Glowing to the movies
Mirror critic picks his top 50 feelgood films
Tom Hanks’ weepie Forrest Gump was yesterday named our favourite feelgood film, thanks to its charming story of unrequited love and friendship over the decades.
The nationwide poll, part of the Must See #Film With Feels campaign, also placed 1985’s Back To the Future second, with just two films from the last decade in the top 10 – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Beauty and the Beast.
But is Oscar-winner Tom’s dimwitted Forrest really the first man Brits turn to for a pick-me-up? While many agree, others don’t – so here’s my list of the best 50 feelgood films of all time...
1. Groundhog Day (1993)
In this comic masterpiece Bill Murray’s weatherman has to live the same day over and over until he learns to be a better person. Andie McDowell plays his straight man in the romcom you can watch again and again.
2. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds make ’em laugh and laugh in the best of the MGM musicals.
3. Airplane! (1980)
With the highest gag rate in cinema, this is a first-class flight of fun. Yes, I’m serious, and don’t call me Shirley. Stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges
and Leslie Nielsen. 11
4. Grease (1978)
Olivia Newton John and John Travolta were the ones we all wanted to be in this rock ’n’ roll school musical.
5. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
The British romcom made Hugh Grant a superstar and is a funny tribute to the trials and tribulations of tying the knot.
6. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
No one ever had as much fun skipping school as Matthew Broderick does when he “borrows” his best friends’ dad’s Ferrari in director John Hughes’ comedy.
7. Pretty Woman (1990)
Despite being a romance between a prostitute and a smooth-talking corporate shark, the star power of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere saw this breezy Cinderella story win audiences.
8. Disney’s The Jungle Book (1967)
The last film Walt Disney oversaw himself has a cast of colourful characters like Baloo the bear. Irresistible songs means I wanna be like them.
9 Ghostbusters (1984)
Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis save New York and a possessed Sigourney Weaver from Mr Stay Puft in this supernatural comedy classic.
10. Mamma Mia! (2008)
An idyllic Greek island and a gorgeous cast cannot outshine the sparkling pop songs of ABBA in this singalong smash. Prepare for this summer’s sequel.
11. Some Like it Hot (1959)
Screen goddess Marilyn Monroe’s finest hour as a showgirl caught up with on-the-run jazz musicians Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.
12 Back to the Future (1985)
Fuelled by nuclear energy and the power of love, Michael J Fox’s Marty McFly rocks back to the 1950s. Christopher Lloyd plays demented Doc Brown.
13. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
John Cleese and company’s hilarious and typically left- field take on the legend of King Arthur.
14. The Full Monty (1997)
When jobless Sheffield steelworkers take to stripping to earn a crust, they prove there is nothing funnier than a Yorkshireman getting his kit off for cash.
15 Roxanne (1987)
A big-nosed Steve Martin plays a fireman trying to woo stargazing Daryl Hannah in this update of a French play.
16. Every Which Way but Loose (1978)
Clint Eastwood’s career took a right turn when his backstreet boxer teamed up with Clyde the orangutan in what remains the actor’s highest grosser.
17. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Meg Ryan and Tom
Hanks kept us up wondering if they would get together in this hit romcom.
18. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Meg Ryan has the most memorable meal in movie history to prove a point to Billy Crystal’s cynical ladies’ man.
19. High Society (1956)
The songs of Cole Porter were never more glamorous as Bing Crosby tries to win back ex-wife Grace Kelly before she remarries, with Frank Sinatra as a journalist covering the big day.
20. Notting Hill (1999)
Julia Roberts helps Hugh Grant cement his status as the decade’s go-to guy for romantic comedy.
21. Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001)
Renee Zellweger is torn between goodie Colin Firth and baddie Hugh Grant in the first and best of the trilogy.
22. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Despite starring Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz, it is Rupert Everett who steals the show in this tale of matrimonial sabotage.
23. Big (1988)
Tom Hanks danced a piano duet in this sweet-natured body swap comedy.
24. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
The soundtrack alone to Harrison Ford’s first outing as Indiana Jones is enough to make you feel good.
25. An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
Richard Gere puts himself and the audience through an assault course of emotions in pursuit of Debra Winger’s factory girl before a finale that sends us up where we belong.
26. Working Girl (1988)
Melanie Griffith plays a secretary who wins the affection of Harrison Ford
along the way to career success.
27. The Princess Bride (1987)
Robin Wright and Cary Elwes are on a quest for true love in this fantasy romp with a giant, pirates and rodents of unusual size.
28. Calamity Jane (1953)
Whip-crack away with Doris Day in the most rootin’, tootin’ musical this side of the Black Hills.
29. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
Ben Stiller gives Cameron Diaz impro- vised hair gel in this gross-out comedy.
30. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
A zombie outbreak leaves Simon Pegg and Nick Frost gagging for a pint in this low-budget British horror comedy.
31. Kelly’s Heroes (1970)
Clint Eastwood and Telly Savalas lead a crackpot platoon hunting Nazi gold in this Second World War caper.
32. The Sound of Music (1965)
The hills are alive as Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews and get everyone singing along in this Oscar-winner.
33. Field of Dreams (1989)
Kevin Costner stars in a heartwarming baseball-based drama about fatherhood and family.
34. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
George Peppard has his head turned by neighbour Audrey Hepburn and her iconic black dress. Who hasn’t? Her rendition of Moon River pushed it to Oscar victory as best song.
35. School for Scoundrels (1960)
Ian Carmichael and Terry-Thomas play cinema’s greatest game of tennis and serve up a comic treat as they pursue the affections of Janette Scott in this British comedy of bad manners.
36. Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Aussie director Baz Luhrman’s foottapping and sequinned debut is now a sparkling West End musical.
37. Green Card (1990)
Gerard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell risk jail for a roof over their heads in cross-cultural romcom.
38. One Fine Day (1996)
George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer share a cab on the way to finding love while juggling jobs, kids and mobile phones.
39. The Italian Job (1969)
Michael Caine leads a British invasion of Italy in a trio of Minis.
40. Roman Holiday (1953)
Gregory Peck’s reporter whisks Audrey Hepburn’s runaway princess off her feet in Italian adventure.
41. Gregory’s Girl (1981)
In a World Cup year, it would be wrong to miss out this sweet Scottish tale in which lovestruck schoolboy John Gordon Sinclair tries to manmark Dee Hepburn’s star footballer.
42. Legally Blonde (2001)
Reese Witherspoon is at her frothy best turning Harvard pink in this law school romcom.
43. Dirty Dancing (1987)
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey have the time of their lives in this raunchy holiday romance.
44. Clueless (1995)
Alicia Silverstone hit a career high in this knowing, funny and charming high school adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, Emma.
45. School of Rock (2003)
Jack Black’s substitute teacher rocks out with the kids at a prep school.
46. Love is all You Need (2012)
Former 007 Pierce Brosnan meets a beautiful Swedish divorcee in this Italy-based romcom.
47. Ocean’s 11 (2001)
George Clooney and Brad Pitt steal the screen in this glossy and slick caper. Sandra Bullock plays his sister in the all-girl sequel, out now.
48. Midnight Run (1988)
Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin are mismatched companions on a cross-country dash chased by the Feds and the Mafia.
49. Overboard (1987)
Spoiled heiress Goldie Hawn is swept away by Kurt Russell’s family man in this beachside romcom. Anna Faris stars in a remake out on Friday.
50. The Proposal (2009)
Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have sparky old-school chemistry when they engage in a marriage of convenience to solve a visa problem.