Prescription for Fun: 14 Sick Day Movies That Are the Perfect Cure
When you're not feeling well, settling in with the perfect movie can be just the cure. From dramas to comedies, the best sick day movies will have you feeling better in no time. Which are your favorites?
1. Surf's Up
What better vibe for a sick day than a surfer movie? It's a go-to movie favorite to watch when you aren't feeling well, as the film features a great story, humor, and fun music.
2. My Neighbor Totoro
Many movie fans recommend something from Studio Ghibli as prime sick day viewing. My Neighbor Totoro is a fan favorite for being feel-good and positive — the perfect pick-me-up!
3. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Wait, you spent your sick day binging movies? Is that the best way to honor the iconic legacy of Ferris Bueller? Get out of bed, steal your friend's dad's Ferrari, and cause some mayhem!
4. The Scorsese Crime Movies
Mean Streets. Goodfellas. Casino. The Departed. If you get through those, it's time for The Irishman. By the end of the binge, you'll be free of your fever, rocking a gold pinky ring, and head of a complex criminal racket.
Don't look at me. That's just how Scorsese marathons end.
5. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Ending a great movie is bittersweet, especially when you have a day to kill in bed. With The Lord of the Rings trilogy, you can prolong the comedown until The Return of the King ends. That's like nine hours away, though, so get to binging.
6. Home Alone and Home Alone 2
While Kevin McAllister wasn't technically sick, he handled his Home Alone status just as any “sick” kid with a house to themselves should. Ordering room service, using their parents' stuff, and cleverly outwitting the Wet Bandits.
7. The Modern Planet of the Apes Series
Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and War for the Planet of the Apes righted all the wrongs of 2001's Tim Burton-led atrocity, Planet of the Apes. The modern trilogy will have you amped up, ready to emerge from your sniffles stronger than ever.
8. Paddington and Paddington 2
Sometimes when you're sick, the best feel-good cure is a talking Peruvian bear. If the good vibes of Paddington wear off before you've recuperated, rinse your soup bowl, refill, and repeat with Paddington 2.
9. The Ace Ventura Movies
They say laughter is the best medicine, so why not mix in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls with your Benadryl? You have time on your hands, so you can justify watching both.
Whatever you do, though, do not watch Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jr. Dare to, and you'll be calling in sick for the next year.
10. Star Wars Series
You could have a fever for a decade and still not get through the entire catalog of Star Wars films and TV series. You'll have your sickness saying, “Luke, I'm not your head cold” in no time.
11. L.A. Confidential
A noir a day keeps the doctor away. More specifically, the mystery and intrigue of L.A. Confidential will make you forget about that pounding behind your eyes while longing for 1950s Los Angeles.
12. Big
Josh Baskin's transformation from teenager into full-grown man (thanks, Zoltar) in Big will make your flu or sinus infection look downright quaint. Plus, this 1988 Tom Hanks classic is the definition of nostalgia.
13. Any Animated Disney Classic
Snow White. The Lion King. Mulan. Heck, even modern classics like Finding Nemo will do the trick. Sick days aren't about facing your adult responsibilities. They're about embracing your inner Disney princess and maximizing the warm and fuzzies.
14. Palm Springs
Once you're rested and done laughing, you can book your own relaxing trip to Palm Springs. You've earned it, trooper.
Pop Culture Writer, Life Hack Aficionado
- Focus: Film and Television, Life Advice, Comedic Writing
- Education: Bachelor's of Journalism from the University of South Florida - Tampa
- Published in several international publications, including stories completed as a Wealth of Geeks geek
- Nearly seven years' experience writing professionally
Experience: Sam Mire is a freelance writer with over seven years' experience writing about entertainment, global events, American law, and sports. He got his start as a journalism major at the University of South Florida, and has since spent weeks in the Alaskan wildlands, immersed himself in the world of Florida's homeless population, covered live sporting events, and served as a linchpin for media outlets in the legal, tech, and entertainment spaces. Sam has written news stories and Op-Eds featured in Fast Company, Forbes, Entrepreneur, AP News, Fox News, and, most notably, Wealth of Geeks.
Sam focuses on popular culture, film and television, and general life advice in his role for Wealth of Geeks. He strives to turn readers onto the directors, actors, and other creatives who deliver compelling content outside of the box-office top-ten. In his free time, he enjoys boxing, woodwork, engaging in battles of strength and wit with his dog, and spending time with good company.