Some movies slap you round the chops with exploding helicopters, some make you laugh ’til a tiny bit of wee comes out, and others make you squirm in the face of horrific drama.
Those all have their place, but there are some movies that are altogether more special, even magical. These are the movies that make you want to jump up, punch the air and get right back to living your life in the best ways you can imagine.
Some films leave you feeling alive, brimming with good-feeling, motivation and self-confidence. Here are my top 25.
(Click each film title to go to a video player to watch a clip, or hover over the icon next to each quotation to watch the clip in the little popup).
1. Dead Poets Society.
Because you’ve got to find your passion and let it live in the world.
“I sound my barbaric YAWP from the rooftops of the world.“
2. Toy Story.
Because it’s easy to forget who you really are.
“To infinity, and beyond!”
3. Scrooged.
Because generosity of spirit counts for a whole lot.
“For a couple of hours outa the whole year, we are the people we always hoped we would be.”
4. City Slickers.
Because quitting is the easy route.
“Do you know what the secret of life is?”
5. Once.
Because you have to let love happen.
“What’s the Czech for “Do you love him?”
6. Beautiful Girls.
Because connecting with another human being is amazing.
“I just want something beautiful.”
7. Grand Canyon.
Because things aren’t all bad and miracles do happen.
“Everything’s supposed to be different than what it is.”
8. L.A. Story.
Because love needs courage.
“Let us just say I was deeply unhappy, but I didn’t know it because I was so happy all the time.”
9. About Schmidt.
Because the smallest things can make the biggest difference.
“What in the world is better because of me?”
10. A River Runs Through It.
Because your life has the potential for grace.
“The river was cut by the world’s great flood, and runs over rocks from the basement of time.”
11. Spider-man 2.
Because you can be an example.
“I believe there’s a hero in all of us.”
12. The Incredibles.
Because you gotta be who you are.
“Dad always said our powers were nothing to be ashamed of, our powers made us special.”
13. The Polar Express.
Because you have to believe.
“There’s no greater gift than friendship.”
14. The Empire Strikes Back.
Because your mind shapes your reality.
“No. Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
15. Jerry Maguire.
Because you have to live by your values.
“In life, to be honest, I’ve failed as much as I’ve succeeded.”
16. The Matrix.
Because you have to feel it in your bones.
“You have to let it all go, Neo. Fear, doubt, and disbelief.”
17. The Pursuit of Happyness.
Because you gotta get out there if you want to succeed, even if it hurts.
“Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something.”
18. Good Will Hunting.
Because life is about heart, not head.
“But you’ve never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable.”
19. Mr Holland’s Opus.
Because even the most ordinary life can have the most extraordinary impact.
“Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched.”
20. Facing the Giants.
Because you’ll never touch the ceiling of what you’re capable.
“Don’t quit! Don’t quit!”
21. It’s a Wonderful Life.
Because your life is precious.
“I want to live again.”
22. Field of Dreams.
Because you have to trust your instincts.
“It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.”
23. Awakenings.
Because it’s easy to forget how much fun life is.
“…the human spirit is more powerful than any drug – and THAT is what needs to be nourished: with work, play, friendship, family.”
24. Pay It Forward.
Because there’s always room for adding real value to the world.
“The realm of possibility exists where? In each of you.”
25. My Life Without Me.
Because you can’t wait to do what matters.
“Without dreams you can’t fucking live.”
My list will always be changing – let me know what I might have missed. (And let me know if any links to YouTube break – I’ll fix ‘em double-quick).
- Other articles you might like:
- The News Will Destroy Your Confidence
- Find Your Voice or Die a Slow Death
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February 18th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
[...] putting yourself into a mindset that allows you to act a certain way and be a certain way. So, be confident. Share and [...]
April 8th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Rudy, The Truman Show, Gattaca are 3 of my favorites I think you should add
April 8th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
@Sean: The Truman Show is an awesome one – 1 guy pursuing what means the most to him at extraordinary cost. Nice call. Don’t know Rudy, and it’s been ages since I’ve seen Gattaca – I’ll take a look. Thanks!
March 21st, 2010 at 7:37 pm
The Shawshank Redemption
“Rember hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.”
May 5th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Take a look at “K-PAX(2001).
IMDB link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272152/
It very much deserves to be on this list.
Another one is “Peaceful Warrior(2006)”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438315/
May 6th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
@Vik: K-PAX is a good one, I felt strangely serene after seeing it…
May 6th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Penelope.
Yes, you may say it’s teen movie, it’s chic flick… but the movie theme itself is about loving yourself… It’s on top of the list for my little one to watch when she gets little older.
May 9th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Interstate 60 a great movie with a twist
May 10th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
@Gary: Another one I don’t know – I’ll add it to the viewing list!
May 13th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
august rush, you will not be disappointed
May 15th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Dude come one u have to add kungfu panda to the list, it s an awesome movie…..
May 29th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
This is a great list
Thanks for posting it!
One of my favorites you could consider is Fried Green Tomatoes.
May 29th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Thanks Steve, great list! Got 7 new ones for us to try; now off to the library. By the way, LA Story has been removed.
June 13th, 2010 at 5:05 am
You missed out Patch Adams, Remember the Titans, Coach Carter, The Notebook, the Bucket list, Freedom Writers, Grid Iron Gang, and Little Rascals! These are all at the top of my list.
June 14th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
@Rowan: I’m darn sure there are loads I haven’t included, but Little Rascals?!
June 18th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
The Other Sister.
June 26th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Hey Steve,
Your efforts to build this site are really appriciated.
I’ll nevr forget you, this site & the movies offcourse.
you brought a difference in someone’s life buddy, you gave me back my power.
god bless you and your family.
cheers mate.
June 28th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
@Praveen: Wow. Wow. Wow. I love doing what I do and just kinda carry on in a bit of a bubble. I’m always *thrilled* when I hear that what I do has made a difference to someone, no matter how big or small. Thanks so much, and let me know how else I can help.
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 am
I like classic films and both ‘Harvey’ and ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ both make me feel great and make me want to just befriend everyone I meet. Oh and I love ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’! I watch it at least 20 times a year.
July 5th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
@M McKay: Harvey’s fun, and I must admit to having a real soft spot for “The Preacher’s Wife” – the remake with Denzel Washington. One of my favourite Christmas movies that always lifts me.
July 21st, 2010 at 1:17 am
This is an awesome list!! Such a great idea, I’m going to be watching all of these over the next weeks… here is my contribution.
A Beautiful Mind
Because if people love you, you are already a success.
“You are the only reason I am. You are all my reasons. Thank you.”