Feeling moody, out-of-sorts, anxious, or zapped of energy in these uncertain times? Do you need to settle in with something pleasant which doesn't remind you of, well, everything that's happening just outside your front door? Then you might want to consult this list of selected movies you can stream right now if you're searching for something comforting to help with your much-needed mental health break.
It seems streaming services of all sorts are a major saving grace right now. With many of us choosing to stay home so we can ensure our own health is in tip-top shape, we're in need of something good to watch. Netflix's constantly updating Top 10 rankings show us folks are turning toward romantic comedies, plain ol' rib-tickling comedies, and feel-good reality TV to help take our mind off the dire side of life. In that spirit, the list of comfort movies assembled here all have one thing in common: They are designed to make us smile, help us (mentally) escape, and give us a reprieve for just a few hours from anything troubling us. From Julie & Julia to Step Brothers to Monsters, Inc. and beyond, this list of comfort movies is here to remind you there are some true gems waiting for you to watch
Below are some movies that will help you escape the reality blues. And if you want even more movie recommendations, why not check out our roundups of the best movies on Netflix, Hulu, and HBO you can watching right now?
Hook
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: James V. Hart, Nick Castle
Cast: Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins, Maggie Smith, Caroline Goodall, Charlie Korsmo, Amber Scott, Dante Basco
If it's been more than 30 days since you last saw Hook, a.k.a. Steven Spielberg's best movie (yes, I will die on this hill), then you need to watch it immediately. A vivid update on J.M. Barrie's classic Victorian-era story, Hook takes us into the '90s — the 1990s — and introduces us to a grown-up Peter Banning, a.k.a. Peter Pan (Robin Williams). Peter is a workaholic who's lost his sense of joy and isn't much of a family man. When Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) steals away Peter's children, the former boy-who-wouldn't-grow-up must reconnect with his magic and return to Never Never Land after a decades-long absence. Hook is a movie for anyone looking to find some magic and wonder in their own lives or anyone in dire need of a quick jaunt to their own, mental Never Never Land.
You can watch Hook on Netflix.
Jerry Maguire
Director/Writer: Cameron Crowe
Cast: Tom Cruise, Renée Zellweger, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kelly Preston, Jerry O'Connell, Jay Mohr, Bonnie Hunt, Regina King, Jonathan Lipnicki
You can look to Cameron Crowe's Jerry Maguire as the reason you're always saying "Show me the money!" and "You had me at 'Hello'" (don't lie, we know you're always saying that, psh). Tom Cruise turns in one of his best performances of the decade as the titular Jerry Maguire, a cocky sports agent who is thrown into existential turmoil after he is forced out of his high-profile company for sharing his own epiphanies on life and work. Jerry's search for meaning and true happiness leads him down a surprising road to redemption. While this is a movie ostensibly about Cruise's Jerry, Jerry Maguire is also very much about charming, open-hearted single mom Dorothy Boyd (Renée Zellweger) — a major selling point for why this movie is so dang good.
You can watch Jerry Maguire on Netflix.
Julie & Julia
Director/Writer: Nora Ephron
Cast: Meryl Streep, Amy. Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Jane Lynch
Sure, sure, we all know the Julia storyline is really the best part of Julie & Julia, but who has time to be picky when you're in search of mental relief ASAP? Written and directed by the unparalleled Nora Ephron and adapted from author Julie Powell's memoir of the same name, Julie & Julia is the definition of a soft, comforting, easy-on-the-brain movie. The movie is split into two stories which connect in unique ways.
In one storyline, we're transported to midcentury France where Julia Child (Streep) and her husband, Paul Child (played by Stanley Tucci) plant their flag post-WWII. Rudderless, Julia begins taking cooking classes and discovers it is a true passion, working overtime to develop her skills and find a way to reach home cooks everywhere through her love of food. In the early '00s, we meet a fictionalized Julie Powell (Adams), also rudderless but also nursing a need to find a hobby. She lands on making her way through Child's famous cookbook The Joy Of Cooking and blogging about it, a pasttime which earns her some notice. Bringing together two ace actors, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, this heartwarming story is watched with plenty of snacks on hands as you sink into its easy-to-digest story.
