12 Uplifting Movies to Brighten Your Spirits Anytime

      At times, we all could use a bit of cheering up. Here are 13 timeless comfort films that may lift your spirits.

      **Spirited Away (2001)**

      A scene from *Spirited Away*, Studio Ghibli – Credit: C/O

      If this isn't among the finest animated films ever made, I'll eat my shoe. *Spirited Away* from Studio Ghibli has an enchanting quality to it. It tells the tale of Chihiro Ogino, a young girl who becomes separated from her parents while they explore an abandoned amusement park just before sunset.

      Upon discovering that her parents have been transformed into pigs, Chihiro ventures into a bathhouse filled with spirits and befriends a boy named Haku, who assists her in her quest to find her parents.

      Director: Hayao Miyazaki

      Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki

      Cast: Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takashi Naito, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Takehiko Ono, Bunta Sugawara.

      Where to Watch: Max (subscription required)

      **Pride & Prejudice (2005)**

      A scene from *Pride & Prejudice*, Focus Features – Credit: C/O

      This adaptation of Jane Austen's 1813 novel is pure joy in so many respects. It beautifully captures the romantic spirit of the 1800s. If you’re yearning to run through English countryside fields by day and wander candlelit hallways by night, this film can transport you there. It's also home to one of the most remarkable love stories ever told—a true comfort classic.

      Director: Joe Wright

      Screenwriter: Deborah Moggach

      Cast: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Tom Hollander, Penelope Wilton, Judi Dench

      Where to Watch: Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video (available for purchase)

      **Some Like It Hot (1959)**

      Marilyn Monroe in *Some Like It Hot*, United Artists – Credit: C/O

      This iconic film features Marilyn Monroe in one of her most memorable roles. She portrays Sugar, a jazz singer who encounters saxophonist Joe (Tony Curtis) and his friend Jerry (Jack Lemmon), who are on the run after witnessing a mob murder. They disguise themselves as women and join Sugar's jazz band, boarding a train heading to Florida.

      Director: Billy Wilder

      Screenwriter: Billy Wilder

      Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Joe E. Brown, Pat O’Brien

      Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video (subscription required), Tubi (free streaming)

      **The Princess Bride (1987)**

      A scene from *The Princess Bride*, 20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O

      This beloved fantasy film encompasses all the essentials: pirates, princesses, heroes, villains, and of course, creatures of unusual size. It tells the romantic adventure of young Buttercup and Westley, the farm boy she loves, weaving together action, drama, and humor into an epic tale.

      Director: Rob Reiner

      Screenwriter: William Goldman

      Cast: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Robin Wright, Peter Falk, Billy Crystal

      Where to Watch: Disney+ (subscription required)

      **Good Will Hunting (1997)**

      A scene from *Good Will Hunting*, Miramax – Credit: C/O

      This film never gets stale. Featuring Robin Williams in one of his standout performances alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, *Good Will Hunting* is a poignant story that will tug at your heart. Matt Damon stars as Will Hunting, a recently paroled inmate who possesses extraordinary mathematical talent. While working at MIT as a janitor, he casually solves a complicated math problem, setting him on a path of self-discovery.

      During a night out with friends, including Ben Affleck's character Chuckie Sullivan, he meets Skylar, a charming Harvard student portrayed by Minnie Driver. Robin Williams plays Will's court-appointed therapist, guiding him through his past traumas.

      Director: Gus Van Sant

      Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgård, Casey Affleck

      Where to Watch: Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video (subscriptions required)

      **Groundhog Day (1993)**

      Bill Murray in *Groundhog Day*, Columbia Pictures – Credit: C/O

      In this endearing comedy, a TV weatherman finds himself trapped in a bizarre cycle, reliving the same day repeatedly. In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, while covering Groundhog Day, he meets a woman who alters his perspective on life. It's one of our all-time favorite comfort