The Great Escape
If the constant barrage of bad news has you down, maybe a little escapism can help lighten your mood… Check out these feel-good films from around the world for an uplifting distraction from our current reality.
Toni Erdmann
In this absurdist tale of estrangement, a practical joker visits his workaholic daughter in an attempt to rekindle their relationship.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, Austria, Monaco • 2016
- Director Maren Ade
- Cast Sandra Hüller, Peter Simonischek, Michael Wittenborn, Thomas Loibl, Trystan Pütter, Ingrid Bisu
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Wadjda
(وجدة)
After a fight with a neighborhood boy, Wadjda attempts to raise money for a bicycle to beat him in a race.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Germany • 2012
- Director Haifaa Al-Mansour
- Cast Reem Abdullah, Waad Mohammed, Abdullrahman Algohani, Ahd, Sultan Al Assaf, Dana Abdullilah
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
The Intouchables
(Intouchables)
In some friendships, opposites repel before they attract.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2011
- Director Olivier Nakache
- Cast François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Audrey Fleurot, Anne Le Ny, Clotilde Mollet, Alba Gaïa Bellugi
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Freevee, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
Slumdog Millionaire
What does it take to find a lost love? A. Money, B. Luck, C. Smarts, or D. Destiny?
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, United States, France • 2008
- Director Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan
- Cast Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor, Mia Drake Inderbitzin, Saurabh Shukla, Rajendranath Zutshi
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand
Amélie
(Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain)
A whimsical love letter to contemporary Parisian life in the form of an eccentric romantic comedy.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Germany • 2001
- Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Cast Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Jamel Debbouze, Claire Maurier, Isabelle Nanty
- Genre Comedy, Romance
- Available on Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
(लगान)
Local politics and colonial justice meet in a game of cricket.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- India • 2001
- Director Ashutosh Gowariker
- Cast Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajendranath Zutshi
- Genre Adventure, Drama, Music, Romance
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Monsoon Wedding
A four-day wedding celebration where love, lust and happiness take everyone by storm.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- India, United States, Italy • 2001
- Director Mira Nair
- Cast Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, Vijay Raaz, Tillotama Shome, Vasundhara Das
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Y Tu Mamá También
(Y tu mamá también)
Two teenage boys and an older woman embark on a road trip and learn about life — and each other.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Mexico • 2001
- Director Alfonso Cuarón
- Cast Maribel Verdú, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Diana Bracho, Verónica Langer, María Aura
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Hulu, IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel
Billy Elliot
A coal miner's eleven-year-old son abandons his boxing training to begin ballet classes.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, France • 2000
- Director Stephen Daldry
- Cast Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Jean Heywood, Jamie Draven, Gary Lewis, Stephen Mangan
- Genre Drama, Comedy, Music
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Yi Yi
(一一)
Each member of a family in Taipei asks hard questions about life's meaning as they face everyday dilemmas.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Taiwan, Japan • 2000
- Director Edward Yang
- Cast Wu Nien-Jen, Elaine Jin, Issei Ogata, Kelly Lee, Jonathan Chang, Hsi-Sheng Chen
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Criterion Channel, TCM, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
The Full Monty
You've never really thought about the expression bare-it-all until you've seen this.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, United States • 1997
- Director Peter Cattaneo
- Cast Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, William Snape, Steve Huison, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Barber
- Genre Comedy
- Available on Hulu, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, AMC on Demand
Babe
Babe is a pig raised by sheepdogs trying to learn how to herd sheep with help from Farmer Hoggett.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Australia, United States • 1995
- Director Chris Noonan
- Cast Christine Cavanaugh, Miriam Margolyes, Danny Mann, Hugo Weaving, Miriam Flynn, James Cromwell
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
- Available on Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand, AMC on Demand
Muriel's Wedding
A young social outcast steals her parents' money to finance a vacation to Sydney.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Australia, France • 1994
- Director P.J. Hogan
- Cast Toni Collette, Bill Hunter, Rachel Griffiths, Sophie Lee, Roz Hammond, Belinda Jarrett
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, AMC on Demand, Pluto TV, Hoopla
Kiki's Delivery Service
(魔女の宅急便)
A young witch goes on fantastic adventures as she runs her own delivery service.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 1989
- Director Hayao Miyazaki
- Cast Minami Takayama, Rei Sakuma, Kappei Yamaguchi, Keiko Toda, Mieko Nobusawa, Kôichi Miura
- Genre Animation, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Family
- Available on Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store
Cinema Paradiso
(Nuovo Cinema Paradiso)
A celebration of youth, friendship, and the everlasting magic of the movies.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France • 1988
- Director Giuseppe Tornatore
- Cast Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Marco Leonardi, Salvatore Cascio, Agnese Nano, Antonella Attili
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus, fuboTV, Epix Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
(Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios)
Spanish icon of cinema Pedro Almodovar's jaunty feminist masterpiece.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain • 1988
- Director Pedro Almodóvar
- Cast Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, Julieta Serrano, María Barranco, Rossy de Palma, Kiti Mánver
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand