13 Films That Will Inspire You To Do More With Your Life

"I learned it from watching the movies" may seem like a humorous statement, but Hollywood has been imparting life lessons since its early days. From epic tales of warriors fighting tooth-and-nail to throw off the chains of oppression to stories of individuals taking smaller but emotionally monumental steps to better their own existences, the quest for the good life has propelled many a movie hero forward. To us watching at home, it can be genuinely inspiring to watch these characters battle for freedom or struggle through personal obstacles, coming out better in some way on the other side. Few of us will ever stand before a Scottish army and scream, "They'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!!!" But the staggering impact that Braveheart had and still has on audiences suggests a deep connection to the idea of rising up and giving one's all in the pursuit of something greater. That's an idea that many took from Braveheart and applied to their own lives - that one should always strive towards something more, even in the face of great hardship. That film is just one of many movies that has pushed us beyond, compelled us to do more in our off-screen lives (even if we couldn't replicate the characters' achievements on-screen). And in fact, it didn't even make our list. Look below, for We Got This Covered's exploration of 13 films that will inspire you to do more with your life. 1) Dead Poets Society You know a film has reached a certain level of impact in society when it joins the ranks of parodied movies, and Peter Weir’s inspirational drama is no exception. With an Academy Award winning screenplay by Tom Schulman – based on his own experiences – Dead Poets Society teaches us all one very important lesson: “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys, Make your lives extraordinary.” Set in the 1950s, the film introduces a group of seven friends who are senior students at the elite prep school, Welton Academy – a boys-only institution, founded on traditional approaches to education and discipline. When a new English teacher arrives in the shape of former Welton Academy student John Keating (Robin Williams), he shakes things up and employs methods regarded as unorthodox at best by school management. He encourages his students to take every opportunity to view the world from a different angle, and “carpe diem.” Keating is soon revered by the boys, who discover details about his time as a Welton student, and his involvement in an underground school literary club – The Dead Poets Society. Secretly reviving it, the students find that the school authorities and their parents blame the students’ sudden independence of thought on Keating and the club, after shocking tragedy occurs. A wonderfully executed tale of the beauty of individuality and self-expression, in the face of oppression and stifling authority, Dead Poets Society inspires us to do more with our lives, as John Keating inspires his students. The entire philosophy of the film can be found in a simple classroom scene – as Keating explains to his young charges the importance of poetry, and the importance of passion: “To quote from Whitman, ‘O me! O life!...of the questions of the recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless – of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life? Answer. That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.’ That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?” 2) Saving Private Ryan Another groundbreaking achievement in the career of the legendary Steven Spielberg, Saving Private Ryan made huge noise upon release, thanks to the blistering 27 minute sequence that effectively opens the film. Depicting the Omaha Beach assault of June 6th, 1944, as part of the Invasion Of Normandy during World War II, the filmmakers set out to show the horror of war in all its terrifying detail – and they succeeded. But Saving Private Ryan is more than its opening 27 minutes. It is, in fact, a film that inspires us to do more with our lives. Written by Robert Rodat, the film sees US Army Rangers Captain, John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) and his squad tasked with finding and retrieving a US paratrooper named Private First Class James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon). He is the last surviving of four servicemen brothers, and the top military brass have decided that he should be returned home to his family, before they lose him too. It’s a mission fraught with danger, and deep resentments quickly surface. The squad question the wisdom of letting this one man go home to safety, while the rest of them are left to dice with death. They also question the wisdom of asking a vast number of men to effectively sacrifice themselves to ensure the future of a stranger. To his credit, Captain Miller proves to be a talented leader, and keeps his group together – despite suffering losses – enough to complete their mission. It’s a gripping and heart-wrenching film throughout, but here’s where it really hammers home the inspiration. As they finally come upon Private Ryan – in the middle of a battle zone – and explain their mission, they are faced with resentment from him. He doesn’t think it’s fair either, and doesn’t want to shoulder the burden of responsibility for the deaths of all those strangers sent to rescue him. Captain Miller tells him in no uncertain terms – “earn this.” And there it is. Ryan is us - the future generations, living under the warm, cosy blanket of freedom provided by the countless number of our fellow human beings, who laid down their lives to halt the march of tyranny. Having just witnessed the relentless horror faced by these courageous individuals, the filmmakers do not hesitate in asking us to look at the life we are leading. Is it worthy of that sacrifice? 