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15 Best Inspirational Movies You Must Watch

Best Inspirational Movies
Via Unsplash.com

Hey folks, how have you been? Are you looking for any mode of inspiration? If yes, then today’s article on inspirational movies is all for you. The article is about all those inspirational movies which highly appreciated by critics. 

You’ll probably find that most of the inspirational movies listed below are based on true stories; which is why they have become so inspirational and so powerful, don’t you think?

However many people feel that they don’t have the time to sit down and watch several movies at the moment. But, whenever They get a moment free They love to put inspirational movies on.

There are a lot of them out there, but you can never have too many! So guys, without any further delay let’s dive straight into the list of motivational movies. 

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1- Yes Man!

Yes Man! Best Inspirational Movies

Yes Man, a 2008 romantic comedy film directed by Peyton Reed, written by Nicholas Stoller, Jarrad Paul, and Andrew Mogel, and starring Jim Carrey and co-starring Zooey Deschanel. 

The film is based loosely on the 2005 memoir of the same name by humorist Danny Wallace, who also makes a cameo appearance in the film.

  • Directed By: Peyton Reed
  • Written By: 
  • Running Time: 104 minutes 

2- The Bucket list 

The Bucket list 

The Bucket List, a 2007 American buddy adventure comedy-drama film directed and produced by Rob Reiner, written by Justin Zackham, and starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

The main plot follows two terminally ill men on their road trip with a wish list of things to do before they “kick the bucket. 

The film premiered on December 15, 2007, in Hollywood and opened in limited release in the United States on December 25, 2007, by Warner Bros. The film then had a wide release on January 11, 2008. 

Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2007 and was a box office success, opening at #1 in the United States, and grossing $175.4 million worldwide.

  • Directed By: Rob Reiner
  • Written By: Justin Zackham
  • Running Time: 97 minutes

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3- Castaway

Castaway Best Inspirational Movies

Cast Away, a 2000 American survival drama film directed and produced by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, and Nick Searcy. 

Hanks plays a FedEx troubleshooter stranded on an uninhabited island after his plane crashes in the South Pacific, and the plot focuses on his desperate attempts to survive and return home. 

Initial filming took place from January to March 1999 before resuming in April 2000 and concluding that May. One of the best inspirational movies you must watch.

4- Invincible 

Invincible 

Invincible, a 2006 American sports drama film directed by Ericson Core. 

It is based on the nonfictional story of Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976 to 1978 with the help of his coach, Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear). 

The film released in the United States on August 25, 2006.

  • Directed By: Ericson Core
  • Written By: Brad Gann
  • Running Time: 104 minutes 

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5- Coach Carter 

Coach Carter Best Inspirational Movies

Coach Carter is a 2005 American biographical teen sports drama film starring Samuel L. Jackson and directed by Thomas Carter (no relation). 

The film is based on the true story of Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter (played by Jackson), who made headlines in 1999 for suspending his undefeated high school basketball team due to poor academic results.

The story was conceived from a screenplay co-written by John Gatins and Mark Schwahn. 

The film also recycles a handful of plot devices from another television series, The White Shadow, in which director Carter co-starred. One of the best inspirational movies you must watch.

The ensemble cast features Rob Brown, Channing Tatum, Debbi Morgan, Robert Ri’chard, and singer Ashanti.

  • Directed By: Thomas Carter
  • Written By: Mark Schwahn, John Gatins
  • Running Time: 136 minutes

6- The Fighter 

The Fighter

The Fighter, a 2010 American biographical sports drama film directed by David O. Russell, and starring Mark Wahlberg (who also produced), Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo. 

The film centers on the lives of professional boxer Micky Ward (Wahlberg) and his older half-brother Dicky Eklund (Bale). 

Adams plays Micky’s girlfriend Charlene Fleming, and Leo portrays Micky and Dicky’s mother, Alice Eklund-Ward. The film inspired by the 1995 documentary that features the Eklund-Ward family, titled High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell.

  • Directed By: David O. Russell
  • Written By:
  • Running Time: 116 minutes 

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7- Any Given Sunday 

Any Given Sunday Best Inspirational Movies

Any Given Sunday, a 1999 American sports drama film directed by Oliver Stone depicting a fictional professional American football team. 

The film features an ensemble cast, including Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, James Woods, LL Cool J, Ann-Margret, Lauren Holly, Matthew Modine, John C. McGinley, Charlton Heston, Bill Bellamy, Lela Rochon, Aaron Eckhart, Elizabeth Berkley, and NFL players Jim Brown and Lawrence Taylor.

It is partly based on the 1984 novel On Any Given Sunday by NFL defensive end Pat Toomay; the title is derived from a line in the book (also used in the film) that a team can win or lose on “any given Sunday”, said by the fictitious coach Tony D’Amato.

  • Directed By: Oliver Stone
  • Written By:
  • Running Time: 157 minutes 

8- Forrest Gump 

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump, a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth. 

It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom and stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, and Sally Field. One of the best inspirational movies you must watch.

The story depicts several decades in the life of Forrest Gump (Hanks), a slow-witted and kindhearted man from Alabama who witnesses and unwittingly influences several defining historical events in the 20th century United States. 

