16 Heartwarming Movies with Beautiful, Blissful Homes

I love the movies. They’re entertaining, imaginative, emotionally moving, and fun. Oftentimes, watching an oldie but goodie is equally as satisfying as catching a new one. With my love of homes and home decor, if the movie also features a beautiful, blissful home, I’m hooked!

Movies have a knack of showcasing beautiful homes I’ll most likely never afford. But Its OK, 385 Lifers don’t wallow in lack. Besides, films are all about fantasy anyway.

When a film features a house that touches on the heart of the story, becoming a secondary character in itself, I’m all in. Plus, I get to snatch a lot of awesome decorating ideas!

Whether it’s Stay-at-Home Date Night, or just binge-watching for the weekend, these films are true crowd-pleasers. So, grab your favorite snack and settle into any of the following films highlighting beautiful, blissful homes.

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THE HOLIDAY

The Holiday gives you two beauties for the price of one, not to mention charming characters that melt your heart.

In California you have the ultra-chic mansion that Amanda lives in, and across the pond you have Iris’ quintessential English Cottage — until they swap houses, that is, due to romance gone awry. My Gemini twins couldn’t decide which home I loved the most.

BULL DURHAM

Bull Durham is my absolute favorite baseball movie, EVER.

• Yes, because it features a sassy female lead, Annie Savoy (otherwise known as my alter ego), not at all threatened by societal norms.
• Yes, because I happen to be a woman who loves baseball; did you know there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary, and 108 stitches in a baseball?
• And definitely, yes, because it features the most eclectic Victorian house I’ve ever seen exemplifying the multifaceted, literary mind.

PRACTICAL MAGIC

Scene Above May Contain Spoilers

The Grand Dame of Victorian Homes is spellbinding in the film, Practical Magic. Complete with turreted Widow’s Walk, apropos for the theme of the movie, it’s bold, old, lived-in, and beautiful. As seen in the clip above, I could brew up a couple of potions myself in this kitchen.

IT’S COMPLICATED

It’s Complicated is…Hilarious, hands down. The kind of funny that makes you spit your soft drink out in the theater because you weren’t expecting that.

It gives us an honest look at love and intimacy for the empty-nester and is a romp of joy (no pun intended). The icing on the cake is Jane’s California ranch that I, too, would feel perfectly fine living in all by myself.

The home is sublime with another to-die-for kitchen. Croque Madame, anyone?

UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN

A Tuscan villa in Italy. What could possibly be more romantic than that?

Oh wait, you remodel it, and as you do, you realize you’ve been undergoing a transformation yourself. It’s a classic movie with a breathtaking villa, landscapes that most of us only find on screensavers, and personal discovery.

Under the Tuscan Sun is as heartwarming as they come.

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL

I’m using my poetic license quite nicely here with the inclusion of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, as it’s technically not a house.

However, home is where the heart is and that’s precisely what this ramshackle group of senior citizens come to find out, and adore.

At first, you may be surprised the film is included in this list at all, because the hotel is a little run-down. But it brims with such exotic charm, the colors, the flavors of life, that it seduces you into submission.

The adorable, albeit young proprietor tries his damnedest to please and be pleasing. Quite frankly, I believe he succeeded. You’ll have to judge for yourself.

THE PROPOSAL

Scene Above May Contain Spoilers

In The Proposal, you’re whisked off to a sprawling Alaskan homestead, engulfed by the majesty that Alaska has to offer.

We in the lower 48 tend to forget about this jewel of ours. This movie reminds you of its beauty, front and center. Not to mention, you can’t pass up a movie starring Betty White!

The scene above features the interior of the house better than the trailer, but be mindful, there may be spoilers.

EAT, PRAY, LOVE

SCENE ABOVE WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS

There were many beautiful homes to choose from in this movie, considering Liz Gilbert’s mass exodus across the globe. But the two that come to mind the most in the movie Eat, Pray, Love, are Felipe’s house and Liz Gilbert’s “huts” in Bali.

The homes capture the essence of the Orient in a truly idyllic setting. A bona fide Shangri-La; but take care with the clip above, it is a definite spoiler!

THE BOOK CLUB

The Book Club is another laugh-out-loud film taking a look at love and romance with the empty-nester. It features an all-star cast as they compare their love lives to that of Christian Grey, Laters Baby.

