15 Movies That Feel Like a Big Hug on a Bad Day
Our troubles in life make a huge impact on our moods and outlooks, affecting the days we spend on this planet. From financial woes to heartbreaking deaths, bad days seriously bring us down.
When life’s worst hits, we often turn to dependable coping mechanisms to ease our pain. One such method is the therapeutic power of movies, a guaranteed avenue for escapism. There’s something extraordinary about throwing on a film and forgetting about our issues, even if it’s just for a short time.
Accepting the fact that life is suffering, people can rely on certain movies for reassurance that all will be okay. These films may teach us a lesson or two, but also feel like hugs, tissues, and reassurance that everything will be okay.
Amélie (2001)
Doses of charm and goodwill come in many colors with Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amélie. Starring Audrey Tautou as the titular character, Amélie takes viewers on a vibrant and imaginative ride with its lead’s explorative wonders. Though lonely at heart, the introverted protagonist embarks on a visual adventure that improves the lives of many around her.
Amélie stole everyone’s attention when it premiered in France in 2001. The plot evokes a familiar sense of awe at seeing the world through a unique pair of lenses. Balanced with Tautou’s engaging performance, the French romantic comedy envelopes big and small hearts.
13 Going on 30 (2004)
Embracing fantasies can take audiences to extraordinary places in the cinema, including the wonders of time jumps. In 13 Going on 30‘s case, the magic transpires with Jennifer Garner’s character suddenly aging into an adult. Forced to encounter various issues in adulthood, Garner’s Jenna Rink learns about love, growing up, and chasing second chances.
So many viewers can relate to the themes of 13 Going on 30. While unexpectedly aging almost two decades is impossible, Jenna motivates us to feel young and welcome love. Anyone shuddering the anticipation of an upcoming birthday, just think of Jenna and her “Thriller” dance for a reminder to live life to the fullest.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010)
Granted, not all films deal with uplifting plotlines and lighthearted motifs. In It’s Kind of a Funny Story, audiences step into the topic of mental health disorders and how they affect the ones we love. The film maintains an authentic approach to tricky subjects like suicide and depression. Moreover, it features comedian Zach Galifianakis in a charming supporting role that helps balance the subject matter.
Released to positive reviews, It’s Kind of a Funny Story investigates the human connection troubled individuals can share with each other when placed in a shared setting. Its main stars, Keir Gilchrist and Emma Roberts, take the audience on an emotional and funny experience while also acknowledging the importance of mental health concerns in folks. It’s Kind of a Funny Story reminds viewers that everything will be okay at the end of the day, even if we need to sing “Under Pressure” to send the message home.
In the Heights (2021)
Embracing one’s culture is essential, and In the Heights challenges its audiences to tackle their sueñitos (little dreams). Adapted from Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s stage musical, In the Heights follows several predominantly Dominican-American New Yorkers living in the Washington Heights neighborhood. Though these characters face some challenges, they succeed in entertaining with song and dance.
In the Heights tells a story about community, pursuing dreams, and heritage, but also invites audiences to bop along to the film’s tunes. The musical is wonderfully translated onto the screen, largely due to the involvement of the original creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. This allows the film to succeed in all the right areas, making it a faithful adaptation and a delightfully good time.
Ikiru (1952)
Searching for purpose in life is heavy. People naturally dread the day they will perish, yet Akira Kurosawa helped viewers understand morality with his film Ikiru.
Released many years ago in Japan, Ikiru tells the story of a man searching for peace after a cancer diagnosis. Without spoiling the movie, Takashi Shimura’s Kanji Watanabe is a figure often studied in film regarding his character development and acceptance of fate.
For fans of Kurosawa, adding Ikiru to a must-watch list is a no-brainer. Critics regard it as one of his best works, and its themes resonate with everyone who fears death. Compiled with memorable scenes, Ikiru reminds viewers to live our days until the very last second.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Movies can offer audiences magic to carry into daily life for the better. One such film that does so: Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life from 1946, starring James Stewart as George Bailey. Adored by many, It’s a Wonderful Life takes Bailey’s character on a fantastical journey of self-discovery and man’s impact on one another as humans.
Countless families play It’s a Wonderful Life when the holidays roll around in December. A Christmas classic, the film reminds audiences to be kind to others, for kindness can have a profound effect.
Soul (2020)
Since we’re discussing morality and shaping others’ lives, excluding Pixar’s works would be a sin. Pixar’s résumé floods the gates with plenty of emotions kids and adults understand, from Coco and Toy Story to even The Incredibles, though Soul takes the top spot for watchers who need a big hug.
Starring Jamie Foxx as Joe Gardner, Soul follows the afterlife journey of a musician who falls into a coma. Traveling by otherworldly means, Gardner reignites a demanding purpose to live his life fully. Supported by Pixar’s charming humor, Soul treats everyone looking to better grasp life and death.
