Here's your guide to a feelgood movie night. The 17 best happy movies on Netflix that'll inspire a smile

Here's your guide to a feel-good movie night.

The 17 best happy movies on Netflix that'll inspire a smile

Here's your guide to a feel-good movie night.

By Andrew Walsh

and Ilana Gordon

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

on September 3, 2025 10:45 a.m. ET

Ryan Reynolds as Adam Reed in 'The Adam Project'; Ali Wong as Sasha Tran in 'Always Be My Maybe'; Noah Centineo as Peter Kavinsky and Lana Condor as Lara Jean Song-Covey in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'. Credit:

Doane Gregory/Netflix; Ed Araquel/Netflix; Netflix

To paraphrase Nicole Kidman's now-iconic ad for AMC theaters, audiences watch movies "to laugh, to cry, to care," but sometimes they put on a movie just to feel good. Whether it's to keep a euphoric buzz going after a perfect day or for a much-needed boost after a hard week, a happy movie can wrap us in a warm, comforting embrace.

The films on this list range from enlightening documentaries like *My Octopus Teacher *(2020)* *to seasonal favorites like *Klaus* (2019).* *We selected each one for its ability to inspire bliss, whether from well-told jokes, two lovers finding each other, or the joy of family and self-discovery.

Read on for **'s list of the 17 best happy movies on Netflix.

The Adam Project (2022)

Ryan Reynolds as Adam Reed and Walker Scobell as young Adam Reed in 'The Adam Project'. Doane Gregory/Netflix

Fighter pilot Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds) travels back in time from the year 2050 to save his wife Laura (Zoe Saldaña) but misses his mark and crash lands in 2022. He stumbles upon his 12-year-old self (Walker Scobell) as he mourns his father Louis (Mark Ruffalo) and struggles with his relationship with his mother Ellie (Jennifer Garner).

As the two Adams are hunted by sinister forces from the future, the older Adam must embrace the younger Adam he has tried so hard to forget. Beyond the notable *13 Going on 30 *reunion between Ruffalo and Garner, EW's critic says the film delivers an "all-you-need-is-love message… with a Spielbergian sense of wonder." *—Andrew Walsh*

Where to watch *The Adam Project*: Netflix

**Director: **Shawn Levy

**Cast: **Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldaña, Catherine Keener

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Ali Wong as Sasha Tran and Randall Park as Marcus Kim in 'Always Be My Baby'. Ed Araquel/Netflix

Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus (Randall Park) were best friends–turned–high school sweethearts who, after a post-coital fight, lost contact for 16 years. When Sasha makes a triumphant return to San Francisco as a big-time chef, she and Marcus, who is not doing quite as well, find themselves nursing old grudges and long-dormant feelings. EW praises the stars' effortless chemistry, writing, "the bond between them is one of the many elements that make the film feel authentic, sweet, and wildly funny." *—A.W.*

Where to watch *Always Be My Maybe*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B** **(read the review)

**Director: **Nahnatchka Khan

**Cast: **Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito, Michelle Buteau, Daniel Dae Kim, Keanu Reeves

Dumplin' (2018)

Jennifer Aniston as Rosie Dickson in 'Dumplin''. Netflix

Frustrated by the judgment of her pageant-obsessed Texas town, as well as her former beauty queen mother Rosie (Jennifer Aniston), Willowdean (Danielle Macdonald) — a.k.a. Dumplin' — decides to enroll in the Miss Teen Bluebonnet contest as "a protest in heels."

Despite declaring she's not the "Joan of Arc" of plus-sized girls, her actions *do *inspire a few other outsiders to join her Dolly Parton-scored revolution and shake things up. "Like a pillow cross-stitched with sassy aphorisms," EW's critic said, "*Dumplin' *is kitschy and squishy and, if you let yourself, pretty sweet to sink into." *—A.W.*

Where to watch *Dumplin'*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B** **(read the review)

**Director: **Anne Fletcher

**Cast: **Danielle Macdonald, Jennifer Aniston, Odeya Rush, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Dove Cameron, Harold Perrineau

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Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)

Will Ferrell as Lars Erickssong and Rachel McAdams as Sigrit Ericksdóttir in 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'.

