Feeling stuck in a school rut? Has the syllabus bogged you down? We all hit those moments when our inner fire needs a little rekindling. Since movies are one of the best things that ever happened to humankind, you can always resort to inspirational flicks and light your scholarly spark. Yes, motivational movies for students are always there, especially when you need a little more faith in yourself. Trust us, these movies will help you discover exactly what you need to hear! Without further ado, let's get to the best motivational movies for students, their cast, famous dialogues, and a few fun facts, too!
15 Best Motivational Movies for Students
The best inspirational movies for students don’t always need to be boring, with long monologues full of heavy words. Rather, the movies listed below will take you on a journey you will never want to return from. Let’s board the ride to the world of the best encouraging movies for students, shall we?
1. Dead Poets Society
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Year of Release: 1989
Cast: John Keating, Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke
Genre: Comedy, Melodrama, Tragicomedy
Fun Fact: Robin Williams wrote Carpe Diem! on the blackboard during filming, adding an unscripted layer of passion to the iconic scene.
John Keatings, a professor, inspires young students to break the shackles of tradition. Dead Poets Society is still relevant and one of the top-grossing motivational movies for students: the issues addressed in this 1980s movie are what we still face today! Even if it continues to make us cry, Dead Poets Society is a must-see. This inspirational movie for high school students teaches a valuable lesson — you must question the norms instead of blindly accepting everything.
"No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world."
2. Forrest Gump
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
Year of Release: 1994
Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Action
Fun Fact: Despite facing initial rejection for the role of Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks delivered a performance that earned him his second consecutive Best Actor Oscar.
Want to take on the soul-searching bus? Forrest Gump is a motivational movie for students that shows it is not always easy to find happy endings! Forest, a young boy filled with rejection and demotivation, finds his calling and sets his heart free. The way Forest’s unexpected life journey of becoming a man takes shape, the movie is still one of the most relevant and encouraging movies for students as it was in the 1990s.
"Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
3. The Pursuit of Happyness
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
Year of Release: 1994
Cast: Will Smith, Jaiden Smith, Thandiwe Newton
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Melodrama
Fun Fact: The real Chris Gardner was homeless with his son and eventually turned his life around by becoming a successful stockbroker.
The Pursuit of Happyness is, without a doubt, among the most inspirational movies for students. The story recounts a true story of a single father, deep in debt and homeless, who has to take care of his young boy. The father-son duo finds their happiness through various pursuits they undertake. This motivational movie for students touches on happiness, something you can't put a number on but can definitely feel. As it’s also one of the best life lessons movies, you will also learn how to find happiness and share your joy with those you care about, even in extreme circumstances.
"It's okay to fail; it's not okay to quit."
4. Good Will Hunting
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Year of Release: 1994
Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams
Genre: Psychological thriller, Crime Fiction, Horror
Fun Fact: Matt Damon originally wrote the story as a playwriting assignment, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Should we prefer knowledge or experience? It has always been a popular question, and this inspirational movie for students slightly gives you food for thought. A genius boy lives a mediocre life and often avoids dealing with his fears. He comes across someone who helps him conquer his fears. This film, one of the most motivational movies for students, addresses issues like educational stereotypes and shows how to win in life; the need to banish your fears is vital.
"You'll have bad times, but that'll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren't paying attention to."
5. The Theory of Everything
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Year of Release: 2014
Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Johns, Charlie Cox
Genre: Documentary, Historical drama, Drama
Fun Fact: Eddie Redmayne practised in a wheelchair to portray Stephen Hawking’s physical limitations.
If you want to study at one of the best acting schools in the world, this movie will show Eddie Redmayne’s resilience to study ALS, meet ALS patients, and deliver a powerful performance. The Theory of Everything is based on the life of Stephen Hawking and his endeavours leading to his unmatched success & efforts for a better world. This motivational movie for students explains the journey of Stephen Hawking's accomplishments despite his sickness: how he survived, prospered, and achieved success individually and for humanity's benefit.
"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change."
6. The Social Network
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Year of Release: 2010
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
Genre: Documentary, Drama, Historical Drama
Fun Fact: Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin turned to a mountain of legal documents to showcase Facebook’s early days.
The Social Network is the story of Mark Zuckerberg & the various situations he tackled to make Facebook what it is today. It is among the best movies for students; that follows the story of a Harvard freshman and computer genius who begins working on a new notion that will eventually become Facebook, the global social network. Six years later, he is one of the world's youngest millionaires! Also, this inspirational movie for students focuses on Zuckerberg’s relentless work ethic and his unwavering dedication.
"If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you'd have invented Facebook."
7. Inside Out
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Year of Release: 2015
Cast: Amy Poehler, Jacob Hopkins, Mindy Kaling
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy
Fun Fact: The filmmakers consulted with a team of psychologists and neuroscientists to ensure an accurate portrayal of emotions in the brain.
Inside Out debunks the idea of perennial happiness. The movie helps you understand that all your emotions are valid. Not only does happiness, but sadness, anger, disgust, and fear also play a role in your life experiences. It is one of the top inspirational movies for students, as they can learn how to navigate challenges and learn the value of collaboration. Its most significant triumph has inspired young and old viewers to peek inside their heads, making it one of the best motivational movies for students.
"Crying helps me slow down and obsess over the weight of life's problems."
8. Freedom Writers
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Year of Release: 1999
Cast: Hilary Swank, April Lee
Genre: Comedy, Teen, Romance
Fun Fact: The real-life Erin Gruwell, the teacher the movie is based on, played a small role as a substitute teacher.
