When you have had a bad day, you’re likely to look for something that is going to make you feel comforted. It could be re-reading a favorite book, listening to a song that brings up good memories, or a hobby that brings you joy. Re-watching episodes from a favorite TV show could also put you in a better mood. For a lot of people, putting on a movie is what brings them the most comfort because it helps them escape their own real-world problems and delve into a fictional world where only the characters matter.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
15 Chungking Express (1994)
Ocean Shores Video
Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express tells the story of two Hong-Kong policemen who fall in love with two different women: one with a mysterious woman who frequents the underground life of the city, and one with an ethereal server at a late-night restaurant he often visits. These two melancholy stories, told in two different parts, explore loneliness and love and how they frequently go hand in hand.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
14 Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Searchlight Pictures
A heartfelt film about a dysfunctional family, Little Miss Sunshine follows the Hoover family as they travel to California in a bright yellow Volkswagen bus to bring innocent little Olive to compete in a beauty pageant. The Hoover family members are all quite different from one another but still quirky, so watching them on this road trip is an entertaining show. Olive’s (Abigail Breslin) persistent positivity and naivety is so innocent but also inspiring.
13 Big (1988)
20th Century Fox
Before he starred in more dramatic roles and started winning Oscars, Tom Hanks got his start in comedy. One of his most memorable roles is Josh Baskin, a 13-year-old boy who makes a wish at a carnival machine to be big, and overnight becomes a full-grown man. He has no choice but to fully immerse himself in the world of adults including getting a corporate job and having his first romantic encounter with a woman who likes him.
Big is a touching, amusing movie. Watching it reminds you of your own childhood and the simple things that brought you joy before you grew up and had to get on with life. It reminds you that you should never ignore your inner child and that you can still enjoy things from your childhood that once brought you joy.
12 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Paramount Pictures
A beloved John Hughes teen comedy, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off follows high school slacker Ferris (Matthew Broderick) as he successfully fakes being ill in order to skip school and gallivants all over Chicago with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and his neurotic best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck).
Ferris is a charming, clever young man who is able to connive his way out of anything. He successfully tricks not only his parents but his entire school and town, that he is greatly ill and simply cannot leave his bed. Only his older sister and principal catch onto his scheme, but they still can’t prove that he was lying. The iconic scene when Ferris is racing against the clock to get home before his parents get home from work has stuck with audiences for almost 37 years.
11 The Nice Guys (2016)
Silver Pictures
The pairing of Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe as two private investigators forced to work together to investigate the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in ’70s Los Angeles is shamelessly funny. The Nice Guys incorporates the seedy backdrop of L.A. during the height of the porn industry and the shenanigans of Gosling’s and Crowe’s characters, and somehow they blend together perfectly. Angourie Rice plays Gosling’s daughter and their dynamic is basically backward. She acts more like the parent than he does, and it’s so much fun to watch. Plus, Gosling does a lot of high-pitched screaming, so there are going to be laughs no matter what.
10 Almost Famous (2000)
Dreamworks LLC
Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous takes place in 1973 when rock ’n roll was young people’s music of choice and most parents’ worst nightmare. 15-year-old William Miller (Patrick Fugit) has an intense love for music and aspirations to become a rock journalist, which lands him a writing gig with Rolling Stones magazine to tour with the up-and-coming band, Stillwater. He experiences things he never would have under the watchful eye of his overprotective mother (Frances McDormand). The soundtrack to this film is incredible, filled with classic rock songs both well-known and forgotten. Any music lover is bound to adore this movie. It’s an appreciation of not only music but of youth and trying to find yourself.
9 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
Universal Pictures
Comedic musical group The Lonely Island is known for their silly yet catchy songs, and of course, their movie Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. In this, they play the fictional rap group, The Style Boyz, and Andy Samberg plays the leader of the group, Connor4real. When his solo album fails to sell records, Connor4real watches his celebrity life begin to spiral out of control. He is willing to try anything to bounce back from failure, except reuniting with The Style Boyz.
The Lonely Island is typically outrageously funny, and they carry that into their movie. It’s filmed as a mockumentary, so there are interviews and TV news spots throughout that are utterly ridiculous. The songs sound no different from the actual songs that The Lonely Island released prior to the movie, and they are just as catchy. The incessant pop culture references and outlandish humor make it the perfect movie to watch when your day is not going your way.
8 Toy Story (1995)
Walt Disney Pictures
If you grew up in the ’90s or 2000s, then Toy Story was most likely a staple part of your childhood. The first feature film collaboration between Disney and Pixar has turned into a franchise that has become a memorable part of children’s lives for almost 30 years now. The words “To infinity, and beyond!” are seared into the minds of adults and children alike. No matter how many times you have watched Toy Story, it never fails to bring a smile to your face when you see Buzz and Woody band together to escape Sid’s house and make it back to Andy before they move.
7 The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Summit Entertainment
Based on the book of the same name, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a look into the life of a teenage boy, Charlie, who stays on the sidelines and struggles to make friends until he meets two senior students, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick. They become his life mentors and help him discover the joys of friendship, music, and love.
Everyone struggles with something in their teenage years. Whether it’s a lack of confidence, family situations, or difficulty making friends, everyone has struggled with something as a teenager. While Charlie’s (Logan Lerman) specific struggles may not be the same as everyone else’s, his desire to belong and make lasting friendships is something anyone can relate to. Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller) are fiercely protective of Charlie and determined to make his freshman year of high school worthwhile and full of fun memories.
