Inspirational Movies
 

The films & stories that make you want to be a better person, fill you with hope or make you grateful for the gifts you have!

These are the movies where you will watch the entire film just to enjoy the last two minutes of human triumph.  They are the perennial favorites and the movies you want to share with your children, grandchildren and each other.
 

What Movies do
You Turn to For Inspiration?

Couples Company has assembled a list of our top picks for the Best  Inspirational Movies of all time.  These range from pure drama to comedy and true stories.  Each has strong storylines,  incredible characters and showcase the human spirit, hope and perseverance. If you need a mental pick-me-up or just a good cry through happy tears, you'll want to watch each of these films again and again. Presenting Couples Company’s picks for the Top Inspirational Films of all Time

 

Couples Company's Top 20
Inspirational  Films of All Time

  Friendship, Love within Marriage, Hope, Humility, Gratitude, Spirituality  and Life Lessons English
Also Recommended:
1947's
Miracle
on 34th Street
 
    It’s a
Wonderful Life

1947: G
Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers

Director: Frank Capra

Nominated for Academy Awards® including Best Actor and Best Director.

132 Minutes

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"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings."

The quintessential feel good movie of all time, It's a Wonderful Life celebrates the ordinary man's extraordinary life and the impact each of us has on those around us.  It reminds us of what is important, that wealth comes not from what you own but what you give and that each man is truly rich if he has friends.  For anyone who has ever questioned their own worth or the purpose of his life, Capra's magical journey into what if, puts all doubts aside and captures the spirit of the holidays year around.

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Roots (Mini-Series)

1977: PG
Starring:  LeVar Burton,  Louis Gossett Jr., Ben Vereen, John Amos

9 hours & 9 minutes

 

If you were alive and old enough to remember 1977 then you can remember the phenomenon called Roots. For eight solid nights American families gathered around the television set to witness the story of Alex Haley's family's induction into slavery through liberation at the end of the Civil War.  This is the first film that brought a human face to slavery and the sins of America's past.  It has single handedly done more to promote an appreciation for the determination and sheer force of will inherent in those of African descent, while dispelling many of the myths surrounding slavery.  Roots also reignited a passion for genealogy sending American's and World citizens on a quest to define their own families roots.  This is the perfect movie for a rainy day or sick days at home when you'd rather have your children learn something instead of watching cartoons or playing video games.

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  Dealing with Prejudice, Determination, Overcoming the Odds, Friendship and Life Lessons   English Patriotism, Dealing with Prejudice, Overcoming the Odds, Friendship and Life Lessons   English Chariots of Fire

1981: PG
Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson
Nigel Havers
Director: Hugh Hudson

124 Minutes

Winner of 4 Academy Awards® including Best Picture

 

The true story of  two young  athletes who ran for Great Britain in the 1924 Paris Olympics, Chariots of Fire crosses into the bigotry of the day and how sports and common goal can bring each out of the hate. Protestant Eric Liddell  runs to be closer  to God. Jewish Harold Abrahams runs for the love of it but is consistently taunted for his faith. Together their competitive nature forges a friendship where both ultimately race to victory to the tune of Vangelis's unforgettable musical score.

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 Surviving Parent's Disapproval, Hope & Perseverance Drama   October Sky

1999, PG
Starring:  Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Chris Owen
Director: Joe Johnston

128 minutes
 

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Highlighting determination and success this true story begins in 1957 with the launch of launch of the Sputnik. The space race goes into high gear. Homer butts heads with his father's antiquated  blue collar ethic by shunning a life in the coal mines and pursuing the cerebral paths science. In the end, with nothing but a makeshift backwoods launching pad Homer succeeds launching his rocket and the hopes of an entire town into space. This is a great movie for introducing children to the aspects of the cold war and the space race.

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The Shawshank Redemption

1994: R
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton , James Whitmore
Director: Frank Darabont
142 Minutes

Nominated for seven Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Actor, and Screenplay
  

Stephen King's story about hope and friendship comes alive in The Shawshank Redemption.  Incredibly uplifting despite its dismal setting within a prison, the story follows the story of framed wife murder, Andy Dufrain (Robbins) and his friendship with admitted murderer Red (Freeman) within the confines of the maximum security prison.  If you're like us, you'll watch the more than two hours over and over again just to feel the wonderful sense of satisfaction the last five minutes of the movie delivers. The sentiment is pure, rewarding and wonderful. 

