Inspiration is something we all need in this competing era. Every day we wake up to fight the real battles or struggles of our lives and needs sheer motivation to keep ourselves uplift for that. And do you know what could be the best source of encouragement and inspiration when you feel low? Movies. Yes, we are talking about the best inspirational movies of all time that make you feel cheerful, optimistic and confident again.
When we see someone’s struggle story, we try to picture ourselves in them. That is the best thing about Motivational and Inspirational movies. They make you laugh and cry at the same time!
So, if you are a movie freak looking for some positive energy, here are the top 10 most inspirational and motivational Hollywood movies of all time you must add to your watchlist.
Top 10 Hollywood Motivational and Inspirational Movies of all time to Uplift your Spirit
1. The Pursuit of Happyness
- Year of Release: 2006
- Director: Gabriele Muccino
- Cast: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Thandiwe Newton
One of the best movies of Will Smith so far, The Pursuit of Happyness, depicts the true story of a Single Father, Chris Gardener as a struggling salesman, dealing with homelessness, a broken marriage and financial crisis each day in his Life.
Despite being evicted from his home, leaving by his wife and having financial struggles in his Life, the only hope and happiness he has is his son Christopher (Jaden Smith).
The movie highlights the unconditional bond of Father and Son and the tiny bits of happiness they find in togetherness that keeps them going. It gives a message that happiness is something that comes from within. You can be happy even after you don’t have much in your Life, just like this Father and Son did.
And finally, the hope and never give up attitude of Chris Gardener pays well when he got succeed in Life to give everything his son deserves. Filled with lots of emotions, Pursuit of Happyness is indeed one of the best Hollywood bibliographic films to watch.
2. Cast Away
- Year of Release: 2000
- Director: Robert Zemeckis
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Paul Sanchez
Narrating a strong yet simple story, Cast Away is an inspirational Hollywood movie that teaches how one can survive without any facilities on an isolated island.
It is an American survival drama film, revolves around an ordinary FedEx troubleshooter named Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), whose plane crashed on a stranded island. Fortunately, Chuck survives the crash but finds himself in a world with no people and no resources surrounded by.
At that time, he understands the importance of Life, and his willpower won’t give up despite numerous challenges. This movie will inspire you that no matter how hard the situation gets, one can always survive if one has a strong will.
3. 127 Hours
- Year of Release: 2010
- Director: Danny Boyle
- Cast: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara
Based on the true event that happened with real-life canyoneer Aron Ralston in 2003, 127 hours is one of the best motivational Hollywood movies to watch when you feel low.
His arm got stuck between a Blue John Canyon and a rock where he had a choice of either amputating his hand or get died there. Those 127 hours of struggles are the most challenging and motivating hours of his life. With each passing hour, the battle was increasing as there was none to help him.
Finally, he took the toughest decision of his life to survive in that situation. This movie will inspire you to the next level and make you feel thankful for everything you have in your life.
4. Life of Pi
- Year of Release: 2012
- Director: Ang Lee
- Cast: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain
Life of Pi is one of the most adventurous and inspirational Hollywood movies of all time that teaches you how fear can be defeated by faith and willpower in your life.
A sole survivor, Pi finds himself in the middle of the ocean, surviving a disaster with a tiger, a hyena and an orangutan. From there, the journey of his self-discovery and adventure begins.
His perception towards life, struggles and extraordinary portrayal of a human and an animal bond will make you fall in love with this movie.
5. Seven Pounds
- Year of Release: 2008
- Director: Gabriele Muccino
- Cast: Will Smith, Woody Harrelson, Rosario Dawson
If you want to understand the meaning of Death and Life, Seven Pounds is the perfect movie to watch. An IRS Agent named Ben Thomas (Will Smith) accidentally kills seven people (six strangers and his fiance) in a terrible road accident.
To overcome his guilt and correct his sin, he decided to donate all his organs to seven needy people by tracking the “worthy” ones. Finally, he commits suicide to help those who are in need.
The extraordinary journey of redemption of Will Smith is displayed in out-of-order flashbacks that will keep you emotionally hooked till the last.
6. The Bucket List
- Year of Release: 2007
- Director: Rob Reiner
- Cast: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes
The importance of Life gets realised when we have less time to live it. The bucket list is based on a similar plot where two terminal cancer survivors, totally different from each other, head off on a road trip to fulfil their bucket list.
