Ultimate List of inspirational and motivational movies of all time! More than 20 movies that are worth watching again and again. Life hits you hard and you need to watch these movies to get up and keep moving forward.
Most people watch movies for entertainment.
But for some, they watch a movie :
– to learn important messages which can apply to their life
– to get inspired and motivated
2. Unbroken (2004)
if you can take it, you can make it !
You train, and you fight harder than those guys, you win !
You can take it, you can make it !!!
You can do this, you got to just believe you can !
A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory !
3. Wonder (2017)
The story follows August “Auggie” Pullman, a boy born with a facial difference who attends a mainstream school for the first time after being homeschooled. At school, he faces bullying and judgment, but also forms meaningful friendships. Through his courage and kindness, Auggie gradually changes how others see him. The film highlights empathy, acceptance, and the idea that choosing kindness can make a real difference.
4. Young Woman & the Sea (2024)
The movie tells the real-life journey of Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926.
She faces:
- sexism (people doubting women in sports)
- tough training conditions
- physical and mental limits
Yet she pushes through and achieves a historic 21-mile swim from France to England.
Don’t let others decide your limits. Pain is temporary, Quitting stays.
5. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
A young man Zak with Down syndrome escapes to chase his dream of becoming a wrestler, teaming up with a troubled fisherman along the way—forming an unlikely friendship that helps them both find purpose.
Full Movie : here
6. Castaway (2000)
Obsessively punctual FedEx executive Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) is en route to an assignment in Malaysia when his plane crashes over the Pacific Ocean during a storm. The sole survivor of the flight, Chuck washes ashore on a deserted island. When his efforts to sail away and contact help fail, Chuck learns how to survive on the island, where he remains for years, accompanied by only his handmade volleyball friend, Wilson.
Sometimes unexpected things happens in Life…. you need to survive !!!
7. True Spirit (2023)
A determined teenage sailor, Jessica Watson, sets out to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world—battling fear, isolation, and brutal seas to prove she can achieve the impossible.
8. Nyad (2023)
In 2010, sixty-year-old swimmer Diana Nyad resolves to accomplish the one thing that has eluded her—a 110-mile nonstop swim from Cuba to Florida, which she unsuccessfully attempted thirty years prior. She appoints her best friend and former partner, Bonnie Stoll, to train her. Despite public skepticism because of her age, Diana relocates to Key West with Bonnie for her training and hires navigator John Bartlett to accompany her on her swim.
9. Forrest Gump (1994)
Life is like a box of chocolate , you never know what you are gonna get !
Slow-witted Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) has never thought of himself as disadvantaged, and thanks to his supportive mother (Sally Field), he leads anything but a restricted life. Whether dominating on the gridiron as a college football star, fighting in Vietnam or captaining a shrimp boat, Forrest inspires people with his childlike optimism. But one person Forrest cares about most may be the most difficult to save — his childhood love, the sweet but troubled Jenny (Robin Wright).
Sometimes you just need to think simply and just keep moving forward !
Since you have come so far, you might as will continue to move forward.
10. Taare Zameen Par, Like Stars on Earth (2007)
A great movie and very inspirational for all educators and parents out there. Every Child is Special.
This movie is about 8-year-old Ishaan Awasthi, who struggles in school due to undiagnosed dyslexia. Misunderstood as lazy trouble-maker, the boy is sent to boarding school, where a patient and compassionate art teacher (Aamir Khan) discover the real problem behind his struggles in school. This teacher helps him overcome his dyslexia challenges and reveals his artistic brilliance.
Full movie : here
11. The Boy who harnessed the Wind (2019)
A Malawian boy, William Kamkwamba, teaches himself how to build a wind turbine to save his drought-stricken village—proving that determination and creativity can overcome even extreme hardship.
12. Sea Biscuit (2003)
Based on the inspiring true story of three lost men – a jockey, a trainer and a businessman – and the undersized racehorse who took the entire nation on the ride of a lifetime.
A Millionaire Businessman whose life was turned upside down when his son die in an accident
An Unsuccessful oversized Jockey whose spirit was broken,
An unemployed Cowboy (Horse Trainer), whose job was lost to rapid modernisation.
