30 Feel-Good Movies on Netflix to Lift Your Spirits
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Perhaps you're not having the best day. Or maybe you’re drained from going down a social media rabbit hole. Either way, these situations call for a pint of your favorite ice cream and the best feel-good movies on Netflix.
Whether you’re a fan of cheesy rom-coms or thought-provoking dramas that leave you inspired, the streaming platform boasts an impressive library of fun titles to boost your mood. We’re talking beloved films like Paddington, Always Be My Maybe, Love at First Sight and more. Keep reading for 30 of the best feel-good movies on Netflix right now.
9 Must-Watch Titles You Might’ve Missed on Netflix, Hand-Picked by an Entertainment Editor
1. The Change-Up (2011)
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde
Rating: R
In this remixed version of Freaky Friday, Dave, a working husband and father, switches bodies with his lifelong best friend, Mitch, a single bachelor. At first, they're all too happy to change places, but they realize that living each other's lives isn't as easy as they once thought.
2. Senior Year (2022)
Cast: Rebel Wilson, Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Justin Hartley
Rating: R
Think 17 Again, only in this case, we’re following a young woman who wakes up from a coma after a whopping 20 years and decides to head back to high school. It’s not the most original premise, but according to Stream On co-host Phil Mutz, it’ll have you in stitches. He said, “It’s surprisingly funny. I really wanted to hate it because it’s such a played out and cliché idea. The story might be stupid, but who cares if I’m enjoying myself?”
3. Dumplin' (2018)
Cast: Danielle Macdonald, Jennifer Aniston, Odeya Rush
Rating: PG-13
Set in a small Texas town, Dumplin’ follows plus-size teen Willowdean "Dumplin" Dickson, whose mom happens to be a former beauty queen and head of the town's Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant. When Willowdean joins the pageant in protest, she launches a major movement that revolutionizes the entire town.
4. Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Cast: Nathan Kahane, Erin Westerman, Randall Park, Ali Wong
Rating: PG-13
Wong and Park star as childhood friends Sasha and Marcus, who have grown apart after a short fling during their teenage years. However, when they reunite in their hometown 16 years later, they realize that they still have feelings for each other…even though one of them is taken. What could possibly go wrong?
5. To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
Cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish
Rating: TV-14
Need a teen romance that’ll leave you smiling after the credits roll? Add this title to your queue ASAP. The movie follows high schooler Lara Jean, who, instead of approaching her crushes in real life, writes secret letters to her love interests with no intention of sending them. But when her sister mails them out, chaos ensues as each of her crushes begin to confront her.
6. Set It Up (2018)
Cast: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu
Rating: TV-MA
While out on an errand for their nightmare bosses, two overworked assistants cross paths and come up with a brilliant idea: to set up their bosses on a date, in hopes of lightening their own loads at work. But will it pay off?
7. The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
Cast: Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez
Rating: TV-MA
Rudd plays a retired writer turned caregiver for an 18-year-old named Trevor, who’s disabled. As they embark on a road trip to see the world's deepest pit, they develop a rather complicated relationship and learn a few important life lessons along the way. This heartwarming flick gives plenty of insight into what being a caregiver is like.
8. Falling Inn Love (2019)
Cast: Christina Milian, Adam Demos, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman
Rating: TV-PG
Gabriela Diaz is thrilled to learn that she has won a contest to take ownership of an Inn located in New Zealand. But when she leaves the Big Apple to see her new property, she realizes that it needs a bit of work. Enlisting the help of a charming contractor, Gabriela sets out to flip The Bellbird Valley Farm—and naturally, she falls in love during the process.
9. The Out-Laws (2023)
Cast: Adam DeVine, Nina Dobrev, Ellen Barkin, Pierce Brosnan
Rating: R
On the week of his wedding, a bank manager named Owen experiences a robbery at his bank. However, he has a nagging feeling that his fiancée's parents are the infamous out-laws who are responsible. With a star-studded cast and so many funny moments, we can see why it jumped to the top ten list on Netflix after its release.
