As we grow up, every individual faces those moments when our inner spark feels dim and needs a little igniting. It can only go away if we gain knowledge and motivate ourselves, especially during student life.
As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” So, motivational movies seem to do that perfectly, helping students to get motivated and persevere. Scroll down to discover our list of 10 best motivational movies for students that will help them get a positive vibe.
Best 10 Motivational Movies for Students You Must Not Miss
The best educational movies for students do not necessarily mean that there will only be long monologues or heavy speeches. Instead of that, these educational movies will offer you a ride that you never want to end. They are power-packed with great stories and lessons that stick with students.
1. The Pursuit of Happyness (1994)
“It’s okay to fail; it’s not okay to quit.”
The Pursuit of Happyness is a motivational, true storytelling of Chris Garder’s struggle to improve his life. He is a bad salesman and also a single father who does his best to have a better future. Through this motivational film, students learn the hard lesson of perseverance in life. This is a true-to-life story showing how Chris Gardner rose from rags to riches.
IMDB Rating: 8.8
Genre: Comedy, Drama
2. Forrest Gump (1994)
“Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
Among the best movies for students’ motivation, Forrest Gump tells the story of a gentleman with a low IQ. From his childhood, he only had one friend, Jenny, with whom he fell in love with. But, despite the rejection from Jenny and others, he grew up to be a hero in the war and a wealthy businessman. One thing that students can learn from here is failure can never decide your worth. It assists them in facing life’s challenges with strong and resolute feelings.
IMDB Rating: 8.8
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Action
3. Good Will Hunting (1994)
“You’ll have bad times, but that’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to.”
Good Will Hunting is a story of a young man who is a janitor with great math skills but loses himself in personal troubles. This motivational film allows the students to look at the face of fear, breaking first impressions and embracing the body’s possibility for change. The themes of the film, such as self-doubt and personal development, would enable students to understand the importance of education and getting a mentor.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Horror
4. Dead Poets Society (1989)
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
Dead Poets Society revolves around an English teacher who encourages his students to seek individuality and reject conformity. The picture teaches the audience to learn to think outside the box and take action in a certain situation. This keeps the students dreaming and reminds them to always venture into the things they love doing. It emphasizes them having to stand up for themselves whenever society tries to discourage them.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
Genre: Comedy, Melodrama, Tragicomedy
5. The Social Network (2010)
“If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you’d have invented Facebook.”
In the list of top 10 inspiring movies for students, we have The Social Network. It shows Mark Zuckerberg’s rise to Facebook and his battles along the way. The ambition, friendship, and challenges involved in business make it ideal for students to watch this movie. Students can understand relation issues and experience social networking by seeing how Facebook became and began to change the world.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
Genre: Documentary, Drama
6. The Theory of Everything (2014)
“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”
The Theory of Everything aims to reveal the developments in physics, as well as Hawking’s fight with ALS. Despite physical limitations, he keeps researching. This inspirational movie is capable of inspiring students to take challenges in life. It helps them learn how physical inability cannot stop them from achieving things in life.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
Genre: Documentary, Drama
7. The Beautiful Game (2024)
“We don’t save ourselves, we save each other”
If you are looking for one of the best inspirational sports movies for students, go and watch This story is a comedy-drama movie that tells the story of a young footballer from a small town wishing to become a star. The movie beautifully showcased how he turned his challenges into personal growth through hard work. This motivational film also aims to encourage students to do everything that they want.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
Genre: Sports, Drama
8. The Fire Inside (2024)
“I want you to take that fire inside of you and turn it into something good.”
The Fire Inside is among the best end-of-the-year movies for students. It tells the whole story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan. She was trained to be the first woman from her country to win an Olympic gold in that sport. It is the story of a young soul who overcomes a personal struggle to find her actual worth. This inspirational movie teaches students that one has to venture into one’s interests and through the fears of the world.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
Genre: Sports, Drama
9. Inside Out (2015)
“Crying helps me slow down and obsess over the weight of life’s problems.”
The animated movie Inside Out shows how emotions can change the life of a young girl named Riley. This motivational film shows how people should not suppress any emotion, be it happiness, sadness, anger, fear, or disgust. Thus, this film helps students learn the skills of managing and coping with every kind of emotion throughout their lives.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy
10. Till (2022)
“Some pitches change people’s lives.”
Till is among the powerful black history month movies for students based on the true story of Mamie Till. She is a black mother who decided to fight for her son Emmett Till after he was brutally murdered. It shows the determination of a mother who is fighting for civil rights as well as unity in fighting against injustice. It helps students understand the importance of fighting for what is right and the attainment of equality.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
Genre: Drama, History
Whenever people go to watch movies, they don’t just do that to pass their time. In the eyes of students, films serve as a stimulus to curiosity, enhance critical and analytical minds, and make concepts easier to learn. However, inspiring free movies for students indeed facilitates learning. Not only does including movies in the lesson make learning enjoyable. But, the movies also help develop life skills that go on for the rest of students’ lives.
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