From 'Legally Blonde' to 'Mean Girls': 7 feel-good movies to lift your mood when you're feeling low
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Usually, when life throws a curveball, encouragement is needed to overcome the blues. To brighten your day, all you need to do is curl up with a feel-good film.
With its touching plot points and belly laughs an upbeat movie is sure to lift your spirits. However, selecting a good flick to watch can occasionally become a challenging chore due to the abundance of options available online.
So let's take a look at the curated list of seven feel-good films to brighten your mood.
Mean Girls (2004)
The 2004 film is a classic teen comedy with some memorable slang that is still used today.
With dialogues like "On Wednesdays, we wear pink" from Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried) and other classic sayings, the film still remains fresh in the hearts and the memories of millions of fans.
The film follows Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan), a sixteen-year-old who was primarily homeschooled. Upon returning to the United States after 12 years in South Africa, she enrolls in a public high school for the first time and locks horns with the popular girls known as 'The Plastics'.
Forrest Gump (1994)
Is there another film that could inspire you more than the timeless 'Forrest Gump'? The heart-warming journey of the titular character (Tom Hanks), who overcomes a multitude of obstacles in life to become a great winner, is depicted in the comedy-drama. Inspired by the 1986 novel of the same name, it is directed by Robert Zemeckis.
In 1981, a man named Forrest Gump finds himself sharing his life story with strangers while sitting at a bus stop.
Despite his numerous challenges, Forrest, a simple man with a large heart, faces life's enormous obstacles, including the Vietnam war, with a grin.
It's a given that the iconic movie will motivate you to work hard, regardless of your circumstances.
Up (2009)
The Pixar animated film 'Up', which was directed by Pete Docter, is bound to move you with its depth of emotion.
The film tells the touching tale of an elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), who embarks on an incredible adventure to fulfill the desire of his late wife.
The man, mastering the art of ballooning, uses hundreds of helium balloons to tether his house to the sky and soar to Paradise Falls, the place he and his wife have always desired to see. In his touching pursuit, he's helped by Russell, a boy scout.
In addition to having a timeless message of love and camaraderie, the movie is sure to bring you to tears, with its visually breathtaking visuals and jam-packed adventure and action.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
The 2006 film is based on the real story of Chris Gardner, a struggling salesperson who overcomes life's obstacles to become a successful stockbroker.
The movie beautifully explores the relationship between Gardner (Will Smith) and his son, Christopher Gardner Jr. (Jaden Smith), and explores the themes of resiliency, hope, and hard work.
The pair's emotional struggle and experience of living in shelters leave a lasting effect on viewers. At the same time, Chris's refusal to give in to despair despite working as an unpaid intern in the competitive world of stocks sends a strong message.
Smith delivered a career-best performance alongside his son in this biographical drama and left many in happy tears with his iconic walk at the end of the movie.
Legally Blonde (2001)
A powerful message of female empowerment is combined with humor in the 2001 film 'Legally Blonde'.
The film chronicles the adventures of stylish sorority girl Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), who chooses to enroll in Harvard Law School in an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend.
Since Elle has a superficial attitude, she encounters skepticism from teachers and peers along the way, but in the end, she succeeds because of her perseverance.
The film, which is based on Amanda Brown's 2001 novel of the same name, is full of hilarious one-liners and moments that will make you laugh out loud, which will uplift your mood.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
The film is a whimsical, action-packed adventure that features some incredibly breathtaking visuals.
This Wes Anderson venture tells the story of Monsieur Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), the legendary Grand Budapest Hotel's concierge. Gustave H gets accused of murder and sets out on a risky mission to clear his innocence with the help of his protégé, Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori).
The film's breathtaking visuals add to the engrossing narrative and skillfully tackle the topics of loyalty and friendship while maintaining its distinctive storytelling.
The Hangover (2009)
The boisterous comedy chronicles the adventure of four pals, who head to Las Vegas for a bachelor party days before Doug Billings' (Justin Bartha) wedding.
Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) wake up the next day in a messy suite, with no memory of the previous night. They are left shocked and panicked after realizing that Doug is missing.
With its hilarious storyline and endearing characters, including Mike Tyson and his Bengal tiger, this bromance comedy is certain to keep you entertained.
The tremendous success of the 2009 film allowed for the production of two more outlandish and entertaining sequels that were just as successful and hilarious.