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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Paddington (2014) and Paddington 2 (2017) – We include these two movies together, because both are joyous experiences. Packed with slapstick humour, laughter and no end of marmalade sandwiches, Paddington works thanks to its lovable hero: Ben Whishaw’s polite, unassuming CGI bear packs an emotional punch because he is simply good. He cares about people, and they care about him (except for Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant’s gloriously camp villains). There’s not an ounce of cynicism in these glorious family movies, which we feel are among the best in the genre.

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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The Truman Show (1998) – Jim Carrey became an icon thanks to his wacky, over-the-top performances, but we think his best movie is one in which he plays a relatively serious character. Predating the reality TV boom, this film tells the story of a man who learns that his life is staged, and everyone in it are actors. A satire of celebrity culture and media frenzy, Carrey gets the crowd behind him by making Truman innocent. He longs for adventure, for true love, and the film’s soaring finale is a love letter to the power of following your heart.

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Singin’ in the Rain (1952) – If you want to know what happiness looks like in movie form, it’s this technicolour masterpiece. Set around the advent of talking pictures, Gene Kelly makes himself immortal in one of the most recognisable musical sequences in Hollywood history. The scene is made all the more remarkable when you learn that Kelly filmed it with a 39°C fever! Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor complete the trio of showbiz dreamers who just want to make you laugh, cry and sing, even if it’s in the rain.

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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The Intouchables (2011) – While English-speaking audiences may be more familiar with the remake, The Upside with Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston, it’s the French original that remains the gold standard. One of the most successful French films ever made, legend François Cluzet stars as a wealthy man who is left quadriplegic after an accident, and hires a former convict (Omar Sy) as his carer. The pair’s friendship builds out of mutual respect and an ability to see past the preconceptions of their positions in life, leading to a memorable on-screen friendship that truly lifts the spirits.

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Back to the Future (1985) – Often in hard times we retreat to the past, to another era when things were simple…  or were they? Pure Hollywood perfection is in every frame of this high-concept sci-fi, as Michael J. Fox becomes the ultimate ‘everyteen’ travelling to the ‘50s by accident. Good storytelling never goes out of fashion, and Robert Zemeckis’ film puts you in the driver’s seat for an escapist adventure unlike anything before or since. It’s a good thing the film evolved from its original dark tone, which involved Marty driving into a nuclear bomb test!

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Grease (1978) – Speaking of retreating to another era, we stay in the ‘50s with this enduring favourite. Grease has been the word for over four decades, with its catchy songs and colourful cartoon nostalgia. John Travolta becomes everyone’s dream musical bad boy as Danny Zucko, while Olivia Newton-John sets heart fluttering as Sandy, with the two destined to be together. A hit during the late ‘70s, when America was going through a period of economic turmoil, the film’s bright and upbeat temperament are hard to resist.

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Anchorman (2004) – The most jokes-per-minute of any film on this list, Anchorman is, well, anchored by funny man Will Ferrell at the peak of his powers. Ron Burgundy became a pop culture staple thanks to his witless demeanour and catchphrases such as “you stay classy, San Diego”. A comedy about ‘70s misogynists learning the error of their ways, the silliness of the plot belies the intelligence of the improvisational humour, creating characters and scenes that will last forever. Ferrell and his co-stars were so committed, an entire companion film was put together solely from the extended and alternate takes.

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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The Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) – Just before he became a Hollywood darling with Thor: Ragnarok, Taika Waititi made an affectionate comedy about a boy and his foster father (Julian Dennison and Sam Neill) heading into the New Zealand bush together when the authorities threaten to separate them. A typically quirky misadventure, Waititi looks at the themes of belonging and alternative family that he explores in most of his work (particularly this year’s Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit). It’s a story that tells us we all need somebody that cares, no matter how that person may seem to others.

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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My Neighbour Totoro (1988) – For many of us, the films of Studio Ghibli are one massive warm hug. The most comforting of them all, however, is that of Totoro, a forest spirit who befriends two young sisters in their time of need. Adorable and enchanting, the story takes you away from the real world in the way that only Ghibli movies can, encapsulating the wonder of childhood and the magic of innocence. Whoever you are, that’s something we would all do well to revisit once in a while.

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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The Princess Bride (1987) – What’s more pure than a grandfather reading his sick grandson a bedtime story? That’s how we begin Rob Reiner’s hilarious fairy-tale fantasy, as the grandfather (Peter Faulk) transports the boy to a faraway land where the handsome Wesley (Carey Elwes) is fighting for the love of his life, Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright). The twist in the story is, of course, the incredible humour, putting a satirical twist on fairy-tale lore years before Shrek did the same. This intelligence is complemented by an adorable sense of romance that will nestle in your heart.

