The best feel-good movies on Netflix right now include some animated movies that rank among the best of 2023, as well as a late addition to the streaming service at the close of the year.
While the latest iteration of Chicken Run hit the streaming service directly, The Super Mario Bros. Movie needed to wind its way through movie theaters and another streaming service before finally reaching Netflix. We didn’t rescue Princess Peach, but we did sort through the best feel-good movies on Netflix and we feel good about our list below.
If this isn’t what you’re looking for, check out our other feel-good lists, including the best comedies on Netflix, the best stand-up comedy on Netflix, and the best romantic comedies on Netflix.
Recently added to Netflix
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Family Switch2023 -
Family Switch (2023) new
106m
Genre
Comedy, Fantasy, Family
Stars
Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers
Directed by
McG
There are plenty of familiar notes in Family Switch, a body-swapping family comedy. Frankly, it fits the genre like a warm hug, not pushing the limits of what these types of movies can be. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s sweetness will make you feel good, propped up by the presence of stars Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
93m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day
Directed by
Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath
One of the biggest animated movies of the year brought Mario, Luigi, Peach and Bowser back to the big screens in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Chris Pratt voices Mario in the film, though Jack Black is the one who steals the show as the big baddie by crooning “Peaches” and getting the earworm stuck in kids’ ears all year long. It’s a faithful dive into the world of Nintendo, without ever getting too heavy.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023) new
97m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey
Directed by
Sam Fell
For the first time in more than two decades, animated film fans can return to the world of Chicken Run with the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 classic. Dawn of the Nugget features much of the same British humor seen in the original, but with more advanced animation this time around. It’s a worthwhile watch, particular for young adults who can remember when the first installment of the franchise escaped into theaters.
Long Shot (2019)
125m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, O'Shea Jackson Jr.
Directed by
Jonathan Levine
Seth Rogen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) and Charlize Theron don’t strike many as a sparky romantic couple, but their chemistry works in this romantic comedy. Rogen plays an unemployed journalist while Theron plays the Secretary of State, who also used to be the journalist’s babysitter. Stick with this movie past the bizarre concept and embrace the stacked cast and myriad of laughs — it’s not a long shot to think this movie will leave audiences feeling happy.
The Speed Cubers (2020)
40m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Max Park, Feliks Zemdegs
Directed by
Sue Kim
Most people have fiddled around with a Rubik’s Cube, but a select few have taken the toy beyond a hobby and into a legitimate skill. The Speed Cubers takes a delightful look at the rivalry and friendship of two of these young speedcubing champions. Coming in at a breezy 40 minutes, the documentary will have you grabbing your Rubik’s Cube out of the toy chest and trying to twist it into the desired pattern.
Your Place or Mine (2023)
109m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Jesse Williams
Directed by
Aline Brosh McKenna
This movie is much in the traditional vein of romantic comedies, but that doesn’t make it any less endearing. Debbie and Peter get a chance to kindle something anew when staying at each other’s places over the course of a week. Each gains new respect for the other while realizing what they were lacking: love. Tig Notaro and Jesse Williams are part of a stellar cast.
The Redeem Team (2022)
98m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony
Directed by
Jon Weinbach
Nobody would be bold enough as to call the USA men’s basketball team an underdog at any point in the last 30 years. But entering the 2008 Summer Olympics, the squad certainly had something to prove coming off a shocking bronze medal finish in 2004. The biggest names in basketball — LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony — put ego aside to come together and bring the gold back to the United States. The team came to be known as the Redeem Team, earning redemption (spoiler alert?) with a gold medal performance in Beijing. The documentary also offers an interesting view of the late Kobe Bryant, featuring his lethal mentality on the court and a more human side off of it.
Hustle (2022)
118m
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Stars
Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangómez, Queen Latifah
Directed by
Jeremiah Zagar
During the rare times that Adam Sandler gets serious, his performances get much better. Following his turn in Uncut Gems, Sandler stars in Hustle. While this Netflix original film feels at times like a chance for Sandler to simply hang out with people involved in the sport he loves, it tells a heartfelt story about an NBA scout at a crossroads in life when he stumbles upon the best-kept secret in basketball. The film stars real NBA player Juancho Hernangómez, who could have a career in Hollywood when his playing days are over. Fellow player Anthony Edwards also has a significant role. This feel-good story has a lot of dark turns and isn’t for young viewers, but seeing Sandler and Hernangómez’s characters try to rise above their faults is a satisfying experience.
The Harder They Fall (2021)
139m
Genre
Western
Stars
Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King
Directed by
Jeymes Samuel
When Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) learns that his adversary, the wretched Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison, it’s war as usual for both parties. Rounding up a formidable posse to take down old Buck, Nat is looking to settle the score once and for all. But true to the spirit of the Old West, Buck has his own band of outlaws lassoed up to go toe-to-toe with Nat’s crew. A mesmerizing take on the Western genre, packed with powerhouse performances and glorious set pieces, The Harder They Fall is sure to raise your spirits. After all, nothing says “happy day” like triumphing over an old foe.