Toy Story 2 (1999)
In truth, any of the Toy Story animated films could land a spot here, yet the second installment has a special place among fans. Released four years after the 1995 original, Toy Story 2 continues the fun and thrills of characters like Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Mr. Potato Head while introducing a few new faces. It features hilarious gags and rewarding plotlines about friendship, bravery, and purpose.
Critics and audiences welcomed Toy Story 2 with open arms. Even years after its 1999 release, fans can’t help revisiting the sequel to relive a part of Andy’s childhood before he drove off to college in Toy Story 3. Moreover, the bloopers in the end credits still play rent-free in our heads, including the bit with Buzz spilling flatulence in the film’s toy store.
Inside Out (2015)
Whether a parent or an innocent youngster, Inside Out picks at the brain and emotions of anyone who watches. With the embodiment of emotions like Sadness and Anger, the movie allows audiences to relate with its characters on a molecular level more than Pixar’s other projects.
Though the sequel explores additional emotions, Inside Out introduced the idea of approaching feelings. It told audiences how talking about what’s happening inside can benefit others, as well as the self. The film’s protagonist, Riley, undergoes a few life events that affect her life and influence her feelings. Anyone can associate this presentation with Riley’s evolution which reminds us that talking about our feelings is imperative to our health.
The Lego Movie (2014)
Although Pixar excels in tearjerking animation, Warner Bros. struck home with The Lego Movie. Presented in animation and live-action, The Lego Movie defied all expectations that assumed it was an extensive display of product placement. Instead, audiences walked out with a newfound look at life, spearheaded by Chris Pratt’s Emmet in the movie.
Not only will the animation enchant viewers, but the story plays out well when Emmet’s Lego world meets our own. His ending monologue highlights childlike wonder and imagination, which adults could lose as they age. As the film’s ending informs, a sense of inventiveness doesn’t have to limit itself as people grow up.
Elf (2003)
Before Will Ferrell embraced a fatherly roles in movies, he ensnared audiences with his delectable style of inappropriate comedy. Born from Saturday Night Live fame, Ferrell starred in numerous comedies before collaborating with director Jon Favreau on Elf. Elf, a short story of a tall tale, tells the adventure of Buddy the Elf. Audiences watch as he travels from the North Pole to New York, hoping to meet his father (portrayed by James Caan).
Whenever the holidays roll around, television channels play Elf to spread wintertime cheer. Audiences and critics love it for its charming humor and cast, particularly Ferrell as the titular helper of Santa. Ferrell’s childlike enthusiasm in the film touches many, and his character represents that sweet, guiltless behavior anyone can appreciate and aspire to replicate.
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party (2005)
Bolstered by various music artists (The Roots, Mos Def, Common, and more), inimitable comedian Dave Chappelle threw a block party while shooting footage for a documentary.
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party features a mix of the comedian’s irreverent humor and multiple music performances from his friends. In addition to the famous talent, Chappelle enlists the Central State University Marching Band to perform in front of audiences. The film shows a thrilling time in Brooklyn, demonstrated by racial unity and musical synergy that inspires viewers to come together and enjoy the good times.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
When director John Hughes isn’t making an audience cry (e.g., The Breakfast Club), he tickles funny bones with teen comedies. Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ranks as one of the great teen flicks of the 1980s, and it’s responsible for Matthew Broderick’s rising fame during the synthesizer-infused decade.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off takes cinephiles on a one-day trip through parts of the Chicago area while sharing a few lessons. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it,” Ferris says in the film. This quote alone reignites that passion to appreciate life when the days pass too quickly. Of course, everyone has their own interpretation, yet it’s fair to say that Ferris’ words resonate with just about anyone.
School of Rock (2004)
The film School of Rock features Jack Black’s Dewey Finn as a rocker who inspires a school class to form a band. Thanks to his enthusiastic spirit, the children pick up different skills and develop their musical talents before showcasing them to families and friends.
No one needs any education to acknowledge the School of Rock’s banging power, which instills a creative fire in all audiences. By the show’s climatic live performance, viewers all root for the kids to win the Battle of the Bands contest. Whenever a cloudy day comes, we throw on School of Rock to clear the gray away. Turn up our speakers when the little rockers find their rhythms.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Actress Abigail Breslin stole hearts when she played Olive in Little Miss Sunshine. The dark comedy by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris features a star-studded cast, yet its themes resonate the most. These include persistence in chasing goals, love for families, and the importance of dance in the face of adversity.
Though Little Miss Sunshine takes certain twisted turns with its morbid humor, its messages remind audiences to live their best lives, no matter the hurdles they might face. In the film, Olive faces judgment from others while simultaneously grieving the passing of a relative. Though viewers can’t hug Olive, they can embrace each other with kindness and love as her family does in the movie.
