It’s that time of year. The temperatures get colder, the clouds get heavier, and the cases of the seasonal blues start to kick in. But even though we’re all feeling a little down this season, that doesn’t mean it needs to take over our whole day. One of the best ways to kick a day of blues is to watch happy, joyful movies that make you smile. Here are a couple of my favorite movies I use to kick my seasonal funks:
- “Mamma Mia!”
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If you’re looking for a film to get up and move around to, “Mamma Mia!” is definitely the film for you. The film is set on a small island in Greece where a young girl, Sophie, and her mother, Donna, are planning a wedding with their close friends. Without her mother knowing, Sophie invites three mysterious men to her wedding, hoping to find her real father. Filled with upbeat music and dancing, this movie is perfect for those seasonal blues as its happy, upbeat storyline will cheer you up in a heartbeat.
- “Napoleon Dynamite”
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No feel-good movie list is complete without our dear “Napoleon Dynamite”. The story follows the extremely awkward Napoleon Dynamite who has trouble fitting in both at school and at home. As a result of this, he befriends Pedro, who knows little English, and together they embark on a journey to launch a campaign for class president. This film is definitely one of the best to help you with those seasonal blues with its comedic features, iconic lines, and classic jokes. It can cheer anyone up in a heartbeat.
- “The Princess Bride”
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Now, I’m not one for soapy romantic movies, but this film has always held a special place in my heart. While it has a cheesy romantic aspect, it also contains a great adventure, exceptional characters and iconic scenes. The film follows a fairy tale about a young princess and her long-lost love who become separated from each other. After years pass, Buttercup and Westly both get stuck in a wild adventure through the kingdom they live in attempts to reunite with each other. Yes, it totally sounds cheesy when you first read the description, but, trust me, it is such a classic and filled with so much delight to help beat those seasonal blues!
- “Booksmart”
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This option may be a lesser-known film in the movie world, but it is one of my ultimate personal favorites. The story follows Molly and Amy on the eve of their graduation as they come to realize that they have missed out on making teen memories throughout high school. Trying to live out the missed moments, they both set out on a crazy adventure before they leave the “teen world” forever. If you’re looking for a comedic, adventurous, coming of age film, this is definitely one you need to check out.
- “Clueless”
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The clothes, the time period, the storyline, the location- basically everything about this film is iconic! In this movie, we follow Cher, a rich, social and self-dedicated matchmaker who takes it upon herself to set up two teachers from her school. In doing so, she hopes to make life a little easier for the students as they are the two toughest teachers. As her matchmaking becomes a success, she then embarks on a journey to transform the klutzy new girl, Tai, into a socialite like herself, but Cher soon becomes jealous when Tai becomes more popular than her. This feel-good film is perfect for the seasonal blues when you’re looking for the right classic movie that’s not a full-on comedy or romance movie, but is right in the middle with some great, joyful vibes.
- “Mulan”
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“Mulan” is definitely not the most popular Disney princess, but she is definitely the most unique. Her willingness to defy gender norms to save not only her country, but also her whole family, is so inspiring. In the film, we follow a young girl named Mulan who is getting ready for a meeting with a local matchmaker woman in imperial China. But the events take a turn when she disguises herself as a man to save her father from serving in China’s imperial army. The message of the movie creates such a light for viewers, which helps bring a smile to anyone’s face, curing that seasonal funk.
- “The Sandlot”
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I’m not much of a baseball fan, but “The Sandlot” quickly became one of my favorite movies as a kid. The movie tells the story of Scotty Small as he reflects on his childhood summer of 1962, when he joined a self-made baseball team and gained a rowdy group of friends shortly after moving to a new town. It may not seem like a great film, but the characters’ wild adventures, their love for baseball and the quirky characters are sure to give you a quick smile and good laugh after a tough day.
The winter season may be tough, but these movies will sure help you through it!