6 Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Carousel Productions
Crazy, Stupid, Love is an ensemble romantic comedy starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and Julianne Moore. Cal Weaver (Carell) is suddenly over 40 and single when he learns that his wife Emily (Moore) has cheated on him and wants a divorce. Cal is left to flounder in the dating world until he meets handsome womanizer Jacob (Gosling) and he teaches him how to pick up women.
The ensemble cast is the best part of this movie. The whole cast works so well together and has believable chemistry. Everyone’s comedic timing is spot on, and while this is a comedy, the humor is intelligent rather than dumb. When the big confrontation happens between Cal, Emily, Jacob, and Hannah at the Weaver’s house it’s both absolutely hysterical and a little bit sad. On the one hand, the beef with David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon) is hilarious. On the other hand, no one leaves the house happy that day. Cal’s son discovers the girl he’s in love with is actually in love with his dad, Jacob discovers that Hannah’s dad is Cal and Cal is furious at their relationship, and Emily has no idea what is going on. However, it is the wake-up call that Cal needed to get his family together again.
5 Before Sunrise (1995)
Columbia Pictures
Richard Linklater is a prominent figure in the indie landscape. With films such as Dazed and Confused and Boyhood under his belt, it’s understandable. However, his beloved yet somehow underappreciated Before trilogy is some of his best work. Before Sunrise is where we first meet Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke), two young people who sparked a connection on a train in Europe. Jesse is on his way to Vienna where his flight back to the U.S. departs the next morning, while Celine is a college student returning to Paris. He convinces Celine to get off the train with him, and the two of them wander the streets of Vienna together until the sun comes up.
The beauty of this film is that it is so simple. The story is simple, and the characters are simple. Yes, Celine and Jesse are two different individuals with different mindsets and characteristics, but at the end of the day, their story is simple. They form an immediate bond and explore that bond over the course of one night. They learn about each other and appreciate the other’s company. They just walk and talk and absorb information about each other all night. Even though you’re not sure if they’ll see each other again, you feel at peace throughout the entire movie.
4 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Three years before he became the father of the MCU, Robert Downey Jr. played a petty thief posing as an actor who is brought to L.A. for an audition in Shane Black’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. He finds himself caught in the middle of a murder investigation along with the girl he had a crush on in high school and the detective who has been training him for his upcoming role.
RDJ’s comedic timing is perfect in this murder mystery. He’s sarcastic and naive and bounces off Val Kilmer’s detective perfectly. Their back-and-forth banter throughout the movie is hilarious. Whenever RDJ gets a quip in, Kilmer gives it right back to him. It is guaranteed to make your day better.
3 When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Castle Rock Entertainment
Quite possibly one of the best, if not the best, romantic comedies put to screen, When Harry Met Sally is the story of two people who gradually become best friends and eventually fall in love over the course of 12 years. Harry is sarcastic and easygoing, while Sally is particular and structured. They are basically the embodiment of the term “opposites attract”. We follow them from when they were freshly graduated from the University of Chicago to when they finally realize they have feelings for each other, and all the other relationships and failures in between.
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal have such chemistry together, and it makes Harry and Sally’s love story even more believable. Harry’s speech at the New Year’s Eve party will put anyone in a good mood.
2 Stardust (2007)
Before he became known as the blind lawyer and crime-fighting vigilante, Daredevil, Charlie Cox was Tristan Thorne. A boy raised by his father in the small English village of Wall, where there is literally a wall separating their village from a land of magic. Tristan makes a promise to the girl he thinks he’s in love with that he’ll venture into this magical realm and retrieve a fallen star to bring home to her. He ends up on a journey beyond his most imaginative dreams that ultimately reveals his true identity.
Stardust is simply a wonderful, feel-good movie, based on the 1999 novel by Neil Gaiman. From the elements of magic, the discovery of true love, and the wide array of oddball characters, it is a great time from start to finish. Michelle Pfeiffer plays an aging witch desperate to catch the star, so she can revive her and her sisters’ youth, while Robert De Niro plays a flamboyant air-borne pirate who pretends to be tough as nails in front of his crew. It has everything one would expect from a fantasy film; magic, romance, and duels. Charlie Cox and Claire Danes are truly adorable, and you can’t help but love them together.
1 Back to the Future (1985)
One of the most iconic films to come out of the ’80s, Back to the Future is an all-time favorite for many. It has become a pop culture phenomenon in the nearly 40 years since its initial release, spawning two sequels, video games, merchandise, and endless references in movies and TV shows. It’s also an extremely quotable movie, which only adds to the entertainment value. When you hear the BTTF theme music play, you know you’re going to be in a good mood for the next 116 minutes.
Playing Marty McFly launched Michael J. Fox into superstardom. He was always the first choice for the role but was at the time unavailable due to his commitment to the show Family Ties. His co-star Meredith Baxter was pregnant at the time, so Fox had to carry more of the show than usual. Eric Stoltz was then cast and filmed for about six weeks until he and director Robert Zemeckis agreed that he wasn’t right for the part. By then, Baxter was fully available again and the show’s producers let Fox go off to make the movie. Trying to imagine the BTTF movies without Michael J. Fox is like trying to imagine the MCU without Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. It just wouldn’t be the same. It wouldn’t have the same charm or appeal without the nerdy wit he brings to Marty McFly.
