Feeling a bit demotivated? We’ve all been there. Life is not always rainbows and cupcakes, and it’s normal to have low points.
There may be times when things don’t go according to plan, and there will be instances when we will be struggling. But hey, you know what’s good about hitting rock bottom? There’s no other way left to go but up!
So to help you pick yourself up again, here’s a list of inspiring movies to get some pure motivation.
1. The Blind Side (2009)
‘The Blind Side’ is based on the true story of Super Bowl champion Michael Oher. Michael is an American football offensive lineman who overcame a poverty-stricken upbringing to play in the National Football League (NFL) with the help of his adoptive parents Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy.
If you feel underprivileged, the film will inspire you to believe that there is hope to achieve greatness in life.
2. Rocky (1976)
‘Rocky’ is inspirational on two levels. First, the script itself tells the “rags to riches American Dream story” of Rocky, an uneducated, and kind-hearted small-time club fighter, who gets a shot at the world heavyweight championship.
Rocky’s plot is inspiring in itself, but the story behind the script is even more motivating. Sylvester Stallone was finding it hard to get a break in Hollywood when he wrote the script for ‘Rocky’. The then-struggling actor sold the script on one condition: that he will be playing the titular role.
Rocky launched Stallone as a huge star in the cinema world and made him who he is today. To date, Rocky has already spawned eight sequels, including the spin-offs ‘Creed’ (2015), ‘Creed II’ (2018), and ‘Creed III’ (2022).
Rocky is proof that we shouldn’t lose hope and must continue to work hard, even at the lowest points in our lives.
3. Dead Poets Society (1989)
‘Dead Poets Society’ follows John Keating (Robin Williams), an English teacher who attempts to inspire his students to follow their dreams through poetry. It’s amazing how one person can change the lives of so many people.
Viewers can take a lot of timeless leadership lessons from the 1989 film. ‘Dead Poets Society’ is highly-acclaimed and even won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
4. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Another inspiring film based on a true story, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ is based on the life story of Chris Gardner, a successful American investor, and businessman. The film depicts the struggles Gardner had to face before becoming who he is. He’s always been on the verge of losing everything in his life, but he manages to hang by the thread, waiting for the fruits of his hard work. One of the film’s most emotional scenes is when he tries to hide from his son what exactly is going on. There are numerous painful scenes in the film, but he persisted and achieved success. ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ will remind you that there is always a rainbow after the rain and that all these struggles will pay off one day.
5. The Intern (2015)
The Intern is a 2015 comedy-drama starring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro. Robert plays a 70-year old Ben Whittaker, who applies to become an intern for an online fashion site owned by Hathaway’s Jules Ostin. Ben is bored of retirement and realizes that an internship is a good opportunity for him. Soon, Ben quickly becomes the favorite person in the company. He shows the young workers so many valuable lessons in life, including the importance of professionalism and work-life balance. The film’s theme is “Experience never gets old”, and you will realize that despite the advancement in technology, some classic work ethics will always remain valuable.
6. Legally Blonde (2001)
Others might think that this Reese Witherspoon film is just another shallow chick flick, but ‘Legally Blonde’ can be another good source of motivation minus the tears.
The film follows Elle (Reese Witherspoon) as she gets into Harvard Law School after her boyfriend dumps her. She was initially trying to win him back, but getting into Harvard soon made Elle aware that some things in life are greater than chasing after a guy. Elle continued to work hard despite getting frowned upon by the school for her chic style. She manages to prove to everyone that she is more than just a pretty face and was soon at the top of her class. The movie may have been a subtle tale of revenge, but it also tells us that with hard work, ethics, and the right attitude, anything is possible.
7. The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)
‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’ tells the life story of Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf), the first amateur to win the U.S. Open.
Francis pursued his passion despite strong disapproval from his father and his social standing. He decided to participate in the “rich man’s game” and even fought against his childhood idol. ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’ is a story of dreams, struggle, and success.
8. The Social Network (2010)
‘The Social Network’ tells the story of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. It chronicles his journey in building what is currently the largest social media site in the world. His business ventures may have been a huge success, but a lot of his relationships ended in the process.
Film Critic Roger Ebert called The Social Network the best film of the year, saying: “David Fincher’s film has the rare quality of being not only as smart as its brilliant hero but in the same way. It is cocksure, impatient, cold, exciting, and instinctively perceptive.’
9. Steve Jobs (2015)
This 2015 biographical drama portrays the life and Journey of Steve Jobs. It covers various parts of his career, including product launches and the unveiling of the iMac. Steve Jobs wouldn’t be considered as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in modern times without solving problems thrown in his way. The film takes a look at how he responded to challenges to gain the ultimate success.
10. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
‘Million Dollar Baby’ highlights the importance of dedication and willpower. Hilary Swank stars as Mary Margaret “Maggie” Fitzgerald, a determined, aspiring boxer who wants to train under the best coach (Clint Eastwood). Unfortunately, getting the coach’s attention wasn’t easy and Mary has to do her best to prove she’s worth The ‘Million Dollar Baby’ will inspire you to work hard and focus on your goal.