A Glean movie guide
Pure Feel-Good Cinema
Movies that leave you smiling.
Uplifting stories, lighthearted adventures, and guaranteed happy endings.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Paddington 2
A relentlessly optimistic bear spreads kindness in this perfectly crafted, heartwarming masterpiece.
Paddington, now happily settled with the Browns, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy, but it is stolen.
- 02
The Princess Bride
This classic fairy tale adventure balances humor, romance, and wit in a way that never gets old.
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.
- 03
Chef
A low-stakes, soul-warming story about a chef rediscovering his passion and connecting with his son.
When Chef Carl Casper suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner, he is left to figure out what's next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife, his friend and his son to launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to reignite his passion for the kitchen -- and zest for life and love.
- 04
My Neighbor Totoro
A gentle, whimsical journey into childhood wonder that feels like a warm hug.
Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her.
- 05
School of Rock
High-energy, hilarious, and genuinely empowering, this film is pure fun from start to finish.
Fired from his band and hard up for cash, guitarist and vocalist Dewey Finn finagles his way into a job as a fifth-grade substitute teacher at a private school, where he secretly begins teaching his straight-A students the finer points of rock 'n' roll and the power of sticking it to the man. But as the school’s stern principal closes in and the Battle of the Bands looms, Dewey must risk everything to prove that rock 'n' roll can change lives.
- 06
Kiki's Delivery Service
A beautifully animated, cozy story about finding your independence and place in the world.
A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.
- 07
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
This unique, gentle film offers a profound and heartwarming look at life through a tiny, optimistic lens.
Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. When a documentarian discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, his resulting short film brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family.
- 08
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
The ultimate celebration of freedom and fun, perfect for when you need a lighthearted escape.
After high school slacker Ferris Bueller successfully fakes an illness in order to skip school for the day, he goes on a series of adventures throughout Chicago with his girlfriend Sloane and best friend Cameron, all the while trying to outwit his wily school principal and fed-up sister.
- 09
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
A charming, feel-good tale about the power of following your dreams, no matter your age.
A 1950s London cleaning lady falls in love with an haute couture dress by Christian Dior and decides to gamble everything for the sake of this folly.
- 10
Hidden Figures
An inspiring, triumphant true story that celebrates brilliance and perseverance.
The untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – brilliant African-American women working at NASA and serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.