While one is a corporate billionaire, and the other is a mechanic who decides to go against the odds of their disease to do everything they always wanted to do before their death.
This all-time inspirational movie teaches us that life is too short to run behind materialistic things. It is never too late to chase your dreams, and one should always do what makes them happy.
7. The Shawshank Redemption
- Year of Release: 1994
- Director: Frank Darabont
- Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton
Hope is something that keeps you alive in the toughest situations, and the 19-year long prison journey of Banker Andy Dufresne will make you realise that.
Nominated for 7 Oscars, The Shawshank Redemption depicts the story and friendship of two prisoners – Andy and Red, and their journey of redemption at Shawshank prison.
Despite experiencing the brutality of prison, both prisoners don’t leave their hope of getting out and keep doing the acts of common decency. Finally, they get a chance to escape from that brutal life, but their friendship is something that lasts long.
It is a compelling, emotional Hollywood drama movie that will inspire you to stay positive, humble and hopeful in every situation life throws at you.
8. It is a Wonderful Life
- Year of Release: 1946
- Director: Frank Capra
- Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Berrymore
One thing that we should value most in our lives are the real relationships we have, and nothing can depict this thing better than this classic inspirational Hollywood movie.
It is a Wonderful Life is a Christmas fantasy movie based on the short story, The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern. A guardian angel Clarance is sent from heaven to make a deeply frustrated businessman named George realised how his deeds touched other people’s lives.
Most of the time, we don’t value the life we have, just like George. But the Guardian angel shows him how the life of the people associated with him could be if he had not been born to make him understand the importance of his life.
This movie will touch your soul differently and make you understand that despite having so many imperfections, every person’s life is beautiful and worthy. It is a classic inspirational Hollywood movie of all time that everyone must watch.
9. Rocky
- Year of Release: 1976
- Director: John G. Avildsen
- Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young
Life gives opportunities to everyone. But only some of us dare to accept them to succeed while others neglect them. Rocky is one such inspirational story of a real-life small-time Boxer, Rocky Balboa.
Sylvester Stallone has played the character of real-life boxer Rocky, a debt-collector and a club boxer, never taken seriously by anyone. But one day, he got the lifetime opportunity to fight a heavyweight championship.
His rags to riches story and the fight for his self-respect will motivate your spirit to achieve your goals in life. This popular inspirational Hollywood movie will leave you in tears and make you understand that life throws challenges at you to make you prepare for the best.
10. Into the Wild
- Year of Release: 2007
- Director: Sean Penn
- Cast: Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener
Only a few of us dare to do what we love by leaving what we are doing to make money. As the name suggests, Into the Wild is an all-time motivational Hollywood movie on the story of Breaking Free.
Into the Wild is an inspirational self-discovery movie that revolves around a top athlete and a student named Christopher McCandless who donates his entire $24,000 savings to charity to chase the wilderness of Alaska.
Throughout his journey, he encounters a series of characters that leaves a long-lasting impact on his life by shaping it somehow. All the learnings and inspiration you will get from this movie is beyond words. It is an unconventional treat for all those who want to follow their heart in life.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where can I watch Inspirational Hollywood Movies for free?
There are plenty of free websites and platforms from where you can download or stream online the inspirational Hollywood movies of all time, like:
- Youtube
- Hotstar (Monthly Free trial available)
- Amazon Prime ((Monthly Free trial available)
- Roku Channel
- Sony Crackle
- Pluto TV
- Vudu
- Netflix (Monthly Free Trial available)
2. What are the best inspirational movies on Netflix to watch online?
Netflix has many inspirational and motivational movies available to watch online in both Hollywood and Bollywood categories. Some of the most popular inspirational movies available on Netflix to watch are:
- Pursuit of Happyness
- Gunjan Saxena
- Wonder
- Dangal
- The Shawshank Redemption
- Mandela
- Skater Girl
- The Theory of Everything
- Coach Carter
Final Words!
Movies are not just made for entertainment, but they also provide us with a way to peek into a different space, different reality, and different world. Every movie gives us a message, especially the inspirational ones.
We have mentioned some of the best inspirational and motivational Hollywood movies of all time above in this article. You can watch these movies conveniently on online streaming platforms like Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon Prime, Youtube, etc.
So grab some popcorn and get ready to take a roller coaster ride of emotions with our curated list of best inspirational Hollywood movies!