During winter, and especially at the time of holidays, it is a great time to watch movies that make us feel good. They warm our hearts along with our hot cocoa by the fireplace. These are films that teach us about the good of humanity. They sometimes have sad scenes, but they have happy moments that make the sad parts all the more meaningful. We see families reunite, bad people become good, and grudges against each other finally put to rest.
A lot of folks need films like these, just to remember that the world is not such a bad place. Here are ten films that are heartwarming for this holiday season.
Klaus
This new Netflix original does not only have breathtaking animation, but a very sweet story and fun characters. It is an origin story for Santa Claus, from the point of view of a mailman. He is assigned to a community that has been at war for a very long time, and no one sends mail to each other anymore. However, he meets Klaus, who wants to give children toys. So he uses Klaus to get children to send mail and they receive gifts.
The little acts of kindness slowly changes and challenges the community. It is very sweet, and there are definitely some tear-jerking moments. Klaus makes a fantastic character as he is mysterious, intimating-looking and but very kind.
Big Fish
This film tells the story of a son who is trying to find out the truth behind his father’s ridiculous stories. His father was always a story-teller, but as the son grew up, be got frustrated with the crazy stories because there was no way they could be true. So he goes on a journey while his father is dying to see what the truth is.
What he discovers is not quite that is father was lying, but that his stories were based on his reality in surprising ways. He has a fantastic life that is full of wonder. It is one of those films that show that regular life can be magical, as much as others may not believe it.
Coco
Pixar’s film has gotten a lot of attention, and it was well-deserved. The main character loves music, but his family rejects all music ever since their musician’s ancestor doomed their family by taking off and leaving mysteriously.
The main character goes on a journey to the land of the dead to reconnect with his musician ancestor. However, things take some interesting turns, and one of the final scenes is incredibly heartwarming and is hard to watch with dry eyes.
Little Miss Sunshine
This charming film is about a dysfunctional family road-trip to a pageant for little girls. The main character, Olive, wants to be in the competition and the family all drive a long distance to get her there. They all of their own issues but band together for Olive, which is adorable.
The lesson of the film is that beauty contests suck and that people should just be allowed to do what they love without contest. The family slowly realizes that the pageant is not meant for people like Olive, but they go through it with her anyway and stand up for her.
Amelie
Often called a “quirky fairytale,” this French-romance film from 2001 was loved for its whimsical and playful tone. The main protagonist had a tragic childhood and tries to get over all that by being someone who gives to others in need.
She does not just give to the needy though, as she finds very creative and interesting ways to create happiness in others. The film has won numerous awards and it would be no surprise for it to end up as a number one favorite film for some.
The Breakfast Club
If you have never heard of this film, get out of the rock that you’ve been under. This movie from the 80s created a legacy that has influenced many films after it. The story is that five students of different high school cliques end up in detention together. They are the sort of people who would never hang out together in the cafeteria, but detention together makes them realize that they are not so different from each other, and they all become friends.
Tokyo Godfathers
This anime film is a story about three homeless individuals finding a baby in a dumpster around Christmas. The three of them decide to go on a journey to find the infants’ mother. It is not considered a Christmas classic, but it should be for its beautiful scenes, acts of compassion, and humor. The characters are all engaging and despite having a lot of issues of their own, they decide to help those in need that they meet on their quest.
My Life As A Zucchini
This movie balances both dark and heartwarming themes. The main character goes to an orphanage and the film is about his life there. While all the kids have depressing backstories, the orphanage is like one big family. They support each other and are not afraid to fight for one another as well.
The style is very quirky, and the film is French so it is also a great choice for those studying French. The film won many awards and it is available on Netflix.
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is one of the most famous movies of all time, and part of that reason is that it’s just plain sweet. It is from the point of view of Forrest, who has a very low I.Q. Despite not being conventionally smart, he has a lot of heart. The film is the story of his life, which has seen a ton of North American history such as war, protest, and death. Since he is not the sharpest tool in the drawer, Forrest sees the world as a rather simple place and it is refreshing narrative, especially when he sees a lot of darkness.
Juno
This coming-of-age comedy was a major hit in 2007 due to its personality, soundtrack, and humor. The protagonist, Juno, is a pregnant teenager and the story is just about her journey through that pregnancy and the decisions she has to make. In the unwanted-pregnancy sub-genre of storytelling, Juno walked the tightrope between the pro-life and pro-choice argument without much controversy, which is pretty amazing. The main character was cool and witty, and definitely made Ellen Page a highly sought out actress since.
