The Inspirational Films subgenre typically resides within the Drama, World Cinema and Sports Genres. Due to the number of Inspirational Films in these three genres, we created lists of Top Films within each genre:
- Top Inspirational Drama Films You Haven’t Seen
- Top Inspirational Sports Films You Haven’t Seen
- Top Inspirational World Cinema Films You Haven’t Seen
Films in the Inspirational Drama Films subgenre often feature Biopics and have themes of never giving up and inspiring yourself or others to be the best person you can be.
Prior to 1970, there were a few films that became classic films of the Inspirational Films subgenre: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), My Fair Lady (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965). The 1970’s also saw an additional classic film of the subgenre emerge with One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975).
In the 1980’s, Inspirational Films became a popular and powerful subgenre with many films becoming Academy Award winners. As well as being classic films of the subgenre, these 1980’s films also won the Academy Award for Best Picture: Gandhi (1982), Amadeus (1984) and Rain Man (1988). Other notable and classic films of the subgenre this decade included Mask (1985), The Color Purple (1985), Stand and Deliver (1988), Lean on Me (1989), My Left Foot (1989), Dead Poets Society (1989) and Glory (1989).
The 1990’s saw a continuation of Inspirational Films winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards with Schindler’s List (1993), Forrest Gump (1994) and Braveheart (1995). These additional subgenre films were nominated for Best Picture but did not win: Awakenings (1990), Scent of a Woman (1992), Babe (1995), Good Will Hunting (1997) and The Green Mile (1999). The 1990’s also saw the release of The Shawshank Redemption (1994) which is now considered not only a classic film of the subgenre but one of the best films of all time. Other notable and classic films of the subgenre in the 1990’s included 29th Street (1991), Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (1995), As Good as it Gets (1997), The Truman Show (1998), Patch Adams (1998) and October Sky (1999).
In the 2000’s, the Golden Age of Inspirational Films began with many films in the Drama, World Cinema and Sports genres. Classic Inspirational Drama films from this decade included Erin Brockovich (2000), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Interstate 60 (2002), The Pianist (2002), 8 Mile (2002), School of Rock (2003), Big Fish (2003), Hotel Rwanda (2004), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), The Notebook (2004), Freedom Writers (2007), Into the Wild (2007) and Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Other notable films of the decade included Billy Elliot (2000), Pay It Forward (2000), The Terminal (2004), Sideways (2004), The Squid and the Whale (2005), Akeelah and the Bee (2006), A Good Year (2006), The Astronaut Farmer (2006), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), Reign Over Me (2007), Once (2007), The Bucket List (2007), Flash of Genius (2008), Seven Pounds (2008), The Soloist (2009), Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009) and A Shine of Rainbows (2009).
The 2010’s continued the volume and quality of Inspirational Drama Films with classic films including 127 Hours (2010), The Descendants (2011), 50/50 (2011), The Impossible (2012), Life of Pi (2012), Whiplash (2014), The Theory of Everything (2014), Captain Fantastic (2016), Hidden Figures (2016), The Greatest Showman (2017) and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019). Other notable subgenre films included Eat Pray Love (2010), Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012), The Magic of Belle Isle (2012), 12 Years a Slave (2014), Wild (2014), Rudderless (2014), The Water Diviner (2014), Spare Parts (2015), Straight Outta Compton (2015), The Farewell (2019) and Wild Rose (2019).
The 2020’s have already produced some notable Inspirational Drama Films with Moon Rock for Monday (2021) and Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022).
Our list of Inspirational Films includes over 155+ films from 1942 – 2022. Our list primarily includes films in the Drama, World Cinema and Sports genres and lists for the Best Inspirational Sports Films and Best Inspirational World Cinema Films can be found at the beginning of this article.
Classic, must-see Inspirational Drama Films: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), The Sound of Music (1965), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), Gandhi (1982), Rain Man (1988), Dead Poets Society (1989), Glory (1989), Awakenings (1990), Schindler’s List (1993), Forrest Gump (1994), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Braveheart (1995), Good Will Hunting (1997), The Green Mile (1999), A Beautiful Mind (2001), The Pianist (2002), School of Rock (2003), Big Fish (2003), Hotel Rwanda (2004), The Notebook (2004), Freedom Writers (2007), Into the Wild (2007), Slumdog Millionaire (2008), The Impossible (2012), Life of Pi (2012), The Theory of Everything (2014), Hidden Figures (2016), The Greatest Showman (2017) and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019).
Lesser-known Inspirational Drama Films that didn’t make our list: Stand and Deliver (1988), Lean on Me (1989), October Sky (1999), Akeelah and the Bee (2006), A Good Year (2006), The Astronaut Farmer (2006), Reign Over Me (2007), The Bucket List (2007), The Soloist (2009), A Shine of Rainbows (2009), The Magic of Belle Isle (2012), Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012), Wish You Well (2013), Wild (2014), Spare Parts (2015), Same Kind of Different (2017) and Wild Rose (2019).
We have embedded a compilation video of our Top Inspirational Drama Films You Haven’t Seen and more details on these films can be found in the list below. Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Plot: In Sydney, 1999, a young girl with a medical condition befriends a fugitive teenage boy. They travel through the Outback to find a moon rock that the girl believes will heal her.
KBZ’s Take: Though this film follows usual road trip film tropes (i.e. eccentric characters met while on the road, constant obstacles, etc.), Moon Rock on Monday is driven by its two leads. This is one of the best pairings you’ll find in a road movie with Monday (Ashlyn Louden-Gamble) and Tyler (George Pullar). It’s their unlikely bond and friendship that keeps you engaged throughout the film and inspired to live your life to its fullest during your remaining days.