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 Friendship, Patience and Justice Drama English Friendship & Determination, Overcoming the Odds English

Brian’s Song

1971: G
Starring: James Caan, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Warden

Director: Buzz Kulik

73 Minutes
 

This made for television biopic about the Chicago Bears' Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers is more than a sports film. 1971 was just a few years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964  passed and racial tensions in the US were still alive an well.  Portraying a close and caring friendship between men is hard enough.  Showing them to be of different races at the time on TV, was even gutsier.

James Caan is at his free-spirited best as Piccolo, becomes stricken with cancer. Billy Dee Williams, first his rival become the rock he leans on.  Piccolo's  will to survive inspires Sayers to stretch his limits and  reach his athletic potential as a tribute to the inner strength of both.

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Determination, Prejudice, Overcoming the Odds,  Power of Education, Belief in Self   English   Stand and Deliver
1988: PG
Starring: Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips
Director: Ramón Menéndez

104 Minutes
 

Immigrant Latino's can't do Calculus, right? Wrong, but to get the chance they must first put aside the prejudices of the school administration, their parents and find within each of them the courage to do what has never been done.  Did we mention these are poor kids surviving in the slums of Los Angeles, surrounded by gangs, apathetic parents and a society that tells them they are second rate?   Talk about a stacked deck of negativity.  Enter Herme Escalante, a simple math teacher who ignites the passion for learning in his students and shows them they do have what it takes and they can succeed.  All they have to do is put in the time and stick with it. Yet even when they succeed, their success is questioned.  One of the best movies of all time illustrating the power of personal belief and never giving in.

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 Overcoming the Odds, Perseverance, Personal
Strength, The power of Love English

Coal Miner’s Daughter

1980: PG
Starring: Sissy Spacek,
Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D'Angelo
Director: Michael Apted

125 Minutes

Academy Awards® winner BEST ACTRESS

Sissy Spacek sings every song in this movie and won the Oscar® for her portrayal of rags to riches country-music legend Loretta Lynn. Tommy Lee Jones plays her other half who takes her from teenage bride to superstar.  This is one movie that will make you believe in the American Dream and the power of talent and perseverance.  It also shows that even superstars have problems, and ultimately we are all human. 

 Overcoming the Odds, Perseverance, Personal
Strength
English   Norma Rae

1979: PG-13
Starring: Sally Field , Beau Bridges

Director: Martin Ritt

117 minutes

Academy Awards® winner BEST ACTRESS

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Breaking through the status quo, Sally Field won an Oscar for her portrayal of naive textile worker, widow, and mother who finally says "Enough" and rallies her co-workers to unionize the textile mill. by standing up for her rights in the workplace.  Illustrating dogged determination at its best, Norma Rae shows the power even one uneducated single mother can have once she puts her mind to it. Another favorite movie with a similar theme is Silkwood starring Meryl Streep, Cher and Kurt Russell.

Overcoming the Odds, Perseverance, Personal Strength, Empathy and Love   English

A Beautiful Mind

2002: R
Starring: Russell Crowe,
Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Christopher Plummer
Director: Ron Howard

136 Minutes
4 Academy Awards® including  BEST PICTURE

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Taming the demons inside, in this case genius John Nash's schizophrenia will take you into the world of imagined reality and the cruelty others have towards a disease they don't understand.  A study in mind over matter that  can be empathized by anyone struggling with a disability or addiction, A Beautiful Mind is complex, heart-wrenching and a testament to the power of marital love, facing reality, never giving up and overcoming the odds .

