Feel-good films

For the nights you want to come out of a film happier than you went in. These are comedies and romances we rate as warm and light, with nothing grim along the way. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.0 or more from at least 1,000 votes, and new releases wait until their ratings settle. The order follows the Boxlist quality score, and we checked the list by hand to remove obvious misfits.

1
La La Land (2016)
Film7.9
Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs...
US Amazon Prime (rent), iTunes (rent), UK Amazon Prime (rent), Bfi Player (rent)
2
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Film8.2
In 1927 Hollywood, a silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound.
US Cinemax, HBO, UK NowTV, Amazon Prime (rent)
3
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Film7.5
"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from...
US Amazon Prime (buy)
4
Paddington 2 (2017)
Film7.5
Paddington, now happily settled with the Browns, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy, but it is stolen.
US Kanopy, Amazon Prime (rent), UK Amazon Prime, Netflix
5
Roman Holiday (1953)
Film7.9
Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann takes off for a night while in Rome.
US Kanopy, The Criterion Channel, UK Amazon Prime (rent), Chili (rent)
6
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Film7.7
Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love...
US Amazon Prime (rent), Google Play (rent), UK Amazon Prime (rent), Chili (rent)
7
The Princess Bride (1987)
Film7.6
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness...
US AMC, BBC, UK Amazon Prime (rent), Chili (rent)
8
City Lights (1931)
Film8.4
In this sound-era silent film, a tramp falls in love with a beautiful blind flower seller.
US Amazon Prime, HBO, UK Amazon Prime, NowTV
9
Palm Springs (2020)
Film7.3
When carefree Nyles and reluctant maid of honor Sarah have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find...
US Hulu, UK Amazon Prime
10
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Film7.5
A romantic comedy about a family traveling to the French capital for business.
US Amazon Prime (rent), Google Play (rent), UK Amazon Prime (rent), Chili (rent)
11
Mary Poppins (1964)
Film7.6
A magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.
US Disney, Amazon Prime (rent), UK Disney, Amazon Prime (buy)
12
School of Rock (2003)
Film7.1
Fired from his band and hard up for cash, guitarist and vocalist Dewey Finn finagles his way into a job as a fifth-grade substitute teacher at a...
US Kanopy, Paramount+, UK ITV, Amazon Prime (rent)
13
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Film7.4
During their travel from Chicago to New York, Harry and Sally debate whether or not sex ruins a friendship between a man and a woman.
US Amazon Prime (buy), UK BBC, Amazon Prime (rent)
14
Big (1988)
Film7.1
When a young boy makes a wish at a carnival machine to be big, he wakes up the following morning to find that it has been granted and his body has...
US Disney, Hulu, UK Disney, Amazon Prime (rent)
15
The Gold Rush (1925)
Film8.0
A lone prospector ventures into Alaska looking for gold.
US Amazon Prime, HBO, UK Amazon Prime, NowTV
16
Annie Hall (1977)
Film7.8
New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall.
US MGM+, Tubi TV, UK Amazon Prime (rent), Chili (rent)
17
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Film7.5
When eccentric candy man Willy Wonka promises a lifetime supply of sweets and a tour of his chocolate factory to five lucky kids, penniless...
US Cinemax, HBO, UK Amazon Prime (rent), Chili (rent)
18
Tootsie (1982)
Film7.2
When struggling, out of work actor Michael Dorsey secretly adopts a female alter ego - Dorothy Michaels - in order to land a part in a daytime...
US Amazon Prime (rent), iTunes (rent), UK Amazon Prime (rent), iTunes (rent)
19
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Film7.1
An American-born Chinese economics professor accompanies her boyfriend to Singapore for his best friend's wedding, only to get thrust into the...
US Amazon Prime (rent), iTunes (rent), UK NowTV, Amazon Prime (rent)
20
Matilda (1996)
Film7.1
An extraordinarily intelligent young girl from a cruel and uncaring family discovers she possesses telekinetic powers and is sent off to a school...
US Tubi TV, Amazon Prime (rent), UK Netflix, NowTV