As we grow up, we all face moments when our inner spark feels dull and we need to rekindle the fire a little. This problem can only be overcome if you acquire knowledge and increase your motivation, especially during your student life.
Nelson Mandela once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” So, motivational movies seem to do that perfectly and help students become motivated and persistent. Scroll down to see our list of the best 10 motivational movies for students to help them get positive vibes.
Top 10 motivational movies for students you shouldn’t miss
The best educational films for students don’t always mean long monologues and heavy speeches. Instead, these educational films offer a ride you never want to end. It’s full of great stories and lessons that students will remember.
1. Pursuit of Happiness (1994)
“It’s okay to fail. It’s okay to quit.”
The Pursuit of Happiness is a true motivational story about Chris Garder’s struggle to improve his life. He’s a bad salesman and a single father trying his best for a better future. Through this motivational film, students learn the harsh lessons of perseverance in life. This is the true story of how Chris Gardner rose from rags to riches.
IMDB rating:8.8
Genre: Comedy, drama
2. Forest Gump (1994)
“Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”
One of the best motivational movies for students, Forrest Gump depicts the story of a gentleman with a low IQ. From an early age, Jenny was the only friend he had a crush on. However, despite Jenny and others’ rejection, he became a war hero and grew up to be a wealthy businessman. One thing students can learn from this is that their worth is never determined by their failures. It helps them face life’s challenges with strong and resolute emotions.
IMDB rating:8.8
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Action
3. Good Will Hunting (1994)
“There will be bad times, but it will always wake you up to good things you weren’t paying attention to.”
“Good Will Hunting” is the story of a young man who is a janitor with a great talent for mathematics, but who gets caught up in personal problems and loses himself. This motivational film allows students to look into the face of fear, overcome first impressions, and embrace the potential for physical change. The film’s themes such as self-doubt and self-development help students understand the importance of education and having a mentor.
IMDB rating:7.7
Genre: Psychological thriller, crime novel, horror
4. Dead Poets Society (1989)
“No matter what anyone says, words and ideas can change the world.”
Dead Poets Society revolves around an English teacher who encourages his students to explore individuality and reject conformity. This painting teaches the audience to think outside the box and learn to take action in certain situations. This reminds students to keep dreaming and always try to do what they love. It emphasizes that they have to stand up for themselves whenever society tries to bring them down.
IMDB rating:8.1
Genre: comedy, melodrama, tragicomedy
5. Social Network (2010)
“If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you would have invented Facebook.”
Our list of top 10 inspirational movies for students includes The Social Network. It depicts Mark Zuckerberg’s rise to Facebook and his struggles along the way. This film is perfect for students to watch as it depicts ambition, friendship and challenges in business. Students can understand relationship issues and gain experience with social networking by seeing how Facebook came to be and began to change the world.
IMDB rating:7.8
Genre: Documentary, Drama
![THE SOCIAL NETWORK - Official Trailer [2010] (HD)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lB95KLmpLR4/hqdefault.jpg)
6. Theory of Everything (2014)
“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”
The Theory of Everything aims to shed light not only on Hawking’s battle with ALS, but also on developments in physics. Despite his physical limitations, he continues his research. This inspiring film will inspire students to take on challenges in life. It will help you learn that physical disabilities cannot prevent you from achieving anything in life.
IMDB rating:7.7
Genre: Documentary, Drama
7. Beautiful Game (2024)
“We don’t save ourselves, we save each other”
If you’re looking for the best inspirational sports movies for students, go watch it. The story is a comedy-drama film that tells the story of a young soccer player from a small town who wants to become a star. The film perfectly illustrated how he turned his challenges into personal growth through hard work. This motivational movie also aims to encourage students to do everything they want to do.
IMDB rating:6.3
Genre: Sports, Drama
8. The Fire Inside (2024)
“I want you to take that fire within yourself and turn it into something good.”
The Fire Inside is one of the best year-end movies for students. We tell the full story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan. She has been training to become her country’s first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport. This is the story of a young soul who overcomes personal struggles and finds his true worth. This inspiring film teaches students that they should pursue their interests and overcome the fears of the world.
IMDB rating:6.7
Genre: Sports, Drama
9. Inside Head (2015)
“Crying slows you down and allows you to become absorbed in the weight of life’s problems.”
The animated film Inside Head shows how emotions change the life of a young girl named Riley. This motivational movie shows that no emotion should be suppressed, be it happiness, sadness, anger, fear or disgust. Therefore, this movie helps students learn skills to manage and cope with all kinds of emotions throughout life.
IMDB rating:8.1
Genre: Animation, comedy, fantasy
10. Till (2022)
“Some pitches change people’s lives.”
Till is one of the Black History Month films for students based on the true story of Mamie Till. She is a black mother who decides to fight for her son Emmett after he is brutally murdered. It shows a mother’s determination to fight for civil rights and unity in fighting injustice. This helps students understand the importance of fighting for what is right and achieving equality.
IMDB rating:7.2
Genre: drama, history
When people go to the movies, they don’t just go to the movies to kill time. In the eyes of students, movies serve to stimulate curiosity, enhance critical and analytical thinking, and facilitate the learning of concepts. However, stimulating free movies for students will certainly facilitate learning. Incorporating movies into your lessons doesn’t just make learning more fun. But movies also help students develop life skills that last for the rest of their lives.
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