The 20 Most Inspirational Movies of All Time

The movie was filmed along the route the real Alvin Straight traveled.

Viewers get to enjoy the beauty of rural Iowa and Wisconsin.

Like a 1966 riding lawn mower, the movie progresses at a leisurely pace, which may seem boring to younger viewers.

An outstanding cast backed by Ron Howard's directing made this movie a contender for numerous awards upon its released.

The movie leaves out many details about Nash's life. Read the book by Sylvia Nasar for a more complete biography.

The chemistry between the two lead actors, Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, makes the relationship between the brothers feel authentic. 

Rain Man doesn't reflect most patients' experiences with autism, but the story is touching nonetheless.

Judy Davis's liberating performance as the headstrong feminist author makes the film worth a watch.

Viewers may be put off by the protagonist's self-centered attitude. Then again, the story is about placing your needs before others.

The acting, cinematography, and musical score are all top notch.

The director did an excellent job of capturing the beauty of South Africa.

The story is more about the main character's escape from authorities rather than the politics of the country.

The energy of the cast makes what sounds like a boring premise into a riveting drama.  

If you're not a fan of courtroom dramas, then 12 Angry Men might put you to sleep.

It's easy to see why Roberts won the Academy Award for best actress in 2001 thanks to this performance.

The plot drags at certain points, but Roberts and the rest of the cast do a great job at keeping viewers engaged.

Coach Herman Boone, played by Denzel Washington, is an inspirational figure.

Even though it's based on a true story, Remember the Titans follows many sports movie cliches.

Burgess Meredith steals the show as Mickey, the tough-as-nails boxing coach we all need in our lives.

In retrospect, the relationship between Rocky and Adrian is sometimes more awkward than charming.

Viewers who aren't used to seeing Jim Carrey in serious roles may be surprised to find out he's a very talented actor.

Contemporary viewers may nitpick some of the plot points, but keep in mind this movie was exploring new territory.

Edward James Olmos' often parodied performance as Escalante makes the film worth viewing.

The film slightly embellishes Escalante's legacy.

The writing and acting is a bit hokey. 

An all-star cast including Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart does an excellent job bringing the novel to life.

The story takes a dark turn that may be triggering for some viewers, but everything turns out O.K. in the end.

Each of the appliances have distinct personalities, which makes their interactions a joy to watch.

The songs and animation are not on par with most 90s Disney films, but that doesn't detract from the film's charm.

Tom Hanks’s performance as the lovably simple-minded Forrest is among his best in a career full of stellar roles.

The movie has a lot of profanity and some nudity, so it’s not appropriate for all ages.

Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn give painfully realistic performances as the nun and the inmate. 

Some viewers will not like how the story ends, but the themes of forgiveness and redemption make Dead Man Walking worthy of this list.

The music and animation are top notch, which is to be expected from Disney.

Moana follows most of the typical Disney tropes, so if you don't like Disney films, this one won't convert you.

The movie brings light to important women who have been neglected for far too long. 

As is often the case, the book Hidden Figures is better because it goes into greater detail about the true story.

More so than Cry Freedom, Mandela accurately depicts the horrors of Apartheid.

Condensing Mandela's entire life story into one movie is impossible, so a lot of history necessarily gets left out.