Feel-Good Movies Like Wonder That Restore Your Faith in Humanity

Gifted feels very similar to Wonder by focusing on a child who stands out intellectually and struggles with fitting in. Like Wonder, Gifted highlights kindness, empathy, and how adults and peers respond to children who are different.

Frank, a single man raising his child prodigy niece Mary, is drawn into a custody battle with his mother. Gifted is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 8.0 by 5,826 people. The movie made an estimated total of $40,300,000 in the box office.

The Peanut Butter Falcon aligns closely with Wonder through its compassionate portrayal of disability and friendship. Fans of Wonder will recognize the same message of acceptance, dignity, and seeing the person beyond limitations.

A down-on-his-luck crab fisherman embarks on a journey to get a young man with Down syndrome to a professional wrestling school in rural North Carolina and away from the retirement home where he’s lived for the past two and a half years. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.4 by 1,549 people. The movie made an estimated total of $23,712,097 in the box office.

Akeelah and the Bee shares Wonder’s core theme of a young protagonist feeling out of place due to exceptional ability. Like Wonder, the film emphasizes encouragement, empathy, and self-belief in the face of social pressure.

11-year-old Akeelah Anderson has a way with words. After winning her schoolwide spelling bee, she decides to enter the competition, despite her classmates' derision and the antipathy of her mother Tanya. Thanks to the efforts of her teacher Dr. Larabee, she reaches the finals. As she gets to know her fellow competitors, Akeelah realizes that coming first isn't everything in life. Akeelah and the Bee is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.0 by 344 people. The movie made an estimated total of $18,948,425 in the box office.

Bridge to Terabithia connects to Wonder through its emotional exploration of childhood, kindness, and empathy. Both films show how friendship and compassion help children navigate difficult experiences.

Jesse Aarons trained all summer to become the fastest runner in school. So he's very upset when newcomer Leslie Burke outruns him and everyone else. Despite this and other differences including that she's rich, he's poor, she's a city girl, and he's a country boy the two become fast friends. Together they create Terabithia, a land of monsters, trolls, ogres, and giants where they rule as king and queen. Bridge to Terabithia is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.3 by 5,098 people. The movie made an estimated total of $137,587,063 in the box office.

Wonderstruck is thematically close to Wonder, focusing on children with disabilities who feel isolated. Like Wonder, Wonderstruck highlights understanding, connection, and the importance of being seen.

The story of a young boy in the Midwest is told simultaneously with a tale about a young girl in New York from fifty years ago as they both seek the same mysterious connection. Wonderstruck is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 6.1 by 422 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,947,099 in the box office.

I Am Sam echoes the emotional heart of Wonder by centering on intellectual disability and social judgment. Both Wonder and I Am Sam stress empathy, patience, and unconditional love.

Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family. I Am Sam is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 12m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 7.6 by 2,431 people. The movie made an estimated total of $92,542,418 in the box office.

The Blind Side reflects Wonder’s message of acceptance and kindness by showing how compassion can transform lives. Like Wonder, it focuses on inclusion and standing up for those who feel different.

The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family. The Blind Side is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.7 by 6,681 people. The movie made an estimated total of $309,231,694 in the box office.

The Pursuit of Happyness complements Wonder through its inspirational tone and focus on resilience. Fans of Wonder will appreciate its emphasis on hope, perseverance, and emotional strength.

A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career. The Pursuit of Happyness is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.9 by 10,364 people. The movie made an estimated total of $307,077,295 in the box office.

Lion resonates with Wonder by exploring identity, belonging, and emotional vulnerability. Both films highlight empathy and the deep impact of human connection.

A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometers from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family. Lion is a movie from Australia in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 8.0 by 6,840 people. The movie made an estimated total of $140,312,928 in the box office.

The Fundamentals of Caring fits well alongside Wonder with its warm depiction of disability and friendship. Like Wonder, it balances humor and heart while promoting understanding.

