Taken over $169 million at the box office ... The 2014 sequel Dumb and Dumber To with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. Picture: Supplied

Dumb and Dumber To, Pixar/Disney movie collections, ‘90s staple Sex and the City and comedies Modern Family and Parks and Recreation have seen all significant bumps over the past few days while terror has reigned large in endless news reports.

Presto’s head of content Brendan Moo said he was unsurprised to see this trend.

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Easy watching ... Buzz Lightyear and Woody are happy TV companions in stressful times.Source:reuters

“We’ve got a whole range of programming to cater for whatever your emotional needs are,” he said.

“In times like this where you have major news events happening around the world and you’re sitting down to watch some entertainment, obviously you’ll be drawn to lighter fare.”

It’s a sentiment that psychologist Dr John Irvine echoes — adding that your TV choices can also help you cope with the stress that comes along with hearing these traumatic news reports.

“Endorphins are nature’s antidepressant,” he explained.

“And endorphins get up through laughing, so when people are unwittingly drifting towards (TV that helps them do) that means their system needs it also.”

Laughing matters ... Watching comedies like Modern Family helps us deal with stress, says Dr John Irvine.Source:AP

“Heading towards comedy and laughter is not just a distraction but also a way of coping better as lifting endorphins helps us think rationally and cope with the situation.”

Stating that coping with grief through laughter is not only normal, but aids your “emotional immune system” Dr Irvine predicted our appetite for light entertainment on TV and film will continue to grow.

Old favourite ... Carrie and Mr Big still prove popular for people looking for an escape.Source:News Limited

“The pace of life is getting hotter, there’s more anxiety and more stress in life than ever before,” he said.

“It’s good to have a break from it all, to keep some balance and perspective. You can’t deal with the heavy stuff unless your chemistry is okay.”