still makes us feel good. Also, it stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, and really what more can you ask for from a movie couple? No wonder it got 14 Oscar nods!

Sometimes movies that are made for kids are the most comforting. In “The Parent Trap,” Lindsay Lohan plays a set of twins who were separated as babies when their parents split up (because that’s how child custody works) and are inadvertently reunited at a summer camp. They end up switching places (because of course they do), with the goal of ultimately getting their estranged parents back together. From the early summer camp shenanigans to the absolutely enviable living situations they both find themselves in, in Napa and London respectively, this movie is one we just want to jump right in to.

We often have to look to older movies to find something to make us happier, but every once in a while, a new film is released that fits the bill. When “To All the Boys I've Loved Before” was made available on Netflix in 2018, the world felt like a pretty dark place and this teen romance was exactly the antidote we all needed. The story is about an introverted girl who writes love letters to the boys she has crushes on, without any intention of sending them. But when they all end up in the mail, her life is changed forever in one of the most enjoyable rom-coms of recent years.

No matter what time of year it is, sometimes you just need the upbeat tone of a holiday movie. “Love Actually” is probably the most iconic modern example of a Christmas romance movie, telling interweaving plots all set in London in the lead-up to December 25th. While in recent years there has been a bit of a backlash against “Love Actually” because of its saccharine tone and dated views of what’s considered romantic, we’re still able to suspend our disbelief and enjoy it, feeling our hearts swell alongside the characters’.

Speaking of holiday movies, we’ve got one more for you. Starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, “The Holiday” is another lighthearted romance movie set at Christmas time. The two women swap houses over the holiday season when both of their lives are falling apart, and both manage to find what they’re looking for on the other side of the pond. There are beautiful settings, motivational speeches, quirky side characters, and of course, some pretty heartrending romance. Whenever the snow starts to fall, we know it’s time to put this one on again!

We love a good makeover scene, and that’s pretty much at the center of this fun live-action Disney movie. Mia is a regular, dorky teenage girl who finds out that she’s actually part of the royal family of an obscure European country. She has to basically go through a speed round of finishing school and get an entirely new look in order to appease her prim and proper grandmother, the queen of Genovia. This entire movie is basically every young girl’s dream come true, but even now that we’re grown up, it still charms us.

This movie may have come out in 2001, but it’s still extremely relatable. Bridget Jones is single, smokes too much, drinks too much, and isn’t happy with her weight, but she’s got a good group of friends. Her life may seem bleak at the beginning of the film, but that doesn’t mean her story isn’t an uplifting one. You’ll be rooting for Bridget all the way through, even as she makes mistake after mistake, making viewers feel plenty of second-hand embarrassment. Also, if you’re an Anglophile, the entire story is so delightfully British.

If what you’re looking for is a fun girl-power movie, you can’t get much better than “Legally Blonde.” Starring Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods, a girl who has never been taken seriously who decides to go to Harvard Law School after a bad breakup. Her rise to success is a triumphant one, showing that you can be yourself and still achieve your goals. Elle may not seem like your typical feminist hero, but even in the modern day, this movie totally holds up and makes us believe in ourselves.

While all the other movies on our list are great, it’s almost like this one combines the best parts of them all. There’s a bubbly blonde at the center of it who somehow has wisdom behind her ditzy exterior. “Clueless” has retroactively defined a generation, bringing valley girl dialect into the cultural lexicon. Like all our favorite feel-good movies, the stakes are pretty low, with Cher’s biggest problems being finding great outfits and a decent guy to lose her virginity to. This ‘90s classic encapsulates a simpler time for high schoolers that always makes us nostalgic.