(Credits: Matoo.Studio)

Netflix seems to be in the mood for action and thrill these days, as it’s throwing one crime thriller after another at us.

Every week, it feels like there is a new mystery to binge, a new dark twist waiting to jump out. And as much as I enjoy them, sometimes it gets exhausting. You do not always want murder boards and cliffhangers when you are curled up on the couch.

That is why this week, I wanted to take a softer route, something that feels like a breather. Stories that are warm, soothing, and full of little human moments that stay with you. Movies that might not be splashed all over the homepage but deserve a better spot on your weekend list. The five picked here are not glossy blockbusters or the ones everyone keeps talking about, but are quieter, more grounded films that leave you on a sweet note, if not slightly teary-eyed.

So if you are tired of crime thrillers and need something that wraps around you like comfort food, here are five heartwarming movies you should watch this weekend.

The five heartwarming movies to watch on Netflix

I Used to Be Famous (Eddie Sternberg, 2022)

Vince used to be famous; he was in a boy band that everyone loved, but years later, discarded into the pop culture ether, he is playing music on the street, and you can feel how much fame lures him. That’s when he meets Stevie, a young autistic drummer who completely steals the scene the moment he touches the kit. The way their jam session comes together feels so raw, like two people speaking through just notations.

The film doesn’t sugarcoat things. Vince isn’t magically fixed by meeting Stevie; he is still lost and unsure, but their genuine friendship steels him so that you root for them harder than you expect. The scenes where they practise together, or when Vince must pick between his ambition and a real connection, hit harder and fast.

The Internship (Shawn Levy, 2013)

This movie earned classic status the moment it left the presses and is a must-watch for aspiring job seekers. You have got Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson playing two salesmen who suddenly find themselves out of jobs. Their grand idea? Applying for internships at Google, a place full of kids half their age who code like second nature. Now watching these two middle-aged guys trying to keep up with 20-somethings in beanbags is hilarious, but it’s also kind of sweet.

The most likeable thing about this film is that it isn’t just the jokes (though there are plenty), it is about watching them prove that experience and resilience matter just as much as fresh skills. There is a scene where they rally their mismatched team for a final project, and you can’t help but root for them from the bottom of your heart. At the end, it leaves you with a reminder that reinvention is possible at any age, and to close the generation gap, you have to jump into the gorge.

The Invisible Thread (Marco Simon Puccioni, 2022)

Imagine you are a teenager in Rome with two dads, and for a school project, you decide to make a documentary about the family lineage. Easy, right? Except in the case of The Invisible Thread, our protagonist Leonne’s camera has a way of catching more than you bargain for. Suddenly, it’s not just about homework, and Leone finds himself filming drama he definitely didn’t sign up for.

It doesn’t put the family on display like some rare exhibit or even get remotely close to showing that all’s well and dandy. Instead, it shows their messy, loving, sometimes ridiculous sides. It’s the kind of film that makes you think about your own family and maybe laugh at how dysfunctional we all secretly are.

The Beautiful Game (Thea Sharrock, 2024)

I won’t lie, this one is just like all those sports films where the coach believes that he can make his team climb Everest if provided with the right motivation. It is based on the real Homeless World Cup, and it kicks off with coach Mal. He recruits a group of homeless men for the tournament, and right in the middle is Vinny, a striker with clear talent and even heavier baggage. The team’s journey to the World Cup is chock-full of messy setbacks, but also filled with those little victories that take your heart.

Even though I don’t follow football, I was hooked. The matches are tense, sure, but what really works is watching the team slowly turn into a family. There is a moment where Vinny finally lets his guard down to embrace his true self, and it hit me harder than any goal. The Beautiful Game is about second chances and the way sport can be more than just ugly grunts. So if you want your spirits boosted this week, this one is just for you.

My Life as a Courgette (Claude Barras, 2016)

Don’t let the clay animation fool you, as this French-Swiss Netflix film goes deeper than you’d expect. It is a story of Courgette, a little boy who ends up in a foster home after losing his mother. At first, he is lonely and closed off like any child plagued by isolation, but he slowly pushes himself to make friends and ends up building a family of misfit pieces to find their groove. The way they share their fears, laugh at the smallest things, and lean on each other is bittersweet.

This one will be well in the chest. Though it’s short, it packs so much tenderness into its 70 minutes that we are left with a heartwinng film bringing tears indeterminate. I loved that the story never talks down to you; it shows kids dealt a heavy life, but it also allows expressions of joy and resilience to flow through. It reminded me that even in the toughest circumstances, connection can change everything.