10 Best Feel-Good Movies On Netflix

Life can be stressful, especially in 2026, so it's always welcome to escape into the world of a movie. When things are difficult in the real world, it's best to avoid films that are heavy in drama or feature depressing themes. Your best bet for a good time is a feel-good movie that'll leave you smiling.

Feel-good films can come in many forms. Maybe it's a great animated movie that has a heartwarming message at its core, maybe it's a fun little romantic comedy that's easy to consume, or maybe it's a classic that millennials grew up with. Thankfully, some great feel-good films are available on Netflix.

Love At First Sight (2023)

More often than not, the rom-com genre is a tremendous place to look for a feel-good story. Love at First Sight is one of many Netflix original films that fit right into that category.

Based on the novel The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, the film follows Hadley and Oliver, two people who fall in love while waiting for their flight (and then while on the flight) to London. Afterward, Hadley's phone dies and his number doesn't get saved in it.

Once in London, Hadley sets out on an adventure to find him, captivating the viewer the entire time. The severely underrated Haley Lu Richardson is endearing as Hadley, and she, along with Ben Hardy's Oliver, brings so much joy to the proceedings.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

So many millennials grew up with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, yet the film adaptations had been mostly misses as those people grew up. That changed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

The impressively animated movie captured the spirit of the cartoon, ensures that the titular turtles actually feel like teenagers, and is just a blast of a time.

Whether it's the action, the comedic beats, the family dynamic at the center, or the bumping soundtrack, there's so much to love about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. It's hard to have a bad time watching this.

Holidate (2020)

Romantic comedies centered around the holiday season are pretty much everywhere and are usually a good time. However, Holidate takes things to the next level by setting the story across multiple holidays.

Holidate follows Sloane Benson and Jackson Piretti as two perpetually single strangers who meet and agree to be each other's plus-ones to every major holiday going forward. Along the way, they fall for each other.

Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey show off some electric chemistry as the romantic leads. What really makes Holidate so feel-good is that it's genuinely funny and heartfelt, while also being something you can watch to celebrate any holiday throughout the year.

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)

Sony Pictures Animation has become something of a powerhouse in the animated film game. While The Mitchells vs. The Machines didn't win Best Animated Feature like a few of their movies, it was a worthy contender.

The Mitchells vs. The Machines takes place in a world where a global uprising of robots is taking place and it ends up coming down to a loveable yet dysfunctional family to put a stop to it.

That family dynamic is where The Mitchells vs. The Machines finds its heart. The relationship between them, especially the father and daughter, carries a lot of emotion. It all comes to a head in a way that's exciting and rewarding.

Chef (2014)

Chef is something of an outlier on this list. The other films are mostly animated projects the entire family can enjoy or lovable romantic comedies. Chef is a critically acclaimed comedy-drama that's sure to leave you feeling joyful.

The premise of Chef is what makes it work so well. It simply centers on a celebrity chef who got fired from his restaurant job and instead starts running a food truck with his friends and son. Watching this unfold is actually really beautiful.

Jon Favreau wrote, directed, and starred in Chef, which was a passion project of his. That passion is evident in every scene as you can tell Favreau poured his heart into the film, which can be felt by the audience.

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Netflix has an impressive slate of original romantic comedies, yet the best one might be Always Be My Maybe. Co-written by its two lead actors, Ali Wong and Randall Park, it's simply a lovely movie to watch.

Always Be My Maybe focuses on childhood friends Sasha and Marcus, who lose their virginity to each other and then grow apart. They meet back up as adults who are total opposites, and sparks fly.

Wong and Park are fantastic together, making sure their warmth and love are felt in every scene. The movie also features a Keanu Reeves cameo that everyone loves. In a movie full of highlights, it's still the best part.

How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more uplifting animated film than How to Train Your Dragon. The movie became a worldwide phenomenon that started a long-running franchise, which is still putting out hits today.

The movie centers on Hiccup, a teen outcast in his Viking village who befriends what's believed to be a ruthless dragon. The big problem is that his Viking people hate dragons and are at war with them.

The bond between Hiccup and the dragon Toothless quickly becomes one of the most special to ever grace the big screen. It's incredibly endearing and relatable for anyone who has shared a bond with a pet.

The Wild Robot (2024)

The Wild Robot truly is a special movie. Based on the novel series of the same name, the movie follows Roz, a service robot who gets shipwrecked on an island and learns to adapt to her surroundings.

While there, she befriends a fox and cares for an orphaned goose, stepping in as his mother figure. That sets the tone for a movie that will have you in tears, from a few sad moments to the emotionally engaging happy ending.

The Wild Robot is worth a viewing regardless of the mood you're in. It's a spectacular film that was up for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars and holds a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Matilda (1996)

Like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, millennials everywhere grew up with Matilda. Memories of watching the titular character use her abilities to try and get some justice out of her cruel world fill our minds.

Based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, Matilda follows Matilda Wormwood, a child prodigy who developed telekinetic powers that she ultimately uses on her abusive family and vicious principal.

While that might sound kind of rough to deal with on paper, Matilda is a heartwarming movie. We root for her to get out of her tough situation and for her to end up happy with Miss Honey.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

Spider-Man is pretty much the most popular superhero in the world. We watch the movies about the character when we want to have a good time, even if the stories often feature some tragic circumstances.

That's the case with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which follows Miles Morales as he becomes Spider-Man. That means we have to watch Peter A. Parker die and we watch as Miles loses his uncle, yet the way he comes out on top is uplifting.

On top of the story itself making this a feel-good movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse features a great soundtrack, gorgeous animation, and some likable and hilarious characters. It makes for a great time whenever you watch it.