14 Movies That’ll Cheer You Up
We asked entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders to share their go-to movie for a pick-me-up and their favorite scene from it. From Silver Linings Playbook to Little Miss Sunshine, discover the 14 uplifting movie moments that never fail to cheer up these professionals.
- Silver Linings Playbook
- Crazy, Stupid, Love
- The Pursuit of Happyness
- Toy Story
- When Harry Met Sally
- Groundhog Day
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
- The Princess Bride
- Erin Brockovich
- Up
- Avengers: Endgame
- Purple Rain
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
- Little Miss Sunshine
Silver Linings Playbook
One of my all-time favorite movies is Silver Linings Playbook, directed by David O. Russell. It’s a complete experience to watch and has so many life lessons subtly woven into it. It revolves around the story of a father and son who never get along, but they have mirror personalities.
One of the most beautiful themes of the film is the relationship between love and loss. One can only heal from such an experience if one accepts what has happened and is open to what life offers.
The cast itself is stellar, and each one of them has justified their roles. However, the best scene is when the entire family watches Pat and Tiffany perform. They also watch a football match because they’ve placed their bets on both scenarios. It’s a beautiful realization of the importance of love, acceptance, and overcoming mental strain.
Elisa Bender
Co-founder, RevenueGeeks
Crazy, Stupid, Love
It’s a romantic comedy about relationships and family dynamics with an excellent cast that includes Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, and Emma Stone.
There are a ton of funny and great scenes, but my favorite scene from the movie comes up near the end of the movie (no spoilers!) when the different stories intertwine. It’s really just a super fun, funny, light, and entertaining movie.
Roksana Bielecka
Community Manager, ResumeHelp
The Pursuit of Happyness
Based on a true story, it’s a poignant narrative of struggle, perseverance, and ultimately triumph against all odds. My favorite scene is the film’s climax, where Chris Gardner, portrayed by Will Smith, finds out he’s landed the job. The wave of relief and joy that washes over him at that moment always leaves me feeling hopeful and motivated.
Burak Özdemir
Founder, Online Alarm Kur
Toy Story
Toy Story is a movie that always cheers me up. My favorite scene is the “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” montage. It captures the joy and friendship between Woody and Buzz as they navigate their adventures together.
The song is catchy, and the scene is filled with humor and heartwarming moments. It reminds me of the importance of friendship and the power of sticking together through thick and thin.
Ben Lau
Founder, Featured SEO Company
When Harry Met Sally
One of my favorite movies to watch is When Harry Met Sally (1989) because it closely mirrors the romance my wife and I experienced. The movie’s last scene almost exactly describes our love story when Sally says, “We were friends for a long time … and then we fell in love.”
Similarly, my wife and I were just friends for a couple of years. Then we became best friends for a long time. And then we fell in love. We’ve had our two kids watch the movie so they could experience a similar story about us that they weren’t present to see.
In 1994, I asked my wife to marry me on the Eiffel Tower while I completed my last year of architecture school in Paris. Harry captured my feelings perfectly in his quote, “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
We were married six weeks after I returned. We’ve been married for 29 years, and we’re still in love. Thank you, Nora Ephron, for writing such a perfect love story!
Mark Shattuck
Owner and President, Dream Home Studio, Inc.
Groundhog Day
This is easily my favorite movie of all time. No matter what mood I am in, I will be even better after I watch it. My favorite scene is when Phil Connors is coming to terms with repeating Groundhog Day repeatedly.
Phil is in the diner with a table full of unhealthy but delicious-looking food. He is going to town on the food when Rita comes in, and she is truly appalled by his apparent hedonism. When the server asks Phil if he wants more coffee, he signals it over and drinks it straight from the pot.
He pulls out a cigarette and lights it up. All this over a contemplative dialogue about the meaning of life, time, and choices.
Trevor Ewen
COO, QBench
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
My go-to movie to cheer me up and reset my mindset is always the 1971 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Gene Wilder will always be the all-time greatest Willy Wonka, and the nostalgia of watching this since I was a child really cheers me up.
My favorite scene that always resonates with me is when Gene Wilder sings “Pure Imagination” while introducing the guests to the inner workings of his chocolate factory.
I’m instantly transported back to feeling like a small child with no stress and letting my imagination go wherever it wants. I’ll just watch that scene to reset my emotional state so I can work through whatever I’m dealing with.