You can watch Julie & Julia on Netflix.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Director/Writer: John Hughes
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey, Jeffrey Jones, Cindy Pickett, Lyman Ward, Edie McClurg
If there is anyone who knows what to do with a ton of free time on their hands, it's Matthew Broderick as Chicago area teen Ferris Bueller. Writer/director John Hughes's Ferris Bueller's Day Off is (blessedly) the rare non-Brat Pack movie that's actually incredibly fun and very cheeky as it follows Ferris around the suburbs and, later, city of Chicago. Ferris just needs a break from his madcap life as a teen, so he decided to take a day off with his girlfriend, Sloane (Mia Sara), and very depressed best friend, Cameron (Alan Ruck). Dodging a pesky principal, leading a parade, and creating elaborate Rube Goldberg machines to fool everyone into thinking he's home sick...Ferris is one inventive, fun-loving teen whose antics will help you take a load off.
You can watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off on Netflix.
Step Brothers
Director: Adam McKay
Writer: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, John C. Reilly
Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Rob Riggle
Step Brothers is a comedy unmatched in its jokes, line delivery, casting decisions, and set pieces. The story is simple: What if two emotionally-stunted, 40-something adults who still live with their single parents had to suddenly live together after their parents got married? The results of this premise are, in fact, a work of comedic genius. Step Brothers is eternally quotable thanks to the performances from leads Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, with a perfect supporting cast — Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Rob Riggle —working overtime to get every one-line stuck in your brain forever (and that's a good thing).
You can watch Step Brothers on Netflix.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, Philip Kaufman
Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Alfred Molina
You want adventure? Okay, we'll give you adventure... in the form of 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark starring Harrison Ford and Karen Allen. The first movie in the still-going Indiana Jones franchise, Raider of the Lost Ark is a throwback adventure romp full of hidden treasure, dastardly villains, and one heroic protagonist, whip-wielding archaeologist Indiana Jones. Hearkening back to the radio plays and comic book adventures of the 1930s and '40s, Raiders of the Lost Ark is pure, unadulterated fun that will truly whisk you away to another time and place. Plus, if you like what this movie is laying down, you can tuck into the next three Indiana Jones sequels after the credits roll.
You can watch Indiana Jones & the Raiders of the Lost Ark on Netflix.
Magic Mike
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Reid Carolin
Cast: Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Olivia Munn, Cody Horn, Joe Manganiello
Sometimes, a mental health break means looking at Channing Tatum's oiled abs while he dances onstage with the goal of visually seducing you into a sweaty mess. If that sounds appealing, then you need to get your hands on Magic Mike — the movie, not the person — immediately. Steven Soderbergh punches up an otherwise saucy premise (a male stripper takes on a protégé, teaching him how to make money while pleasing women) with elements of crime and intrigue, making Magic Mike an entertaining watch from minute one.
You can watch Magic Mike on Amazon Prime Video.
The First Wives Club
Director: Hugh Wilson
Writer: Robert Harling
Cast: Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, Maggie Smith, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dan Hedaya, Stockard Channing, Victor Garber, Stephen Collins, Bronson Pinchot
Count on Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton to chase those blues away with The First Wives Club, a perfect romp from start to finish. Midler, Hawn, and Keaton are the titular first wives seeking some sweet revenge on their ex-husbands who've screwed them over in various, gross ways. This is a dynamite trio of female leads in a sharp, modern-day screwball comedy, which means you can only feel uplifted when you watch.
You can watch The First Wives Club on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Hot Rod
Director: Akiva Schaffer
Writer: Pam Brady
Cast: Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny McBride, Isla Fisher, Ian McShane, Sissy Spacek, Will Arnett, Chris Parnell
Drier than a white whine and goofier than a Disney character, Hot Rod living in the same comedic wheelhouse as Napoleon Dynamite but features 100% more Andy Samberg. Hot Rod is Samberg's first major feature after breaking big on Saturday Night Live. In Akiva Schaffer's wry indie comedy, Samberg plays Rod, an Evil Knievel-wannabe who recruits his half-brother (Jorma Taccone) and his friends (Bill Hader and Danny McBride) to help him train to pull off one huge stunt that will help raise money for a life-saving heart operation for his stepddad (Ian McShane). Yes, this cast is bananas and yes, they're all incredibly good in it and yes, there are lots of stunts that you know will end in hilariously bone-crunching ways. So yes, of course you have to watch!