Patriotism, Belief in a Cause, Overcoming the Odds, Friendship and Life Lessons   English
  A Similar theme to Braveheart is 2000's GLAD   Braveheart

1995: R 
Starring:  Mel Gibson, Catherine McCormack, Brendan Gleeson, David O'Hara, Patrick McGoohan, Sophie Marceau & Angus MacFadyen
Director: Mel Gibson
136 minutes
5 Academy Awards® including  BEST PICTURE

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One man can change the world and Mel Gibson's Braveheart proves this.  Based upon the true story of Scottish hero William Wallace, historians will bristle at the facts as the storyline covers two complete centuries within a few years of one man's life and contains few historically accurate events.  But who cares!  The story is wonderful and covers all human emotions.  Mel Gibson as Wallace portrays a man both aggressive and vulnerable.  Angus MacFadyen's portrayal of Sir Robert the Bruce is one of the great performance illustrating a man caught between passion, morality and duty.  Though very violent and brutally illustrative of medieval torture and the depths of horror men can fall to, Braveheart inspires on all levels leaves each wishing to be a Scot!  

Patriotism, Dealing with Prejudice, Overcoming the Odds, Friendship and Life Lessons   English
 

Glory

1989: R
Starring: Matthew Broderick
Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes 
Morgan Freeman
Director: Edward Zwick

118 minutes

Two movies best illustrate the struggle and triumph of African American's in the US Military: The Tuskegee Airmen of WWII and this movie Glory, which  illustrates the trials and tribulations of the first fully Black Regiment during the Civil War. 

Based upon a true story this movie shows the struggle to overcome incredible prejudice and prove ones self  in spite of every roadblock.  Denzel Washington won the Academy Award for best supporting actor.  The most memorable scene in the movie shoes him being beaten for stealing shoes in front of the regiment, a single tear falling down his face.  This movie shows how far we've come as a nation and reminds us that all American's, regardless of color, faith or origin truly love and defend this country.

Academy Awards® Best Supporting Actor

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Love between a Father and Son, the magic of love The Power of Positive Thinking and surviving unspeakable horrors.   Italian

Life is Beautiful

1998: PG13 
Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi
Director: Roberto Benigni, 

116 Minutes
3 Academy Awards® including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor.

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Illustrating the Powers of Love and Humor

"Not realizing the second half of this film deals with concentration camps during World War II, I innocently took my 13-year old Little Sister to see it.  I thought we were going to see a romantic comedy , which the first half is.  Though the actual film is about the lengths a father will go to protect his child and the power of humor to create a barrier against atrocities, the second half deals with surviving the horror endured by 12-million people of all faiths in the concentration camps under Hitler and Mussolini.    If a child is unaware this existed, it can be a major shock.

For me seeing the movie with her turned into the most exhausting  2-hour history lesson I've ever given as I attempted to explain to a 13-year old who knew nothing of concentration camps or WWII what Nazism was, what Judaism is and why even children were killed.  Meanwhile I was hiding my rage at the LA School District for allowing an 8th grader to be so naive, especially since LA has the 3rd largest Jewish population in the world. Though rated PG, make sure if children are present, you're prepared to deal with the questions. This movie brings up many and if a child  sees it without historical knowledge, he may, as with my Little Sister, have nightmares."   Laura Lewis 

 

Runner's Up

   Friendship, Challenging the Norm, Pursing your Dreams   English   The Dead Poets Society

1989: PG
Starring:  Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke
Director: Peter Weir

118 Minutes

One of our favorite Robin Williams movies, Dead Poet's Society focuses on the magic and freedom education brings to young minds willing to embrace its wisdom. It's about challenging the status quo, rebelling against convention and ultimately finding your own voice and inner strength. Poignant, at times funny and quite tragic in the end, it delivers the soul and inspirational messages of a modern day Shakespearian tragedy wrapped in the meanings of Aesop's Fables.

    Love Between Father and Son

Appreciating Life

  English  

Challenging the Norm, Pursing your Dreams English Dennis Quaid Double Header

Frequency

2000: PG-13
Starring: Dennis Quaid, James Caviezel
Director: Gregory Hoblit

119 Minutes

Frequency is  two different--though completely linked movies: A father/son story and a crime solving mystery. HAMM radio fans will love the fact that it is this radio which reunites father and son through thirty years time travel.  Together they help solve a crime, rediscover each other and advert disaster. 

 
 

 

The Rookie

2002: G
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths
Director: John Lee Hancock
118 Minutes

A Dreams really can come true, and this is the movie for anyone who's overcome the odds to succeed!  The Rookie is the inspirational story Jim Morris' middle aged dream of pitching again in the Major Leagues Ignoring naysayers and those saying he's too old, he takes the chance and accomplishes his dream.

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