3) Dances With Wolves Revitalizing the western genre with one grand, sweeping epic of cinema, Kevin Costner’s love-letter to the old frontier gathered Oscars and fans alike in its stampede to box office glory. Adapted from the novel of the same name, by its own author – Michael Blake – it is a story of challenging boundaries, and the pursuit of a happy ending. Set in 1863, Union Army lieutenant John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) is wounded in the American Civil War, and opts for suicide, rather than the amputation of his leg. He rides his horse right up to Confederate lines, causing them to open fire. He survives, recovers, is decorated, awarded his horse, and his own choice of posting. He heads to Fort Sedgwick – delivered by a wagon driver – and, despite finding it abandoned, he rebuilds it, mans it, and enjoys the solitude. Unbeknownst to him, however, his wagon driver is killed on the return journey, and his superior officer takes his own life – leaving nobody with knowledge of Dunbar’s posting. He is isolated. What follows is a gradual attempt to build bridges and open lines of communication with the local Sioux tribe, juxtaposed with the development of a beautifully played out relationship between Dunbar and a wolf. As mutual, deep understanding is reached, his connection with the Union Army is irrevocably severed, and he forges a new life. Despite all its grimness and violence, Dances With Wolves is a story filled with hope. Dunbar goes from being a suicidal loner, to being a fulfilled and respected family member, having viewed new circumstances as opportunities for connection, rather than fear and judgement. He listens to his instincts, and he listens to people – and both those skills lead to his happy ending. All in all, it’s a tale that inspires us to lead peaceful, open lives - turning away from prejudice and hate. 4) Man Of Steel As with every comic book-superhero movie since the dawn of cinema, Man Of Steel divided audiences upon its release. There were those that loved it, and those that loathed it, and there was very little common ground in between. Written by David S. Goyer – who had previously penned The Dark Knight trilogy – it caused inevitable controversy for actually going back to the real source material, rather than perpetuating what has become the popular assumptions about the character of Superman, based on previous film interpretations. Whichever side of that divide you fall on, however, Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel is undeniably inspirational. Kryptonian scientist Jor-El and his wife Lara – expecting the imminent end of their civilization – infuse the cells of their infant son, Kal-El, with the genetic code of the entire Kryptonian race, and launch him into space toward Earth. There, he is discovered and recovered by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who name him Clark and raise him as their own. As he grows, Clark’s extraordinary powers become more and more evident, but his parents encourage him to keep his true nature a secret, because “the world is not ready.” Until, that is, a lethal threat to his adoptive planet appears in the form of General Zod, and forces Clark into the open, as Superman. The entirety of Man Of Steel is about asking the simple question: what kind of person do you want to be? Each of us has skills and talents that are unique to us, just as Superman has his powers. How are we going to use them – for good, or for ill? Underlying these choices is the central theme of consideration – understanding the effect that one’s actions can have on the world, and the people in it. Truly, if we all practised a little bit more of that, the world would be a much better place. 5) Field Of Dreams Phil Alden Robinson’s adaptation of W.P Kinsella’s novel, Shoeless Joe has become an iconic piece of cinema in the quarter of a century since its release. It’s inspirational themes and ideas, combined with eminently quotable dialogue quickly ensured its place among the very best in the history of film, and remains a movie that makes us want to do more with our lives. Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) is a husband, a father and an Iowa farmer who one day hears a voice in his cornfield. “If you build it, he will come.” He then has a vision of a baseball diamond. Convincing his sceptical wife of his plan, he ploughs into the cornfield and builds the baseball facility – thereby placing his family’s livelihood and home in jeopardy. Despite detractors on all sides, Ray continues to listen to the voice and follow its guidance, and gradually, more and more people begin to experience the magic. What follows is a surprising journey toward personal redemption, re-connection and the pursuit of happiness and peace of mind. In stubbornly sticking to his guns, Ray refuses to give up on the notion that there is something more – something greater – lurking in his corn. It’s about the sight of potential, the pursuit of a vision, and the inescapable fact, when anything is possible, “people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.” 6) Whip It! As Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, this adaptation of Shauna Cross’ novel Derby Girl – scripted by Cross herself – could not be more perfect. Essentially about the stifling effect of over-bearing parents and an over-bearing society on a developing young mind, the whole thing is geared toward breaking those weighted shackles and rolling your own way. All of which – you guessed it – inspires us to do more with our lives. Bliss Cavender (the brilliant Ellen Page) is a directionless, teenage, social misfit, who has yet to discover her passion. Her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) is a former beauty queen who pushes Bliss into the pageant circuit – trying to recapture her own glory years through her daughter’s experience. On a shopping expedition one day, Bliss encounters three roller derby team members distributing flyers advertising an exhibition match