Movies That Will Inspire You and Your Family

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If I had to pick one category of movie to watch for the rest of my life, it would be “inspirational.”

I mean, there’s a place for comedy and romance; don’t get me wrong. They’re great.

But movies that are made to be inspiring just hit different. They leave you wanting to get up off the couch instead of staying as a spud on the cushions.

And I like that.

So, this is a list of inspirational movies that will leave you and your family wanting to be better. Because, ultimately, I think that’s how entertainment should leave us.

Better.

Let’s go ahead and get started!

Oh, and please note that some of these are suitable for younger children and some of them aren’t. And, while I did my best to vet all of them, some may have more violence, language, or sexual content than you’re comfortable with.

Be sure to check sites like Kids-in-Mind and Common Sense Media for guidance for your family on what to view!

Inspirational movies about family and love

I figure because family’s first, it should be first on this list too.

I admit that I haven’t watched all of these, though some of them are now on my to-watch list.

I’d especially like to see Unsung Hero; I’d never heard of that one before!

  • Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995): PG A movie about a man who comes to see that the lives he touches are more important than the written work he produces.
  • Wonder (2017): PG Awesome movie about a kid who looks different finding confidence and his own place. My oldest daughter really enjoyed watching this with me.
  • Because of Winn-Dixie (2005): PG Sweet film about a dog teaching a girl to be friendly (and changing their town because of it).
  • Fireproof (2008): PG Christian film about a husband who decides he is going to be the change in his marriage.
  • Instant Family (2018): PG-13 More somber film about a couple who adopt 3 foster children (including a teen). Praised for realistically depicting the challenges of fostering.
  • Where the Red Fern Grows (1974): G Beautiful coming-of-age film about a boy who’s determined to get himself some hunting dogs, no matter the obstacles.
  • It’s a Wonderful Life (1946): PG Classic film that shows how the life of one man can touch many. A favorite in my house around Christmas (some consider it a Christmas film).
  • Ordinary Angels (2024): PG A film about how one person can change the lives of others and how we can choose to work together for good. I haven’t seen it, but it sounds good!
  • Unsung Hero (2024): PG Amazing story of how the Smallbone family immigrated to the US. They left behind financial ruin in Australia and persevered through hardship in the US to help their children succeed. (This is the origin story of the Christian duo For King + Country.)
  • We Bought a Zoo (2011): PG A dreamer dad purchases a zoo in an attempt to set his family on a better path. Excellent film.

Movies about following your dreams

My top pick for this category (“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”) is the perfect follow-your-dreams movie. But there are a lot of other good ones too.

I’m excited to try “The Man Who Knew Infinity” and “Radical.”

  • The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013): PG Just an all-around awesome movie (it should really be in my list of favorites at the end). It tells the story of how one man finally does what he always imagined he could do.
  • Akeelah and the Bee (2006): PG A girl decides that she’s going to try to make it all the way to the national spelling bee.
  • Secretariat (2010): PG How one housewife risked everything to make her horse into a racing legend.
  • Queen of Katwe (2016): PG A Ugandan girl discovers that she has a talent for chess and her life changes forever. Based on a true story.
  • October Sky (1999): PG A boy in West Virginia in the 1950s determines to get a college scholarship by building a rocket.
  • The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015): PG An Indian mathematical genius attends Cambridge during WWI and fights for his theories in the face of skepticism and prejudice.
  • Whale Rider (2002): PG-13 A girl on a distant island fights for the right to rule her tribe as the first female chief after 1000 years of male leadership.
  • A Million Miles Away (2023): PG A neat film based on the true story of Jose Hernandez, who clawed his way up from a rural village in Mexico all the way to NASA as an astronaut.
  • Front of the Class (2008): PG Beautiful film (based on actual events) about a man who is determined to be an elementary school teacher in spite of his Tourette’s syndrome.
  • Radical (2023): PG-13 I haven’t seen this, but I’m interested in it because I care about education. It follows the story of a teacher in a border town in Mexico who decides to try radical new methods of teaching in order to show his kids that learning is powerful.