You can watch Hot Rod on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
The Birdcage
Director: Mike Nichols
Writer: Elaine May
Cast: Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Dan Futterman, Calista Flockhart, Hank Azaria, Christine Baranski
You can't do much better than The Birdcage if you're looking for a breezy, incisive comedy about gender, sexuality, and what it means to be a family. With Robin Williams and Nathan Lane at the helm as Armand and Albert, a gay couple who own a cabaret in South Beach whose lives are about to be upended when their son, Val (Dan Futterman), says he wants to introduce his parents to his fiancée, Barbara (Calista Flockhart), and her parents, played by Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest. It would be a happy occasion for Armand and Albert if Val didn't throw a wrench in their excitement: Barbara's parents are notoriously conservative, so Armand and Albert have to find a way to (literally) play it straight over one family dinner.
You can watch The Birdcage on Amazon Prime Video.
Clue
Director: Johnathan Lynn
Writer: John Landis, Johnathan Lynn
Cast: Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, Colleen Camp, Lee Ving
Tim Curry leads one of the best casts of an '80s movie in the delightful Johnathan Lynn movie Clue, an adaptation (of sorts) of the popular board game of the same name. Clue follows six strangers, all with vague ties to one another despite them being very aware of it, who gather together at a mysterious mansion one dark and stormy night. After it is revealed they are being blackmailed by the same man and that man is subsequently murdered, the group must try to figure out who the culprit is. With seasoned comedic actors like Christopher Lloyd and Madeline Kahn on the payroll, Clue a delightful little bit of escapism that will have you chuckling even when the subject matter gets a dark.
You can watch Clue on Amazon Prime Video.
Bridget Jones' Diary
Director: Sharon Maguire
Writer: Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies, Richard Curtis
Cast: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, Shirley Henderson, Sally Phillips, James Callis
Renée Zellweger shines as a perpetually-single, 30-something Londoner in Bridget Jones' Diary. Keen to quit smoking and find her soulmate, Bridget dutifully documents all of the mishaps and little victories in her personal life over the course of a year. From crossing paths with childhood-playmate-turned-serious-solicitor Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) to dating her dashing, dastardly boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), Bridget's life is anything but smooth sailing. Zellweger's work as Bridget is some of her best and this early '00s rom-com is so light and fun, you'll forget all about those chores you've been meaning to do.
You can watch Bridget Jones' Diary on Hulu.
Roman Holiday
Director: William Wyler
Writer: Dalton Trumbo (originally uncredited), Ian McLellan Hunter, John Dighton
Cast: Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Eddie Albert, Hartley Power, Harcourt Williams, Margaret Rawlings
Even if you can't actually travel to Italy right now, why not take a Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in this classic William Wyler romp? Hepburn is simply marvelous as a sheltered princess looking for some adventure while Peck plays an American journalist who figures he can get a good story out of escorting a princess around Rome while she discovers what regular life is like. Peck and Hepburn make for a magical onscreen couple and the Roman scenery captured in the film will help your mind do the traveling from the comfort of your couch.
You can watch Roman Holiday on Amazon Prime Video.
Silver Linings Playbook
Director/Writer: David O. Russell
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, John Ortiz, Julia Stiles, Anupam Kher, Shea Whigham
Adapted from the Matthew Quick novel of the same name, Silver Linings Playbook serves up a winning onscreen duo in Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence as two people working through their own personal traumas while trying to move on with their lives. With the help of David O. Russell's whipsmart script and some truly fantastic supporting performances from Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, John Ortiz, Julia Stiles, and Chris Tucker, Silver Linings Playbook is electric. Watching Cooper and Lawrence bounce off one another, almost challenging each other to give it all they've got and leave it all on the screen, is better than any sport you could be watching re-runs of on TV right now.
You can watch Silver Linings Playbook on Netflix.