10. Paddington (2014)
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Nicole Kidman
Rating: PG
Meet Paddington, an anthropomorphic bear who makes his way to London and gets taken in by a loving family. But Paddington’s troubles are far from over, because an evil museum taxidermist is determined to capture the bear and add him to her collection.
11. Murder Mystery (2011)
Cast: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Luke Evans
Rating: PG-13
Fans of Date Night will appreciate this laugh-out-loud adventure, which follows a married couple who, during a romantic getaway, get caught up in a murder mystery that involves a dead billionaire. (Psst, when you're done, you can follow up with the sequel—also available on Netflix.)
12. Jesus Revolution (2005)
Cast: Joel Courtney, Jonathan Roumie, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Anna Grace Barlow
Rating: PG-13
Don't worry—it's not a cringey film that plays like a two-hour sermon. Rather, it tells the fascinating true story of Lonnie Frisbee and Chuck Smith, who were involved in the Jesus movement in California during the '60s.
13. The Man From Toronto (2022)
Cast: Kevin Hart, Woody Harrelson, Kaley Cuoco, Jasmine Mathews
Rating: PG-13
This guilty-pleasure action flick revolves around Teddy, a struggling entrepreneur who gets mistaken for the world's most dangerous assassin during a getaway with his wife. When the FBI gets involved, Teddy continues posing as the assassin to help solve a case, but can he pull it off?
14. Love, Guaranteed (2020)
Cast: Rachael Leigh Cook, Damon Wayans Jr., Caitlin Howden
Rating: TV-PG
Cook stars as Susan, a lawyer who reluctantly takes on a high-profile case to save her struggling law firm. Her client is a charming young bachelor who wants to sue a dating website that guarantees true love. Unfortunately for Susan, the case is even more stressful than she anticipated. And her romantic chemistry with her client doesn’t make things any easier…
15. Tall Girl (2019)
Cast: Ava Michelle, Luke Eisner, Griffin Gluck, Anjelika Washington, Sabrina Carpenter
Rating: PG-13
Jodi, aka the tallest kid at school, has always been insecure about her height. But when she meets and falls for a charming foreign exchange student (who’s even taller than she is), she gets pulled into a love triangle that turns her world upside-down.
16. Along for the Ride (2022)
Cast: Emma Pasarow, Belmont Cameli, Kate Bosworth
Rating: PG-13
Obsessed with cheesy romances? Well, meet your match. Based on Sarah Dessen’s novel of the same name, Along for the Ride tells the story of 18-year-old insomniac Auden. When she meets a BMXer named Eli, he challenges her to embark on an adventure that involves doing all the “kid things” she missed out on.
17. The Royal Treatment (2022)
Cast: Laura Marano, Mena Massoud
Rating: TV-PG
New York-based hairdresser Izzy gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she signs on to work a royal wedding. The only problem? There’s undeniable chemistry between her and the groom, who seems hesitant to tie the knot. Will he choose duty or follow his heart?
18. Little Big Mouth (2021)
Cast: Nay Maps, Amanda du-Pont, James Borthwick
Rating: TV-14
This underrated South African gem follows a musician who’s down on his luck after he gets kicked out of his band and his home. Fortunately for him, a kind bookkeeper offers to let him stay with her and her son. But as their relationship grows, her little boy is determined to drive them apart.
19. Yes Day (2021)
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Édgar Ramírez, Jenna Ortega.
Rating: PG
When Allison, a strict and overprotective mom, learns that her kids see her as the ultimate fun killer, she takes the advice of a school guidance counselor and gives her kids a "Yes Day." With some basic ground rules, she and her husband say "yes" to all of their kids' requests, and this leads to major chaos.