Having suffered a tragedy, Ben becomes a caregiver to earn money. His first client, Trevor, is a hilarious 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor hit the road on a trip into the western states. The folks they collect along the way will help them test their skills for surviving outside their calculated existence. Together, they come to understand the importance of hope and the necessity of true friendship. The Fundamentals of Caring is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.3 by 2,277 people.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close aligns with Wonder by focusing on a sensitive child struggling with isolation. Both films emphasize empathy, healing, and emotional growth.

A year after his father's death, Oskar, a troubled young boy, discovers a mysterious key he believes was left for him by his father and embarks on a scavenger hunt to find the matching lock. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 7.0 by 2,099 people. The movie made an estimated total of $55,200,000 in the box office.

Pay It Forward strongly matches the spirit of Wonder through its belief in kindness as a transformative force. Like Wonder, it shows how compassion can ripple outward.

Like some other kids, 12-year-old Trevor McKinney believed in the goodness of human nature. Like many other kids, he was determined to change the world for the better. Unlike most other kids, he succeeded. Pay It Forward is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 7.4 by 1,938 people. The movie made an estimated total of $55,707,411 in the box office.

Paddington 2 mirrors Wonder in its uplifting message about kindness, acceptance, and belonging. Fans of Wonder will recognize the same celebration of goodness and empathy.

Paddington, now happily settled with the Browns, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy, but it is stolen. Paddington 2 is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,666 people. The movie made an estimated total of $290,132,513 in the box office.

Finding Forrester connects to Wonder by portraying a young outsider gaining confidence through support and understanding. Both films stress empathy and personal growth.

Gus Van Sant tells the story of a young African American man named Jamal who confronts his talents while living on the streets of the Bronx. He accidentally runs into an old writer named Forrester who discovers his passion for writing. With help from his new mentor Jamal receives a scholarship to a private school. Finding Forrester is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 16m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,168 people. The movie made an estimated total of $80,100,000 in the box office.

The Miracle Worker directly parallels Wonder through its focus on disability, patience, and compassion. Like Wonder, it emphasizes the power of understanding and connection.

The true story of the frightening, lonely world of silence and darkness of 7-year-old Helen Keller who, since infancy, has never seen the sky, heard her mother's voice or expressed her innermost feelings. Then Annie Sullivan, a 20-year-old teacher from Boston, arrives. Having just recently regained her own sight, the no-nonsense Annie reaches out to Helen through the power of touch, the only tool they have in common, and leads her bold pupil on a miraculous journey from fear and isolation to happiness and light. The Miracle Worker is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 1962 with an average rating of 7.9 by 329 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,500,000 in the box office.

My Life as a Zucchini reflects Wonder with its sensitive portrayal of childhood hardship and emotional resilience. Both films highlight kindness and healing through empathy.

After his mother’s death, Zucchini is befriended by a kind police officer, Raymond, who accompanies him to his new foster home filled with other orphans his age. There, with the help of his newfound friends, Zucchini eventually learns to trust and love as he searches for a new family of his own. My Life as a Zucchini is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 6m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.8 by 1,470 people. The movie made an estimated total of $5,873,256 in the box office.

The Book Thief aligns with Wonder by showing a child finding humanity and compassion in difficult circumstances. Like Wonder, empathy is at the heart of the story.

While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents. The Book Thief is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 11m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.5 by 4,457 people. The movie made an estimated total of $76,586,316 in the box office.

About a Boy fits the Wonder theme by exploring emotional growth through an unlikely bond with a child. Both films emphasize vulnerability, kindness, and connection.

Will Freeman is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now, as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool, Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up. About a Boy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 6.7 by 2,337 people. The movie made an estimated total of $129,000,000 in the box office.

Coco shares Wonder’s emotional focus on family, identity, and understanding. Like Wonder, Coco highlights empathy and emotional courage through a child’s perspective.

Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history. Coco is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 45m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 8.2 by 20,578 people. The movie made an estimated total of $814,641,172 in the box office.

The Way Way Back resonates with Wonder by focusing on a socially awkward child finding confidence and belonging. Fans of Wonder will connect with its message of kindness and self-acceptance.

Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park. The Way Way Back is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,888 people. The movie made an estimated total of $23,198,652 in the box office.