Let’s be honest, our streaming watchlists are usually filled with high-stress dramas or true-crime docs that leave us sleeping with the lights on (mine certainly is). But sometimes, you just need a night where your brain gets a warm hug. Thankfully, Netflix’s new lineup for this month includes plenty of comfort food for your screen.
If you’re currently staring at the home screen unsure of what to watch, I’ve chosen some standout picks recently added to Netflix. These include nostalgic favorites to films you may not have encountered before. So, here are five ultimate feel-good movies I am immediately adding to my watchlist.
‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ (2019)
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is a deeply moving, emotionally resonant biographical drama that will leave you with a good feeling. The movie is inspired by Tom Junod’s iconic 1998 Esquire profile of Fred Rogers. It centers around the perspective-shifting impact an encounter with radical kindness can have on a deeply cynical person. If you didn’t know, Rogers was an American TV host, author, and Presbyterian minister who revolutionized children’s programming.
Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is a cynical investigative journalist assigned to write a short magazine profile on beloved children’s TV host Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks). Expecting a routine interview, Lloyd instead finds Rogers taking a genuine interest in his personal life, particularly his bitter estrangement from his father after years of resentment over his mother’s death. As Lloyd repeatedly visits Rogers on set and during public appearances, the pair develop an unlikely friendship.
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‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ (2005)
One of my core childhood memories was watching “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” for the first time. This eye-popping fantasy film from Tim Burton unlocked my sweet tooth at an early age, just from the sheer amount of chocolate and candy the characters encounter during their time in the iconic factory. It definitely acts as a more faithful, darker adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic 1964 children's book compared to the beloved 1971 Gene Wilder version. It’s a true visual stunner.
Charlie (Freddie Highmore) is a poor boy who lives with his parents and four grandparents in a small house opposite the closed Wonka chocolate factory. Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) announces a worldwide contest, hiding five Golden Tickets inside chocolate bars, which grant winners a tour. Four children find the tickets first, including Augustus Gloop (Philip Wiegratz), Veruca Salt (Julia Winter), Violet Beauregarde (AnnaSophia Robb), and Mike Teavee (Jordan Fry). Charlie eventually finds the final ticket, joining the kids as Wonka leads them through his factory.
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‘The Vow’ (2012)
If you’re someone who prefers feel-good romantic dramas, you’ll want to stream “The Vow.” The story is loosely based on the real-life 1993 marriage of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, who were involved in a serious car accident shortly after their wedding. When Krickitt wakes from a coma with no memory of her husband or their relationship, Kim is left to win her heart all over again. It may be a tearjerker at times, but this film is beautifully acted exploration of what it truly means to love someone unconditionally.
Paige Collins (Rachel McAdams) is a young sculptor who is married to recording studio owner Leo (Channing Tatum). After a car crash, Paige suffers severe memory loss and wakes up unable to recall the last five years of her life, including her marriage. Believing she is still engaged to her former fiancé and aligned with her estranged wealthy parents, she moves back in with them. Leo struggles to rebuild their relationship from scratch while Paige attempts to understand her forgotten past.
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‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ (2017)
There’s no better time to delve into the world of “Spider-Man” with the new film “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” swinging into theaters at the end of this month, making it the perfect moment to revisit Tom Holland’s first outing as the iconic superhero. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” avoids the grim retelling of Parker's tragic origin story or the death of Uncle Ben, instead focusing on the awkward diary of a 15-year-old kid trying to balance homework with a superhero internship.
After helping the Avengers during the events in Berlin, teenage Peter Parker (Tom Holland) returns to Queens and resumes life as a high school student while secretly operating as Spider-Man under Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) supervision. He discovers a criminal operation led by Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton), who salvages alien technology left from past Avengers battles and turns it into advanced weapons. Peter investigates Toomes and his associates, including a weapons dealer network operating in New York.
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‘A League of Their Own’ (1992)
Lastly, we have the seriously charming sports comedy-drama “A League of Their Own.” It shines an affectionate light on a frequently overlooked chapter of American sports history: the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), which was formed during World War II while male athletes were fighting overseas. If you need a mood-booster, this film will lift your spirits, as it’s a comforting, quote-filled crowd-pleaser that will make you laugh.
During World War II, as professional male baseball players are drafted into military service, a new women’s professional baseball league is created in the U.S. to keep the sport running. Scout Ernie Capadino (Jon Lovitz) travels across the country recruiting players, including Oregon sisters Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty). The two join the Rockford Peaches, a team coached by former major leaguer Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks). As the season progresses, tensions grow between the sisters, especially as Kit struggles to step out of Dottie’s shadow.
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