I have been a fan of Elsie + Emma from A Beautiful Mess for years, and I look forward to their podcast every Monday- especially their comfort rewatch episodes. They basically dissect their favorite comforting movies, with a focus on the interiors/sets.
In a recent episode, Emma mentioned that when it comes to comfort movies it’s wise to have a running list to refer to when you don’t know what to watch and need a sure thing. I’m paraphrasing her thoughts but it inspired me to make my own list- so here we go! Let’s dive into my go-to “comfort” movies.
I’m going to start with the Nora Ephron trifecta because to know them is to love them.
You’ve Got Mail (1998) | Starring: Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks
You’ve Got Mail is my all-time favorite movie. It’s the movie I’ve seen more than any other and it always leaves me feeling like I need to hop on a plane to New York City and open my own bookstore. The movie’s protagonist is Kathleen Kelly, a bookstore owner who enjoys the little things in life. She strikes up an online friendship with Joe Fox, who owes big bad Fox Books- that is on the brink of putting her out of business. The movie jumps between Kathleen and Joe- dueling business owners and Shopgirl and NY152- endearing chatroom pals. The ending sequence to Somewhere Over the Rainbow will stay with me forever.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993) | Starring: Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks
Sam Baldwin (Hanks) is a widower whose young son calls into a Seattle radio station pleading for help finding his dad a new wife. This makes him the most sought-after bachelor in America (who can resist a charming dad?) and Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) finds herself being pulled to Sam. It still blows my mind that Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks aren’t in a single scene together until the very last scene of the movie- atop the Empire State Building.
When Harry Met Sally (1989) | Starring: Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal
We all know the iconic “I’ll have what she’s having” scene from this film, but that’s just a small part of a movie about two unlikely friends (turned lovers). I usually don’t love a friends-to-lovers romance but this movie puts a realistic twist on it and I find Harry and Sally’s relationship so sweet and tender, yet heartbreaking at times. Not to mention Harry’s Chicago apartment is absolutely breathtaking.
Julie & Julia (2009) | Starring: Amy Adams and Meryl Streep
I know I said trifecta but I wouldn’t ignore Nora’s last masterpiece- Julie & Julia. Amy Adams plays Julie Powell, a novice chef who decides she’s going to spend a year cooking through Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” and documenting her journey on a blog. Readers fall in love with her vulnerability and she gains internet fame. I love the parallels between Julie and Julia’s lives and we need more movies about strong, talented, real women.
Speaking of talented women- let’s talk about Nancy Meyers…
The Holiday (2006) | Starring: Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet
I know The Holiday is technically a Christmas movie but I prefer to watch this all year round. Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and Iris (Kate Winslet) decide to switch homes for the holidays while they both deal with their perspective boy problems (I say boy because these are not men). They essentially switch lives for two weeks and both find themselves trying new things and exploring new parts of themselves. Romance aside, I just love how inspiring this movie is.
The Intern (2015) | Starring: Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro
When The Intern first came out I didnt realize it would be added to my comfort rewatch list, but so many things about this movie bring me joy. First of all Jules’ (Anna Hathaway) Brooklyn office is an actual dream. The interior brick and large windows are perfection. Ben (Robert De Niro) plays an elderly Intern at Jules fashion company, and he ends up being assigned to assist her. At first, she blows him off but they end up finding solace in each other and become fast friends. Their relationship is so incredibly sweet and I love that they take us through the ups and downs of being a young, female entrepreneur- trying to balance it all.
Set It Up (2018) | Starring: Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch
It baffles me this is a Netflix original as I find it to be better than most romantic comedies in theaters. Charlie (Glenn) and Harper (Zoey) play overworked assistants who set their bosses up to create more free time for themselves. Glenn and Zoey’s chemistry is unmatched. They seem to have so much fun together and are an effortless fit. I re-watch this movie more than I’d like to admit.
Knives Out (2019) | Starring: Ana de Armas and Daniel Craig
Knives Out is in no way a romantic comedy but there is something about this mystery that leaves me feeling so cozy. I’d venture to say this is the best movie house of them all. Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), a famous mystery author, is mysteriously found dead and every member of his family has a motive, because they were all cut out of the will. Harlan leaves his fortune, and home, to his nurse Mara (Ana). Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is hired to find the killer, and Marta ends up being his partner in crime as they deal with the Thrombey’s wrongdoings.