Inspiring sports and underdog movies

There had to be a category for these on here. I mean, what inspirational movie article is complete without sports films?

I love “McFarland, USA,” but I don’t think I could pick a favorite for sure.

  • Rudy (1993): PG Awesome story about a man named Rudy who determines that he’ll play football for Notre Dame, no matter what.
  • Invictus (2009): PG-13 This tells the true story of how Nelson Mandela worked with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team to help unify their country.
  • McFarland, USA (2015): PG Awesome film about a football coach who recognizes cross-country talent in his rag-tag, small-town football team. Of course, he decides to try to lead them to greatness.
  • Rocky (1976): PG I have to admit it . . . this is my reminder that I should watch this. Everyone says it’s a classic. It follows the story of a man named Rocky who’s picked (almost randomly) to fight the world’s reigning heavyweight champion. The real underdog story, though, is that the lead, writer, and director was a broke unknown actor. He refused to sell the script unless he starred in it, and his boldness paid off.
  • Miracle (2004): PG How one man led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to win against the seemingly unbeatable Russian team.
  • Remember the Titans (2000): PG How one African American coach led his high school football team to victory in their first season as an integrated group.
  • 42 (2013): PG-13 The story of how Jackie Robinson signed for the Brooklyn Dodgers and faced prejudice and opposition while he changed history forever.
  • Eddie the Eagle (2016): PG-13 How Eddie the Eagle, a British ski jumper, captured the hearts of millions around the world at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
  • Ford v Ferrari (2019): PG-13 Excellent movie of the 1960s fight Ford put up to beat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France.
  • Seabiscuit (2003): PG-13 The amazing true story of the underdog racehorse who captured the heart of America during the great depression.

Movies about courage in the face of hardship

This category has a couple of fictional stories, but most of them are based on real events.

I’m especially interested in seeing “Unbroken,” since I’ve listened to parts of the book and find Zamperini’s story fascinating.

Be aware that the violence in some of these may be a bit much for sensitive viewers.

  • To Kill a Mockingbird (1962): NR Movie adaptation of the classic novel in which a white lawyer defends (at great personal cost) an innocent black man accused of raping a white woman.
  • Harriet (2019): PG-13 The powerful story of Harriet Tubman.
  • Hotel Rwanda (2004): PG-13 Follows the story of one man who managed to save 1200 Tutsi refugees from the Rwandan genocide. I don’t know if I could watch this one; there’s a lot of violence and some nudity. But it’s a story that also needs to be told, so it’s on here.
  • Just Mercy (2019): PG-13 How a Harvard-graduate lawyer fought against the corrupt Alabama legal system for the release of an innocent man. Based on a true story. Lots of language, but probably worth a watch for the story.
  • The Giver (2014): PG-13 One of the first films I watched again after becoming a mother a few years back. It explores a society where sadness, anger, beauty, and heartache are memories preserved only in the mind of one person. Everyone else is “free” (or not). The book is better (Sorry; I had to say it), but the movie is a good adaptation. It makes you appreciate life.
  • Gandhi (1982): PG The story of Gandhi and how he went from being a lawyer to being a worldwide icon. Won 8 Oscars.
  • Unbroken (2014): PG-13 The true story of Louie Zamperini, Olympian, WWII hero, and unbroken prisoner of war.
  • Seven Years in Tibet (1997): PG-13 Excellent film about an Austrian POW who escaped and ended up in Tibet, where he befriended the Dalai Llama.
  • Rescue Dawn (2006): PG-13 How Dieter Dengler (a German-born American pilot) fought for his survival in Vietnam after getting shot down.
  • Free Solo (2018, documentary): PG-13: The filmed story of how one man followed his dreams to try and climb the 3,200-foot El Capitan without any ropes or harnesses of any kind.

Inspiring movies about overcoming challenges

We all face challenges, so it’s nice to watch films about people overcoming the odds sometimes. I especially like when they’re true. (Some of these are, but you can see even more in my section specifically about true stories down below).