Wine Country (2019)
103m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch
Directed by
Amy Poehler
An ensemble laugh-fest featuring many great female comedy talents, Wine Country follows the likes of Rachel Dratch, Amy Poehler, and Maya Rudolph into Napa Valley, California for a weekend of drinking and celebration, as one of the ladies is tying the knot. But as the long weekend ensues, the working-life tribulations of the six longtime friends start bubbling to the surface, upending their girl’s getaway entirely. The feature directing debut of Amy Poehler, the onscreen chemistry between the six main players is certainly undeniable. And what’s not to like about the glorious sights and sounds of beautiful California vineyards?
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
113m
Genre
Drama, History, Family
Stars
Maxwell Simba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aïssa Maïga
Directed by
Chiwetel Ejiofor
The vast majority of feel-good films tend to involve romance and courtship. However, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind draws its inspirational and heart-warming moments from the true story of William Kamkwamba (Maxwell Simba). Chiwetel Ejiofor directed the film, wrote the script from William’s novel, and co-stars in the film as William’s father, Trywell Kamkwamba. As a young child in an impoverished village in Malawi, William struggles to educate himself after he is forced to withdraw from school. While nurturing his love for electronics and his ingenuity, William builds a working wind turbine that transforms the lives of his family, as well as his own.
The Half of It (2020)
104m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire
Directed by
Alice Wu
In The Half of It, Leah Lewis stars as a lonely yet academically successful high school student named Ellie Chu. Much to Ellie’s surprise, her classmate, Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer), earnestly approaches her to get help wooing Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire). What Paul doesn’t know is that Ellie is also infatuated with Aster, and the feelings and words that she tells Paul to express are a reflection of her own. Additionally, Ellie is conflicted about what to do after graduation because she is reluctant to leave her father, Edwin (Collin Chou), behind to live out his life alone. Over time, Ellie comes to realize whom she can really rely on, even if she doesn’t get everything that she wants.
Dumplin' (2018)
110m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Danielle Macdonald, Jennifer Aniston, Odeya Rush
Directed by
Anne Fletcher
In Dumplin’, Danielle Macdonald plays the title character, Willowdean Dickson – her mother, Rosie Dickson (Jennifer Aniston), calls her daughter Dumplin’ both as a sign of affection and because of her plus-size body. For years, Rosie has neglected her daughter’s needs in favor of running beauty pageants, while Rosie’s sister, Lucy (Hilliary Begley), essentially raised Rosie herself. In the wake of Lucy’s unexpected death, Willowdean enrolls in one of her mother’s pageants as a form of protest. Willowdean’s best friend, Ellen “Elle” Dryver (Odeya Rush), also joins the pageant to support her. However, their friendship is tested when Elle becomes more enthusiastic about the pageant. This also forces Willowdean to reexamine her own reasons for entering the pageant.
Get on Up (2014)
139m
Genre
Drama, Music
Stars
Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd
Directed by
Tate Taylor
The late Chadwick Boseman left us too soon, but Get on Up is one of the films that cemented his legacy. Boseman stars as the iconic singer James Brown in a biopic about his life. This movie tracks several pivotal events that shaped James, from his parents abandoning him to his meteoric rise to stardom after a brief stint in prison. James’ relationship with Bobby Byrd (Nelsan Ellis) is also explored, as their collaboration took James to his greatest heights. However James proves to be his own worst enemy, and his self-destructive tendencies nearly cost him everything.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
123m
Genre
Comedy, Music
Stars
Rachel McAdams, Will Ferrell, Pierce Brosnan
Directed by
David Dobkin
American fans may find this hard to believe, but the Eurovision Song Contest is very real … and it’s also a pretty big deal across the Atlantic. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is a very silly movie, but it is also a loving tribute to the annual competition. Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams co-headline the film as Icelandic singers Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdóttir. The duo’s band, Fire Saga, has only a limited amount of success together. Yet through a freak occurrence, Fire Saga is chosen to represent Iceland in Eurovision. Unbeknownst to Lars, Sigrit is deeply in love with him. But the pressure of the contest may doom their personal and professional relationships.
Concrete Cowboy (2020)
111m
Genre
Drama, Western
Stars
Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome
Directed by
Ricky Staub
If you want the feel-good vibes from Concrete Cowboy, you’re gonna have to be patient. It’s a family drama first and foremost. Caleb McLaughlin stars as Cole, a troubled 15-year-old boy who is sent to live with his estranged father, Harp (Idris Elba). As it turns out, Harp is really into the local horse riding subculture, and he clearly loves his horses more than most of the people in his life. Although Cole has an affinity for one of the more difficult horses, he’s more drawn to his cousin, Smush (Jharrel Jerome). Smush was once a rider himself, but he turned to dealing drugs in order to fund his escape from the city. Ultimately, Cole will have to choose between following his father’s example or his cousin’s darker path.
