History ThePollyanna / Film

* Meghna from ''Bollywood/JaaneTuYaJaaneNa'' [[spoiler: turns out to be a deconstruction]].

* Joy, the mental personification of … well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin joy]], in the Pixar film ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut''. All the more appropriate, since she's voiced by Amy Poehler, of ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' fame. ''Deconstructed'' in that her outlook tends to be shortsighted rather than beneficial in the long term.

* Joy, the mental personification of … well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin joy]], in the Pixar film ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut''. All the more appropriate, since she's voiced by Amy Poehler, of ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' fame. [[Deconstructed]] in that her outlook tends to be shortsighted rather than beneficial in the long term.

* Joy, the mental personification of … well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin joy]], in the Pixar film ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut''. All the more appropriate, since she's voiced by Amy Poehler, of ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' fame.

* The titular character from Disney's ''Disney/{{Cinderella}}''. She puts up with the demanding work her stepmother and stepsisters bullies her to do constantly, all with a cheerful smile and a pleasant attitude. It was only when they tore her dress and destroyed any hopes of her going to the ball that Cinderella [[BreakTheCutie broke down]].
* Anna from ''{{Disney/Frozen}}'' keeps a cheerful attitude throughout the movie. It's only when she is [[spoiler:on the brink of death and betrayed by the man she loved]] that she loses her sunny disposition.

* The titular character of ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'' has been forced into slavery, almost killed by a mercenary and sent out alone into a dark and unfamiliar forest. Yet she doesn't complain or cry much and always picks herself up again.

* Vanellope of ''Disney/WreckItRalph'' suffers a great deal of discrimination and out-right bullying for being a glitch. Despite being looked down on by the other racers and being forced to live in a hovel in a hidden area, she remains cheerily optimistic. The only times she falters are when somebody threatens her car, and thus her dream of racing.

* In ''Film/AntMan'' Scott Lang's best friend, former cellmate and sidekick Luis comes across this way thanks to his opening scene, where the two are reconnecting after the year between Luis being released from jail and Scott's release:

%%* [[TransSexual Kitten,]] from the wonderful film ''Film/BreakfastOnPluto''.

* Lars von Trier's ''Film/BreakingTheWaves'' combines this with two fairly horrific hours of ''BreakTheCutie'', eventually leading to [[spoiler:a [[MessianicArchetype messiah ending]].]]

* The title character of ''Film/EdWood'' is constantly upbeat and optimistic about his movies, declaring that every film take is "perfect" even when glaring errors pointed out to him. He constantly believes that his next film will be a smash hit despite the overwhelmingly evidence to the contrary and rarely lets his spirits dim. [[WordOfGod Tim Burton]] claimed he wanted to make the movie through Wood's eyes, [[GiftedlyBad showing his sincere love for movies despite his utter lack of talent]]. The darker parts of his life are glossed over due to this.

* Judy Hopps of ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' qualifies. Her dream is to be a police officer, despite the fact that she's a rabbit, and there's never been a rabbit officer before. Her parents, a con-fox, her childhood bullies, even her own chief when she gets the job at first don't believe in her potential. Through it all, Judy just remains very optimistic, from living in a small run down apartment, to meeting her goal of writing up 200 parking tickets before noon, going as far as to write one up for her own vehicle without any negative emotions.

* ''{{Trolls}}'': Poppy is very close to the actual Trope Namer in that she admits to Branch she knows life isn't all cupcakes and rainbows but she likes to believe most of it is and focus on the good things.

%%* [[TransSexual Kitten,]] from the wonderful film ''BreakfastOnPluto''.

* In ''CannibalTheMusical'', this is PlayedForLaughs with Swan. When his companions are complaining about having no food and being weary and lost, he suggests building a snowman via cheerful song and demonstration. Even after [[spoiler: one of his annoyed companions shoots him in the head]], he still has a smile on his face.

* ''{{Hairspray}}'': Tracy Turnblad is infectiously optimistic, happily championing the desegregation of the Corny Collins Show. Even though there are times that she has doubts that she can succeed, she never gives up, and in the end, most of the cast is with her. [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome "You Can't Stop The Beat!"]]

* Nomi Malone in ''{{Showgirls}}'' is a more believable and seemingly more cynical version of this trope. Nomi carries a knife, appears street savvy and effectively confronts a truck driver for hitting on her. However, she is shown to be ultimately trusting, to her detriment, leaving her luggage in his car to be stolen. Throughout the film she is betrayed for her trust. The callous Las Vegas show director Tony Moss mysteriously refers to her more than once as looking like a "Pollyanna", the first time for no apparent reason, the second time possibly due to her dress (though this still gives us no clue as to why he would name her as such).