My favorite in this list happens to be fictional, though, but it’s still excellent. It’s “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”

It’s a Jimmy Stewart movie, so of course it’s great.

And, lots of the other films here are highly rated too, though I can’t vouch for all of them because I haven’t seen them all. Just be sure to look carefully at content on Common Sense Media or Kids-in-Mind!

  • The Karate Kid (1984): PG We all know this one. Everyone does. (That’s why it’s on my list of awesome 1980s movies for families).
  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939): NR The story of how a Boy Scout leader gets chosen as the next senator when the former senator dies. He lands in the middle of corruption in Washington, and decides he won’t stand for it.
  • The Mighty (1998): PG-13 How two teenagers become friends and fight to overcome challenges.
  • The Biggest Little Farm (2018, documentary): PG The true story of a couple that gave up everything to create a self-sustaining farm.
  • Selma (2015): PG-13 This is the story of how Martin Luther led the historic March from Selma to Montgomery and fought for the right of the black vote.
  • Life of Pi (2012): PG One boy got stranded on a raft with a tiger at sea. This is the tale of how he lived.
  • The Help (2011): PG-13 How several women in a small southern town work together to confront racial and sexual discrimination.
  • Greater (2016): PG The true story of how Brandon Burlsworth walked on to the Arkansas Razorbacks and became an All-American football star (in spite of ridicule for his height and his beliefs).
  • Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken (1991): G Based on the true story of an orphan girl who determines to become a horse diver. It’s super inspiring (I know someone who named their daughter after the main character), and a good pick for kids.
  • The Way (2010): PG-13 The story of a father who went to Europe to collect his son’s body. Instead, he finds himself finishing his pilgrimage.

Movies about second chances and redemption

Movies about second chances tend to hit different because deep down, we know that we all need shots at redemption. My “to watch” pick for this list is Ben-Hur.

  • Gridiron Gang (2006): PG-13 A detention center counselor decides to teach his students football to try and change their lives.
  • Ben-Hur (1959): PG An 11x Oscar winner, this film tells the story of a Jewish Prince who meets Christ and changes his path from one of revenge to redemption.
  • Radio (2003): PG The tale of how one special needs boy transformed a school and a community.
  • The Miracle Worker (1962): NR The story of Anne Sullivan and how she taught Helen Keller.
  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019): NR* How one boy in Malawi worked to save his family and community from starvation by building a wind turbine.
  • Les Misérables (1998): PG-13 The unsung but highly rated movie adaptation of the famous book. I haven’t seen this version, but I love this story, so it’s on my “to watch” list.
  • Stand and Deliver (1988): PG A math teacher determines to teach his unmotivated high-school students Calculus—and people don’t believe him when he does it.
  • Invincible (2006): PG A man gets the chance of a lifetime and becomes the oldest rookie in NFL history who didn’t play football in college.
  • A Man Called Otto (2023): PG-13 An angry, tired old man determines he will end his life. That is, until his new neighbors intervene and he finds new purpose in friendships with others. I have my reservations about Tom Hanks, but I did enjoy this one.
  • Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009): G It follows the story of a stray dog and how he touches the hearts of a family forever. Based on actual events.

Inspiring movies based on true stories

I think inspiring movies are best when you know they’re coming from somewhere real.

Note that there are plenty of other true stories scattered throughout this list. Maybe I should have just put them all here, but I had to make tricky choices to fill out the different categories.

Two of these that I’ve seen and really enjoyed were “The Young Victoria” and “Apollo 13.”

