Modern life can leave many of us singing the blues. When dark times hit, entertainment becomes a form of therapy. Like therapists, some movies are better at helping you get out of the dumps than others. Next time you feel down, consider watching any of these 17 movies for a pick-me-up.
1. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
![Movie Magic: 17 Uplifting Films To Brighten Your Darkest Days 2 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Paul Rudd](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Anchorman-The-Legend-of-Ron-Burgundy-2-e1691187407742.png)
This satire of 1970s news stations is just plain-old fun. Here, there are bursts of random violence, hilariously over-the-top chauvinism and even some funny instances of surprising musical expertise.
2. Legally Blonde
![Movie Magic: 17 Uplifting Films To Brighten Your Darkest Days 3 Legally Blonde (2001) Movie](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/legally-blonde-e1691192167488.jpg)
![Movie Magic: 17 Uplifting Films To Brighten Your Darkest Days 3 Legally Blonde (2001) Movie](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/legally-blonde-e1691192167488.jpg)
A gem from the early aughts, Legally Blonde is a flick that sees one beautiful and brilliant — but very underestimated — aspiring lawyer turn her perceived disadvantages into strengths in the court of law. In the process, she shows the patriarchy a thing or two in a triumphant moment that’s inspiring on multiple levels.
3. Little Miss Sunshine
Any time you see “sunshine” in the title, you will likely smile. Little Miss Sunshine remains one of the best feel-good movies in Hollywood history. Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, and Paul Dano make this perfectly off-kilter film the ideal antidote to your moody blues.
4. Palm Springs
Andy Samberg should be on the Walgreens shelf next to Tylenol and Robitussin. The guy just makes you feel better.
Palm Springs is a fun, lighthearted movie about a man who finds himself stuck in a time loop at a wedding in Palm Springs, forced to relive the same day over and over.
5. The Straight Story
David Lynch’s The Straight Story documents a stubborn man whose health is failing but who is intent on living life on his terms. While its description can be sobering to read, The Straight Story provides just the perspective you need on a dreary day.
6. Harold and Maude
Harold and Maude is a wild ride about what it means to live, what it means to die, and what it means to truly not care!
7. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Based on a true story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty will renew your hope. With Ben Stiller’s help, you will re-realize that life is full of undiscovered wonders and unrealized experiences.
8. Amelie
Amelie has so many recommendations that it has to be worth your time. The decorated French film maximizes Paris’ feel-good vibes. Watching Amelie will transform the lowest of lows into Eiffel Tower-level highs.
9. The Peanut Butter Falcon
Something about Shia LaBeouf at his best reminds us that life is worth living. Pair him with a young man living with Down syndrome, and you have a concoction more heartwarming than freshly microwaved Campbell’s soup.
10. Airplane!
Harvard-educated doctors agree that laughter is the best medicine. Load up Airplane!, have a laugh, and get on with life. This classic has a number of quotable lines that you’ll be saying all the time in your day-to-day life.
11. Finding Forrester
A prodigious young author with untapped potential. A reclusive author who couldn’t give a darn about the world. A fortuitous meeting. A great movie. Finding Forrester.
12. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Forgetting Sarah Marshall will be particularly effective if the root of your depression lies with a heartless ex. Even if your bad mood is completely unrelated to your love life, Forgetting Sarah Marshall will make you laugh.
13. The Pursuit of Happyness
It’s literally the thing you’re looking for… happiness. Why not watch the movie about how to pursue it properly?
14. Intouchables
When an aristocrat becomes a quadriplegic after an accident, he decides to hire a young man from a completely different walk of life to help him. These two unlikely friends start seeing what life is like and it’s very heartwarming.
15. The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club is a true classic for many. When a group of teenagers have detention on a Saturday, these kids who would never talk to each other in their everyday lives come to understand and know each other for the first time.
16. It’s Kind of a Funny Story
Based on the novel of the same name, three people get to know each other better when they all meet in an adult psychiatric ward. This touching story of overcoming your struggles and finding true connections will warm your heart.
17. The Princess Bride
The narrator of the story is reading a book to his grandson when he’s sick. Watching The Princess Bride feels like our own grandparents are telling us a story when we’re down. It’s still a beloved movie to this day.
Pop Culture Writer, Life Hack Aficionado
Focus: Film and Television, Life Advice, Comedic WritingEducation: Bachelor’s of Journalism from the University of South Florida – TampaPublished in several international publications, including stories completed as a Wealth of Geeks geekNearly seven years’ experience writing professionally
Experience: Sam Mire is a freelance writer with over seven years’ experience writing about entertainment, global events, American law, and sports. He got his start as a journalism major at the University of South Florida, and has since spent weeks in the Alaskan wildlands, immersed himself in the world of Florida’s homeless population, covered live sporting events, and served as a linchpin for media outlets in the legal, tech, and entertainment spaces. Sam has written news stories and Op-Eds featured in Fast Company, Forbes, Entrepreneur, AP News, Fox News, and, most notably, Wealth of Geeks.
Sam focuses on popular culture, film and television, and general life advice in his role for Wealth of Geeks. He strives to turn readers onto the directors, actors, and other creatives who deliver compelling content outside of the box-office top-ten. In his free time, he enjoys boxing, woodwork, engaging in battles of strength and wit with his dog, and spending time with good company.