Netflix is remaking ’13 Going on 30′ — and you can stream the original now for the ultimate comfort watch

There’s something reassuring about the idea that all of the bad decisions you’ve made in your life will ultimately make you a better person, and that’s one of the reasons why 2004’s body-switch comedy “13 Going on 30” is such an effective comfort watch. It’s also steeped in nostalgia for the upbeat pop culture of the 1980s, and from the vantage point of 2026, the pop culture of the 2000s now feels equally nostalgic.

It’s no surprise that Netflix is getting ready to mine that nostalgia with a forthcoming remake, which will presumably look back on the ’00s with the same warmth that the original applies to the ’80s. In the meantime, the 2004 movie has been newly added to Netflix, perfectly positioned for casual viewing. As comforting as it can be, though, this is not a movie that simply trades on cheap sentiment and goodwill toward a theoretically simpler era. It’s a sweet, feel-good romantic comedy in which the characters may get what they want, but they have to learn from their mistakes first.