Tootsie
Director: Sydney Pollack
Writer: Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal, Barry Levinson (uncredited), Elaine May (uncredited), Robert Garland (uncredited)
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Sydney Pollack, Bill Murray, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning, Geena Davis
It's been more than 30 years since Tootsie was released and it still remains a supremely smart and funny look at gender politics at home and in the workplace. Hijinks ensue when passionate, struggling actor Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman, in a role the might hit a little close to the bone) lands a high-profile role on a soap opera after auditioning as a woman name Dorothy Michaels. Michael's performance shoots him to stardom and with it comes a lot of tricky business as he tries to keep up the ruse of Dorothy while secretly falling in love with his female co-star (Jessica Lange).
You can watch Tootsie on Netflix.
The Naked Gun
Director: David Zucker
Writer: Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Pat Proft
Cast: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalbán, George Kennedy, O. J. Simpson
If you feel like laughing deeply, stupidly, purely from your dumb guts, The Naked Gun is a must-stream. Based on the cult classic TV series Police Squad!, The Naked Gun takes the Zucker Brothers/Jim Abrahams/Leslie Nielsen combo first explored in Airplane!, crystalizes it, and heightens into a delightfully silly diamond. The Naked Gun feels like it was gleeful to make, the relative straightness of its accurate-to-genre “detective story plot” jutting up perfectly against the audacity of the gags on display (the deadpan performances of MVPs like Priscilla Presley and Ricardo Montalbán adding just the perfect texture). And boy howdy, are these gags relentless. Modern comedy filmmakers should be required to watch The Naked Gun once a year, taking notes on how many jokes one can fit into a tight running time, marveling at how it still manages to tell a coherent story with excitement and delight. Does the film age perfectly? Definitely not -- particularly with a supporting turn from a certain hadn’t-been-acquitted-for-a-very-famous-crime-yet O. J. Simpson. But if you’re jonesing for a cheerfully retro chunk of gourmet silliness, get in touch with your guts and give this sucker a stream. — Gregory Lawrence
You can watch The Naked Gun on Netflix.
He's Just Not That Into You
Director: Ken Kwapis
Writer: Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein
Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Justin Long, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Connelly, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Connelly, Drew Barrymore
He's Just Not That Into You has been a popular Netflix go-to since it made its way to the streamer for a good reason: There is no better way to escape the woes of your own life than by diving into the fictional relationship problems of an ensemble cast. Weaving together the love lives of a group of Baltimore residents (played by Ginnifer Goodwin, Justin Long, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Connelly, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Connelly, and Drew Barrymore), He's Just Not That Into You will help you fill up your rom-com tank with just one push of the "Play" button.
You can watch He's Just Not That Into You on Netflix.
Monsters, Inc.
Director: Pete Docter, David Silverman, Lee Unkrich
Writer: Pete Docter, Jill Culton, Jeff Pidgeon, Ralph Eggleston, Andrew Stanton, Daniel Gerson
Cast: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, Mary Gibbs, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, John Ratzenberger, Frank Oz, Bonnie Hunt
Nothing says "comfort movie" quite like Pixar's Monsters, Inc., which takes us into the world of monsters and turns them into cuddly creatures we can't help but love. Featuring voice performances from John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, and Jennifer Tilly, Monsters, Inc. tells the story of BFFs Mike (Crystal) and Sully (Goodman), two monsters who accidentally come in possession of a human child, Boo (Mary Gibbs) and must find a way to get her back to her world without any other monsters noticing. Monsters, Inc. features plenty of smart twists about all those tales we hears about the monsters who live under our bed while also serving up a classically heartwarming Pixar story.
You can watch Monsters, Inc. on Disney+.
When Harry Met Sally...
Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: Nora Ephron
Cast: Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, Lisa Jane Persky, Steven Ford
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are giving all-time great performances in When Harry Met Sally..., from director Rob Reiner and writer Nora Ephron. Even if it takes Harry (Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) almost two decades to fall in love, you're gonna be smitten with these two from the start. Beginning with an uncomfortable car trip to New York City and following these two as they grow close and help each other through the highs and lows of dating, When Harry Met Sally... is the definition of "charming" that will leave you floating on Cloud 9 by the time the credits roll.
You can watch When Harry Met Sally... on Hulu.