The 21 Best Birthday Movies to Watch on Your Special Day (With Genres!)

Birthdays are for feeling awesome, and movies can totally boost that feeling.

Your birthday is the perfect excuse to relax, have fun, and watch a great movie.

Whether you’re celebrating alone, with family, or throwing a party with friends, the right film can set the mood.

From heartwarming comedies to action-packed adventures, there’s something for everyone.

In this list, you’ll find 21 of the best birthday movies, complete with their genres, so you can pick the perfect one for your special day.

So, we’ve added the genre for each movie on our list to help you find exactly what you’re in the mood for – whether it’s laughs, adventure, or something a little heartwarming.

Get comfy and let’s check out the genres!

Lets make your birthday movie marathon even better:

1. Sixteen Candles (1984)

Genre: Teen Comedy: Imagine it’s your 16th birthday and everyone forgets! This teen comedy classic is all about Samantha and her crazy, funny, and totally awkward 16th birthday. It’s a feel-good movie about growing up and first crushes.

2. The Breakfast Club (1985)

Genre: Teen Drama/Comedy-Drama: Okay, maybe not exactly birthday themed, but still awesome! This teen drama/comedy-drama is about a group of totally different high school students who end up in Saturday detention. They learn they’re not so different after all. It’s about understanding yourself and others – good birthday vibes!

3. Big (1988)

Genre: Fantasy Comedy: Ever wish you were older? Josh makes a wish at a carnival and wakes up as an adult! This fantasy comedy is super funny watching him try to be a grown-up when he’s still a kid inside. Birthday wish gone wild in a hilarious way!

4. Groundhog Day (1993)

Genre: Romantic Comedy/Fantasy: Imagine reliving the same day over and over again. This romantic comedy/fantasy is about Phil, who’s stuck reliving Groundhog Day, and it’s hilarious (and a little thought-provoking) as he tries to break the cycle. Birthdays are once a year, thankfully, unlike Groundhog Day for Phil!

5. Clueless (1995)

Genre: Teen Romantic Comedy: Cher is rich, popular, and totally clueless about some stuff, especially love. This teen romantic comedy is super funny, super stylish, and just plain fun. Perfect for a lighthearted and fashionable birthday watch.

6. Matilda (1996)

Genre: Family Fantasy Comedy: Matilda is super smart but her family is… not so nice. She discovers she has special powers! This family fantasy comedy is a feel-good story about being yourself and standing up for what’s right, even when things are tough. Birthday superpowers, maybe?

7. The Parent Trap (1998)

Genre: Family Comedy: Twins who didn’t know each other meet at summer camp and find out they’re sisters! This family comedy is about them switching places to try and get their divorced parents back together. Double the trouble, double the fun! Great for celebrating family (even if they’re a little mixed up!).

8. 13 Going on 30 (2004)

Genre: Romantic Comedy/Fantasy: Similar to Big, Jenna wishes she was 30 and poof – she is! This romantic comedy/fantasy shows that being 30 isn’t exactly what she thought it would be. Another funny and sweet movie about growing up (or wishing you hadn’t grown up so fast!).

9. Mean Girls (2004)

Genre: Teen Comedy: High school can be tough, especially with “mean girls.” This teen comedy follows Cady as she learns all about cliques and popularity. It’s hilarious and kinda scary true about high school life. Birthday parties are way better than high school drama, right?

10. Enchanted (2007)

Genre: Musical Fantasy Comedy: A Disney princess gets magically sent to the real world (New York City!). This musical fantasy comedy is funny seeing her try to figure out normal life, and there’s singing and animation mixed with live-action! A fairytale for your birthday!

11. WALL-E (2008)

Genre: Animated Sci-Fi/Romance: A cute little robot is left to clean up Earth in the future. This animated sci-fi/romance is sweet and visually amazing as he finds a plant and goes on an adventure across space. It’s about hope and friendship. Birthday adventures can be big or small!

12. Up (2009)

Genre: Animated Adventure/Comedy-Drama: Okay, you might cry a little in the first 10 minutes. But after that, this animated adventure/comedy-drama is an amazing adventure as Carl, an old man, ties balloons to his house and flies away! It’s about dreams and adventures, no matter your age. Birthday wishes taking flight!

13. Toy Story 3 (2010)

Genre: Animated Family/Comedy-Drama: The Toy Story movies are all awesome, but this one is special as Andy grows up and goes to college. This animated family/comedy-drama is about growing up, saying goodbye, and friendship that lasts forever. Bittersweet birthday feelings!

14. Bridesmaids (2011)

Genre: Romantic Comedy: This one is for older teens and adults, it’s a super funny romantic comedy about a maid of honor trying to plan her best friend’s wedding, and everything goes hilariously wrong. Lots of laughs for a birthday giggle-fest.

15. Pitch Perfect (2012)

Genre: Musical Comedy: A college girl joins an all-girls acapella group. This musical comedy is all about singing, friendship, and being yourself. Get ready to tap your feet and maybe even sing along on your birthday!

16. Frozen (2013)

Genre: Animated Musical Fantasy: Elsa has ice powers and runs away, causing an eternal winter. This animated musical fantasy is about Anna who goes to find her sister and save the kingdom. You probably know the songs! A magical birthday movie with awesome music.

17. Inside Out (2015)

Genre: Animated Family/Comedy-Drama: This movie takes place inside a girl’s mind, with characters representing her emotions. This animated family/comedy-drama is super creative and helps you think about feelings in a whole new way. Birthday feelings are important!

18. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Genre: Animated Superhero/Action: Miles Morales becomes Spider-Man in a really cool, animated superhero/action movie with tons of action and humor. Super birthday powers, anyone?

19. Booksmart (2019)

Genre: Teen Comedy: Two super smart girls realize they might have missed out on having fun in high school. This teen comedy is about them deciding to cram all the partying into one night before graduation. A funny movie about friendship and letting loose. Birthday party time!

20. Luca (2021)

Genre: Animated Coming-of-Age/Fantasy: Two sea monster boys spend a summer in Italy pretending to be human. This animated coming-of-age/fantasy is a sweet movie about friendship, summer adventures, and being true to yourself. A sunny birthday escape!

21. Turning Red (2022)

Genre: Animated Family/Comedy: Mei Lee turns into a giant red panda when she gets too emotional! This animated family/comedy is funny, kinda crazy, and talks about growing up and family. Birthday emotions can be intense sometimes!

So there you have it – 21 movies, now with genres, to pick from for your birthday!

No matter how you choose to celebrate, a good movie can make your birthday even more special.

Whether you want to laugh, cry, or feel inspired, there’s a film on this list for you.

So grab some popcorn, hit play, and enjoy your birthday with a great story!

Hopefully, knowing the genre helps you find just the right movie vibe for your special day.

Happy Birthday and happy watching!

Let us know in the comments which movie genre (or specific movie!) you’re in the mood for!