What’s your go-to comfort movie? For me, the answer varies, depending on the situation. During the holidays, my favorite Christmas movie is “Eyes Wide Shut” by Stanley Kubrick (the director's final film.) I’ve never seen Christmas lights—twinkling, multi-colored bulbs that could double as gems—look like that onscreen before.
What’s real, what’s not? The central question at the heart of this movie eats you alive until the very last frame. Oh, and the real-life (at the time) starring couple, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise? They've never looked better, to my knowledge. Although, as far as holiday movies go, “The Year Without a Santa Claus”is a close second.
The Year Without A Santa Claus Spinning GIF by filmeditorGiphy
Whenever I feel down, sad, or overall pessimistic about life, I turn on “Defending Your Life,” Albert Brook’s feel-good comedy about the afterlife with a mega-stacked cast (hello, Meryl Streep! Hello, Rip Torn, an actor who has an absolutely perfect name!) Or, in moments when I want to turn off my brain and be thrown headfirst into a story, I know it’s time for “Slumdog Millionaire.”
There’s just a certain je ne se quois, a very specific type of solace, that comes from watching a good, reliable comfort movie. But what if you want to try something new? And can’t decide on what to watch because you’re so stressed out?
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That was the case with Reddit user @BiscottiPatient824, who sent out a plea to the subreddit r/movies, writing the following:
“I’m pretty stressed out lately and I’m looking for movies that are, in all aspects, calm and peaceful. It’s okay if it’s a little sad or bittersweet or even funny, but I’m looking for something with almost no tension. Most movies, even really calm ones like ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ have an act with a lot of tension and fighting, and I’m looking for a movie without that. The first examples I come up with are ‘Where is Marnie,’ which has beautiful scenery but is essentially devoid of big tension acts and it’s still great. Another example is ‘Lady Bird,’ which, even though it had some tension with the mom plot, is pretty easy and not stressful to watch. For a show counterpart, I’d say ‘Adventure Time,’ ‘Midnight Gospel,’ ‘Gumball,’ or ‘Hilda,’ since they’re mostly [whacky] adventures that get resolved easily (I’ve watched those like a 100x though, so that’s why I’m looking now.) Have a beautiful day, everyone!”
Whether you’re stressed or just looking for an easy comfort watch, read on for 7 of the very best user-submitted movies.
“Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out” (1989)
For a pleasant viewing experience, user @BoingBoingBooty recommends “Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out,” the first installment of the beloved British stop-motion animated series. At 23-minutes, this film is quite short and follows the always-hungry duo on a journey to the moon, where they hope to find cheese, of course. @BoingBoingBooty writes, “it’s the most cozy of all of the ‘Wallace and Gromit’ films," while @Status-Effort-9380 suggests one of the sequels, saying “The new ‘Wallace and Gromit’ movie on Netflix is SO DAMN GOOD. It’s a return to form. A million thumbs up.”
Wallace And Gromit Help GIF by Aardman AnimationsGiphy
“Perfect Days” (2023)
@DropCautious advises, “‘Perfect Days’ is the perfect ‘peaceful’ film.” Directed by Wim Wenders (and sporting a hot 96% on Rotten Tomatoes), this Japanese-language film is a certified comfort hit, and won the Oscar for Best International Feature in 2024. The synopsis seems serene enough: a man who cleans toilets in Tokyo carries a deep passion for music, books, and trees. Through a series of unexpected encounters, he gradually finds beauty in the everyday world around us.
More than a few Redditors agree, with @Enchess writing, “it is definitely a movie that’ll make you feel sad at points, but [it’s a] wonderful movie that never feels ‘tense.’” @Captainrhythm echoes this, but adds an urgent message: “I highly recommend putting distractions down and focusing on the movie completely; carve out some uninterrupted time. It’s slow, but there are small details that are important to really absorb the movie.”
“Chef” (2014)
I remember when “Chef” came out—at the time, everyone praised Jon Favreau's slice-of-life film for being one the greatest “foodie” movies ever made. It’s also quite wholesome! The whole cast is amazing (think Dustin Hoffman, Sofía Vergara, and John Leguizamo), and Favreau himself plays a fancy chef who jumps into the food-truck business—a move that reignites his fiery passion for cooking. Other than the restaurant industry, there is no direct villain in this story. “I watched it expecting some sort of antagonist to appear, since that’s how all movies are written, but nope, just driving cross country, making good food and good friends along the way,” praises @LegendaryOutlaw.
