This is no mere substitute for quality, either. Many of cinema's preeminent uplifting offerings are regarded as some of the finest and most influential films of all time, with the cheering likes of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Up, and When Harry Met Sally earning universal acclaim from fans and critics alike. While the previous decade arguably failed to produce an offering to rival legendary names of this ilk in earnest, the last decade has played host to a number of superb feel-good productions, from joyous musical numbers all the way to epic superhero movies.
10 Yesterday (2019)
Directed By Danny Boyle
A charming, thought-provoking showcase of music and humor, Danny Boyle's Yesterday chronicles an exceedingly unlikely series of events. After being hit by a bus, struggling musician Jack Malik discovers that he is the only person on the planet who can remember that the Beatles existed, allowing him to pass the iconic band's music off as his own.
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Ranking all of director Danny Boyle's feature-length movies, which encompass 13 titles - including Trainspotting, 127 Hours, The Beach, and Yesterday.
Yesterday may not be the most polished cinematic experience out there, but it's undoubtedly one of the most feel-good films to come out of the last decade. The stunned expressions on Jack's audience's faces as he performs the Beatles tracks captures a moving snapshot of the nostalgic sensation associated with hearing the legendary band for the first time in glorious clarity. The film's tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and the uplifting nature of Yesterday's narrative combine for a thoroughly pleasing experience, one that rarely fails to leave a broad grin plastered over the viewer's face.
9 Pride (2014)
Directed By Matthew Warchus
Pride is a biographical comedy directed by Matthew Warchus. Set in 1984, Pride centers on gay activists in the UK who are determined to assist miners during their strike of the National Union of Mineworkers. The film stars Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, and Patty Considine.
Director Matthew Warchus
Release Date September 12, 2014
Cast Bill Nighy , Imelda Staunton , Dominic West , Paddy Considine , Andrew Scott , George MacKay , Joseph Gilgun , Ben Schnetzer Runtime 119 Minutes
Studio(s) BBC Films , Pathé , Ingenious Media , British Film Institute , Calamity Films , Canal+ , Ciné+
Distributor(s) 20th Century , Pathé
Writers Stephen Beresford
Spearheaded by the talents of a British ensemble cast, Pride depicts an uplifting true story; a group of LBGTQ+ activists who sought to raise money to help families suffering as a result of the British Miners' Strike of 1984. Featuring the likes of Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, and Paddy Considine, Matthew Warchus' film received a glowing response from critics upon release in 2014.
A compassionate crowd pleaser of the highest order, Pride radiates optimism and good feeling from its first second. It's an impassioned ode to the most inherently good aspects that the human experience has to offer, one that will leave viewers laughing and crying in equal measure. An inspirational story carried by an array of magnificent performances from a star-studded cast, Pride is one of recent cinema's most unabashedly joyous outings.
8 Sing Street (2016)
Directed By John Carney
Sing Street is a musical drama film directed by John Carney. Set in 1980s Dublin, it tells the story of Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), a teenager who forms a band to impress a girl named Raphina (Lucy Boynton). As they create music together, Conor navigates the challenges of adolescence and family life. The film offers a nostalgic look at the period's music scene and the power of artistic expression.
Director John Carney
Release Date March 11, 2016
Cast Ferdia Walsh-Peelo , Lucy Boynton , Jack Reynor , Ben Carolan , Mark McKenna
Runtime 106 Minutes
Studio(s) Cosmo Film , Distressed Films , FilmNation Entertainment , Likely Story , PalmStar Media , FilmWave
Writers John Carney
A heartwarming coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of South Dublin during the 1980s, John Carney's Sing Street follows the tale of Conor; a young boy who starts a band to impress a girl. Aided by a killer soundtrack featuring endlessly catchy original songs interspersed with contemporary classics, Carney's picture is all heart; a stirring snapshot of the innocence and optimism of youth.
Sing Street doesn't break any particularly new ground, but the familiarity of the film's premise, themes, and characters lends to a relentlessly upbeat air; one that elevates the film from just another musical drama to one of the last decade's most feel-good outings. Unsurprisingly, for a film about Ireland, there are sad moments to be found in Sing Street, but these serve only to compound the heartwarming sensation when things ultimately turn out for the best.
7 Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Directed By Jon M. Chu
Based on the global best-selling series Crazy Rich Asians is a romantic comedy that follows New York Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family. However, she soon discovers her significant other is hiding a secret - his family is one of the wealthiest families in Singapore - and her mother already disapproves of her and her origins. Rachel will attempt to find her place in the madness and prove her own worth to a family of unflinching prejudice.
