Updated as of 13 May 2025

When you want to feel hyped up or motivated:

• Flashdance (Last Scene where she auditions) (1983)
• Rocky III (Training Sequence Scenes) (1982)
• Dirty Dancing (Final Dance Scene and Practice Dance Scenes in the Woods) (1987)
• Legally Blonde (the first one) (2001)
• The Blind Side (2009)
• Mission: Impossible (1996)
• Yes Man (2008)

When you feel hopeless and lack inspiration and drive:

• The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
• Billy Elliot (2000)
• Erin Brockovich (2000)
• The Karate Kid (1984)
• 8 Mile (2002)
• Bridget Jones Diary (2001)

When you want validation about life’s challenges and company in the pits of life:

• St Elmo’s Fire (1985)
• Steel Magnolias (1989)
• Working Girl (1988)
• Garden State (2004)
• Forest Gump (1994)
• Jerry Maguire (1996)
• Enlightened (2011 to 2013)
• Into the Wild (2007)
• About a Boy (2002)
• How to Die Alone (2024)

When you want to feel there are still good people in the world:

• Hidden Figures (2016)
• The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
• Dead Poet’s Society (1989)
• The Birdcage (1996)
• The Green Mile (1999)

When you want to feel cozy, warm feelings and good about life:

• While you were Sleeping (1995)
• Never been Kissed (1999)
• Pretty Woman (1990)
• You Got Mail (1998)
• Curly Sue (1992)
• Pretty in Pink (1986)
• Little Women (Winona Ryder as Josephine March) (1994)
• Speed (the first one with Keanu Reeves; forget about Cruise Control) (1994)
• Tootsie (1982)
• My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
• Die Hard (1988)
• The Terminator (1984)
• Coming to America (1988)
• Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
• Vice Versa (1988)
• The Parent Trap (1998)
• Notting Hill (1999)
• Superstore (2015 to 2021)
• Meet Yourself (2023)

When you want to watch something fun and good:

• Weekend at Bernie’s (1989)
• Mermaids (1990)
• Home Alone (1990)
• Home Alone 2 (1992)
• Matilda (1996)
• The Righteous Gemstones (2019 to Present)
• Below Deck (2013 to Present)
• Freaky Friday (2003)
• Charlie’s Angels (2000)
• Arrested Development (2003 to 2006)
• Will & Grace (1998 to 2006)
• Friends (1994 to 2004)
• Sex and the City (1998 to 2004)
• Modern Family (2009 to 2020)

When you want to learn something and enjoy at the same time:

• The Big Short (2015)
• Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
• Billions (2016 to 2023)
• The Glided Age (2022 to Present)
• Hacks (2021 to Present)
• The Empress (2022 to Present)
• Narcos (2015 to 2017)
• Narcos Mexico (2018 to 2021)
• Succession (2018 to 2023)
• Silicon Valley (2014 to 2019)
• Yellowstone (2018 to 2024)

Featured Image Source: Photofest (The Hollywood Reporter)