An underperforming undersized Race Horse.
4 Lives were brought together by Fate, finding each other and giving each other Hope. Rising from troubled times to achieve Fame and Success.
You don’t throw the racehorse life away just because it is banged up a little.
The race Horse just need to learn to be a Horse again.
Everyone loses a couple. Either you pack up and go home or you keep on fighting
Competing with a very strong opponent and overcoming odds to Win with training and preparation.
Watch the final Race, guaranteed Super Heart warming for the Soul !
13. Facing the Giants (2006)
A 2006 American Christian drama film directed by and starring Alex Kendrick. Personally, i am a non-christian but was very impressed with its plot and Death Crawl scene.
Do search in Youtube “Death Crawl scene from Facing the Giants“
This is what you need when you are Facing the Giants…
The Odds are against you. You have to give it all your absolute BEST.
Don’t stop, Don’t Quit,
It Hurts, Keep Moving, 30 more steps….
Keep Moving, Don’t Quit on me,
20 more…Don’t Quit….
Give it your absolute Best until reach the Zone…
14. How to make Millions before Grandma dies (2025)
When M (Putthipong Assaratanakul) finds out about his grandmother’s (Usha Seamkhum) terminall illness, he quits his job to become her carer, hoping to secure an inheritance worth millions.
15. The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006)
Chris Gardener was doing his best, but his best wasn’t enough ! (Sounds familiar?)
If you got a dream, you got to protect it !
People can’t do something, they want to tell you: “You can’t do it “.
Don’t ever let somebody tell you that you can’t do something, not even your parents !
Will Smith stars in this moving tale inspired by the true story of Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman struggling to build a future for himself and his 5-year-old son Christopher (Jaden Smith). When his girlfriend Linda (Thandie Newton) walks out, Chris is left to raise Christopher (Jaden Smith) on his own. Chris’ determination finally pays off when he lands an unpaid internship in a brutally competitive stockbroker-training program, where only one in twenty interns will make the cut. But without a salary, Chris and his son are evicted from their apartment and are forced to sleep on the streets, in homeless shelters and even behind the locked doors of a train station bathroom. With self-confidence and the love and trust of his son, Chris Gardner rises above his obstacles to become a Wall Street legend.
Full movie : here
16. Front of the Class (2008)
A boy with Tourette syndrome grows up facing rejection but refuses to give up on his dream of becoming a teacher—eventually proving that determination can turn obstacles into purpose.
Full Movie : here
17. The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)
A working-class amateur golfer, Francis Ouimet, defies the odds by competing against the world’s best—and shocks everyone at the U.S. Open, proving talent and belief can break social barriers.
18. Rudy (1993)
Rudy has always been told that he was too small to play college football. But he is determined to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of playing for Notre Dame
19. Rocky (1976-2006)
Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film both written by and starring Sylvester Stallone.
It tells the rags to riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted working class Italian-American boxer working as a debt collector for a loan shark in the slums of Philadelphia. Rocky starts out as a small-time club fighter, and later gets a shot at the world heavyweight championship.
The film has spawned six sequels: Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985), Rocky V (1990), Rocky Balboa (2006), …. and Creed (2015).
It aint How Hard you Can Hit, it is How Hard you can Get Hit and keep Moving Forward !
20. Blindside (2009)
A semi-biographical sports drama film of the story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.
21. Coach Carter (2005)
In 1999, Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) returns to his old high school in Richmond, California, to get the basketball team into shape. With tough rules and academic discipline, he succeeds in setting the players on a winning streak. But when their grades start to suffer, Carter locks them out of the gym and shuts down their championship season. When he is criticized by the players and their parents, he sticks to his guns, determined that they excel in class as well as on the court.
22. Scent of a woman (1992)
Frank is a retired Lt. Col. in the US army. He’s blind and impossible to get along with. Charlie is at school and is looking forward to going to college. To help pay for a trip home for Christmas, he agrees to look after Frank over Thanksgiving. Frank’s niece says this will be easy money, but she didn’t reckon on Frank spending his Thanksgiving in New York
23. The Bucket List (2007)
Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.
Life is short. Make your bucket list today. Find The JOY of Your Life.
Make the items in your list happen ! Live your life !