The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)
97m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez
Directed by
Rob Burnett
When Ben (Paul Rudd) becomes a registered caregiver, nothing prepares him for the once-in-a-lifetime road trip he takes with 18-year-old Trevor (Craig Roberts), a boy with muscular dystrophy. Convincing Trevor’s mother, Elsa (Jennifer Ehle), to allow him and Trevor to leave Seattle on a quest to visit roadside oddities, including the world’s deepest pit, Ben and Trevor form an undeniable bond that weathers a number of emotional events on their journey. In this adaptation of Jonathan Evison’s 2012 novel The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, Paul Rudd delivers a stirring and grounded performance as Ben, helping this rather by-the-books road comedy become something much greater than just another buddy comedy.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
101m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Stars
Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata
Directed by
Taika Waititi
Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), a foster child, is taken in by Bella Faulkner and her husband Hec. Living on a remote farm with the couple, city-raised Ricky isn’t warming up to their goodwill, and his standoffishness is further challenged when Bella passes away unexpectedly. Emotionally distraught, Ricky takes off into the nearby woods with his dog, Tupac. Hec tracks the pair down but suffers a broken ankle in the process. Together, the trio must contend with the New Zealand wilderness as a search party tries to find the farmer and his foster son. Taiki Waititi brings a breath of fantastical fresh air to the typical childhood adoption sub-genre, giving us one of the most delightful feel-good flicks of this roundup.
Set It Up (2018)
105m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu
Directed by
Claire Scanlon
Charlie (Glenn Powell) and Harper (Zoey Deutch) are the dedicated assistants to two highly-demanding bosses, Kirsten (Lucy Liu) and Rick (Taye Diggs). Tiring of their lives as overworked go-getters, Charlie and Harper take it upon themselves to set their bosses up with the hope that once the two begin dating, their assistants will have more time to enjoy their lives. What ensues is a series of missteps and hijinks that hits all the major beats of the tried-and-true rom-com formula, but in a way that still feels fresh and authentic.
Work It (2020)
93m
Genre
Comedy, Music
Stars
Sabrina Carpenter, Liza Koshy, Keiynan Lonsdale
Directed by
Laura Terruso
Dance competition films tend to have a formula and Work It is no exception. The key difference between Work It and other movies in its genre is that it executes the formula extremely well. Sabrina Carpenter stars as Quinn Ackerman, a high school senior who is desperate to build up her resume with some extra-curricular activities so she can get into the college of her dreams. When Julliard Pembroke (Keiynan Lonsdale) denies Quinn a place on the dance team, she joins forces with Jake Taylor (Jordan Fisher) and forms her own team. However, the demands of Quinn’s ambitions and her mother’s plans threaten to end Quinn’s burgeoning romance with Jake as well as her team’s chances to go all the way.
The Princess Switch (2018)
101m
Genre
Romance
Stars
Vanessa Hudgens, Nick Sagar, Alexa Adeosun
Directed by
Mike Rohl
Vanessa Hudgens has a very charming dual turn in The Princess Switch as both an ordinary young woman named Stacy DeNovo and the Duchess of Montenegro, Margaret Delacourt. Because Stacy and Margaret feel trapped in their respective lives, they agree to pull a Prince and the Pauper-style caper and temporarily trade places. However, complications ensue when both women start having romantic feelings for the men in each other’s lives. But don’t worry folks, there are no broken hearts in this movie.
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
101m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves
Directed by
Nahnatchka Khan
Ali Wong and Randall Park co-star in this clever 2019 romantic comedy about a pair of childhood friends who rekindle their romantic relationship after their paths cross as adults. The pair co-wrote with Michael Golamco, and the story has the two lead characters deal with the stresses that fame, fear, and old memories can have on a new relationship. While the pair’s experiences are funny enough on their own, the film also includes a cameo role for Keanu Reeves that ranks right up there among the actor’s most memorable performances of all time.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
100m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish
Directed by
Susan Johnson
A teenage girl, content to spend her days with her nose in a romance novel, discovers that several secret letters she’d written to her crushes over the years were mysteriously mailed to them. This causes a domino effect of hilarious hijinks and heartwarming moments and leads this teen in a direction she never expected. This 2018 romantic comedy is based on Jenny Han’s novel of the same name; it featured Lana Condor (X-Men: Apocalypse) and became an overnight hit on Netflix. Two sequels have since debuted on Netflix.
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