John Wilson/Netflix

Icelandic musicians Lars (Will Ferrell) and Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) are lifelong friends and not-yet-sweethearts who dream of winning the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite disapproval from their parents, their town, and the local Eurovision selection committee, the duo dubbed "Fire Saga" refuses to let anything stop them from achieving their goal of songwriting immortality — including their romantic feelings for each other.

Underneath all the spandex and over-the-top production numbers is a sincere film that cares as much about sharing the joy of music as satirizing its ostentatious performance. *—A.W.*

Where to watch *Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga*: Netflix

**Director: **David Dobkin

**Cast: **Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens, Pierce Brosnan

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Alan Ruck as Cameron Frye and Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'.

Paramount/Courtesy Everett

Call in sick because today we're turning on *Ferris Bueller's Day Off*. The ultimate in '80s comfort cinema, John Hughes' ode to Chicago and teenage truancy remains one of the best films of the decade. High school senior Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) decides to play hooky at school and recruits his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to join him. But the trio's absence doesn't go unnoticed by the school's Dean of Students (Jeffrey Jones), who makes it his personal mission to catch Ferris in the act and expel him.

The film offers too many treasures to list here (among them: Charlie Sheen's introduction to the world as a sex symbol in a small but pivotal role opposite Jennifer Grey), so it's best to do as Ferris Bueller would do and treat yourself to a viewing of this clutch film. *—Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Ferris Bueller's Day Off*: Netflix

**Director:** John Hughes

**Cast: **Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey, Jeffrey Jones, Charlie Sheen

Happy Gilmore 2 (2025)

Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin and Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in 'Happy Gilmore 2'.

Scott Yamano/Netflix

*Happy Gilmore* fans waited almost three decades for a sequel and Adam Sandler made it worth their while. *Happy Gilmore 2 *picks up years after Happy won the Tour Championship; he's now broke, dealing with alcohol abuse, and struggling to pay for his daughter's ballet training. After not playing golf for a decade, Happy agrees to pick up the clubs once more to win money for his family and to take down a slimy new golf league.

Sandler treats the film like a giant party, inviting back members of the original cast, old friends and co-workers, his entire immediate family, and one musical sensation. Nineties nostalgists and Sandler fans will appreciate the references and cameos, and golf enthusiasts will enjoy the steady stream of professional players. Nobody is going to mistake *Happy Gilmore 2* for an Oscar contender, but as comedy sequels go, this one feels like a reunion you want to attend. —*I.G.***

Where to watch *Happy Gilmore 2*: Netflix

**Director:** Kyle Newacheck

**Cast: **Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Benny Safdie, Bad Bunny, Ben Stiller

Klaus (2019)

Jesper (voice: Jason Schwartzman) and Klaus (voice: J.K. Simmons) in 'Klaus'.

Netflix/Everett

*Klaus* is a Santa Claus origin story that's enjoyable any time of the year. Starring Oscar winner J.K. Simmons as the film's eponymous hero, *Klaus *tells the tale of a widowed Norwegian lumberman who is recruited by the town's new postman, Jesper* *(Jason Schwartzman), to make toys for him to deliver in an effort to prove his postmaster general father wrong. But when Klaus' toys begin to cheer up the children of Smeerensburg — a town whose inhabitants are perpetually engaged in a feud between two familial clans — Jesper and Klaus must step out of their comfort zones to help save the town from itself.

*Klaus* isn't just another feel-good film; it's also a film that looks great. Employing unique technology to transform 2-D animation into what looks like 3-D, the film is well-deserving of its Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature (the first of Netflix's original animated features to receive that distinction). *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Klaus*: Netflix

**Director:** Sergio Pablos

**Cast: **Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Neda Margrethe Labba, Sergio Pablos, Norm Macdonald, Joan Cusack**

Mamma Mia! (2008)

Amanda Seyfried as Sophie Sheridan in 'Mamma Mia!'.