between the Holy Rollers and the Hurl Scouts. Persuading her best friend to accompany her, the two young girls attend the game, and Bliss is hooked. Facing disapproval from every quarter – including her best friend – Bliss works hard to qualify for the local derby team. She lies to the team about her age, and she lies to her mother about what she is doing with her time - but having found her passion, she is unwilling to let it go. Trials and tribulations ensue, as her dedication to her new-found love causes friction in every one of her relationships, until eventually, everybody has to choose – should we do what society dictates, or should we follow our passion? Bliss discovers that she always had the answer – and so have we. We got it from roller derby team member Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig) at the beginning. As Bliss looks up at her in awe and says “You’re my hero,” Maggie shrugs it off and says, “Strap some skates on. Be your own hero.” If ever there were words to live by, those are they. 7) Before Sunrise So, it’s all very well being inspired to do more with your life, but how exactly do you do it? You take chances, of course. You seize opportunities, as and when they arise. You live in the moment, and allow things to happen, and that’s exactly what Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise is all about. Co-written by Linklater and Kim Krizan, Before Sunrise sees two people on a train meet, talk, and decide to disembark for a night spent walking around Vienna, talking some more. It is the simplest concept, but is so beautifully executed that it has spawned two more films, made nine years apart – building a series that chronicles a relationship over almost two decades. But it all comes down to that one scene in Before Sunrise, where Jesse (Ethan Hawke) persuades Celine (Julie Delpy), to seize the moment. “Think of it like this: jump ahead, ten, twenty years, okay, and you're married. Only your marriage doesn't have that same energy that it used to have, y'know. You start to blame your husband. You start to think about all those guys you've met in your life and what might have happened if you'd picked up with one of them, right? Well, I'm one of those guys. “ The film is a magical ode to the way in which life can be entirely changed with one simple decision, in one tiny moment. A cautious, closed-minded Celine might have declined the offer of an evening in Vienna, choosing to stay in the comfort zone she has so clearly established on the train. Had she done so, she would have missed out on all the joy that followed, not to mention the love of her life. Instead she seizes the moment and, in doing so, not only inspires us all to do more with our lives, but demonstrates how to do it, too. 8) The Wolf Of Wall Street At first blush, this may not seem the most likely film to motivate someone to do more with their life. Considering that Jordan Belfort's exploits landed him in prison and addicted to a mixture of alcohol, cocaine, and prescription drugs, some might see this film as a cautionary tale for having too much ambition. The film was even accused by media watchdogs of glorifying his reprehensible behavior. However, for a more discerning viewer capable of telling the difference between right and wrong, The Wolf Of Wall Street can make the high risk world of stockbroking seem like a magical place where all of your wildest dreams can come true if only you apply yourself. Don't like your frumpy wife? Trade her in for the Duchess of West Ridge. Sick of your beat up junker? Swap it out for a fleet of foreign luxury vehicles. Tired of your cramped studio apartment? Burn that midnight oil and soon you will have a luxury estate equipped with a tennis court, swimming pool, golf course, gym, anything you could possibly want. Lost in all of the Quaalude fueled madness and little person tossing is the fact that Belfort started out with the best intentions before he was led astray. He wanted to help others make money as well as lining his own pockets. There is a little voice inside all of us that tells us we will be gracious and help others if we strike it rich. The Wolf of Wall Street showed us what can happen when that instinct is drowned out by bad influences. 9) Gravity Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity soared into theaters with a haunting experience that left audiences in awe - or fear - of the far reaches of outer space. Dr. Ryan Stone’s journey home, the centerpiece of the story, felt strangely familiar to viewers as it touched upon every human emotion in a realistic sense due to the heightened state of mind Stone was forced to be in. She was living virtually every human being’s worst nightmare: truly alone, nearly impossible to escape, but still very alive to experience your own mind deteriorating. Sandra Bullock’s thrilling portrayal of the rawest of human emotions was the key factor in the rebirth theme of the film. She had lost everything, not only physically and in the present, but mentally and in the past as well. She was below the underdog status as it was likely Earth had forgotten about her and an underdog is rarely ever forgotten. No family, no job, no life, nothing. And yet, Dr. Ryan Stone got out of it. If someone who had nothing can inspire herself, so can the rest of us feel the weight of just how beautiful the world can be. 10) Schindler’s List Steven Spielberg’s phenomenon of a film Schindler’s List was the embodiment of how bright a glimmer of light can be. With the story concentrating on an already horrific and heart-wrenching period of history, it was made all the more potent with a single man’s journey of becoming a hero. Oskar Schindler, portrayed by Liam Neeson, was the unlikely hero who only employed Jewish workers because they were cheaper. However, when he witnessed a massacre of a small part of town, he quickly became a savior. Even though he continued his black market schemes and