Feel-Good Movies for Monday Blues are literally the only reason I didn’t yeet my alarm clock out the window this morning. I’m writing this from my sagging IKEA couch in Columbus, Ohio, where the radiator’s clanking like it’s auditioning for a horror movie and my left sock has been missing since Thursday. Like, I woke up at 11:47 AM—again—because my body decided “executive dysfunction” is my new personality trait. Anyway, these flicks? They’re my emotional support carbohydrates.
Why Feel-Good Movies to Beat the Monday Blues Actually Work (For My Messed-Up Brain)
Look, I’m not gonna pretend I’m some wellness guru. Last Monday I cried because my toast landed butter-side down. But these movies? They hack my dopamine like nobody’s business. Science probably backs this up but I’m too lazy to Google it right now.
- The serotonin drip is real: Unlike doomscrolling X at 2 AM, these give happy chemicals without the existential dread
- Zero emotional labor: No subtitles, no “what does it all mean” vibes—just vibes
- Permission to rot: Society says “touch grass,” these say “touch the remote and emotionally regulate”
My Top 10 Feel-Good Movies to Beat the Monday Blues (Tested Via Actual Meltdowns)
1. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – When My Daydreams Need Daydreams
This one hits different when you’re 32 and your biggest adventure was finding street parking. I watched it last Tuesday while eating cereal with a fork because all my spoons were dirty. The Iceland scenes made me Google “how much to move to Reykjavik” at 3 AM. Spoiler: too much.
2. Paddington 2 – For When Adulting Feels Like a Crime
No joke, I cried harder at Paddington’s prison marmalade empire than at my last breakup. My neighbor’s kid left a stuffed bear on my doorstep after I helped them find their cat. Now Mr. Bear watches movies with me. We’re both emotionally unstable but polite about it.
3. School of Rock – When Imposter Syndrome Needs a Guitar Solo
Dewey Finn is basically me if I gave up and started lying professionally. Watched this after bombing a work presentation—Jack Black screaming “YOU’RE NOT HARDCORE UNLESS YOU LIVE HARDCORE” while I stress-ate gas station sushi. 10/10 healing.
4. About Time – The One That Makes Me Call My Mom
Time travel rom-com where the dad is Bill Nighy? I’m sobbing into my hoodie by minute 30. Made the mistake of watching this the Monday after my actual dad texted “we need to talk.” Turns out he just wanted my Netflix password. Classic.
5. The Lego Movie – Everything is NOT Awesome (But Pretend It Is)
“Everything is awesome” becomes my dissociative mantra when my bank account looks like abstract art. The part where Emmet’s just a regular guy? That’s my TED Talk. Also Batman is moody™ like me before coffee.
Feel-Good Movies to Beat the Monday Blues: The Mid-List Crisis
Okay I’m digressing but my Uber Eats driver just complimented my “vibe” which is code for “you look like you haven’t left this apartment since the Obama administration.” Moving on.
6. Amélie – For When Social Anxiety Needs French Accents
The garden gnome traveling the world? That’s my emotional support passport. I tried recreating her crème brûlée scene and set off my smoke detector. My fire alarm now speaks French: “EVACUEZ IMMÉDIATEMENT.” Romantic.
7. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – When You Need to Believe in Multiple You’s
Miles Morales leap of faith = me finally answering work emails. The animation makes my ADHD brain go brrrrr in the best way. Also Brooklyn looks way cooler than Ohio. Rude.
8. The Grand Budapest Hotel – Aesthetic Copium
Wes Anderson’s color palette is basically SSRIs in movie form. I pause to screenshot the lobby like 47 times. My apartment will never look like this but a girl can manifest.
9. Crazy Rich Asians – For When Broke Feels Personal
The mahjong scene lives rent-free in my head. Watched this after my credit card got declined at Aldi. Michelle Yeoh could step on me and I’d thank her. The food scenes made me order $47 of dumplings at 2 AM. Worth it.
10. Hunt for the Wilderpeople – When You Want to Disappear Into New Zealand
Taika Waititi understands that sometimes you just need Sam Neill and a chubby kid to make wilderness survival look wholesome. I quote “majestical” weekly. My dating profile says “looking for my Uncle Hec” and that’s on childhood trauma.
How to Make Feel-Good Movies to Beat the Monday Blues Your Whole Personality
Pro tips from someone whose personality is 87% streaming content:
- Create the nest: Three blankets minimum, one must be weighted like your emotional baggage
- Snack hierarchy: Start with ice cream, end with something that requires a fork so you feel accomplished
- No skipping intros: The Netflix “skip intro” button is a trap—let those opening credits wash over you like baptism
- Phone in another room: Or don’t, I’m not your mom (mine’s in Florida living her best life)
The Inevitable Crash After Feel-Good Movies to Beat the Monday Blues
The credits roll and reality slaps harder than my student loan notifications. But here’s the thing—these movies don’t fix anything, they just make the broken parts glitter for 90 minutes. And sometimes that’s enough to shower. Or at least change socks.
Anyway, your turn. What’s your go-to feel-good movie to beat the Monday blues? Drop it in the comments before my dog eats another remote. Or don’t—I’m going back to my couch. The radiator’s doing that thing again.
Still here? Go watch something that makes your chest feel warm. And maybe text your mom. Or don’t. I’m literally wearing yesterday’s pizza as a hat right now.
Outbound links:
- Paddington 2’s perfect Rotten Tomatoes score because validity
- Spider-Verse’s Oscar win for the culture
