As much as I try not to doom scroll, it’s hard with headlines this depressing. For a little pick-me-up, I like to revisit some of my favorite feel-good movies, of which Netflix has a ton on its June line-up.
Netflix clearly understands that subscribers are often looking for a breezy watch to lighten the mood, which is why it’s a regular on our list of the best streaming services out there. Sometimes you just need some easy background noise to put on while you’re tackling chores, or maybe you’re just looking for a familiar escape at the end of a tiring day.
Whatever the reason, I’ve rounded up five of the latest feel-good picks on Netflix worth adding to your watchlist. That way you can skip the scrolling and get to streaming. Among the lot are an Oscar-winning comedy drama featuring one of Steve Carell’s best dramatic roles, an underdog sports classic led by Kurt Russell, and a Julia Roberts-led romcom that rewrites a familiar formula.
‘Little Miss Sunshine’ (2006)
Kicking things off with the movie I return to whenever I’ve lost my faith in humanity yet again, “Little Miss Sunshine” reminds you what family is all about: embracing each other at our weirdest. It follows the wildly dysfunctional Hoover family as they set out on a cross-country road trip to get the youngest member, Olive (Abigail Breslin), to a beauty pageant that, let’s be real, she has no hope of winning.
All squeezed into a battered Volkswagen bus for the trip are her bickering parents Richard (Greg Kinnear) and Sheryl (Toni Collette), nihilistic brother Dwayne (Paul Dano), uncle “fresh off the psych ward” Frank (Steve Carell), and foul-mouthed grandfather Edwin (Alan Arkin). It’s a sweet and funny flick with such tender moments of connection that I find myself returning to it again and again.
Watch “Little Miss Sunshine” on Netflix now
‘Miracle’ (2004)
I’m usually not much for sports stories, but even I can’t resist a good underdog tale. Based on a true story, “Miracle” follows the U.S. men’s hockey team’s upset defeat of the heavily favored Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Kurt Russell is in top form as Herb Brooks, a shrewd Minnesota coach who puts together a team of hot-headed young college players to represent the United States on the Olympic stage.
As the U.S. team battles against overwhelming odds to win gold, their journey comes to symbolize a broader wave of American pride and patriotism during the Cold War era. But Herb is more concerned with playing a good game than turning the matchup into a political contest. “Miracle” leans into the complexities of team dynamics, showing how shared hardship and triumph can forge deep bonds and a sense of fulfillment that comes from achieving something together.
Watch “Miracle” on Netflix now
‘Father of the Bride’ (1991)
Though 2022’s “Father of the Bride” remake wasn’t awful by any means, for me, no one will ever fill Steve Martin’s shoes as George Banks, a loving but overprotective father whose world is turned upside down when his daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams) announces she’s getting married. From the shock of the engagement to the expensive and stressful wedding planning process, he tries to hold it together and fails spectacularly.
Diane Keaton plays his wife, Nina, a voice of reason amid George’s constant wedding-based meltdowns. Martin leans into a more restrained style of comedy here compared to some of his other ’90s hits, but what really makes the role work is how relatable and sincere he is — especially in the bittersweet realizations that his little girl is all grown up.
Watch “Father of the Bride” on Netflix now
‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ (1997)
![MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING [1997] - Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7gRQFgdtAXs/maxresdefault.jpg)
A lot of romantic comedies focus on finding true love, but “My Best Friend’s Wedding” stands out for proving a loving friendship can be just as meaningful as a relationship. The story centers on New York food critic Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts), who’s stunned to realize she has long-buried feelings for her best friend, Michael (Dermot Mulroney), just days before he’s set to marry a younger woman (Cameron Diaz).
She flies to Chicago determined to stop the wedding and finds herself welcomed to join the festivities as Kimmy’s maid of honor. So sets off a string of increasingly desperate plans to sabotage the ceremony and win Michael’s heart before it’s too late — though if you think you already know where all this is going, I promise you’ll be surprised.
Watch “My Best Friend’s Wedding” on Netflix now
‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ (1991)
What could possibly be more heart-warming than a story about friendship, resilience and the connections that shape our lives? This beloved adaptation of Fannie Flagg’s novel follows Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates), an unhappy Alabama housewife who strikes up an unlikely friendship with nursing home resident Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy).
As they get to know each other, Ninny shares stories from her past that take Evelyn back to her small hometown of Whistle Stop in the 1920s. There we meet her fiercely independent sister-in-law, Idgie Threadgoode (Mary Stuart Masterson), and her kind-hearted friend Ruth Jamison (Mary-Louise Parker), who overcome hardships and build a community around the café they run. Back in the present, Ninny’s stories and their budding friendship inspire Evelyn to fight for a brighter future in her own life.
Watch “Fried Green Tomatoes” on Netflix now
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