Recommend some feel-good Sunday Netflix films

November 21, 2018 11:13 AM

I'd like to start a Sunday afternoon streaming movie tradition to get me through this cold winter, and I'm looking for recommendations that can be streamed on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. But they must be fun, feel-good films or at least have happy endings.

These should be movies, not shows, because I have plenty of TV shows lined up for other purposes. I don't like depressing or violent films even if they are great. I'm okay with never watching Schindler's List or anything like Game of Thrones. I love movies with lots of women or GBLT characters but that's not a requirement. I am a Disney fiend and am happy to watch children's cartoons as well as movies meant for adults. I'm also interested in structured documentaries or nonfiction (more NPR-style than following a group of people around and watching what they do). Comedy is great if it's not super gross or cringey (less like Elf, more like The Heat). Also open to Christmas movie recommendations but that's not my real focus here.

I haven't really dug deep into what the streaming services offer because I'm overwhelmed by choice, so I figured asking Mefi was the best solution! Thanks in advance!

posted by possibilityleft to Media & Arts (16 answers total)

Best answer: To All The Boys I've Loved Before on Netflix. Sweet, feel-good, modern teen romance.
posted by yawper at 11:20 AM on November 21, 2018 [10 favorites]

Best answer: I think these are all on Netflix and I enjoyed them all as gentle, upbeat movies with great female protaganists: Nappily Ever After, Half Magic, The Incredible Jessica James, and Sierra Burgess is a Loser. (And seconding To All the Boys I've Loved Before; it's very sweet.)
posted by aka burlap at 11:29 AM on November 21, 2018

Best answer: I recommend Sports Films to you! They almost always have a happy or uplifting ending. My family is currently working through a long list of inspirational sports films.

For instance:
Chak De, India!
Miracle
McFarland USA
Cool Running
Breaking Away
Hoosiers
Bend it Like Beckham
Chariots of Fire
Remember the Titans
Seabiscuit
Bad News Bears
A League of Their Own
The Rookie
posted by suelac at 11:34 AM on November 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Coco was wonderful.
posted by JenThePro at 11:58 AM on November 21, 2018 [3 favorites]

Best answer: The internet tells me that Whale Rider is available on Hulu and Amazon Prime. I have neither to confirm, but will confirm it's a great uplifting movie.
posted by hydra77 at 12:41 PM on November 21, 2018 [5 favorites]

Best answer: Saving Face, a lesbian rom com, is streaming on Amazon Prime.
posted by phonebia at 1:36 PM on November 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Thinking about stuff available streaming ... maybe dip into the screwball comedies of the past, for example Bringing Up Baby, or It Happened One Night, or The Philadelphia Story.
Also, movie musicals like Top Hat, Singing in the Rain, The Music Man, and Meet Me in St. Louis.
Other stuff, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, 10 Things I Hate About You, Definitely Maybe, Overboard (1987), Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day, Addicted to Love (1997), Songcatcher, Ella Enchanted, Doc Hollywood, Coraline, Galaxy Quest, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.
Christmas movies: Christmas in Connecticut, and some lesser but enjoyable stuff: Love at the Christmas Table, Trading Christmas (2011), The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008).
posted by gudrun at 1:57 PM on November 21, 2018 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Seconding Whale Rider

Wonder Boys (Nice. Funny. Quirky) -- Amazon Prime
Mama Mia - Netflix
Love Actually - Netflix
Chocolat - Netflix
Must Love Dogs - Netflix, not super great but nice
Baby Boom - Amazon Prime
Florence Foster Jenkins - Amazon Prime
A Man Called Ove - Amazon Prime

I don't have Hulu. Maybe some of my favorite feel-good movies will be there:

Moonstruck
Groundhog Day
A Merry War
Billy Elliot
Bread and Tulips
The Birdcage
Forrest Gump
Strictly Ballroom
Muriel's Wedding
Bernie -- true story, serious subject, lots of good comedy though

There is a documentary on Walt Disney on Netflix called Walt. I have not seen it. Happy viewing.
posted by loveandhappiness at 3:29 PM on November 21, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: For animated films, the first Kung Fu Panda film and Sing are both currently available on Netflix streaming. I was surprised by how much I loved them.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 5:17 PM on November 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Check to see if your library offers a subscription to Kanopy. So much goodness!
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 7:13 PM on November 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: There's a category of feel good British movie about unlikely friendships and underdogs sticking it to the man that fits your criteria: Pride, Made in Dagenham, and The Full Monty are good examples. All are available on US streaming platforms.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 7:35 PM on November 21, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Seconding Pride.
posted by tzikeh at 9:07 PM on November 21, 2018 [4 favorites]

Best answer: I’m about 45 minutes into watcing Pride. Thirding this movie.
posted by MexicanYenta at 11:12 AM on November 22, 2018

Response by poster: Thanks so much for all the recommendations! I kicked off this week watching To All The Boys I've Loved Before and it was perfect! Exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. I appreciate all suggestions and will definitely be working through this list.
posted by possibilityleft at 11:00 AM on November 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Appropriate Behavior is on Amazon Prime, hits the "women and GLBT" button, and is full of sharp dialogue.
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:07 AM on November 26, 2018

Best answer: Thelma and Louise, and So This is Forty
posted by Kittyatsea at 4:13 AM on November 28, 2018