Sometimes it's cathartic to watch something depressing—something you can wallow in, just a little bit. But then there are those days when only a life-affirming, happy movie will do. If you subscribe to Amazon Prime, there are tons of those kinds of films right at your fingertips. To save you from the scavenger hunt of sifting through thousands of titles, we've picked out 15 of the most uplifting movies on Amazon Prime, which are free to stream if you're a member. And for more content that will make you smile, check out The 30 Funniest Movies of All Time and Where to Stream Them.
1 | Moonstruck
MGMCher won her Best Actress Academy Award for this 1987 magical, New York-set romance in which she plays a young Italian-American widow who's swept away by her feelings for her fiancé's younger brother (Nicolas Cage). Half family comedy and half yearning love story, Moonstruck might have you believing in fate by the time the credits roll. And for more throwback fun, check out 30 Movie Quotes Every '80s Kid Knows by Heart.
2 | It’s a Wonderful Life
Paramount PicturesHere's a secret you ought to know: You don't have to wait until the Christmas season to watch It's a Wonderful Life again. This 1946 seasonal classic is good for you all year round, chronicling the night George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) gets a lesson from his guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers) on the positive impact he's had on his town and the people he loves.
3 | Big Night
Paramount PicturesIf your love language is food, this restaurant-set comedy will make your mouth water. In 1996's Big Night, two brothers (Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub) who own a struggling Italian restaurant put everything they have left into hosting a dinner that'll be attended by the jazz singer Louis Prima. Food and the making of it has never been filmed more beautifully or lovingly, so make sure you have some snacks at the ready.
4 | The First Wives Club
Paramount PicturesThree college best friends (Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, and Goldie Hawn) who reconnect after a fourth kills herself discover that they have something else in common: Their husbands have all left them for younger women. Unwilling to take this lying down, the three craft a plan of poetic revenge that helps them reclaim their power. Lest you think that all sounds kind of selfish, their ultimate goal is altruistic, and this 1996 favorite ends with one heck of a Lesley Gore tribute.
5 | Clue
ParamountSure, there's a lot of death in this 1985 cult classic, but we dare you to get through Clue without smiling. The classic ensemble murder mystery comedy is just too delicious and clever to resist. And if you love a good underdog story, check out 17 Movie Bombs That Became Cult Classics.
6 | Creed II
MGMIn the sequel to the acclaimed Rocky franchise spinoff film Creed, Michael B. Jordan returns as Adonis "Donnie" Creed, the son of Rocky Balboa's former rival, Apollo Creed. In this 2018 movie, Donnie meets the son of the man who killed his father in the ring, Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), and expands his family when his girlfriend Bianca (Tessa Thompson) becomes pregnant. There are ups as well as downs in this boxing drama, but ultimately, it's about family, legacy, and being a good man—and that's pretty uplifting.
7 | The Birdcage
United ArtistsWhen their son gets engaged to the daughter of a conservative politician, Armand (Robin Williams) and Albert (Nathan Lane) reluctantly agree to hide the truth about their family, and Albert is sent away before the in-laws come for dinner. But he crashes the meal in drag, winning over everyone (almost). Hysterically funny and quotable (the great Elaine May wrote the screenplay and Mike Nichols directed), The Birdcage, which was released in 1996, has some serious things to say about being proud of where (and who) you come from, embracing people who are different than you, and how to support your kids without sacrificing your own values.
8 | Troop Zero
Amazon StudiosLove Troop Beverly Hills? Then you should absolutely give a new generation of scouts a chance in this 2019 Amazon original. Viola Davis and Allison Janney star as the misfits' troop mom and the disapproving head mother respectively in this wholesome and witty comedy, but keep your eyes on the hilarious younger actors it features too. And for more Prime favorites, here are 25 Amazing Shows You Should Be Watching on Amazon Prime.
9 | Paterson
Amazon StudiosPaterson is the kind of slow, soothing, soulful movie in which not much happens but a lot is felt. In this 2016 film, Adam Driver plays a New Jersey bus driver (who's named Paterson and is from Paterson) who is also a poet. His dreamer of a wife (Golshifteh Farahani) urges him to do something with the poems he jots down during the day, but Paterson seems content to observe the world and interpret it for just the two of them to share.
10 | Book Club
Paramount PicturesIn this 2018 romantic comedy, a group of longtime friends (Mary Steenburgen, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, and Candice Bergen) decide to spice up their book club by reading Fifty Shades of Grey, which inspires them to spice up their own love lives as well. There are so few movies that explore the romantic and sexual lives of older women, making Book Club a real standout. It also covers a lot of relatable ground, from reconnecting with a spouse to opening up to online dating to dealing with the meddling of adult children. Throughout all of it, the bond between these ladies will warm your heart. And if you love a good page-to-screen tale, check out 23 Amazing Books That Made Even Better Movies.
11 | The Big Sick
Amazon StudiosHusband and wife Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon co-wrote this 2017 movie inspired by their actual relationship, so you can go into it knowing that a real couple also got their happily-ever-after ending, making it all the more uplifting. The Big Sick follows Pakistani-American standup comedian Kumail (Nanjiani) as he has to confront the culture clash he's been avoiding when the white woman (Zoe Kazan) he's been dating becomes seriously ill and he realizes just how much she means to him.
12 | Lady Bird
A24Saoirse Ronan shines in Greta Gerwig's directorial debut about a restless and creative Catholic high school student who prefers to be called Lady Bird and who can't wait to escape what she considers to be her boring suburban life. Mothers and daughters will recognize themselves in the contentious but fiercely loving relationship Lady Bird shares with her mom (Laurie Metcalf), and almost anyone can relate to this 2017, but 2002-set coming-of-age story. (And for Broadway fans, there are also some Stephen Sondheim tunes, thanks to the school musical Lady Bird appears in.)
13 | The Farewell
Amazon StudiosBased on a true story, The Farewell stars Awkwafina as Billie, a Chinese-American woman frustrated by her family's decision not to tell her grandmother that she's been diagnosed with cancer. Instead, they plan a cousin's wedding so that relatives and friends have an excuse to gather in China to say goodbye. It's a touching story of intergenerational bonds and the immigrant experience, and Billie's indomitable grandma Nai Nai (Shuzhen Zhao) in this 2019 movie will steal your heart.
14 | Brittany Runs a Marathon
Amazon StudiosBrittany (Jillian Bell) isn't living her healthiest life until a scary and humiliating doctor's visit prompts her to start running, which results in her slimming down and cleaning up her act. But where Brittany Runs a Marathon diverges from other transformation movies is that it shows just how hard it can be to emotionally process those drastic changes. You'll walk away from this 2019 movie reminded that happiness doesn't have to come from the number on the scale.
15 | Pride
CBS FilmsIn the mid '80s, a group of LGBTQ activists collect donations for striking miners, but struggle to find a union that will take their money. When they do, a partnership forms that changes everyone involved forever. The solidarity between the trendy Londoners and their working class friends in this 2014 movie is endlessly heartwarming, awkward, and funny. Even better: This one's based on a true story too.