20. The Half of It (2020)
Cast: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire
Rating: PG-13
When straight-A student Ellie Chu agrees to help a jock win the heart of his crush, she not only develops an unlikely friendship with him, but she also starts to fall for the girl he likes. Yes, it sounds like almost every other teen movie you’ve seen, but this one has a rather compelling twist and explores what it truly means to navigate love and friendships.
21. Afterlife of the Party (2021)
Cast: Victoria Justice, Midori Francis, Timothy Renouf
Rating: TV-PG
Party girl Cassie is having the time of her life while celebrating her birthday. That is, until she suddenly dies and discovers that she can’t enter the "Afterlife Party in Heaven." To make this happen, she must help people on earth as a guardian angel before her time runs out.
22. Love Hard (2021)
Cast: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet
Rating: TV-MA
Dobrev takes center stage as Natalie, an L.A. columnist who meets and falls for her dream guy on a dating website. However, when she decides to pay him a surprise visit for the holidays, she discovers that she’s been catfished. Talk about awkward.
23. A Perfect Pairing (2022)
Cast: Victoria Justice, Adam Demos, Luca Asta Sardelis
Rating: TV-14
Nickelodeon alum Victoria Justice channels her inner Tori Vega in this Hallmark-style rom-com, which follows an ambitious wine executive as she sets out to launch her own company. To do so, she must travel to Australia to land her first potential client—and the trip proves to be quite different from what she expected.
24. Matilda the Musical (2022)
Cast: Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Emma Thompson
Rating: PG
“We are revolting children, living in revolting times!” The catchy musical numbers, the charming cast and Thompson's incredible portrayal of Miss Trunchbull are just a few reasons you'll enjoy this fun remake of the 1996 classic.
25. The Adam Project (2022)
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Walker Scobell
Rating: PG-13
When 12-year-old Adam Reed finds a mysterious pilot hiding out in his garage, he’s shocked to learn that it’s his future self. Adult Adam reveals that he’s on a secret mission to save the planet and enlists young Adam’s help, but it proves to be quite the challenge, given that the pair can’t seem to get along.
26. Meet the Fockers (2004)
Cast: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand
Rating: PG-13
Do yourself a favor and check out Meet the Parents before your dive into this sequel, which follows Jack and Dina as they travel to meet the family of their daughter's fiancé. Naturally, the Fockers turn out to be the total opposite of the conservative couple, which leads to plenty of awkwardness and total chaos.
27. Thunder Force (2021)
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Bobby Cannaval
Rating: PG-13
Set in a world where sociopathic criminals have superpowers, Emily, a successful scientist, invents a formula that allows normal people to become superheroes. To test it out, she teams up with her childhood best friend, Lydia, to form a new crime-fighting duo called "Thunder Force."
28. Love at First Sight (2023)
Cast: Haley Lu Richardson, Ben Hardy, Dexter Fletcher, Rob Delaney
Rating: PG-13
Based on Jennifer E. Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, the rom-com tells the story of Hadley Sullivan, a 20-year-old who misses her flight to London and has a chance encounter with a charming Yale student named Oliver. After they bond on the plane, they lose track of each other at customs and part ways. What are the odds they'll reconnect? (Guess you'll have to watch and see.)
29. Love Is in the Air (2023)
Cast: Delta Goodrem, Joshua Sasse, Roy Billing
Rating: PG-13
Goodrem stars as Dana, a woman who works for a small, struggling airline in Australia. When William, a businessman from London, arrives to shut down her company, things take a surprising turn when he unexpectedly falls for Dana. Yes, it's cheesy and predictable, but it'll still give you all the feels.
30. The Flintstones (1994)
Cast: John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Elizabeth Perkins, Rosie O'Donnell
Rating: PG
If you grew up hearing Fred Flintstone's go-to phrase, "Yabba-Dabba-Doo," then you're in for a special treat with this nostalgic live-action film. Set in a modern Stone Age world, it follows Fred and Barney, who make a secret arrangement that backfires and lands Fred in major trouble.