Freedom Writers is hands down one of the best motivational movies for students. The movie revolves around the ideals of life, where Erin devises a unique teaching strategy to help her underachieving yet promising kids make the most of situations, no matter how good or bad they can get. She is dedicated and focused on her work, which yields good results. The message is meaningful; it says that life can be difficult in many ways, but it is what you make of it.
"Don't be afraid to be what you are, cause all you can be is you."
9. The Breakfast Club
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Year of Release: 1985
Cast: Jude Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
Genre: Teen, Comedy, Drama
Fun Fact: Director John Hughes even encouraged them to improvise some scenes, like the iconic fist pump at the end.
Are you struggling with how to make friends in college? Then, The Breakfast Club will become your pick-me-up soon! The motivational movie for students revolves around five students whom a principal is punishing. They discover the reality of differences and the beauty of shared experiences. The motivational movie for students encourages the breaking down of preconceptions and social boundaries as a means of identification and greater communication. It's humorous and illustrates how to make friends even in the most unlikely settings, making it one of the best inspirational movies for students.
"You see us as you want to see us."
10. The Internship
IMDB Rating: 6.3/10
Year of Release: 2013
Cast: Vince Vaughan, Owen Wilson, Dylon O'Brien, April Lee
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Friendship
Fun Fact: Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson stepped outside their comfort zones and reportedly took improv classes to learn how to code.
Are you wondering how to get an internship? The Internship, one of the best motivational movies for students, might have some answers to it! The movie will show how you should embrace the ideals of life and embark on a new journey. A major theme in the film is Vaughn and Wilson's struggle to understand modern technology compared to the younger interns. However, their soft skills eventually enabled the team to win their assignment. From this inspirational movie for students, you can understand how to succeed if you approach every circumstance with a smile.
"No, we can't talk about it later. The future doesn't know later."
11. Life of Pi
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
Year of Release: 2012
Cast: Suraj Sharma, Tabu, Rafe, Gerard Depardieu and Irfan Khan
Genre: Adventure, Survival, Suspense
Fun Fact: Suraj Sharma, despite no prior acting experience, learned how to sail, swim with limited visibility, and even perform basic animal care tasks.
Life of Pi is considered one of the best inspirational movies for students of all time. It talks about life and its realities and teaches us how to overcome the challenges we face in life. The movie is about Pi Patel surviving on a lifeboat lost in the sea while living with a tiger. One major lesson from the movie is that we must not lose hope – it is one of the main themes of this highly acclaimed and inspirational movie for students.
"Life on a lifeboat isn't much of a life. It is like an endgame in chess, a game with few pieces. The elements couldn't be more simple, nor the stakes higher."
12. It's A Wonderful Life
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
Year of Release: 1946
Cast: John Stewart, Frank Capra, Donna Reed
Genre: Children’s film, Melodrama, Fantasy
Fun Fact: Despite its heartwarming message, the movie was filmed during a scorching summer heatwave in California with fake snow.
It's A Wonderful Life, a classic and one of the best motivational movies for students, tells the story of George Bailey, who is unaware of the good he does for everyone around him. He saves them from becoming as mean and ungrateful as Potterville. This movie indirectly teaches us how unintentional good can pay off at the right time. It is one of the most motivational movies for students if they want to discover some answers about good and bad.
"When a bell rings, an angel gets its wings."
13. The Great Debaters
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Year of Release: 2007
Cast: Denzel Washington, Denzel Whitaker, Forest Whitaker
Genre: Action, Animation, Thriller
Fun Fact: Director Denzel Washington encouraged the young actors to find their voices and connect with the historical figures they were portraying.
The Great Debaters is the story of the most life-changing journeys for Professor Melvin B. Tolson’s students. It tells the tale of how a professor from Wiley College motivated students through debates and built the most phenomenal debating teams in history. The Great Debaters has become one of the most inspiring movies for students because it focuses on education as a tool for empowerment.
"Speak the truth even if your voice shakes."
14. Lean On Me
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
Year of Release: 1989
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Beverly Todd, Karen Malina White
Genre: Action, Melodrama, Teen
Fun Fact: Morgan Freeman reportedly mentored real students from Eastside High School, helping some get scholarships to colleges and universities.
Lean On Me is about the second chance in life. This motivational movie for students is based on the true story of a teacher who returns to high school. He finds it heart-wrenching to see the degradation in the system and how he encourages students to achieve their dreams. This is one of the best inspirational films for students, which can change your perspectives. Lean On Me is a fan-favourite movie and one of the best English movies for students to watch.
"Self-respect permeates every aspect of your existence. If you don't have respect for yourself, you're not gonna get it from anyone else."
15. The Paper Chase
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Year of Release: 1973
Cast: Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner, John Houseman
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama
Fun Fact: John Houseman wasn't originally the first choice for the role, but he impressed the director with his audition and landed the part.
The Paper Chase showcases the struggle of a student in the learning phase. The young student navigates his way through college and the various struggles that are the byproduct of it. This is one of the most inspiring movies for students. Moreover, the movie is not about grand gestures or overcoming odds. This motivational movie for students offers a more grounded kind of inspiration!
"You come here with a skull full of mush, you leave thinking like a lawyer."
So, next time you feel burnt out, grab some popcorn and catch one of these motivational movies for students. The films are not only entertaining but also some of the best movies on students, life, and perseverance. These inspiring movies for students will help them understand the stories of triumph and find their voice. While staying ahead with the best movies for students, you cannot ignore the best horror movies. So, sit back and let the action begin!