Director Jon M. Chu
Release Date August 15, 2018
Runtime 121 Minutes
Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures
Writers Pete Chiarelli , Adele Lim
A romantic comedy movie based on the book of the same name, Jon M. Chu's Crazy Rich Asians tells the story of Rachel, a young woman who discovers that her new boyfriend hails from one of the richest families in Singapore. Carried by a pair of standout performances from Constance Wu and Henry Golding, the 2018 film also benefits from the sterling efforts of an all-Asian supporting cast, who help bring this uproarious outing to life in dazzling fashion.
A glorious heartfelt blast of a movie that utilizes sizzling dialogue and impeccable comedic timing, Chu's picture is one of the unlikeliest feel-good offerings of the last ten years. While promotional material for the film might have hinted towards a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, Crazy Rich Asians transcends any such preconceived notions with an uplifting, hilarious tale that radiates warmth and humanity that arguably stands as the finest genre offering in recent memory.
6 Eddie The Eagle (2016)
Directed By Dexter Fletcher
Eddie The Eagle is a biographical sports comedy-drama that follows Michael "Eddie" Edwards, an underdog British ski jumper who defies the odds to compete in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Starring Taron Egerton as Eddie and Hugh Jackman as his coach, the film captures Edwards' determination and the unlikely journey toward fulfilling his Olympic dream. Directed by Dexter Fletcher, this film is an inspiring portrayal of perseverance and dedication.
Director Dexter Fletcher
Release Date February 26, 2016
Runtime 105 minutes
Studio(s) Marv Films , Studio Babelsberg , 20th Century Fox
Distributor(s) 20th Century Fox , Lionsgate
Writers Sean Macaulay , Simon Kelton
An underdog story for the ages, 2016's Eddie the Eagle offers a dramatized take on the true story of Michael "Eddie" Edwards; a lovable, bumbling skier who becomes the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping in sixty years. Led by Taron Egerton in one of his best movie roles and supported by a glorious turn from Hugh Jackman, Dexter Fletcher's picture is a light-hearted testament to the indomitable nature of the human spirit that rarely fails to elicit a smile.
While the film makes liberal use of practically every inspirational cliché in the sports movie playbook, Eddie the Eagle's relentless optimism and sentimentality make for a cinematic experience that has the viewer up in arms, roaring Egerton's unlikely hero on as he soars from the dizzying heights of the ski jump platforms. A tale of redemption and perseverance that unashamedly plays to the audience like a boxer whipping up a crowd, Fletcher's film is one of the last decade's most crowd-pleasing offerings.
5 22 Jump Street (2014)
Directed By Phil Lord And Christopher Miller
The successor to 2012's wildly successful 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street picked up where the original left off in seamless fashion. The sequel sees Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum's characters sent undercover to root out a mysterious drug supplier once again, swapping out high school for college this time around.
Effortlessly sidestepping the pitfalls associated with follow-up films, 22 Jump Street is the rare example of a sequel that improves on the original. Hill and Tatum play off each other with polished ease, breathing life into one of cinema's most sidesplitting and lovable bromances in uproarious fashion once again. In true Jump Street fashion, the 2014 film manages to be relentlessly silly while striking all the right feel-good notes through the unshakable bond of friendship between Schmidt and Jenko, eliciting howls of laughter and sentimental smiles in equal measure.
4 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Directed By Joel Crawford
In Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Puss learns he has reached the end of his nine lives. To restore his lives and continue his journeys, he will set forth on a quest to the Black Forest to find a Wishing Star that can bring them all back. To succeed, he enlists help from his former partner/rival, Kitty Softpaws, and a chatty canine friend, Perrito. Unfortunately, they're in a race against many other fairytale characters and villains, including the bounty hunter looking to collect on Puss, The Big Bad Wolf.
Director Joel Crawford
Release Date December 21, 2022
Runtime 102 minutes
Studio(s) Universal Pictures
Distributor(s) Universal Pictures
Writers Paul Fisher
2022's Puss in Boots: The Last Wish saw Antonio Banderas step back into the boots of popular culture's favorite talking feline with a heartwarming offering of the highest order. Chronicling Puss' attempts to regain his nine lives as he is pursued by Death, Joel Crawford's picture is a tender love letter to the elements that made the original Shrek movies such a success, while providing a gorgeous new visual take on the character and his universe.
As earnest as it is charming, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is an infectiously cheering offering. The film even manages to offer poignant commentary on themes of mental health and mortality without skipping a beat in terms of feel-good factor, aided by Banderas' usual polished flair in his signature role and a strong array of voice-over performances from the supporting cast. There may be hope for the Shrek franchise yet.
