This article is about the type of movies that can inspire and motivate you to be a better person.
Our Life Daily team carefully selected each movie for the particular traits exhibited by the leading characters. From the story lines you can learn about hardships, extending your boundaries, and being brave and fearless. They illustrate the importance of hard work and – most importantly – never giving up. Set yourself a goal and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t possibly achieve it. There is something in these movies that will make you happy, and create a desire for wanting to do better. And, if your feeling down or depressed, watching the stories we have chosen should bring a smile to your face.
Browse our list of motivational movies to give yourself inspiration:
1. The Pursuit of Happyness – Will Smith
This movie shows with hard work and patience, and a strong willpower and confidence, you can achieve anything you want. Based on true events, it tells the story of a homeless man trying to raise his son under the most difficult conditions. Despite numerous setbacks he succeeds in the end to form his own company, and eventually sells it for many millions of dollars.
2. Forrest Gump – Tom Hanks
Forrest Gump is not really smart in the conventional sense. However, he has had an inspirational life and achieves success in unexpected ways. Fate caused him to be present at many historical events, which he talks about with random people at a bus stop while waiting for his bus ride.
3. Pay it Forward – Kevin Spacey
The story is about a boy who tries to make the world a better place through a school experiment. He has the idea of paying a favor back by doing a good deed for someone else. This is an inspirational movie which demonstrates that, even by doing something small, it is possible to help others out of selflessness.
4. Slumdog Millionaire – Dev Patel
The film is about a boy from India who grew up in the slums of Mumbai. He becomes a contestant on the Indian version of ” Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” However, he is arrested under suspicion of cheating and during his interrogation he tells stories of events from his life which explain how he is able to answer the questions. The movie gives the message that it is possible to overcome any hardship and not forget your past, but learn from it.
5. Cast Away – Tom Hanks
Hanks plays the role of a FedEx employee whose plane crashes over the Pacific Ocean. He is the only survivor and is washed up on an desert island. He survives by using debris from the plane and what’s on the island. It’s a story that teaches people to never give up no matter what.
6. Remember the Titans – Denzel Washington
This must be one the most inspirational sports movies of all time. It is set in the state of Virginia, where schools were segregated for generations. However, a situation arises when one black and one white high school are forced to integrate. After that, they must learn to trust each other and come together, and they do so with the help of the football team.
7. October Sky – Jake Gyllenhaal
This is a true story of a coal miner’s son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to study rocket science, in spite of the opposition of his father. It a classical rags-to-riches story about what life is all about, and how to overcome its challenges.
8. Soul Surfer – Anna Sofia Robb
A true story based on what happened to surfer Bethany Hamilton. One night, Bethany went surfing and was attacked by a shark, which resulted in the amputation of her arm. However, her passion for surfing was so strong that this tragic accident didn’t stop her. She persevered and continued in spite of her disability. This movie has lessons about love, family, and faith – and the will to achieve even the most difficult goals.
9. A Beautiful Mind – Russell Crowe
This tells the true story of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician AND a paranoid schizophrenic! The movie illustrates the prejudices people have against those with similar problems. It’s particularly inspiring since Nash was eventually awarded a Nobel Prize.
10. Mr. Holland’s Opus – Richard Dreyfuss
This is a film which shows that you should never give up on your dream, and that maybe you have talents in areas you least expected. Mr. Holland’s work through the years proved how deeply great teachers can inspire and motivate their students.
Do you agree that these are some of the most inspiring motivational movies ever made?
Which one was your favorite? Or do know of others you think we should have included in our selection? Share your thoughts with our readers by using the comments feed below.
