The right movie at the right time can mean the difference between sanity and a full-blown nervous breakdown. More on that in a second.

Currently, the USA is going nuts. Don’t take our word for it – according to medical professionals Americans are currently experience a mental health epidemic in addition to the aftermath of COVID, everyone at each other’s throats, and the price of everything that seems to double each week. Given our current state of affairs nasty stuff like anxiety and depression are on the rise and while it might seem weird in a ‘wellness culture,’ sadness and nervousness about what’s going on and what will happen going forward are only natural.

But it can quickly become overwhelming and even the toughest cookies among us feel like we’re starting to crumble. So check out the list below and don’t forget the film “Airplane” with one of the greatest lines: “Looks like I chose the wrong week to quit smoking.”

So here are five suggestions for “emotional emergency” movie titles to check out if you need a laugh to keep from crying, yelling . . .  whatever. And yeah – there are a lot of Gene Wilder titles but that’s because he was one of the funniest people that ever walked the Earth.

  1. Young Frankenstein (Young Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle and Madelene Kahn- directed by Mel Brooks) It’s one of the only films that gets funnier each time you watch it.
  2. Blazing Saddles (Gene and Mel again) One of the only films that manages to capture the majesty of authentic frontier gibberish.
  3. The Producers (Gene Wilder again- this time with Zero Mostel about a Trump-like plot to get rich through economic failure)
  4. Stir Crazy (Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder) This is hands down one of the most iconic American films of all time. Pryor and Hackman have unbelievable comic chemistry and its just a really good flick.
  5. Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (Steve Martin, featuring every famous screen star of the 40’s and 50’s like Humphrey Bogart.) Martin plays a Mickey Spillane type private eye and travels to Mexico to bust up a kitten-juggling ring. (great one to watch with Granny or Grampa!)