22 Movies To Cheer You Up When You’re Down

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Google Play. Whichever is your video streaming service of choice, we can all agree that watching movies with the click of a button is just a tremendous invention. Wanna see a recent movie? Or a classic TV show that’s no longer on the air?

OLD WAY: Get dressed, sigh deeply as you start the car, drive in the rain (or worse, snow) to the nearest Blockbuster (remember those?) sift through all the returns hoping for the one you want, then drive back home. Repeat process for the return.

NEW WAY: Flop on the couch in your pajamas, click an icon on your tablet. Enjoy with (optional) popcorn, which will cost less than the mammoth dry stale bucket at the multiplex. You can also get Netflix DVDs sent through the mail (though does anyone still do this?). I like the new way better. (Personally, I’m on Season Six of a seven-season “West Wing” blitz.)

These streaming sites are like an always-there friend and can be especially comforting on days when you just need some cheering up. Maybe you have a case of the Mondays or the news from around the world has you down. Here’s a selection of movies to watch when you want to put a smile on your face.

*All of these are on Netflix except where noted.*

1. The Peanuts Movie

For fans of Snoopy and Good Old Charlie Brown, it doesn’t get any better. Breathtaking computer animation. And you will swear they used the original voices.

Watch it on: Google Play

2. The American President

Michael Douglas and Annette Bening in an elegant romantic comedy about a single president and his new girlfriend. (Trivia: Martin Sheen stars as the Chief of Staff here—this was the inspiration behind him becoming Commander-in-Chief on “The West Wing.” Both developed by Aaron Sorkin.)

Watch it on: Amazon Prime.

3. Top Gun

Ace pilots try to out-ego one another at Mach One. “Tower, this is Ghostrider requesting a flyby.” Mav and Goose take us to the Danger Zone in this late 1980s classic.

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

4. You’ve Got Mail!

A clever commercial for AOL disguised as a cyber rom-com between two appealing stars, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. Makes me nostalgic for those AOL discs.

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

5. Mean Girls

A comedy about high school cliques starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Tina Fey, Amanda Seyfried, Tim Meadows and Amy Poehler.

6. The Emperor’s New Groove

Buddy animated flick starring the voices of David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton and Wendie Malick.

7. Zoolander

Ben Stiller as Derek Zoolander, a rather dimwitted male model turned… assassin.

8. 13 Going On 30

On Jennifer Garner’s 13th birthday, she wishes she was 30. Sprinkle some magic wishing dust and off you go!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxg_1y_vgns

9. Coming To America

Eddie Murphy famously stars as an African prince who comes to our country to meet a girl who will fall for him, not his riches.

10. Lilo & Stitch

I must admit, I got a plush Stitch from the Disney Store after watching this. Totes adorbs.

11. Garfield’s Fun Fest

Everyone’s favorite lasagna-loving cat.

12. Legally Blonde

Someone got into Harvard Law. “What, like, it’s hard?”

13. The Princess Bride

Robin Wright and Cary Elwes. Princess in distress. Evil villain. She needs to be rescued. You know the rest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYgcrny2hRs

14. Grease

Summer lovin’, had me a blast.

15. Clueless

Alicia Silverstone. As if.

16. Back To The Future

Michael J. Fox on a trip in a tricked-out Delorean which is actually a time machine. Get back, Marty.

17. Batman: The Movie

BIFF! PTAKK! ZWAPP! Enough said, old chum.

Watch it on: Google Play

18. Beverly Hills Cop

The heat is on, with one of the best 1980s MTV-powered soundtracks ever.

19. Saturday Night Fever

Back to the days of Jordache and Sasson jeans. I never understood the “New York Times effect on man” line, but this one’s a classic of the period.

20. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

The first of two epic 1980s high school movies. There’s no way any kid in the history of high school could ever be this clever. Which is why we have Ferris. He’s a righteous dude.

Watch it on: Amazon Prime

21. Fast Times At Ridgemont High

“Hey, bud. What’s your problem?” Launched the career of some guy named Sean Penn. Aloha, Mr. Hand.

Watch it on: Google Play

22. Animal House

If Ferris and Ridgemont were the definitive high school comedies, this one is the ultimate college comedy. My freshman year at Miami University in Ohio started a month after this was released, and the school cafeteria was on lockdown. Wanna beer? Don’t cost nuthin’.

Watch it on: Google Play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoS3-yHoaSY
[h/t: Bustle.com]