Universal/Courtesy Everett

A jukebox musical turned campy blockbuster, *Mamma Mia! *is high on spectacle, low on substance, and vocally inconsistent. We enthusiastically recommend it. The film is based on the 2001 Broadway musical — which is scored using Swedish pop band ABBA's discography — and tells the story of a young bride (Amanda Seyfried) who invites three of her mother's (Meryl Streep) former lovers to her wedding in Greece to determine which one is her biological father.

With shots of sunlit Mediterranean water and extended dance sequences on boats, the film could be classified as Greek travel propaganda, and the scenery, costuming, and choreography are glorious to behold. No, Pierce Brosnan can't sing and no, it doesn't matter. Streep is resplendent and the movie is pure spirit and fun. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Mamma Mia!*: Netflix

**Director: **Phyllida Lloyd

**Cast:** Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Christine Baranski

Mixtape (2021)

Gemma Brooke Allen as Beverly Moody in 'Mixtape'.

Jake Giles Netter/Netflix/Everett Collection

This late '90s-set YA dramedy is the perfect choice for a sweet, nostalgic watch complete with a sweeter, even more nostalgic soundtrack. Beverly (Gemma Brooke Allen) is an orphaned 12-year-old being raised by her grandmother, Gail (Julie Bowen).

When Beverly finds a damaged mixtape left behind by her deceased parents, she enlists the help of a jaded record store owner (Nick Thune) and goes on a quest to reassemble the track list to gain insight into who they were. Coming-of-age movies are a dime a dozen; what sets *Mixtape *apart is how it lives and breathes the experience of discovering music, obsessing over it, and even making some of your own. *—A.W.*

Where to watch *Mixtape*: Netflix

**Director: **Valerie Weiss

**Cast: **Gemma Brooke Allen, Audrey Hsieh, Olga Petsa, Julie Bowen, Jackson Rathbone, Nick Thune

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

Craig Foster with an octopus in 'My Octopus Teacher'.

*My Octopus Teacher *is an Oscar-winning documentary that chronicles South African free-diver Craig Foster's bond with an octopus he discovers while on an underwater expedition. As he observes the creature's life, playfulness, and harrowing encounters with predators, he notices changes in his approach to his own life and relationships out of the water. Filled with gorgeous, entrancing cinematography, this true story of an unlikely friendship inspires wonder about the natural world and our place in it. *—A.W.*

Where to watch *My Octopus Teacher*: Netflix

**Directors: **James Reed, Pippa Ehrlich

**Cast: **Craig Foster

Nimona (2023)

Nimona (voice: Chloë Grace Moretz) in 'Nimona'. Netflix

Shape-shifting troublemaker Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) aspires to be the villainous sidekick to the Queen's would-be assassin, Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), despite his protests that it was a frame-up. As the unlikely pair of outcasts team up, the kingdom's ancient history and modern politics throw unexpected wrinkles into their quest to clear Ballister's name.

We expect animated family adventures like this to be uplifting and heartfelt, but *Nimona *ups the ante with its explorations of chosen families, queer identity, self-expression, and its complex but inspiring understanding of heroism. *—A.W.*

Where to watch *Nimona*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+** **(read the review)

**Directors: **Troy Quane, Nick Bruno

**Cast: **Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint

Paddington (2014)

Paddington Bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) in 'Paddington'.

StudioCanal/Netflix

There are few things the internet can agree on, but the undisputed dominance of the semi-animated film *Paddington, *starring beloved children's book character Paddington Bear, just happens to be one of them. Garnering a 96 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and hailed for its charming script, family-friendly content, and excellent voice acting courtesy of star Ben Whishaw, the movie has since amassed a following of Paddington loyalists, prompting a sequel in 2017 and a threequel released in 2025.

If you're looking for a heartwarming film, *Paddington* should be number one on your list — and if you need a topical reason to check out the movie, you should know that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced everyone's favorite bear in the film's Ukrainian release. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Paddington*: Netflix

**Director:** Paul King

**Cast:** Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Nicole Kidman

Paddington in Peru (2024)

Paddington Bear (voice: Ben Whishaw) in 'Paddington in Peru'.

