Feeling down, apathetic or stuck in rut? Here'sa list of 20 inspirational movies to choose from when you need a good laugh, cry, or sparkofmotivation.
What makes a film inspirational? That's up to the viewer, but the motivational movies on this list were chosen for their appeal to wide audiences, so grab some tissues and get ready to be moved.
01
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Most Inspirational Road Trip Movie: The Straight Story (1999)
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What We Like
The movie was filmed along the route the real Alvin Straight traveled.
Viewers get to enjoy the beauty of rural Iowa and Wisconsin.
What We Don't Like
Like a 1966 riding lawn mower, the movie progresses at a leisurely pace, which may seem boring to younger viewers.
The Straight Story chronicles the real-life journey of Alvin Straight, a 73-year-old stroke patient who drove his John Deere riding lawn-mower hundreds of miles across the American heartland to visit his dying brother in 1994. David Lynch's brilliant directing makes Straight's pilgrimage feel just as inspiring today as it was back then.
02
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Most Inspirational Movie About Mental Health: A Beautiful Mind (2001)
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What We Like
An outstanding cast backed by Ron Howard's directing made this movie a contender for numerous awards upon its released.
What We Don't Like
The movie leaves out many details about Nash's life. Read the book by Sylvia Nasar for a more complete biography.
A Beautiful Mind tells the story of Nobel Prize winning mathematician John Nash and his struggle with schizophrenia. After revolutionizing the field of game theory as a young man, Nash descends into a dangerous world of delusions that he is able to overcome thanks to the support of his doctors, friends, and family.
03
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Most Inspirational Film About Family: Rain Man (1988)
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What We Like
The chemistry between the two lead actors, Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, makes the relationship between the brothers feel authentic.
What We Don't Like
Rain Man doesn't reflect most patients' experiences with autism, but the story is touching nonetheless.
Rain Man is a humorous yet heartfelt story about two estranged siblings. After their father dies, a young hustler tries to trick his autistic brother into giving up his portion of the inheritance money. Eventually, heevolves into a caretaker role andthe brothers develop mutual respect for one another.
04
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Most Inspirational Film for Feminists: My Brilliant Career (1979)
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What We Like
Judy Davis's liberating performance as the headstrong feminist author makes the film worth a watch.
What We Don't Like
Viewers may be put off by the protagonist's self-centered attitude. Then again, the story is about placing your needs before others.
Based on a novel of the same name by Australian feministMiles Franklin,My Brilliant Career is a loosely autobiographical story about a young female writer namedSybylla Melvyn, who turns down marriage and traditional life to pursue her passion for writing.
05
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Most Inspirational Christmas Movie: It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
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Younger audiences may think It's a Wonderful Life is too cliche for a list like this, but the film still holds up more than seven decadesafter its release.Even if you're not a fan of old movies, everyone should see this holiday movie classic at some point.
06
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Most Inspirational Movie for Journalists: Cry Freedom (1987)
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What We Like
The acting, cinematography, and musical score are all top notch.
The director did an excellent job of capturing the beauty of South Africa.
What We Don't Like
The story is more about the main character's escape from authorities rather than the politics of the country.
Cry Freedom holds an interesting place in history as a movie about South Africa's Apartheid regime beforeApartheid ended. The story follows Donald Woods, a white South African journalist, as he investigates the persecution of young Black activist Steve Biko. After becoming a police target himself, Woods must flee for his life.
07
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Most Inspirational Courtroom Drama: 12 Angry Men (1957)
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What We Like
The energy of the cast makes what sounds like a boring premise into a riveting drama.
What We Don't Like
If you're not a fan of courtroom dramas, then 12 Angry Men might put you to sleep.
This study of the American judicial process isjust as relevant today as it was in 1957. Twelve men selected for jury duty are tasked with deciding the fate of a young minority teenager accused of murder. During their deliberations, prejudices and personal issues threaten to undermine justice, but the truth ultimately prevails.
08
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Most Inspirational Movie for Activists: Erin Brockovich (2000)
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What We Like
It's easy to see why Roberts won the Academy Award for best actress in 2001 thanks to this performance.
What We Don't Like
The plot drags at certain points, but Roberts and the rest of the cast do a great job at keeping viewers engaged.
Julia Roberts portrays the real-lifeErin Brockovich, a former beauty queen who swears like a sailor and never gives up. In 1993,Brockovich spearheaded a massivelawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric for contaminating the water supply of Hinkley, California.The suit resulted ina $333 millionsettlement, the largest inAmericanhistory.
09
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Most Inspirational High School Movie: Remember the Titans (2000)
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What We Like
Coach Herman Boone, played by Denzel Washington, is an inspirational figure.
What We Don't Like
Even though it's based on a true story, Remember the Titans follows many sports movie cliches.
Set in Alexandria, Virginia,Remember the Titansdeals with the racial integration of a high school football teamin 1971. When a Black man is selected to be head coach, racial tensions bubble between students and faculty, but teamwork ultimately prevails over prejudice.
10
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Most Inspirational Romantic Film: Rocky (1976)
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What We Like
Burgess Meredith steals the show as Mickey, the tough-as-nails boxing coach we all need in our lives.
What We Don't Like
In retrospect, the relationship between Rocky and Adrian is sometimes more awkward than charming.
