A bowl of popcorn, an inviting couch—there are a few essential ingredients for the perfect movie night. The most important of all is a good movie. A happy ending and a few laughs are welcome bonuses—they’re also what we were looking for when we put together this list.
What’s special about these oldie-but-goodie films? They’re some of our favorites—good movies with happy endings that we should all put on our to-watch lists this season. We hope these give you some inspiration for your next movie night with the fam. You bring the popcorn; we’ll bring the movie recs. For more classic movies that dip deeper into film history, check out 50 Classic Movies Everyone Should Watch in Their Lifetime and Classic Documentaries Everyone Should See at Least Once.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
To buy: $13.99, amazon.com
Dorothy, Toto, and the gang follow the yellow brick road in this 1939 Technicolor classic based on the Oz-set series authored by L. Frank Baum.
The Sting (1973)
To buy: $8.99, amazon.com
Robert Redford and Paul Newman star in this 1973 heist classic, which won 7 Academy Awards and still surprises us with every re-watch.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
To buy: $13.99, amazon.com
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal star in this very funny Nora Ephron-penned romantic comedy about two friends and their journeys through life and love.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
To buy: $13.99, amazon.com
The story of a boy and his alien is immortalized in this Steven Spielberg-directed family classic.
The Goonies (1985)
To buy: $12.99, amazon.com
This cult classic is a fun-filled adventure caper that begins when a group of kids find a treasure map and follow it to the ends of town.
The Princess Bride (1987)
To buy: $13.99, amazon.com
It’s the most re-watchable (and the most quotable!) storybook classic ever, and it’s based on William Goldman’s book of the same name.
Hook (1991)
To buy: $12.99, amazon.com
Another adventure-packed charmer, Hook stars Robin Williams and Julia Roberts and is the story of a grown-up Peter Pan returning to Neverland for one last showdown with Captain Hook.
A League of Their Own (1992)
To buy: $13.99, amazon.com
Penny Marshall directed this chronicle of the World War II-era All-American Girls Baseball League starring Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, and Tom Hanks.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
To buy: $19.99, amazon.com
If Halloween comes and goes without a re-watch of the hilarious Bette Midler-, Sarah Jessica Parker-, and Kathy Najimy-starring Hocus Pocus, was it ever even really Halloween?
Forrest Gump (1994)
To buy: $16.99, amazon.com
Tom Hanks and Robin Wright star in this film about a man whose life intersects with the cultural and political changes of the 20th century. It’s based on the 1986 novel Forrest Gump by Winston Groom.
Matilda (1996)
To buy: $12.99, amazon.com
Roald Dahl’s beloved book about a little girl with extraordinary powers comes to life in this nostalgic adaptation starring Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, and Rhea Perlman.
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