Britain's fuzziest marmalade enthusiast is back for his third adventure, and this time he's headed home to the jungle. After learning that the bear who raised him after his parents died has gone missing, Paddington convinces his adoptive family to join him on a quest to Darkest Peru to find and rescue his Aunt Lucy.

Of course, nothing on a quest is ever as it seems, and Paddington and the Brown family must contend with gold hunters and scheming villains on their journey. In times of great stress, there's nothing quite like turning on a *Paddington* movie and setting off on a well-mannered adventure. *Paddington in Peru* doesn't reinvent the franchise, but it does not disappoint. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Paddington in Peru*: Netflix

**Director: **Dougal Wilson

**Cast:** Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Carla Tous, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas

Rescued by Ruby (2022)

Ruby in 'Rescued by Ruby'.

Ricardo Hubbs/Netflix/Everett Collection

Based on real events, this heartwarming tale of interspecies friendship stars Grant Gustin as Dan O'Neill, a state trooper who dreams of joining the K-9 unit. The only obstacle in his way is his lack of an actual canine. Enter Ruby: a rescue dog whose behavioral issues have kept her from finding a home outside of an animal shelter. Dan, who has dyslexia and ADHD, recognizes a kindred spirit, and the two set out to rescue each other. *Rescued by Ruby *is a treat for animal lovers, but also ideal for anyone who loves a good underdog story. *—A.W.*

Where to watch *Rescued by Ruby*: Netflix

**Director: **Katt Shea

**Cast: **Grant Gustin, Scott Wolf, Kaylah Zander, Camille Sullivan

Shrek (2001)

Donkey (voice: Eddie Murphy) and Shrek (voice: Mike Myers) in 'Shrek'.

DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett

The first year the Oscars included the category of Best Animated Feature was 2001, and the inaugural winner was a green ogre named Shrek. DreamWorks Animation's *Shrek *is a parody of both Disney movies and fairy tales, and tells the story of the titular anti-social ogre (voiced by Mike Myers) who accidentally befriends a donkey (Eddie Murphy in another one of his fast-talking, animal best friend roles).

After Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) promises to empty Shrek's swamp of displaced creatures if he can rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from captivity, Shrek and Donkey set out on a journey riddled with fantastical characters, jokes, and a fair share of heart. EW's critic gave the film an A, writing that *Shrek* is "a kind of palace coup, a shout of defiance, and a coming-of-age for DreamWorks."

Where to watch *Shrek*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A (read the review)******Directors: **Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson******Cast: **Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow, Vincent Cassel, Conrad Vernon

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

Noah Centineo as Peter Kavinsky and Lana Condor as Lara Jean Song-Covey in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'. Netflix

Lara Jean's (Lana Condor) meddling little sister Kitty (Anna Cathcart) unleashes havoc on her life when she finds the teen's secret collection of love letters and mails them to her crushes — including to their older sister Margot's (Janel Parrish) ex-boyfriend, Josh (Israel Broussard).

To do damage control, Lara and classmate Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) agree to fake being in love to disguise her feelings from Josh and make Peter's ex jealous. EW praises the film for having "more substance than you expect. And Condor as Lara Jean has a winning, be-true-to-yourself sense of independence that's infectious." *—A.W.*

Where to watch *To All the Boys I've Loved Before*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B** **(read the review)

**Director: **Susan Johnson

**Cast: **Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Anna Cathcart, Janel Parrish, Israel Broussard, John Corbett

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory'. Everett Collection

Before there was *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* (2005) and *Wonka* (2023), there was 1971's *Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory*. Based on an acclaimed children's book by Roald Dahl — who also wrote the screenplay for the film — *Willy Wonka* tells the story of an eccentric chocolatier (as played by Gene Wilder) who orchestrates a contest to help him select a child to carry on his candy-making empire.

Fantastical, whimsical, funny, and scary, the film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Music for its score, which included the debut of the song "The Candy Man." The Timothee Chalamet-starring *Wonka* is set 25 years before the events depicted in the 1971 film, and is currently streaming on HBO Max. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory*: Netflix

**Director: **Mel Stuart

**Cast: **Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Roy Kinnear

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