Even if you've never seen Rocky, you can probably recognize the film's many famous quotes and scenes. Sylvester Stallone portrays a small-timeboxer who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to battle the world heavyweight champion. No one believes in him except his coach and his girlfriend Adrian, who push Rocky to try his best.
11
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Most Inspirational Sci-Fi Film: The Truman Show (1998)
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What We Like
Viewers who aren't used to seeing Jim Carrey in serious roles may be surprised to find out he's a very talented actor.
What We Don't Like
Contemporary viewers may nitpick some of the plot points, but keep in mind this movie was exploring new territory.
Reality TV wasn't nearly as prevalent two decades ago as it is today, so it's hard to imagine howThe Truman Show was received when itfirst released. If it came out in 2018, the story might end much differently. Nonetheless, the main character's decision at the film's climax will have you pumping your fist.
12
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Most Inspirational Movie About Education: Stand and Deliver (1988)
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What We Like
Edward James Olmos' often parodied performance as Escalante makes the film worth viewing.
What We Don't Like
The film slightly embellishes Escalante's legacy.
The writing and acting is a bit hokey.
Stand and Deliverconveys the somewhat true story ofJaime Escalante, a math teacher who introduced an A.P. calculus program at an underperforming L.A. school. Despite opposition from both students and faculty,Escalante succeeds in pushing his pupils to succeed.
13
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Most Inspirational Movie Based on a Book: Still Alice (2014)
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What We Like
An all-star cast including Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart does an excellent job bringing the novel to life.
What We Don't Like
The story takes a dark turn that may be triggering for some viewers, but everything turns out O.K. in the end.
In Still Alice,Julianne Mooreplays a linguistics professor struggling with early-onset dementia. As she slowly loses her ability to think and speak, her husband and children must become her caretakers. Based on a book by the same name,StillAlicepaints an accurate picture of whatfamilies go through when a loved one suffers fromAlzheimer's.
14
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Most Inspirational Animated Movie: The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
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What We Like
Each of the appliances have distinct personalities, which makes their interactions a joy to watch.
What We Don't Like
The songs and animation are not on par with most 90s Disney films, but that doesn't detract from the film's charm.
The Brave Little Toaster puts a strange twist on a common formula. A toaster, a lamp, a radio, a vacuum cleaner, and an electric blanket embark on a cross-country adventure to be reunited with their owner who seemingly abandoned them after moving. If you enjoy this animated film, check out the sequel,The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars.
15
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Most Heartfelt Inspirational Movie: Forrest Gump (1994)
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What We Like
Tom Hanks’s performance as the lovably simple-minded Forrest is among his best in a career full of stellar roles.
What We Don't Like
The movie has a lot of profanity and some nudity, so it’s not appropriate for all ages.
This quirky story about a man born with limited mental faculties proves that heart often matters more than brains. Although the story is fictional, the main character is impacted by many real-life events that defined a generation, such as the Vietnam War and the AIDS crisis.
16
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Most Inspirational Movie About Criminal Justice: Dead Man Walking (1995)
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What We Like
Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn give painfully realistic performances as the nun and the inmate.
What We Don't Like
Some viewers will not like how the story ends, but the themes of forgiveness and redemption make Dead Man Walking worthy of this list.
Inspired by the memoirs of Helen Prejean,Dead Man Walking unabashedly tackles the issue of capital punishment from all sides. When a nun gets a letter from a death row inmate who claims he is innocent, she sets off on an emotional journey to uncover the truth.
17
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Most Inspirational Disney Movie: Moana (2016)
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What We Like
The music and animation are top notch, which is to be expected from Disney.
What We Don't Like
Moana follows most of the typical Disney tropes, so if you don't like Disney films, this one won't convert you.
Also known as Disney's apology for Pocahontas,Moanais a CG-animated featureabout an indigenous teenager who eschews the wishes of her family and sets sail on a mission to save her tribe. Along the way, she's helped by her ancestors and some talking animal friends.
18
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Most Inspirational Movie Based on a True Story: Hidden Figures (2017)
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What We Like
The movie brings light to important women who have been neglected for far too long.
What We Don't Like
As is often the case, the book Hidden Figures is better because it goes into greater detail about the true story.
Before you go see First Man, learn about the team of African-American women who made John Glenn's historic space mission possible. Despite facing discrimination while working for NASA,Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson became the unsung heroes of the space race.
19
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Most Inspirational Historical Movie: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)
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What We Like
More so than Cry Freedom, Mandela accurately depicts the horrors of Apartheid.
What We Don't Like
Condensing Mandela's entire life story into one movie is impossible, so a lot of history necessarily gets left out.
Nelson Mandela led a revolutionary movement while imprisoned for two decades. After his release, he ran for President and oversaw the reconciliation of South Africa. This is the life story of an extraordinary man who championed democracy and peace over vengeance.
20
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Most Inspirational Sports Movie: A League of Their Own (1992)
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What We Like
An eclectic cast including Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, and Tom Hanks make this inspirational movie a memorable experience.
What We Don't Like
Some viewers may take issue with Tom Hanks getting top billing in a film about women's baseball.
A League of Their Own is a sports comedy based on the true story of the All-American Girls Baseball League. Formed in 1943, the first all-female league dominated the world of sports while male players were serving in World War II.
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