What's your go-to comfort film?
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 8:00AM 
In her rock bottom, Kristen Wiig finds unexpected comfort with CAST AWAY in BRIDESMAIDS.Whether in personal heartbreaks, national tragedies, or even global catastrophies, cinema has given comfort to viewers all over the world. Time and time again, several films - from Christmas classics to rom-com favorites - have found a life not necessarily because they are deemed to be the best (although some of them are), but because these films have the capacity to be watched on a more casual setting while they are watched out of enjoyment, and most importantly, comfort. In this time of uncertainty, from the events of the last few years down to what just transpired days ago, cinema has the capacity to uplift us and make us look for the silver lining in these tough times. I would like to ask you, dear reader: what is your go-to comfort film?...
I'm asking this as someone who - even if I consider myself a stone-cold cinephile - have never really had a comfort film. Weird, right? Whenever I feel down and bad, I usually turn to television for comfort. It's either watching clips of the Filipino variety show It's Showtime or random episodes of the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale, both shows give me comfort but through vastly different ways. The former is one of the few things that make me genuinely laugh (to the point of tummy aches and having to catch my breath) while the latter allows me to confront terrifying times by seeing a worst-case scenario and hopefully, finding our own strength in the process.
Would love to have a film that gives the same warmth as Jennifer Lopez's fur coat from HUSTLERS.
Which films do you watch whenever you want to feel better?
Reader Comments (22)
Jackie Brown, Working Girl, Broadcast News.
Riding in Cars with Boys, Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy, Miss Congeniality, Monster-in-Law
All About Eve
Beetlejuice
Cabaret
Death Becomes Her
Diabolique (1955)
Dog Day Afternoon
Jules et Jim
New York, New York
A Place in the Sun
Rebecca
Sissi (1955)
Sunset Blvd.
Victor/Victoria
There's this amazing rom-com directed by Lubitsch with Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert, Bluebeard's Eighth Wife. I think I've seen it more than 20 times. A close second is Preston Sturges' The Lady Eve, with Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda.And Moonstruck.
Don’t get me started on 1930s and 1940s comedies and musicals…
DK - I am so shocked I'm not the only person to say Broadcast News. I've watched it my whole life. Even the cranky old lady who ran the local video store was curious that this 7 year old kept renting it.
The Accidental Tourist is another one (same cranky confused lady renting it out to little me frequently.)
Nashville
All About Eve
Pretty much all of the Universal Monsters, but Bride of Frankenstein in particular.
Jurassic Park
Elvira Mistress of the Dark
Anything Muppets
Twister
Galaxy Quest
I could go and on
My comfort movies are relatively recent comedies I enjoy... Clueless, School of Rock, You've Got Mail, That Thing You Do!, Bridesmaids. The latest addition to the list is Barbie.
I guess I'm dating myself by labeling these '90s movies as "relatively recent," but if I saw them in a theater, they're recent!
1940's Rebecca if i'm in the mood for a classic
Priscilla Queen of the Desert for laughs
Alien for sci fi/horror
Fatal Attraction for thrills
The Bridges of Madison County for weepy drama
The first three that pop up in my mind are Existenz, Hereditary and No country for old men
Clue. Also my favorite film.
Sister Act is a good one too.
My Cousin Vinny
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Sum of Us
Muriel’s Wedding
Kiki’s Delivery Service can always put a smile on my face in the darkest of times, and the plot theme of having to learn how to pick yourself up and grow and move on despite everything going on around you that’s out of your control always resonates
Happy-Go-Lucky always works for me!
"Working Girl".
The movie of my childhood. ❤️
The Station Agent
Dirty Dancing
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Adams Family Values
When Harry Met Sally
The Devil Wears Prada
Late 50s early 60s Doris Day comedies
Working Girl
Fatal Attraction
Body Double
Suspiria (1977)
The rocky Horror PIcture Show
Juan Carlos - I’m like you and turn to television. Absolutely Fabulous can always make me laugh no matter how down I am.
The Sound of Music and White Chicks. I know....
My comfort films feature horror, tragedy, and catharsis.
May
Saint Maud
American Mary
A Dark Song
Totally agree with Mr Ripley79 but I will add Blue Jasemine for my 'great actressing' fix.
Every dance movie with Fred Astaire, esp. The Bandwagon and Funny Face.
Atomic Blonde.
The Old Guard, The Transporter, A Good Year, Practical Magic.
It’s Network for me. Whenever it is on TV, I always end up watching it and never changing the channel.