* Lady Sue from Creator/AkiraKurosawa's ''Film/{{Ran}}''. And it frightens Hidetora. His armies killed her entire family after she was sent to him as a political hostage. Her response: becoming a nun and forgiving him. It would be so much easier for Hidetora if she just hated him.
* ''Film/{{Annie|1982}}'', the 1982 film, when she's in the orphanage ... she just keeps thinking about tomorrow! And her sunny attitude is contagious and transformative.
%%* [[TransSexual Kitten,]] from the wonderful film ''BreakfastOnPluto''.
* Lars von Trier's ''Film/BreakingTheWaves'' combines this with two fairly horrific hours of ''BreakTheCutie'', eventually leading to [[spoiler:a [[MessianicArchetype messiah ending]].]]
* In ''CannibalTheMusical'', this is PlayedForLaughs with Swan. When his companions are complaining about having no food and being weary and lost, he suggests building a snowman via cheerful song and demonstration. Even after [[spoiler: one of his annoyed companions shoots him in the head]], he still has a smile on his face.

* Vanellope of ''WreckItRalph'' suffers a great deal of discrimination and out-right bullying for being a glitch. Despite being looked down on by the other racers and being forced to live in a hovel in a hidden area, she remains cheerily optimistic. The only times she falters are when somebody threatens her car, and thus her dream of racing.

* [[TransSexual Kitten,]] from the wonderful film ''BreakfastOnPluto''.

* An odd subversion in ''CecilBDemented'': Raven is a ''Satanist'', yet remains upbeat and perky, even as her fellow Sprocket Holes are being picked off left and right. If one didn't know better, one might question her grip on reality.

* Mater in ''{{Cars 2}}'' is subjected to BreakTheCutie when he realizes that everyone else sees him as a laughingstock and a buffoon. Yet after an apologetic reassurance from his best friend Lightning [=McQueen=], he soon returns to his regularly cheerful and optimistic disposition.

* Meghna from ''JaaneTuYaJaaneNa'' [[spoiler: turns out to be a deconstruction]].

* Lars von Trier's ''Film/BreakingTheWaves'' combines this with two fairly horrific hours of ''BreakTheCutie'', eventually leading to [[spoiler:a [[TheMessiah messiah ending]].]]

* ''Theatre/{{Annie}}'', the 1982 film, when she's in the orphanage ... she just keeps thinking about tomorrow! And her sunny attitude is contagious and transformative.

* The titular heroine from the Swedish film ''Du Är Inte Klok, Madicken'' ("You're out of your mind, Maggie!"), is this, much more then in Astrid Lindgren's books the film is based on.

* [[{{Hairspray}} Tracy Turnblad]] is infectiously optimistic, happily championing the desegregation of the Corny Collins Show. Even though there are times that she has doubts that she can succeed, she never gives up, and in the end, most of the cast is with her. [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome "You Can't Stop The Beat!"]]

* An odd subversion in ''CecilBDemented'': Raven is a ''Satanist'', yet remains upbeat and perky, even as her fellow Sprocket Holes are being picked off left and right. If one didn't know better, one might question her grip on reality.

* [[TransSexual Kitten,]] from the wonderful film ''BreakfastOnPluto''.
* The title character of ''Film/EdWood'' is constantly upbeat and optimistic about his movies, declaring that every film take is "perfect" even when glaring errors pointed out to him. He constantly believes that his next film will be a smash hit despite the overwhelmingly evidence to the contrary and rarely lets his spirits dim. [[WordOfGod Tim Burton]] claimed he wanted to make the movie through Wood's eyes, [[GiftedlyBad showing his sincere love for movies despite his utter lack of talent]]. The darker parts of his life are glossed over due to this.
* Lady Sue from Creator/AkiraKurosawa's ''Film/{{Ran}}''. And it frightens Hidetora. His armies killed her entire family after she was sent to him as a political hostage. Her response: becoming a nun and forgiving him. It would be so much easier for Hidetora if she just hated him.
* Nomi Malone in ''{{Showgirls}}'' is a more believable and seemingly more cynical version of this trope. Nomi carries a knife, appears street savvy and effectively confronts a truck driver for hitting on her. However, she is shown to be ultimately trusting, to her detriment, leaving her luggage in his car to be stolen. Throughout the film she is betrayed for her trust. The callous Las Vegas show director Tony Moss mysteriously refers to her more than once as looking like a "Pollyanna", the first time for no apparent reason, the second time possibly due to her dress (though this still gives us no clue as to why he would name her as such).