We all have those days when you need a little lift. Sometimes a little dose of positivity, a heartwarming story, or a good laugh can do wonders to lift your spirits. This is where a good movie can come in. The world of streaming offers countless options, but finding that perfect feel-good film can be tricky when you’re already looking for a pick-me-up.
That’s where we come come in. We’ve handpicked 20 of the very best feel-good movies designed to uplift and inspire you. You’ll discover everything from light-hearted comedies and deeply moving dramas to inspiring true stories, all carefully chosen to leave you smiling.
What are the best feel good movies to lift your mood?
Our ranking of the top 20 feel-good movies is based on a tried-and-tested method. We’ve ordered these films primarily by their enduring appeal, which is a perfect balance indicator of audience appreciation and critical consensus. This helps us ensure that the movies featured are not just lauded by critics but genuinely loved by viewers, whether they are heartwarming comedies, uplifting dramas, or inspiring true stories.
For each movie, we’ve provide key details to help you make your choice including the director and the main cast. We also specify the streaming service where it’s available, the title, a concise synopsis, and its genre. This comprehensive information allows you to quickly compare each film and find the perfect watch to brighten your day.
How to Train Your Dragon
Animation •Kids •Fantasy •Adventure •Action •Family
Overview
A young Viking with aspirations of becoming a dragon hunter befriends a young dragon, and learns more about the creatures than he ever assumed.
Director
Chris Sanders
Cast
Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill
Duration
94 minutes
The Princess Bride
Kids •Comedy •Family •Fantasy •Romance •Action •Adventure
Overview
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can’t stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.
Director
Rob Reiner
Cast
Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, André Roussimoff
Duration
98 minutes
The Neverending Story
Kids •Fantasy •Drama •Family •Action •Adventure
Overview
While hiding from bullies in his school’s attic, a young boy discovers the extraordinary land of Fantasia, through a magical book called The Neverending Story. The book tells the tale of Atreyu, a young warrior who, with the help of a luck dragon named Falkor, must save Fantasia from the destruction of The Nothing.
Director
Wolfgang Petersen
Cast
Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach, Moses Gunn, Patricia Hayes
Duration
94 minutes
The Wizard of Oz
Fantasy •Family •Kids •Action •Adventure
Overview
Young Dorothy finds herself in a magical world where she makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man as they make their way along the yellow brick road to talk with the Wizard and ask for the things they miss most in their lives. The Wicked Witch of the West is the only thing that could stop them.
Director
Victor Fleming
Cast
Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton
Duration
102 minutes
Shrek
Animation •Kids •Comedy •Fantasy •Family •Romance
Overview
It ain’t easy bein’ green — especially if you’re a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot — a wisecracking donkey.
Director
Andrew Adamson
Cast
Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow, Vincent Cassel
Duration
90 minutes
Speed Racer
Action •Adventure •Comedy •Drama •Family •Sci-fi •Sport •Kids
Overview
Speed Racer is a young and brilliant racing driver. When corruption in the racing leagues costs his brother his life, Speed must team up with the police and the mysterious Racer X to bring an end to the corruption and criminal activities.
Director
Lilly Wachowski
Cast
Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox
Duration
135 minutes
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Animation •Kids •Action •Adventure •Comedy •Fantasy •Family •Sci-fi
Overview
Struggling to find his place in the world while juggling school and family, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales is unexpectedly bitten by a radioactive spider and develops unfathomable powers just like the one and only Spider-Man. While wrestling with the implications of his new abilities, Miles discovers a super collider created by the madman Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk, causing others from across the Spider-Verse to be inadvertently transported to his dimension.
Director
Bob Persichetti
Cast
Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry
Duration
112 minutes
Hook
Kids •Fantasy •Comedy •Family •Action •Adventure
Overview
The boy who wasn’t supposed to grow up—Peter Pan—does just that, becoming a soulless corporate lawyer whose workaholism could cost him his wife and kids. During his trip to see Granny Wendy in London, the vengeful Capt. Hook kidnaps Peter’s kids and forces Peter to return to Neverland.
Director
Steven Spielberg
Cast
Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins, Maggie Smith
Duration
142 minutes
My Sister’s Keeper
Drama •Family •Kids
Overview
Sara and Brian live an idyllic life with their young son and daughter. But their family is rocked by sudden, heartbreaking news that forces them to make a difficult and unorthodox choice in order to save their baby girl’s life. The parents’ desperate decision raises both ethical and moral questions and rips away at the foundation of their relationship. Their actions ultimately set off a court case that threatens to tear the family apart, while revealing surprising truths that challenge everyone’s perceptions of love and loyalty and give new meaning to the definition of healing.
Director
Nick Cassavetes
Cast
Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, Alec Baldwin, Jason Patric
Duration
109 minutes
The Karate Kid
Drama •Sport •Action •Family •Adventure •Kids
Overview
Daniel LaRusso moves to Los Angeles with his mother, Lucille, and soon strikes up a relationship with Ali. He quickly finds himself the target of bullying by a group of high school students, led by Ali’s ex-boyfriend Johnny, who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo under ruthless sensei, John Kreese. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi, an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate for self-defense and, later, preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.
