10 Movies To Watch When You’re Depressed

The Princess Bride (1987)

“Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles” — this fairy tale classic has it all. Starring Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, and Andre the Giant, The Princess Bride shows how even the most difficult obstacles can’t stop true love. The film is all at once comical, adventurous, and delightful. “Inconceivable!”

Big Hero 6 (2014)

This is an animated film about a teenage robotics genius who activates a robot that befriends him during a time of crisis. While most robots are seen as cold and incapable of human emotions, Baymax is loveable, huggable and endearing. It’s a tough story about growing up but serves to reinforce the idea that friendship is forever.

Love, Actually (2003)

Love Actually is a worldwide favorite that takes place five weeks before Christmas. The romcom features Liam Neeson, Keira Knightly, Bill Nighy, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, and Emma Thompson. The film aims a lens at different aspects of love as it exists in 10 different stories with characters who are all linked in some way. It’s not sappy in the least, and each of the stories is both heartbreaking yet hopeful all at the same time.

Forrest Gump (1994)

Tom Hanks won an Academy Award for his portrayal of the simple, endearing Forrest Gump, who never saw himself as anything but normal thanks to the love and support of his mother. As a child, he falls in love with his neighbor Jenny, and the film takes us through his life to adulthood and his and Jenny’s eventual marriage. You’ll cry your eyes out but you’ll be left feeling overwhelming joy, too.

Amelie (2001)

Young, single Parisian Amelie works in a café and leads a rather dull life. One day, she discovers a small tin box hidden in a wall in her apartment and sets out on a mission to find its owner. Once she does, it compels her to keep doing good for herself and others. Amelie is a charming, relatable character, and the story is sunny enough to cheer anyone out of the doldrums.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Just imagining a giant chocolate factory is amazing enough in itself, but stepping into the shoes of the kids lucky enough to be let loose in that factory is a dream all kids (and adults) had once they viewed this classic film that starred Gene Wilder as Mr. Wonka himself. “There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination… Living there, you’ll be free if you truly wish to be,” Wonka sings to his visitors. It works if you’re a kid, an adult, or a senior.

The Birdcage (1996)

This classic comedy film stars Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Christine Baransky, and Hank Azaria. While its themes are serious, life lessons are taught in a riotously humorous way without losing the depth and importance of each. Partners Robin Williams and Nathan Lane run a drag club in Miami and try to pass for straight when their son announces his engagement to a senator’s daughter. Watch out for Agador Spartacus!

Grease (1978)

This is a classic boy-meets-girl high school love story set in the 1950s. Starring John Travolta as bad boy Danny Zucco and Olivia Newton John as the virginal Sandy, the film takes us from their initial shy meeting to her eventual transformation to a motorcycle babe that ends in an end-of-year senior student celebration. The music soundtrack landed at the top of the charts and will surely get you humming.

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

In this animated classic by Hayao Miyazaki, young Sophie is a talented hatmaker who meets Howl, a wizard who lives in a magical, flying castle. An evil witch grows jealous and turns Sophie into an old woman, and Howl must find out how to reverse the spell and get rid of the witch. It’s a fairy tale for both kids and adults, and speaks to the idea of true love rising above all things superficial.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

This is a moving documentary on the life of Fred Rogers and his PBS show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which ran for decades for good reason. His gentle, truthful nature was key in teaching kids (and adults) the importance of love, respect, and acceptance. His song “It’s You I Like” resonates with lyrics such as “I hope that you’ll remember, even when you’re feeling blue… that it’s you I like, it’s you yourself, it’s you. It’s you I like.” And when you see him sing this and other songs as he looks directly at the camera, you’ll swear that he’s singing directly to you. Because he is.

Depression is a condition that should not be taken lightly. If you have symptoms of despondency, weakness, anger, frustration or sadness that don’t ease within a few days, reach out to your friends and family for support. You don’t need to feel or be alone. Visit www.mentalhealth.net. Help is just a phone call away.