10 of the best feel good movies to enjoy while sheltering in place

It’s not surprising to know that many people are having a difficult time coping with Covid. After all, nobody likes being cooped up for extended periods. Fortunately there are ways for people’s minds busy in a lock down. For instance, watching one or more feel good movies. While movies can’t replace friends and family, it can lift spirits and even bring out a smile.

Annie Hall (1977)

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, Annie Hall is considered one of the funniest romantic movies ever made. Set in 1970s Manhattan, the film stars and is directed by Woody Allen as Alvy Singer and Diane Keaton. Also appearing in prominent roles were Carol Kane, Tony Roberts, Christopher Walken and Paul Simon. Both Allen and Keaton won Oscars – respectively for Best Director and Best Actress. Annie Hall has since appeared on several lists from the American Film Institute (AFI).

Back To The Future (1985)

Largely filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood, Back to the Future appears on many Top 10 Movie lists. Set in the Hill Valley, California, this sci-fi comedy made movie icons of Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future was a huge success. In fact, it spent nearly three consecutive months at the top of the box office. It also spawned two sequels, Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III. Of course there are also merchandise, a TV series and a short film.

Best In Show (2000)

For those unfamiliar, Best in Show is a hilarious take on quirky owners competing against one another at a national dog show. Taking place at the Mayflower Dog Show, it stars Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy. Moreover, it also features Jane Lynch, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey and Jennifer Coolidge. Written by Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy, Best in Show appears on several Top 100 Best Comedies lists. Movie fans of Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy may recall the cast in several additional recurring roles together. For example, This is Spinal Tap (1984) and Waiting for Guffman. (1997)

E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982)

One of the best feel good movies ever made, E.T. The Extraterrestrial is about an alien being who gets stranded on planet Earth. Set in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, the Steven Spielberg film stars Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote and Henry Thomas. A critical and financial success, E.T. went on to become the largest grossing movie ever. In 2007, the American Film Institute (AFI) selected E.T. The Extraterrestrial as 24th greatest film of all time. Although outdated for some, E.T. The Extraterrestrial remains one of the finest feel good movies of all time.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Some movies really don’t need much introduction and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is one of those. Set in 1980s Chicago, the teen comedy film stars Matthew Broderick, along with Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, Jennifer Grey and Jeffrey Jones. Ferris Bueller is a high school slacker who devises an ingenious way to skip out of classes. At the same time he is doing his best to elude Dean Edward R. Rooney. Several iconic Chicago landmarks are featured, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Willis Tower and Wrigley Field.

Grease (1978)

The most successful musical of all time, Grease is about high school friends and teenage romance set in the summer of 1958 in California. A classic for all ages, the musical romantic comedy stars John Travolta as the iconic greaser Danny Zuko and Olivia Newton-John, as a shy transfer student from Australia. Directed by Randal Kleiser, “Grease” features a number of well known songs, whose sing-along lyrics are known all over the world. This includes the title track Grease, Hopelessly Devoted to You, Summer Nights and You’re the One That I Want.

Mama Mia! (2008)

A romantic comedy musical featuring the music from the Swedish pop band ABBA, Mama Mia! tells the tale of a bride-to-be hoping to meet her real father before the marriage. Situated on two breathtaking Greek islands, the film was directed by Phyllida Lloyd and boasts an ensemble cast of several well known actors, including Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Christine Baranski and Meryl Streep. While the reaction from movie critics were lukewarm, the musical comedy was a box office success – making it the highest grossing live-action musical in history, until surpassed by Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2017).

School Of Rock (2003)

For many millennials, rock and roll is a tired old music genre from another century – Something that parents and grandparents grew up with. But School of Rock is as fun as a movie can get. Directed by Richard Linklater, School of Rock stars Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White and Sarah Silverman, along with a host of talented child actors. The film was so financially successful, it was the highest grossing musical-themed comedy movie of all time until surpassed by Pitch Perfect 2 (2015).

Toy Story (1995)

One of the most popular animated films of all time, Toy Story is one of those rare movies that has a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by John Lassiter and starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, Toy Story is about a young boy named Andy Davis whose toys magically come to life. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation, Toy Story was so successful, more feel good movies were released, including the most recent – Toy Story 4 (2019).

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

With one of the most iconic scenes in movie history, When Harry Met Sally is a delightful romantic comedy set primarily in New York City. Written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner, the film stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan and in the title roles. Easily one of the best feel good movies of the 20th century, the film portrays Harry and Sally as longtime friends and recent graduates from the University of Chicago. They drive to New York City to pursue their careers but keep bumping into each other, while building their friendship into a romance.

About The Author

Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012-2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including CBS New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget and Radio.com. He earned a media fellowship from Stanford University in 2012.