Director
John G. Avildsen
Cast
Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, Martin Kove, Randee Heller
Duration
127 minutes
Matilda
Kids •Comedy •Family •Fantasy
Overview
Matilda Wormwood is an exquisite and intelligent little girl. Unfortunately, her parents, Harry and Zinnia misunderstand her because they think she is so different. As time passes, she finally starts school and has a kind teacher, loyal friends, and a sadistic headmistress. As she gets fed up with the constant cruelty, she begins to realize that she has a gift of telekinetic powers. After some days of practice, she suddenly turns the tables to stand up to Harry and Zinnia and outwit the headmistress.
Director
Danny DeVito
Cast
Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, Pam Ferris
Duration
98 minutes
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Kids •Fantasy •Family •Comedy •Action •Adventure •Music •Musical
Overview
A hapless inventor finally finds success with a flying car, which a dictator from a foreign government sets out to take for himself.
Director
Ken Hughes
Cast
Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Gert Fröbe, Anna Quayle
Duration
146 minutes
Spy Kids
Kids •Adventure •Action •Comedy •Family •Sci-fi
Overview
Carmen and Juni think their parents are boring. Little do they know that in their day, Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez were the top secret agents from their respective countries. They gave up that life to raise their children. Now, the disappearances of several of their old colleagues forces the Cortez’ return from retirement. What they didn’t count on was Carmen and Juni joining the “family business.”
Director
Robert Rodriguez
Cast
Alexa PenaVega, Daryl Sabara, Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alan Cumming
Duration
84 minutes
Jumanji
Kids •Fantasy •Comedy •Family
Overview
When siblings Judy and Peter discover an enchanted board game that opens the door to a magical world, they unwittingly invite Alan — an adult who’s been trapped inside the game for 26 years — into their living room. Alan’s only hope for freedom is to finish the game, which proves risky as all three find themselves running from giant rhinoceroses, evil monkeys and other terrifying creatures.
Director
Joe Johnston
Cast
Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde
Duration
104 minutes
Robots
Animation •Comedy •Family •Sci-fi •Kids •Romance
Overview
Rodney Copperbottom is a young robot inventor who dreams of making the world a better place, until the evil Ratchet takes over Big Weld Industries. Now, Rodney’s dreams – and those of his friends – are in danger of becoming obsolete.
Director
Chris Wedge, Carlos Saldanha(co-director)
Cast
Paula Abdul, Halle Berry, Lucille Bliss, Terry Bradshaw
Duration
91 minutes
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Animation •Kids •Comedy •Crime •Drama •Family
Overview
The Fantastic Mr. Fox, bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers. The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family.
Director
Wes Anderson
Cast
George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe
Duration
83 minutes
Paddington
Kids •Comedy •Family •Fantasy •Action •Adventure
Overview
A young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a new home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the kindly Brown family.
Director
Paul King
Cast
Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Samuel Joslin, Madeleine Harris
Duration
91 minutes
Wonder
Drama •Family •Kids
Overview
The story of August Pullman – a boy with facial differences – who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.
Director
Stephen Chbosky
Cast
Jacob Tremblay, Owen Wilson, Julia Roberts, Izabela Vidovic, Danielle Rose Russell
Duration
109 minutes
Stardust
Fantasy •Romance •Action •Adventure •Family •Kids
Overview
In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he’ll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. His journey takes him into a world beyond his wildest dreams and reveals his true identity.
Director
Matthew Vaughn
Cast
Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Sienna Miller
Duration
128 minutes
The LEGO Movie
Animation •Kids •Comedy •Adventure •Action •Family •Fantasy •Sci-fi
Overview
An ordinary Lego mini-figure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil Lego tyrant from conquering the universe.
Director
Christopher Miller
Cast
Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman
Duration
101 minutes
Frequently asked questions
A feel-good movie is one that genuinely leaves you with a sense of warmth, hope, or happiness after watching. They often feature relatable characters, positive resolutions, and themes of resilience or connection. If you finish a movie feeling lighter and more optimistic, you’ve found a feel-good gem!
Absolutely! Feel-good movies aren’t limited to just comedies. While heartwarming comedies are definitely a highlight, you’ll also find uplifting dramas that inspire, and even inspiring true stories that show the power of the human spirit. There’s a surprising range to explore that can lift your mood.
The IMDb rating is a great indicator because it reflects opinions from millions of viewers, not just critics. For feel-good movies, a high IMDb score often means a broad audience found the film genuinely enjoyable and uplifting. It’s a solid guide to popular and well-loved choices.
Many studies suggest that watching positive, uplifting films can indeed boost your mood. They can reduce stress, encourage laughter, and even build a sense of connection and empathy. It’s a simple, accessible way to give yourself a mental pick-me-up when you need it most.
Yes, quite a few of the best feel-good movies are actually based on inspiring true stories. These films often highlight resilience, overcoming challenges, or acts of kindness, making their positive messages even more impactful because they’re rooted in real-life events. They can be incredibly motivating. Some great examples are The Blind Side, Coach Carter, and Freedom Writers.
The great news is that many of the best feeling movies are available across various streaming services in Australia. This article helps you discover top-rated options, and you’ll often find them on popular platforms like Netflix, Stan, BINGE, Foxtel Now, and Disney Plus.
While many feel-good movies do have happy endings, some might conclude with a bittersweet or hopeful resolution rather than pure joy. The key is that they leave you with a positive outlook or a sense of peace, even if the characters faced some challenges along the way.
If you’re seeking a feel-good movie for everyone, look for films with appropriate age ratings and themes that resonate across generations. Animated masterpieces and uplifting family dramas often fit the bill perfectly, providing wholesome entertainment that leaves everyone feeling good.
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