2 weeks ago
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We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us their favorite comfort movies for when they need a distraction. Here are the super helpful results.
What it's about: "At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens (and has happened) in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out to not be as easy as you might think."
Why you should watch it: "It’s such a heartwarming movie, and I love the time-travel aspect as well. Super creative, a great father-son relationship, and an incredible cast."
—ouroborosbroken
2. The Way, Way Back (2013)
What it's about: "Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park."
Why you should watch it: "More people should know about this movie. Sam Rockwell is the best part, but I love the chemistry between him and Maya Rudolph. Also, watching Steve Carell be a douche is somewhat cathartic. But, man, I have so much respect for Liam James. Homeboy carried that movie wonderfully and nailed the awkward teen kid coming out of his shell."
—glasseyemv
3. 20th Century Women (2016)
What it's about: "In 1979's Santa Barbara, Dorothea is a determined single mother who's raising her son, Jamie. She enlists the help of two women – Abbie, a free-spirited punk artist, and Julie, a savvy teenager and Jamie's best friend – to help with his upbringing."
Why you should watch it: "This is the movie I always recommend to people when they're looking for something to watch. It feels like a warm hug. The entire film is so underrated (where was Annette Bening's Oscar nomination?!), and it has one of my favorite endings to any movie ever. I cry almost every time I watch it because it makes me feel so much love and hope and heartbreak. It also makes me feel nostalgic for something I've never even experienced, which is such a rare quality for a film. The whole movie will have you smiling so broadly that your cheeks will hurt. You're welcome."
—spenceralthouse
4. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
What it's about: "A silent film star falls for a chorus girl just as he and his delusionally jealous screen partner are trying to make the difficult transition to talking pictures in 1920s Hollywood."
Why you should watch it: "It's visually pretty, calming, and overall just a very happy movie."
—novacaineblues
What it's about: "A young artist, searching for his vocation, makes a mannequin so perfect he falls in love with it. Finding the mannequin in a store window, he gets a job there and his creation comes to life."
Why you should watch it: "It's a film that doesn’t have a single cynical bone in its body, and it’s a comedy where the humor never comes from the denigration of another person. It just makes me feel good."
—theumgawa
6. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
What it's about: "A writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge."
Why you should watch it: "The colorways and the story and the characters are just so charming. It's verrrrrry relaxing and fun watch."
What it's about: "Debbie Ocean gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City's annual Met Gala."
Why you should watch it: "You can’t go wrong with an all-women, high-value jewelry heist. It’s got a strong female cast (hello, Sandy Bullock), and some great comedic moments."
What it's about: "Georgia, who leads a life full of unfulfilled desires, is left shocked when she discovers her terminal illness. Soon, she quits her job, gathers her savings, and sets out on a luxurious trip to Europe."
Why you should watch it: "It's pure joy. Queen Latifah is too funny, and the movie is super heartwarming and is all about living life to the fullest, even if things don’t go as planned."
—shinykitten28
What it's about: "A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen companion agree to put up a false straight front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancé's right-wing, conservative parents."
Why you should watch it: "This is a movie that'll make you laugh out loud every time you watch it. I also think it's Robin Williams's best performance. It just puts me in a good mood."
—amandaf438
What it's about: "A stubborn man past his prime reflects on his life of strict independence and seeks more from himself."
Why you should watch it: "It stars an aging (and hot) Paul Newman, and the rest of the cast is fantastic too. You've got Jessica Tandy, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith. It's a sweet, funny hidden gem of a movie."
—c49a6795
What it's about: "A former detective and his wealthy wife investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it."
Why you should watch it: "It's an older 1930s comedy-mystery about the perfect married couple, Nick and Nora Charles. It's my favorite movie."
—glitteryangel852
12. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
What it's about: "A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek man and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity."
Why you should watch it: "This movie is SO funny and reminds me a ton of my own family (but in the best way possible). I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy it."
—abourke5615
13. The Princess Diaries (2001)
What it's about: "Mia Thermopolis has just found out that she is the heir apparent to the throne of Genovia. With her friends in tow, she tries to navigate through the rest of her 16th year."
Why you should watch it: "Besides being a nostalgia trip and super quotable, I think the presence of Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse also ties everything together. She's, like, the grandmother everyone needs."
—rojofeli
What it's about: "John Wick is a former hitman who's grieving the loss of his true love. When his home is broken into, robbed, and his dog killed, he is forced to return to action to exact revenge."
Why you should watch it: "No complicated drama, no dumb, screaming children, no helpless damsel in distress, no unearned plot twists. It's just a pissed-off dude steamrolling his way through enemies."
—smoothplatypus2991
15. Coming to America (1988)
What it's about: "An extremely pampered African prince travels to Queens, New York, and goes undercover to find a wife who he can respect for her intelligence and strong will."
Why you should watch it: "The writers' room for this movie must have been totally wild. Every joke is an ab murderer because you'll be laughing nonstop. Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall are forever goated."
—glitterycheerios
What it's about: "A detective investigates the death of the patriarch of an eccentric, combative family."
Why you should watch it: "Knives Out is definitely up there, especially if you love murder mysteries. It's super fun and easy to watch, and it's made with so much passion that it's hard to not enjoy it."
—madmarx22
17. And finally: She's the Man (2006)
What it's about: "When her brother decides to ditch for a couple of weeks, Viola heads over to his elite boarding school, disguised as him, and proceeds to fall for his school's star soccer player, she soon learns she's not the only one with romantic troubles."
Why you should watch it: "It's pure silly nostalgia, peak Amanda Bynes + Channing Tatum, and has so many quotable lines. The movie is inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, and it never fails to lift my mood."
Do you have your own comfort movie that wasn't mentioned above? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and clarity, and some are from this Reddit thread.
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