5 Underrated Feel-Good Movies for a Rainy Day

Everyone has a comfort movie, and most of them are the same ones everyone else has. These five are warm in a different way: funny, kind and a little unexpected. None of them tries to make you cry on cue, which is probably why they work.

1. Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Taika Waititi directed this story of a defiant city kid who runs into the New Zealand bush with his grumpy foster uncle, and a nationwide manhunt follows. Julian Dennison and Sam Neill are a perfect odd couple.

Why it's underrated: many people know Waititi for his bigger films, and this smaller one gets forgotten. It is the funniest and most heartfelt thing he has made.

Best for: anyone who needs a good laugh.

2. Chef (2014)

Jon Favreau wrote, directed and stars as a chef who quits a prestigious restaurant after a fight over his menu and starts again with a food truck. It is a film about cooking, and about being a father who is trying to be present.

Why it's underrated: it is a gentle, low-stakes story that does not shout for attention. You will also come out hungry.

Best for: a relaxed evening and a snack nearby.

3. Sing Street (2016)

John Carney, the director of Once and Begin Again, sets this one in 1985 Dublin, where a teenager starts a band to impress a girl. The songs are original and surprisingly good.

Why it's underrated: it never had a big release, and the audience that found it tends to become evangelical. It captures how it felt to be young and sure that music could fix everything.

Best for: anyone who ever wanted to start a band.

4. Eddie the Eagle (2016)

Dexter Fletcher directed this story of Michael "Eddie" Edwards, an unlikely British ski jumper who made it to the Olympics through sheer stubbornness. Taron Egerton stars, with Hugh Jackman as his reluctant coach.

Why it's underrated: it is a sports film where the hero does not win, and the film knows exactly why that is the point.

Best for: a family evening or a day when you need cheering up.

5. Captain Fantastic (2016)

Viggo Mortensen plays a father raising six children in the forest with a strict education in physics, philosophy and survival, until a family tragedy forces them back into the world. Matt Ross wrote and directed.

Why it's underrated: many people assume it is a quirky indie comedy, but it is also an honest look at the cost of raising children outside the usual rules. Mortensen earned an Oscar nomination for the role.

Best for: a thoughtful evening that leaves you with something to discuss.

The rainy-day order

If you only have time for one: Hunt for the Wilderpeople. If you want music: Sing Street. If you want to cook afterwards: Chef.

Not sure what you are in the mood for? Take the 60-second movie quiz or browse everything on the Underrated Flixhub homepage.

Frequently asked questions

What are some underrated feel-good movies?

Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Chef, Sing Street, Eddie the Eagle and Captain Fantastic are warm, funny films that many people have not seen.

Which of these movies is good for the whole family?

Eddie the Eagle and Hunt for the Wilderpeople are the most family-friendly, though both have a few strong words or adult moments.

Which movie on the list has the best soundtrack?

Sing Street. Its original songs are catchy enough that you will be humming them for days.

Written by Hardik Kamboj.