comfort tv shows and movies to watch when you are sick?🤒

Question

analjn · Answer

dr house: comfort one

daphne🪽 · Answer

Moomin: Low-stim, amazing art, scandi whimsy

Karen Fischer · Answer

Broad City!: It is still so, so good, I love it so much. If you haven't seen it, it's very silly and funny, and makes you want to be your most authentic self in the world knowing that one day you may find someone that appreciates that version of you 110%.

lauren o · Answer

The Dog House: UK: A BAFTA-nominated reality-TV matchmaking show (it's unscripted and it's not a game format, but that's what the staffers do: they very, very carefully pair creatures that need each other) for shelter dogs and the people they go home with and REPAIR. It's filmed at an idyllic nonprofit in Cambridgeshire and it first aired in July of 2020 when it was EXTREMELY NEEDED BY ME; like, given its subject you know it's going to be an exquisite emotional dirty bomb, and then the blast range exceeds your wildest expectations. During lockdown we just called it The Dogs, like "I need more of The Dogs today."

Elizabeth Reese · Answer

Sense and Sensibility: The score. The script. The direction. The yearning! One of my favorite sick day watches.

Janine Henley · Answer

Psych: something about it just really does it for me!

Wynne · Answer

Thelma (2024): I am OBSESSED with this movie. An action comedy with the legendary June Squibb, Parker Posey and Richard Roundtree?! It’s just an absolute delight.

Ruby · Answer

Austenland: Silly, sweet, funny and with Jennifer Coolidge as the comic relief, and JJ Fields as a love interest, you just can’t go wrong.

This Movie and Waitress (also same lead actor) are two guilty pleasures.

Sam · Answer

Golden Girls: One of my all-time favorite shows. It’s the perfect blend of spice + humor + wholesome. I never get tired of these gals.

Shaurya · Answer

The good witch (+more recs) 📺: 1) The good witch - cosy, comforting, lighthearted, wholesome, small-town vibe

2) Jane the virgin - heartfelt, cheeky, self-aware, funny, telenovela vibe

3) Modern family - classic! Everyone’s already aware of the vibe lol but I love modern family so much that I had to include it in my top 3!

Hope you feel better soon 🤒xo

amy · Answer

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022): I watched this for the first time after my pet rabbit died and now I associate it with comfort when I really need it. Shoutout to the person on Letterboxd who called it “Paddington’s Phantom Thread” because I really can’t explain it any better than that.

Neil Bardhan · Answer

Easy A: This fits a particular mold of teenromcom/classicremake for me and it just flows so cleanly.

Laurenb · Answer

The new Little House on the Prairie and My Brilliant Career.: Sweet but not cloying, cozy but not suffocating, just enough to give you something to think about without overtaxing.

KG · Answer

The Detectorists: Cozy, harmless, and cute-funny

Adam · Answer

Self Portrait as a Coffee Pot: I recommend this show to everyone. He is not only an incredible artist but the show is inventive and delightful. A must for art lovers.

Meg · Answer

Station Eleven (2021): This show is apocalyptic, epic, hopeful, dreamy, cinematic, full of wonder. It’s a real special watch.

Beth · Answer

Clue

Elena · Answer

Over The Garden Wall: 10 min episodes of perfect charming spooky soothing fall vibes with lots of little songs and the whimsy all pays off at the end if you see it through.

ALI D. · Answer

Black Books Season 1: Cooking The Books: Black Books is my ultimate comfort show! British and ridiculous. Give it a go 📕📕📕📕📕

Emily · Answer

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: It’s so vapid and silly.

Leslie · Answer

Chef: It’s so wholesome I find myself stupidly smiling through it all. And then I follow it up with the chef show on Netflix with Roy Choi. Especially the Jonathan gold episode. And then if I am feeling really nostalgic I follow THAT up with City of Gold (the Jonathan gold documentary)

Katherine · Answer

I Love LA: This show is a hyper-ironic, hyperbolic narrative on the tumultuousness of your twenties, existentialism, sisterhood, and post-digital ennui. It's everything.

sunset strip mall · Answer

the simpsons (seasons 2-12): when the show was at its prime! highlight episodes include A Fish Called Selma (season 7, ep. 19), Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious (season 8, ep. 13), all the Treehouse of Horror episodes, Marge vs. the Monorail (season 4, ep. 12), and A Streetcar Named Marge (season 4, ep. 2)

Amu Killada · Answer

Mr Queen: If you watch Korean dramas, I highly recommend this one. I’ve honestly lost count of how many times I’ve watched it. The premise is funny, but the layers of storytelling underneath are surprisingly serious and thoughtful. The female lead’s acting is incredible—so subtle and nuanced. And some of the scenes are completely absurd in the best way and will genuinely make you laugh.

Jess Matthews (Henderson) · Answer

Sense and sensibility: The cast, the locations, the soundtrack, Alan Rickman ❤️ The pining, the humour. Picture perfect period drama and a tonic for when you are sick or needing a hug in movie form.

Kate · Answer

Friday Night Lights: Team Riggins for life 😆

Jess · Answer

About Time: A British rom-com with  Rachel McAdams—need I say more? Tim is told by his dad on his 21st birthday all the men in their family can go back in time, but only to change their own lived past. It’s truly a fantastic “movie about nothing”; no particularly intense plot, you’re just sort of living life alongside the characters. It’s not totally devoid of challenges or sadness, but this movie feels like a warm hug and I will always choose it when I’m on a flight. (Last pitch: it’s kind of like the Time Traveller’s Wife meets Four Weddings and a Funeral.)

Jill · Answer

Opportunity Knocks: Dana Carvey, darling.

Tim Sondrup · Answer

The Repair Shop (2017): There’s something genuinely soothing about watching skilled craftspeople bring broken family heirlooms back to life. It’s a bit like Antiques Roadshow, but instead of appraising an item’s value, the experts restore it while hearing the story behind it.

What makes it work is the humanity. It’s not sensationalized, just kindness, craft, and community, which has made it a quiet, unlikely hit. If you want a show that leaves you feeling better than when you started, this is it.

Kelly Thorn · Answer

Never been kissed: Once you're done being sick you can scream that you aren't josie grossie anymore

Nicole · Answer

Studio Ghibli!: There is no wrong answer as to which one. I seem to reach for Totoro most when I’m sick.

Sarah · Answer

Homegrown: The most wholesome reality show on the planet. Jamila Norman is an urban farmer in Atlanta who creates edible backyards. From goatscaping to tea gardens, this show has it all. It is a beautiful, inspiring, and even a little educational comfort watch.

AES · Answer

Poirot: The gentlest. A million seasons of low-speed boat chases, low-speed car chases, and low stakes mysteries. Keeps it easy on the “little grey cells.”

Baillie · Answer

The Devil Wears Prada: Perfect, obviously. I haven’t seen 2 and I’m not sure I will because this one is untouchable.

Jules · Answer

Roadhouse: this is a throwaway joke in another movie, fever pitch, but it actually is an amazing sick day/hangover movie.

americans have a deep, sick love of movies about being good at your job (some sort of deeply ingrained capitalistic thing) as well as rebel justice. we also have a very sane love of patrick swayze. this movie has ALL of those things.

Becca Mandy · Answer

Julie & Julia: My comfort movie.