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Plot: Jerry Selbee discovers a mathematical loophole in the Massachusetts lottery and wins $27 million dollars. With the help of his wife, they set out to revive their small Michigan town.
KBZ’s Take: Films about winning the lottery run the gamut from black comedy in Lucky Numbers (2000) to quirky films on the family effect of winning the lottery with 29th Street (1991). Jerry & Marge though takes a unique and fact-based approach in telling the story of how an elderly couple share their knowledge with their community to revitalize it. Though there is also a sublot involving a group of Harvard students that also find the same lottery loophole, it’s Jerry & Marge’s story that provides inspiration on how lottery winnings can be put to best use.
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#8
Seven Pounds
Plot: An IRS agent with a fateful secret sets out on a journey of redemption to change the lives of seven strangers.
KBZ’s Take: This film was lambasted by the critics despite being a moderate box office success. While the story itself and the ‘twist’ towards the end relies on suspension of disbelief, it’s the theme of the overall story that provides inspiration for those looking for redemption. This is one of Will Smith’s better performances along with a great support cast of Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson and Michael Ealy.
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#7
Rudderless
Plot: A grieving father of a son who was killed during a school shooting, discovers his son’s music and forms a band to play his son’s songs.
KBZ’s Take: This film was the directorial debut of William H. Macy and it’s quite the gut punch. Not many films cover the aftereffects of a school shooting and more importantly, the effects of the grieving family after the loss of their son. Billy Crudup gives an amazing performance as the father who has lost everything after the loss of his son and slowly recaptures his life through the music of his son. While the inspiration is derived from finding your path again in life after a devastating loss, the film also features quite the emotional ‘gut punch’ with a twist in the second act. This is an amazing film (with equally emotional music) and is highly recommended.
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Plot: A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance and pursue education beyond high school.
KBZ’s Take: We had to include one film on this list that covered a teacher that inspired students. Though there are classic films like Dead Poets Society (1989) to teachers inspiring urban students like Stand and Deliver (1988), we felt Freedom Writers was a must-see Inspirational Film that quite a few people haven’t seen. Where the film differs from other like-minded films is in the biographical portrayal of a teacher who loses her personal life at the expense of teaching. In addition, there is more emphasis in the film of highlighting individual students and their stories. Though this film was popular in 2007, it’s worth seeking out if you haven’t seen it yet. It’s one of the most inspiring films you will ever see.
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Plot: A pre-teen chess prodigy refuses to become a champion at chess.
KBZ’s Take: Like our previous entry with Freedom Writers, Searching for Bobby Fischer was a popular film in 1993. However, it’s been lost to time a bit but is still one of the best Inspirational films you will see. While the film covers the emergence of Josh’s chess talent, it emphasizes the toll competitive sports can play on a youth. The film is full of great performances from Max Pomeranc, Joe Mantegna, Joan Allen, Ben Kingsley and Laurence Fishburne with an ultimate inspirational message of not losing your childhood at the expense of everything else.
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#4
Mask
Plot: A boy with a facial deformity tries to live a normal life.
KBZ’s Take: The inspirational message of this film is simple – see people for who they are on the inside and not the outside. While Mask was a moderate hit in 1985, it’s a film that continually builds on the inspirational message throughout the film. Eric Stoltz gives his best career performance as Rocky, the teenager with the facial deformity and Cher also gives an amazing performance as Rocky’s biker mother. The film perfectly balances Rocky’s desire for social acceptance with the strained yet loving bond between mother and son. Highly recommended film of the subgenre to inspire us all.
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Plot: Based on true story of a college professor’s bond with the abandoned dog he takes home.
KBZ’s Take: We chose this film over Marley & Me (2008) given most people have likely seen the latter film. Hachi is one of the best (and most inspirational) films we have ever seen – not just in this specific subgenre. If you’ve ever had a dog, you’ll instantly recognize the bond humans develop with dogs and this film highlights it in a unique way. It’s both an inspirational tale and one that will also have you crying with both joy and sadness through various points in the film. Of all the films on this list that you might not have seen yet, we strongly urge you to move this film to the top of your queue right away. It’s a film that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it and help you appreciate your canine friend that much more.
Additional Lists: Top Family Films With Animals You Haven’t Seen #1
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Plot: A Greek-Irish sailor befriends a 10-year-old girl while docked in Hong Kong.
KBZ’s Take: This film is not well-known but is one of the most inspirational films you will ever see. The film is primarily about the friendship that develops between Li (Ling Chu) and Nikos (Stephen Rea). Li is caring for her newborn brother and continually asking Nikos for work on his freighter. After he finally relents and hires her, their friendship blossoms and inspires Nikos to become a new man. We don’t want to say much more about the film (without giving plot points away), but it’s an amazing film with an even more amazing performance by Ling Chu. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: N/A
Plot: College professor Robert Kearns goes up against auto industry giants when they steal his invention for intermittent windshield wipers.
KBZ’s Take: There are many Inspirational Films using the David vs. Goliath theme for individuals against corporations like Erin Brockovich (2000), but Flash of Genius is not only the most accurate, but the best film based on this theme. While most people won’t find interest in the invention of intermittent wiper blades, what is inspiring in this film is one man’s lifelong pursuit at recognition and justice against larger corporations at the expense of everything else in his life. Though many people have likely not had ideas or inventions stolen by larger corporations, if you have been in this situation, this film will resonate with you and the daunting challenge of holding morally challenged corporations accountable. Highly recommended film of the subgenre and one of the most inspirational films you will ever see.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3jbcyr7
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