3 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
Directed By Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsay, And Rodney Rothman
In the first animated Spider-Man film released in theaters, Miles Morales, a teenager who idolizes Spider-Man, gains Spider-Man powers of his own. While learning to use his new abilities, Miles crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the different versions of Spider-Man from those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.
Director Bob Persichetti , Peter Ramsey
Release Date December 14, 2018
Cast Jake Johnson , Kimiko Glenn , Hailee Steinfeld , Liev Schreiber , Luna Lauren Velez , Nicolas Cage , Lily Tomlin , Mahershala Ali , John Mulaney , Shameik Moore , Brian Tyree Henry Runtime 117 minutes
Writers Phil Lord , Chris Miller
An animated origin story for would-be Spider-Man Miles Morales, Sony's Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is an unabated triumph for the superhero genre. The first of a planned trilogy of films, the 2018 picture received rave reviews upon release, with particular praise directed towards the movie's stunning visuals, thrilling action sequences, and superb voice-over performances.
Loaded with heart and humor from start to finish, Miles' mentor bond with Jake Johnson's Peter Parker is a notably touching element of the film, while his chemistry with Hailee Steinfeld's Gwen Stacey and the deep love he holds for his family never fails to tug on the heartstrings. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse's cocktail of lovable characters, hilarious gags and witty dialogue produces a relentlessly entertaining experience, one that conveys a warm and fuzzy sense of comfort that never feels forced.
2 La La Land (2016)
Directed By Damien Chazelle
Written and directed by Damien Chazzelle, the romantic musical La La Land tells the story of Seb Wilder (Ryan Gosling) and Mia Dolan (Emma Stone), a jazz musician and an aspiring actress pursuing their respective dreams in Los Angeles. The pair meet and fall in love, sharing their passions and hopes with one another as they become closer. J.K. Simmons, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Finn Wittrock appear in supporting roles.
Director Damien Chazelle
Release Date December 9, 2016
Cast Hemky Madera , meagen fay , J. K. Simmons , Sonoya Mizuno , Rosemarie DeWitt , John Legend , Ryan Gosling , Finn Wittrock , Ashley Caple , Josh Pence , Emma Stone , Jason Fuchs Runtime 128 Minutes
Studio(s) Lionsgate
Distributor(s) Lionsgate
Writers Damien Chazelle
At first glance, La La Land's reputation as one of the last decade's preeminent feel-good offerings may seem controversial, given that it doesn't end with a traditional "happily ever after" conclusion for the film's purported star-crossed lovers. The movie's ending sees Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling's characters ultimately go their separate ways despite the deep love they hold for one another, leading to a poignant climax to proceedings that consistently leaves viewers reaching for the tissues.
Accordingly, it speaks volumes to the uplifting nature of the film's magnificent musical numbers and dance sequences that La La Land remains such a feel-good outing despite its tear-jerking ending. Aided by a pair of stirring performances that emanate raw humanity from the film's leading duo, Damien Chazelle's film remains a passionate love letter to a bygone age that gets better with every watch.
1 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Directed By James Gunn
Irreverent, heartwarming and aided by one of the most iconic cinematic soundtracks in recent memory, Guardians of the Galaxy is contentiously the MCU's finest offering to date, in addition to being the best feel-good film of the last ten years. Depicting the origin story of the film's titular rag-tag band of extraterrestrial undesirables, James Gunn's outing spawned two sequels that never came close to attaining the feel-good aura of the first movie.
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The Guardians of the Galaxy series has produced many memorable scenes that can be rewatched again and again without ever getting boring.
The rare superhero film that doesn't take itself too seriously, Guardians of the Galaxy is loaded to the brim with material that will make even the most cynical of viewers crack a smile; from Rocket's penchant for unabated chaos to Groot's implacably adorable nature. The fact that all of these elements just so happen to be set against the backdrop of a thrilling, top-tier superhero film is simply the icing on the cake.
Egotistic loner and "legendary" space pirate Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) falls foul of bounty hunters and his former allies after he steals an orb containing the Power Stone. Chased by Ronan the Accuser, a powerful Kree villain and thrown into an uneasy alliance with a group of similar misfits, he must adapt to his new dynamic or risk everything. He's joined by gun-toting Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), treelike-alien Groot (Vin Diesel), Thanos' daughter Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and the vengeful Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). Can the galaxy's most infamous a-holes really save the day?
Release Date July 30, 2014
Cast Zoe Saldana , Karen Gillan , Vin Diesel , Michael Rooker , Djimon Hounsou , Lee Pace , Benicio Del Toro , Glenn Close , Dave Bautista , Chris Pratt2 , Bradley Cooper , John C. Reilly Runtime 122 Minutes
Writers James Gunn , Nicole Perlman , Dan Abnett , Andy Lanning
English (US) ·