Gripping and uplifting would seem to be satisfied by Shawshank Redemption, so that would be my first recommendation.
Loved The Dish - very sweet and funny take on the Apollo 11 Moon landing, from the perspective of the Australian team looking after the Parkes radio telescope. Sam Neill, Patrick Warburton, lovely 1960s music. Charming. It's on Amazon Prime https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dish-Sam-Neill/dp/B00FYN0INC and, inexplicably, on the Internet Archive (free, though takes a wee while to load): https://archive.org/details/TheDish2000 - more uplifting than gripping but there is some mild peril.
Dean Spanley is lovely too - quite fantastical, magical realism I suppose. Jeremy Northam and Peter O'Toole as son and father having a rather difficult relationship since the death of the son / brother (in the Boer War) and the mum / wife. Sam Neill's also in it (as the Dean). A tale of dogs and reincarnation. Again more uplifting than gripping but definitely very intriguing.
The Apartment (1960, b/w, Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine & Fred MacMurray) - won Best Picture at 1961 Oscars, directed and co-written by Billy Wilder. Very funny but also some dark themes. Definitely uplifting though. Engaging rather than gripping.
The Odd Couple - some perfect moments with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. It's very, very funny indeed but I'm not sure it's gripping. Here's how to clear your sinuses ;)
Note that both Paddington and Paddington 2 are currently on iPlayer. As is Remains of the Day which is gripping but not particulary uplifting. All the Wallace and Gromit shorts are there too, but they don't quite fall within your gripping or uplifting remit :)
100% agreement with Pride, saw that quite recently, very good. Also Crazy, Stupid Love is brilliant too. Hidden Figures = ace!
Jo