The film differs substantially from the novel by Winston Groom. 

  • Directed By: Robert Zemeckis
  • Written By: 
  • Running Time: 142 minutes 

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9- Million Dollar Baby

Million dollar baby Best Inspirational Movies

Million Dollar Baby, a 2004 American sports drama film directed, co-produced, scored by, and starring Clint Eastwood from a screenplay written by Paul Haggis, based on short stories by F.X. Toole, the pen name of fight manager and cutman Jerry Boyd.

It also stars Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. The film follows Margaret “Maggie” Fitzgerald (Swank), an underdog amateur boxer who is helped by an underappreciated boxing trainer (Eastwood) to achieve her dream of becoming a professional.

Million Dollar Baby theatrically released on December 15, 2004, by Warner Bros. Pictures.

It received critical acclaim and grossed $216.8 million worldwide. One of the best inspirational movies you must watch.

The film garnered seven nominations at the 77th Academy Awards and won four: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (for Swank), and Best Supporting Actor (for Freeman).

  • Directed By: Clint Eastwood
  • Written By: 
  • Running Time: 132 minutes 

10- 8 Mile

8 Mile

8 Mile, a 2002 American drama film written by Scott Silver and directed by Curtis Hanson. It stars Eminem in his film debut, alongside Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Michael Shannon, Anthony Mackie, and Kim Basinger. 

The film, which contains autobiographical elements from Eminem’s life, follows white rapper Jimmy Smith Jr. aka B-Rabbit (Eminem), and his attempt to launch a career in hip hop, a genre dominated by African-Americans. 

The title is derived from 8 Mile Road, the highway between the predominantly African-American city of Detroit and the largely white suburban communities to the north that Eminem originally lived in. 

  • Directed By: Curtis Hanson
  • Written By: Scott Silver
  • Running Time: 110 minutes 

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11- Get Rich Or Die Tryin’

Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ Best Inspirational Movies

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ is an American hip-hop crime drama film starring rapper 50 Cent in his feature film acting debut. 

Originally scheduled for a 2006 release, it was ultimately released on November 9, 2005, and was known as Locked and Loaded during production. 

Similar to the 2002 Eminem film 8 Mile, which it used as a template, it is based on 50 Cent’s own life and was directed by Jim Sheridan. 

The name of the film is shared with 50 Cent’s debut album of the same name, which had been released two years earlier. One of the best inspirational movies you must watch.

The film received negative reviews from critics, though 50 Cent’s performance received praise. 

  • Directed By: Jim Sheridan
  • Written By: Terence Winter
  • Running Time: 117 minutes 

12- Ali

Ali

Ali is a 2001 American biographical sports drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Michael Mann.

 The film focuses on ten years in the life of the boxer Muhammad Ali, played by Will Smith, from 1964 to 1974, featuring his capture of the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, his conversion to Islam, criticism of the Vietnam War, and banishment from boxing, his return to fighting Joe Frazier in 1971, and, finally, his reclaiming the title from George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle fight of 1974.

 It also touches on the great social and political upheaval in the United States following the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Directed By: Michael Mann
  • Written By:
  • Running Time: 157 Minutes 

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13- Rocky

Rocky Best Inspirational Movies

Rocky is a 2021 Indian Tamil language action film written and directed by debutant Arun Matheswaran.

Produced by RA Studios and distributed by Rowdy Pictures. the film stars Vasanth Ravi, Bharathiraja, and Raveena Ravi in the lead roles, and the music is composed by Darbuka Siva.

The film released on 23 December 2021, received positive reviews from critics and the audience, praising the cast performances, direction, action sequences, music, background score, writing, and cinematography. 

The movie successfully ran for 50 days.

  • Directed By: Arun Matheswaran
  • Written By: Arun Matheswaran
  • Running Time: 121 Minutes 

14- Never Back Down

Never Back Down

Never Back Down is a 2008 American martial arts film directed by Jeff Wadlow and starring Sean Faris, Cam Gigandet, Amber Heard, and Djimon Hounsou.

 It tells the story of a frustrated and conflicted teenager who arrives at a new high school and discovers an underground fight club there.

The film was theatrically released on March 14, 2008. It received generally negative reviews from critics and grossed $41.6 million worldwide against a budget of $20 million.

  • Directed By: Jeff Wadlow
  • Written By: Chris Hauty
  • Running Time: 115 minutes 

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15- The Pursuit Of Happyness

The Pursuit Of Happyness Best Inspirational Movies

The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 American biographical drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino and starring Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman. 

Smith’s son Jaden Smith co-stars, making his film debut as Gardner’s son, Christopher Jr. The screenplay by Steven Conrad is based on the best-selling 2006 memoir of the same name written by Gardner with Quincy Troupe. 

It is based on Gardner’s nearly one-year struggle being homeless.

The unusual spelling of the film’s title comes from a mural that Gardner sees on the wall outside the daycare facility his son attended.

The movie is from 1981 in San Francisco. 

  • Directed By: Gabriele Muccino
  • Written By: 
  • Running Time: 117 minutes