Home Better Living Entertainment Movies and TV11 Heartwarming Movies to Watch This Spring

11 Heartwarming Movies to Watch This Spring

by Kaylin Kaupish

There’s no better way to wind down from a long day than with a bowl of popcorn— and a good movie. This spring, gather round with family and friends to watch these heartwarming films that will help get rid of the last of that winter chill.

grid view
slide view

list view
slide view

grid view
list view

A Week Away

When troubled teen Will Hawkins has a run in with the law, he must choose between juvie and summer camp. And finding out it’s a Christian summer camp makes him consider running away. Then he meets Avery, the daughter of the camp owner. Will wants to know her better, but Avery is hesitant. Will he be able to win her heart while keeping his past a secret? Netflix’s first faith-based musical stars Bailee Madison, Kevin Quinn, Jahbril Cook, and David Koechner; and features both original music and classic Christian songs from Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, for KING & COUNTRY and more.

King Richard

Learn the remarkable beginnings of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams in the 2021 film King Richard. Will Smith stars as Richard Williams, the girls’ dedicated father who tirelessly helped them train at tennis courts in Compton, California. Despite many barriers, the Williams sisters reach their full potential as two of the greatest athletes to ever live with the help of Richard and their mother, Oracene “Brandy” Williams. King Richard is now up for multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Will Smith), and Best Supporting Actress (Aunjanue Ellis).

Soul

Joe Gardner is a middle school music teacher with a big dream: being a professional jazz player. But his plans are cut short when he falls down a manhole and finds himself as a soul in a place called the “Great Before.” With the help of another soul named 22, Joe tries to get back to his life and achieve his dream. Soul is a heartfelt adventure that gets to the heart of some big questions, like what makes you, YOU? Soul stars the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, and Angela Bassett.

Steel Magnolias

This Southern classic has an all-star cast including Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, and more! Based on a play by the same name, the story follows a group of friends who face life’s challenges while leaning on each other and never forgetting their Southern charm. Filled with twists – and plenty of laughter and tears – Steel Magnolias is a testament to women’s strength and the power of friendship.

A Journal for Jordan

When Dana Canedy first met Sergeant Charles Monroe King, it was not love at first sight. The two came from very different backgrounds – she was an accomplished writer focused on her career, and King was a more carefree person, devoted to the military. Canedy initially pushed King away because she was convinced it wouldn’t work. But King always came back. Then, when King is deployed to Iraq, he starts a journal filled with advice and stories for their infant son, Jordan, just in case King didn’t come home. A Journal for Jordan (directed by Denzel Washington; starring Michael B. Jordan and Chanté Adams) has captivated audiences with its heartwarming message and compelling story. And perhaps the most remarkable part is that it is based on true events.

Yes Day

Allison and Carlos Torres (Jennifer Garner and Édgar Ramírez) are devoted but over-worked parents. They used to be the kind of people that said “Yes” to everything, from traveling to skydiving; but now, they spend their days saying “No” to their three kids, Katie (Jenna Ortega), Nando, and Ellie. The couple starts to wonder, when did “No” become the automatic answer to everything? Then they learn about Yes Day, a new trend where parents have to say “Yes” to everything their children want for a whole 24 hours. Can Allison and Carlos handle a whole day of “Yes” and show their kids how fun they used to be?

Respect

Watch the remarkable true story of Aretha Franklin with this groundbreaking biopic starring Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson. Learn how the Queen of Soul became an icon, from humble beginnings to super stardom, with her larger-than-life voice. Respect is written, directed, and produced by Black women (Hudson is an executive producer for the film and Franklin was involved with the project before her death in 2018). It also stars Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, and Tituss Burgess.

I Still Believe

Learn the true backstory behind Christian singer Jeremy Camp’s most famous song, “I Still Believe.” The film follows a young Camp (played by Riverdale’s KJ Apa), as he falls in love with his girlfriend Melissa (Britt Robertson). Then, when they find out Melissa has ovarian cancer, Camp uses the power of music to tell the story of their love. The movie is an inspiring story of love and faith and also features Shania Twain and Gary Sinise as Camp's parents.

CODA

Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones) is a seventeen-year-old girl who is the only hearing person in her deaf family. She helps her parents, Jackie and Frank (Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur), and her older brother, Leo (Daniel Durant), run their family’s fishing business. Ruby’s parents and brother are the only deaf people in their small Massachusetts town, leading the teenager to struggle with fitting in and feelings of isolation. When she joins her school choir, Ruby realizes singing is her true passion. But as her family’s business hits a rough spot, Ruby finds herself torn between chasing her dreams and staying connected to her family.

Minari

Father Jacob Yi (Steven Yeun) purchases land rural Arkansas in the hopes of starting a prosperous farm. His wife, Monica (Yeri Han), is apprehensive about the farm and her husband’s decision to suddenly transport their family to an unknown environment. Meanwhile their kids Anne and David (Noel Kate Cho and Alan Kim) are just trying to fit into their new community. This is only made harder when their foul-mouthed, but kind-hearted grandmother, Soon-ja (Yuh-jung Yuon), arrives from Korea to help care for them. With only the help of an eccentric neighbor named Paul (Will Patton), Jacob sets out to build a paradise for himself and his family.

Come From Away

“On the northeast tip of North America, on an island called Newfoundland, there’s an airport. It used to be one of the biggest airports in the world. And next to it is a town called Gander...” So begins the Broadway musical Come From Away, the true story of how residents of the small Canadian town of Gander came together to help when 38 planes—carrying 7,000 passengers (and 21 animals) from around the world—were diverted to their airport on September 11, 2001. Filled with powerful moment and heartwarming connection, the Tony-award winning musical was recorded with the original cast for the 20^th anniversary of 9/11 and is now available to watch via streaming.