Mark Smith
Program Chair, University of Advancing Technology
The Princess Bride
This is a classic movie that has stood the test of time as a beloved family film. It’s a great pick-me-up movie, with plenty of humor and adventure. My favorite scene is the classic sword fight between Inigo Montoya and the Man in Black.
It’s a perfectly choreographed fight scene that balances humor and excitement, and the payoff at the end is incredibly satisfying. Overall, The Princess Bride is a movie that always puts a smile on my face and leaves me feeling happy and fulfilled.
Basana Saha
Founder, KidsCareIdeas
Erin Brockovich
This is a movie that always puts me in high spirits. The scene where Erin, played by Julia Roberts, uncovers evidence of water contamination, highlights the importance of diligent investigation. It motivates me to seek truth and justice relentlessly in my profession.
Dilruba Erkan
Consultant, Morse Decoder
Up
I can certainly understand why many people find the movie Up uplifting. The favorite scene for many is the heartwarming montage that showcases the love story of Carl and Ellie. This sequence takes viewers on an emotional journey through their life together, from their dreams of adventure to the challenges they face.
It beautifully captures their bond, emphasizing the importance of love, friendship, and cherishing precious moments. The touching storytelling and poignant visuals make this scene a memorable and uplifting moment in the film.
Roy Lau
Co-founder, 28 Mortgage
Avengers: Endgame
One movie that always brings a smile to my face is Avengers: Endgame. There’s a scene in this movie that I absolutely love—it’s the climactic battle where all the heroes come together to save the universe.
This scene is incredible because it showcases the powers, teamwork, and determination of our beloved characters. They fight side by side, showing us the importance of unity and never giving up. The action sequences are thrilling, and there are also emotional moments and triumphant victories that make you cheer for the heroes.
It’s like a big celebration of everything we love about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This scene reminds us that when we work together and believe in ourselves, we can overcome any challenge. It’s a truly epic moment that leaves you feeling inspired and filled with excitement.
Irina Poddubnaia
CEO and Founder, TrackMage
Purple Rain
Purple Rain is a favorite movie that cheers me because the music is amazing and my favorite artist of all time, Prince, is in it. When the movie first came out, I recall my cousin and I going to her friend’s house, listening to the album, and learning all the words to the songs.
When I saw the movie at the theater, I sang along with every song. It is among my movie collection today and I am not ashamed to say I know a lot of the script from memory. My favorite scene is when Prince awakens the next morning after his father’s attempted suicide.
He gets up, walks with swagger to the room with the piano and radio, inserts a cassette, plays the song, stops, and then replays the song strumming the piano keys and creating a melodious sound as he looks up toward the window with the sunshine shining on him.
Natasha White
Self-Care Wellness Facilitator, New You Wellness
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
One movie that never fails to cheer me up is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013). This film, directed by and starring Ben Stiller, tells the story of a daydreamer named Walter Mitty who embarks on an extraordinary adventure to find a missing photograph and discover his true self.
My favorite scene from the movie is when Walter finally musters the courage to confront his fears and jumps into the ocean to save his friend, Sean O’Connell. As he plunges into the water, the scene transitions into a beautifully shot, surreal sequence, accompanied by uplifting music. This moment captures Walter’s transformation from an ordinary man living in his own imagination to a courageous individual who takes risks to live life to the fullest.
This scene resonates with me because it symbolizes the power of stepping out of our comfort zones, facing our fears, and embracing life’s adventures. It reminds me we all have the potential to overcome obstacles and make a difference in our own lives.
Will Gill
Event Entertainer, DJ Will Gill
Little Miss Sunshine
My favorite cheer-up movie is Little Miss Sunshine. Although it’s bittersweet, I love how it balances quirky humor and emotional depth.
When 7-year-old Olive Hoover qualifies for a beauty pageant, the whole family supports her. They set off in their camper for the trip from Albuquerque to California. The Hoovers encounter absurd situations on their road trip, which makes me laugh but also provokes thinking about life priorities.
The movie always reminds me that family—even dysfunctional and baffling, like Olive’s or mine—is the glue that holds us together. With love and unconditional support, we can overcome any challenges. It also sends an important message about self-acceptance. It’s okay not to be okay, to make mistakes, and we can find beauty in imperfections. Winning isn’t everything.
My favorite scene is when Olive’s grandpa comforts her when she’s feeling insecure about herself. He tells her she’s the most beautiful girl in the entire world. My heart melts every time I watch it.
Agata Szczepanek
Community Manager, MyPerfectResume
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