bribery, it was not for his profit any longer, but for the hundreds and hundreds of “Schindlerjuden,” which means Schindler Jews. Schindler’s List shows just how powerful redemption can be even through a life of corruption. Inspiration isn’t always received; in this case, it is found and then given to the people who had all but given up on their lives. Schindler was basically inspired by the inspiration he gave out; a circle that can make even the worst of us into a hero. 11) The Pursuit of Happyness Soulless. That is what you’d have to be if you weren’t in the least bit inspired and seriously moved by this portrayal of a true rags-to-riches hero in Chris Gardner. This is no tale of some young thug who got shot nine times finally scoring in the rap game or a hopeless actor landing a life-changing role, this is about how financially low and at a loss a man can get and, despite even being homeless, never faltered from his vision of living a life he believes he deserves. It’s about how the American dream was earned through sheer determination and, at its core, good ol’ fashioned hard, teeth-grinding work in the face of impossible odds. Will Smith knocked this performance out of the park, perfectly capturing a likable, big-hearted, and unbelievably hard working salesman that wants nothing more than a decent life for his family. Even after multiple viewings, Smith’s key moment of when he finally lands the big job never fails to choke me up. It was through his astonishing and seemingly myth-like perseverance that he was able to make his two-story American dream become a skyscraper-high reality. The man came from sleeping in a bathroom due to literally no other alternative to becoming a more than successful stockbroker and entrepreneur generating millions to this day -- surely that should light some sort of a spark in you. 12) The Fisher King In this comedy-drama, a suicidal radio ‘shock-jock’ is persuaded to make one final grab for redemption by helping a man whose life became collateral damage in the aftermath of one of his inappropriate on-air rants. Jack (Jeff Bridges) is a drunken, washed up DJ, having descended into a deep depression after an incident 3 years earlier, in which his insensitive comments to a psychotic caller triggered a mass murder in a busy bar. As he tries to attempt suicide, he is interrupted by a gang of thugs, who attack him and try to set him on fire. Jack is rescued by Parry (Robin Williams) – a disturbed homeless man, who claims to be on a mission to retrieve the Holy Grail. Parry asks Jack for help and - because he discovers that Parry’s condition stems from having witnessed his wife’s horrific death during the bar-room massacre that Jack helped to trigger - he agrees. While he is colluding in Parry’s delusion, Jack tries to help him find love and companionship with Lydia (Amanda Plummer), whom Parry has long admired from afar. Written by Richard LaGravenese (Behind The Candelabra), this tale of fate, destiny and delusion is given rich and powerful visualization by director Terry Gilliam – the strength of which gives firm foundation to the positive aspects of a fundamentally dark tale. These men are bound together by the horrors visited upon them by a cruel and violent world. One began as a selfish cynic, unable to view anything past himself, while the other was once a contented man – happily residing in a bubble of emotional security. But, after tragedy, they find in each other the strength to be open-hearted once more – overcoming their fear of pain and destruction, and finding their happily ever after. For the audience, The Fisher King provides very real inspiration for making more of the emotional connections available to us on a daily basis – for these are the things that give our lives vigour, verve, momentum and - above all - purpose. 13) Thelma & Louise With Ridley Scott directing from an Academy Award-winning screenplay by Calllie Khouri, Thelma & Louise is renowned for its reinvention of the stereotypical road-movie trope – featuring two female characters in the lead, as opposed to the more traditional male ‘buddy’ pairing. In the story, Thelma (Geena Davis) is trapped in a suffocating marriage with a controlling husband. Her friend, Louise (Susan Sarandon), is a forthright, fiercely independent waitress. The two friends head off for a two-day vacation in Louise’s convertible, but very quickly, their trip takes them in unexpected directions. Stopping at a bar, Thelma dances with a local man. As she gets increasingly drunk and - out of sight of Louise – her dance partner follows her into the parking lot and attempts to rape her. Finding them, Louise threatens the attacker with Thelma’s gun – which halts the attack. However, as the two friends are walking away, the rapist yells insults at them – enraging Louise, who turns and shoots him dead. This event spins the movie on its head, turning Thelma and Louise into fugitives, wanted for murder. Though their journey ends with an iconic scene atop the Grand Canyon, their journey up until that point is what inspires us to do more with our lives. In the first instance, it encourages us to simply break from the shackles of dependence and control, and hit the road. There’s a big world out there, and there’s no point letting it pass you by, just because someone else says so. Secondly, it is a beautiful demonstration of the importance of connection. Thelma and Louise fight, bicker and disagree, but ultimately, they are accepting of each other, and experience an unconditional love and understanding that they have yet to find elsewhere. Thirdly, in presenting an accurate picture of women as people – with all the experiences and difficulties that go along with that – it encourages us to take a look at our own lives and attitudes, and view them from a different perspective. In this way, the film inspires us to challenge misogynistic behaviour, having a small but vital impact on much-needed social change.