Sweet Home Alabama (2002) | Starring: Reese Witherspoon & Josh Lucas
I don’t rewatch this film as much as I want to because it’s never available on streaming, but it’s one of my favorite rom-coms of the early 2000s. Melanie (Reese) and Jake (Josh) play high school sweethearts, who are torn apart when Melanie moves to New York City to pursue her career and leave her hometown in the dust. She must return home to ask Jake for a divorce before she can marry the charming Andrew (Patrick Dempsey). We don’t get chemistry like Reese and Jake’s every day and it makes this film a masterpiece (as far as rom-coms are concerned).
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) | Starring: Kate Hudson & Matthew McConaughey
Speaking of the early 2000s rom-com era- I think we can all collectively agree that How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days made us all want drop everything to move to the city and write for a women’s magazine. Looking back, the fact that Andie (Kate) was 22, living in a gorgeous apartment, and wearing designer clothes is wildly inaccurate (but inspiring nonetheless). She is assigned to write a piece on how to get a man to dump with her in ten days- enter Benjamin (Matthew) who is on his own quest to make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days. The plot sounds insane but it somehow works and I still have daydreams of going to a fancy gala in borrowed jewels and a backless gold dress.
One Fine Day (1996) | Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer & George Clooney
One Fine Day is always overlooked on best romantic comedy round-ups. I was five when this movie came out but I grew to love it as I got older. Melanie (Michelle) plays a struggling single mom who is trying to balance her corporate job and taking care of her son. Jack (George) is a reporter, and single dad, who doesn’t spend enough time with his daughter. Their lives become intertwined one day when they both miss the boat for the school field trip. These two look phenomenal together and I’m sure single parents everywhere could relate to these two trying to balance romance, work, and parenthood.
The Family Stone (2005) | Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker & Diane Keaton
Like The Holiday, The Family Stone is technically a Christmas movie, but it focuses more on the family and less on the holiday, so I love to watch this all year round. Everett (Dermot) brings his uptight, city girlfriend Meredith (Sarah) home for Christmas to meet his territorial family. The matriarch of the family, Sybil (Diane) is sick and tensions are high throughout the house. Meredith calls in backup via her sister, Julie (Claire Danes) and this only adds to the drama. I love a good ensemble cast and this ensemble was exquisite.
Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) | Starring: Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone
This one was a sleeper hit for me. It’s much more heartwarming than one would expect. Cal (Steve Carrell) enlists the help of Cal (Ryan) to help him get his groove back after separating from his wife. They become fast friends until Cal finds out his daughter, Hannah (Emma) is seeing smooth-talker Cal. I love that this is not only about young romance but about reigniting love in a long-term marriage.
Rumor Has It (2005) | Starring: Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Costner
Sarah (Jennifer) makes a trip home to California for her sister’s wedding, where her grandma tells her that she inspired the iconic film- The Graduate. Sarah comes to realize this man, Beau (Kevin), may be her father so she seeks him out in a quest for answers. This movie is not based in reality but I love the generational aspect of it and it was cast perfectly.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) | Starring: Lily James & Amanda Seyfried
This is one of those rare instances where the sequel is better than the original. While I love Mamma Mia, with Meryl Streep, I adored how fun and exciting Here We Go Again was. In this film, we get the backstory on how Donna (Lily) ends up on the Greek island of Kalokairi and we see her flings with Harry, Bill, and Sam- all of which may be Sophie’s birth father. The musical numbers are so good in this and I truly enjoyed everyone’s performance.
New in Town (2009) | Starring: Renée Zellweger & Harry Connick Jr.
When I originally made this list I overlooked this film, which is crazy because it’s one of my most watched feel good movies. I’m going to assume you have to be from the Midwest to enjoy New in Town, however. Their Minnesotan accents are so comforting (and comical) to me. I also tend to like an opposites attract story, and we definitely get that in Lucy, a Florida businesswomen, and Ted, a working class foreman.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) | Starring: Meryl Streep + Anne Hathaway
This movie needs no introduction, but to refresh your memory it follows fish-out-of-water Andy as she navigates working as Editor in Chief Miranda Priestly’s assistant, at a high end fashion magazine. We all love a good makeover and Andy goes from your everyday gal to a chic New York City socialite. I find this moving comforting for many reasons. For one it’s set in New York City (like so many of the other movies I mentioned), but it’s also a story of losing yourself and finding what you really want- which is always inspiring!
I may add to this list as time goes on, but please sound off in the comments on what you’re favorite comfort re-watch is!
xx, Britta