Once again, we have several beautiful homes to gaze at in this movie, but the creme-de-la-creme is the Spanish ranch in Sedona, Nevada. Between the mountains, and the pool, and the brick facade with arched doorways, I’d sign up for a stay right away! Charlie, Tango, Foxtrot.

FATHER OF THE BRIDE

Father of the Bride is another classic film that’s been around for quite some time, and yet never loses its luster. It revolves around a father’s inability to cope with the fact that his “little girl” is getting married.

She decides to have her wedding in her family home, a magnificent 1925 Colonial, complete with a grand staircase just begging for a bride to descend upon its steps.

The decor may be a little dated, but that’s okay, the house has good bones and is the heartbeat of the family in this sweet story.

SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE

I just realized I have three Diane Keaton movies spanning 27 years on this list! I must be a fan!

Something’s Gotta Give hands us a few May/December, December/May, December/December romances, and an incredible house in the Hamptons that makes me dream of everlasting summers.

DISCLAIMER:

** This post may contain affiliate links. You can read our Affiliate Policy here.

I disclose here and now the use of a shameless plug for the time-honored New York Brownstone because I can’t help myself! I grew up in Brooklyn traversing in and out of brownstones, taking them for granted day in and day out, never fully appreciating them. The following movies always make me a little homesick, but in a totally wonderful way.

MOONSTRUCK

Like I said, I grew up in Brooklyn; ’nuff said. Just kidding!

I actually saw Moonstruck in the theater. I was 15 years old on one of my very first dates. Today, that “date” is forgettable; not so with this movie.

The film presents an ensemble cast of A-list actors, Puccini’s soulful melodies, and a Brooklyn brownstone whose decor is a bit stuck in the past, which is the point.

Many a time have I played a vinyl in a Victrola at my grandmother’s house, and I’ll miss doing so forever. I’ll never Snap Out of It!

THE AGE OF INNOCENCE

The Age of Innocence is a prime example of the brownstone in its heyday during the Gilded-Age of New York City, and a perfect illustration of the American upper class.

Before WWI, before the Great Depression with America high on the fat, our rich lived extravagantly, and loved doing so.

This movie highlights the pros and cons of that era in American history. The brownstone is presented in exquisite detail, on a silver platter, as the era’s ultimate symbol of success.

SEX AND THE CITY

Fast-forward 120 years later, and we’ve certainly moved past Innocence! Those very same brownstones have now been converted into apartments. You’d think I’d be upset about this, but I’m not.

For one thing, there are still many brownstones that have never been converted into apartments. Secondly, I grew up in many of them!

The Sex in the City franchise has everything a New Yorker identifies with: 2 penthouse apartments, Fashion Week, a career in writing, a passionate love affair with The One, and Carrie’s walk-up, converted brownstone apartment is dreamy.

I still fantasize about her writing desk and its view!

YOU’VE GOT MAIL

This brings me to You’ve Got Mail. Another converted Brownstone with creamy white walls, crown moldings, pocket doors, and the comfiest bedroom a New York apartment has ever seen!

Between that, a book shop (confirmed Book Fiend here), and Meg Ryan’s wistful portrayal of its owner in all her adorableness, this film had to make the list!

KISS ME GOODBYE

And finally, Kiss Me Goodbye, featuring a young Sally Field and Jeff Bridges. This movie perfectly depicts the unconverted brownstone; a 4 story beauty, updated, yes, but kept intact.

While Sally Field’s character, Kate, struggles with her love for her fiance, and her love for her dead husband, who makes a hilarious, ghostly appearance to wreak havoc upon her life just one more time, I’m simply overtaken with the house.

I can’t ever get enough of the third-story balcony, sweeping staircase (yes, more pocket doors and crown moldings) dance studio, and cozy office.

That, and Jeff Bridges attempting to hold on to his sanity while trying to be a supportive fiance, make this film a winner.

WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT

I could have added many more homes to this list, and I’m sure you can too. Everyone’s idea of Domestic Disposition varies, as it should. We are all unique, Fabulously Flawed individuals.

But, overall, I hope you enjoyed this curated list of movies with beautiful, blissful homes you could fantasize you live in, if even for just a couple of hours.

What did you think about this list?
What is your favorite movie home?
Please feel free to share your comments below!
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Happy Bingeing and Be Well!

Cynthia
385Life
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