User @waynechriss thinks it’s an A+ comfort movie, writing “there’s slight tension at the beginning, but then it’s smooth sailing with fun characters, great food, and food culture.”
Yum Yum Chefs Kiss GIF by Nick JonasGiphy
“The Straight Story” (1999)
For @Spencaa95, “The Straight Story” is “unironically” their “favorite Lynch film.” Directed by David Lynch and edited/produced by his longtime partner, Mary Sweeney, this movie is a slow-paced tale about reconnecting with long-lost family. It’s based on Alvin Straight’s (played by Richard Farnsworth) true story, an Iowan who drove his riding-mower tractor across much of the state and part of Wisconsin to reunite with his estranged brother.
“This is a great movie and could be titled ‘An Old Guy Drives His Lawnmower Across the State,” writes @jimgogek. “Beautifully filmed (like the thunderstorm and [when] he drives into the abandoned barn), and such understated performances. And the ending with Harry Dean Stanton!”
@g0dzillam0nster joins in, “came here to recommend this. This is sad in parts, but generally very chill and sweet.” And @ItsSoLitRightNow recalls a sweet memory about the late director: “Back in the day, I remember buying this on DVD and there were no chapter/scene stops,” they write. “Inside was a note from David Lynch that said ‘Films aren’t meant to be consumed in parts, but as a whole.’”
David Lynch Cinema GIF by SITGES - International Fantastic Film Festival of CataloniaGiphy
“Local Hero” (1983)
According to @Worldly_Science239, the charmingly low-key and heartwarming Scottish cinema classic, “Local Hero,” is one of the “most perfect, gentle films.” Written and directed by Bill Forsyth, the movie is about an up-and-coming Houston oil executive who gets “more than he bargained for” when a simple trip to Scotland changes his outlook on life.
User @TerraNovaNC chimed in, “Great movie, wonderful characters, beautiful scenery, and great soundtrack, too. Very chill, funny, and leaves you feeling like everything is going to be alright.”
Later, the original endorser, @Worldly_Science239, returns to the thread: “Even though it’s absolutely not, [“Local Hero”] has almost become a Christmas movie for me. Well, more accurately, it’s become a film to watch during Christmas and New Years. It has just the right level of comfort and wistfulness.”
"Wistfulness is such a good word," adds @Additional-Car-9746.
“The World’s Fastest Indian” (2005)
Anthony Hopkins plays New Zealand speed bike racer Burt Munro in this biographical sports drama. Based on a true story, the story is set in 1967, when Burt attempts to set a new world’s record for speed. Reddit users adore this movie, with @eyeballtourist describing it as “a sweet flick with no bad guys. Everyone helps the protagonist.” User @withoutapaddle praises Hopkins performance, saying “Anthony Hopkins in a gentle and good-spirited role is so nice. Makes you realize how much range he has.”
And @Nick_Here_to_Talk enjoys the film’s plot. “I absolutely love how this movie plays with audience expectations. Every minute, you’re just waiting for the other show to drop and it just never, ever does," they write.
Where Are You Waiting GIF by This GIF Is HauntedGiphy
“Jiro Dreams of Sushi” (2012)
A documentary endorsement! @colemaker360 recommends their go-to comfort watch, “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” which peers into the life of revered Japanese sushi chef Jiro Ono. “‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ is a really enjoyable and engaging story, even if sushi isn’t your thing,” they write.
Although Jiro lives in the world of high-end sushi, the documentary reveals a universal tale: a man with a dogged passion, who works relentlessly at it day after day, year after year. He achieves success beyond his wildest dreams... but what is the price of that perfection?
For @veracity8_, it’s Jiro’s pursuit of a “good” life that interests them: “The first time I watched it, I thought it was a cute and simple story about a man obsessed with high-quality sushi," they write. "The second time I watched it, it felt more like a man [who] was just obsessed with work and missed every other aspect of life in pursuit of professional success. I think the reality is somewhere in between.”
User @matchabitch-, meanwhile, recalls their introduction to the movie: “You just gave me a flashback to when my sister and I went to some random house party and the hosts had [‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’] on in some back room. We ended up sitting down and watching the whole thing with the sounds of drunk college kids and beer pong in the background.”
GIF by Independent LensGiphy
So, what's your favorite comfort movie? Did it make the list?
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