  • The Young Victoria (2009): PG This is a wonderfully done film adaptation of the early years of Victoria’s life and how she overcame opposition to become the queen that England needed.
  • Darkest Hour (2017): PG-13 The story of May 1940. With the British army surrounded, Winston Churchill had to face the choice to either negotiate with Hitler or face the potential ruin of his country.
  • Apollo 13 (1995): PG The true story of how NASA’s 5th flight to the moon became a fight for survival.
  • The Pursuit of Happyness (2006): PG-13 How one father battles to make ends meet for his son. It stars Will Smith.
  • Loving (2016): PG-13 This depicts how one interracial couple battled their way to the Supreme Court for the right to be married in Virginia in the 1950s.
  • Sully (2016): PG-13 This is another Tom Hanks film. It follows the story of a pilot nicknamed “Sully” and how he saved his flight of 155 passengers by landing his plane on the Hudson River.
  • Temple Grandin (2010): NR How an autistic woman used her neurodiversity to improve the treatment of cattle in the U.S.
  • Lorenzo’s Oil (1992): PG-13 The true story of Augusto and Michaela Odone when their 5-year-old son was diagnosed with a terminal disease with no cure.
  • Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018, documentary): PG-13 The highly rated and acclaimed documentary following the story of Fred Rogers, his struggles, and how he fought quietly and steadily to make a happier, better world.
  • Lion (2016): PG-13 How an Indian man who was lost as a boy decides to try and find his way home after 25 long years.

Inspirational Christian films

Sometimes it’s nice to be able to sit down and enjoy a film that strengthens your faith, and these will do it.

Again, I haven’t seen all of these, but some of my favorites include “I Can Only Imagine” (of course), “Love, Kennedy” and “Breakthrough.”

I really would like to see “Cabrini,” though.

My top inspirational movie picks

This was a HARD list to make because there are so many good films out there, but these are some of my favorites.

Each of them makes me want to be a better, braver, and more faithful human being. I’m grateful for media that does that!

  • Sound of Freedom (2023): PG-13 This movie hurts to watch. Oh. My. Does. It. Hurt. I sobbed when I saw it for the first time, but it forces light on modern slavery, which has risen since the pandemic. And, if you don’t know what this film is about, it’s about the nail-biting (and months-long) rescue of a little girl who was kidnapped and sold into modern-day slavery.
  • Life Is Beautiful (1997): PG-13 (Italian, subtitled) Another heartbreaking but oh-so-inspiring movie about a man and his love for life… then subsequent capture and experience in a concentration camp with his tiny son. Films like these are more important than ever now, especially with stuff that’s happening in other countries behind the scenes today.
  • The King’s Speech (2010): (PG-13 edit) How King George VI overcame a speech impediment to be able to give his country the direction it needed during a pivotal time in history. Excellent film.
  • Hidden Figures (2016): PG Awesome story about the courageous black women who broke barriers in the space industry and helped make it possible for NASA to reach the moon in 1969. I love this one.
  • Arrival (2016): PG This is a slightly less-conventional inspirational movie, but it’s one that makes you think, and that leaves you wanting to be better (which makes it qualify, in my mind). It follows the story of a linguist who is tasked with unraveling an alien language which, when learned, changes her entire outlook on life.
  • Amazing Grace (2006): PG Wonderful film about the true story of William Wilberforce and his 25-year fight to end the transatlantic slave trade at the turn of the 19th century.
  • Courageous (2011): PG-13 Awesome, feel-good Christian movie about 5 men who choose to uphold their husband and fatherhood at all costs. Has some absolutely hilarious scenes too.
  • Gifted Hands (2009): NR The true story of how Ben Carson rose from poverty and the struggles of a single-parent household to become one of the greatest brain surgeons of all time.
  • Interstellar (2014): PG-13 Awesome, inspirational, and fascinating film about the search for a new planet on which people can live (with time ticking for human survival). I need to watch this again, because it’s been a while.
  • The Truman Show (1998): PG One man’s entire life is a lie, perpetuated so that his “director” can keep making money off his show. Thought-provoking and a must-watch in today’s world of influencers. Some say it’s anti-God; I think it’s more a reminder that agency and the struggles of mortality are a gift from God. It just depends on your perspective.

Final thoughts: vet your picks and enjoy the show

Thank you for reading!

I hope you found some great ideas for your next family movie night.

As I said before, though I tried to vet these, I haven’t personally watched all of them, so make sure you double-check their content.

If you want more family movie ideas, though, check out my lists of the best 1990s films and the best 1980s movies for families.

And don’t forget to share your favorite inspirational movies down below!

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