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Garden State (2004) – “Good luck exploring the infinite abyss!” Andrew (Zach Braff) shouts at one point, and that may be how a lot of us feel at the moment. Braff wrote, directed and starred in this grown-up rite-of-passage movie, charting the difficult stages of early adulthood where some of us feel a little lost. Luckily for Andrew, he meets the love of his life (Natalie Portman) while visiting his hometown, and the pair go on a thoughtful and hilarious journey of self-discovery through New Jersey’s quirkier locations. An indie favourite that will provide some catharsis for those ‘limbo moments’.

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Won’t You Be My Neighbour? (2018) – Before Tom Hanks played him in A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, Mr Rogers was celebrated in this heartwarming documentary. Looking at his life, work and personal beliefs, it’s a portrait of a man who truly believed in the power of kindness. Rogers provided several generations of American children a means with which to cope with complex feelings like grief, anger and depression, alongside the more joyful aspects of growing up. Where many documentaries tend to reveal a darker side of their subject, we receive the profound realisation that Rogers was, simply, a very good man trying to make the world a better place. Uplifting and unforgettable.

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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A Matter of Life and Death (1946) – While the title may make it sound a little grave for these times, this David Niven classic is the perfect choice for a fantasy escape. Niven plays a World War II pilot who survives a perilous crash after his escort to The Afterlife lost sight of him. Having fallen in love in the time since, The Afterlife catches up with him, and he must bargain for the life he has only just discovered. Released just a year after the war, it is a warm and funny film about the things in life that are worth fighting for.

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Sister Act (1992) – Arguably the high point of Whoopi Goldberg’s career, she won hearts and box office success as a Vegas showgirl forced to hide in a convent after witnessing a murder. Co-starring Dame Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey, Harry Potter) and Harvey Keitel, the comedy is a showcase for just how hilarious a star Goldberg can be (the hit spawned a sequel and a stage musical). It also provides the chance to sing along to the slightly altered soul classics that are packed into the film’s soundtrack.

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Cinema Paradiso (1988) – Cinema has provided an important solace at this time, with many people around the world using technology to link up with loved ones and create a sense of community through cinema. What better way to share that love than in this visual poem to celluloid, following a boy’s fascination with moving pictures against the backdrop of World War II. It’s a testament to how great art can get us through hard times, and help us define who we are.

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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E.T. (1982) – A small, wrinkly alien became a cinematic icon thanks to his friendship with young Elliot, and his need to “phone home”. The type of family adventure that just doesn’t come around any more, where the effects still hold up and the story is something everyone can get invested in. You’ll punch the air as Elliot and his family work together to help their intergalactic friend, culminating in that classic scene with flying bicycles. You’ll also fall in love with the title star, who reportedly brought pop star Michael Jackson to tears when they “met” during filming.

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Clueless (1995) – Maybe this cult hit isn’t quite as innocent as E.T., but its star will make just as much of an impression. Alicia Silverstone defined a generation as Cher, the fashion-forward high schooler who’s clueless when it comes to love. Based loosely on Jane Austen’s Emma, Silverstone set the standard for high school movies to come, satirising the teenage experience in a way that was both funny and slyly intelligent. The film also stars future Avenger Paul Rudd, who, incredibly, looks exactly the same as he does now!

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Dumplin’ (2018) – Many of us have felt at one time or another that we don’t belong, that we don’t meet society’s expectations of us. Cue Dolly Parton, the music legend who has made a career of being herself and defying the doubters. She provides the inspiration for this adaptation of the hit novel about a young woman (Danielle Macdonald) who shakes up the traditions of her small town by being proud of who she is. Jennifer Aniston plays her mother in a sweet-as-can-be affirmation of being proud of the skin we’re in.

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Some Like It Hot (1959) – From affirmations to classic silliness. Marilyn Monroe’s most iconic role came in comedy, starring alongside Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as men on the run who pose as female members of a travelling band (led by Monroe’s singer). One of the greatest farce comedies of all time, it works because of the efforts of all the stars – Curtis and Lemmon’s chemistry, and Monroe’s underrated knack for comedy. If you’re feeling like maybe you need to run away from it all, then you can vicariously embark on an uplifting adventure with this trio of legends.

Culture

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The Most Uplifting Films In Cinema History.

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Whip It (2009) – Some will spend this time pursuing their passions, the things that perhaps were put aside while life got in the way. Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut is a great story about finding the thing that you love, and being your own hero. Ellen Page shines as a listless teen who eschews the world of beauty pageants loved by her mother, in order to join a roller derby team. It’s a story of empowerment, friendship – and finding a tough-sounding nickname!

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