Watch Guide: My Top 10 Chicken Soup Movies Vol. 1

Daughter of movie critic Leonard Maltin, Jessie Maltin defines in one episode of her father's podcast  the concept of the "chicken soup movie" as "films that make you feel better when you're sick, and others that you might discover when you're housebound."

**Click on title for trailer**

Blithe Spirit

(1945)

A seance goes awry, resulting in an established author and widower (Rex Harrison, "My Fair Lady," "Doctor Doolittle") becoming haunted by his first wife.

The Court Jester

(1956)

Danny Kaye plays a minstrel who finds himself roped into a bigger plan to place the last remaining heir back onto the throne but not without mistaken identity, sword fights and "the brew that is true."

Holiday

(1938)

Husband to be Johnny Case finally meets the in-laws and finds he might just be in love with the wrong sister.

I Married a Witch

(1942)

The night before he is married, governor candidate Wallace Woolley (Frederic March) finds himself the victim of his family's curse by the witch (Veronica Lake) who created it who also falls in love with him.

Ninotchka

(1939)

A special Russian envoy is sent to Paris (Greta Garbo) when her comrades are conned into staying there upon selling stolen jewelry during the Russian Revolution of 1917.

The Philadelphia Story

(1940)

In a web of manipulation and alcoholic infused angst, a society divorcee (Katharine Hepburn) who is soon to be married finds herself stuck between three men: a reporter (James Stewart) who has come to do an article on her, the future husband (John Howard), and her ex husband (Cary Grant).

The Prince and the Showgirl

(1957)

Marilyn Monroe finds herself swept away by a cold and rude Carpathian regent (Laurence Olivier) who only wants to use her for one night, but fate, colorful characters, and shots of vodka intervene.

The Shop Around the Corner

(1940)

A pre-cursor to "In the Good Old Summertime" and "You've Got Mail," sales people from Matuschek and Company realize over time they are each other's pen pals.

Stand-In

(1937)

In an attempt to convince his boss that a movie studio is worth keeping their investment, Atterbury Dodd (Leslie Howard) is promoted to be Colossal Pictures's head of studio but does not entirely fit in amongst these colorful characters.

Talk of the Town

(1942)

Leopold Dilg (Cary Grant) is on the run from possibly being framed for arson and by extension murder, but in the case of being hidden at the right house, at the right time, by the right girl (Jean Arthur), he might be in better hands than he thinks as a law professor (Ronald Colman) is renting the house he is hiding out in.