Inspirational Movies: True Stories of Achievement Against All Odds
147 titles
- 101
50/50Movie · 2011 · 100mBased on a true story, this is a comedy about a 27-year-old man who is diagnosed with cancer and his journey to overcome the illness.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.2 - 102
Big MiracleMovie · 2012 · 107m · Adventure, Drama, RomanceA local news reporter and a Greenpeace volunteer team up, seeking assistance from both major world powers to rescue three large gray whales trapped beneath the ice in the Arctic.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.7 - 103
CaponeMovie · 2020 · 103m · Crime, DramaAl Capone, 47, begins experiencing dementia after a decade in prison. He becomes increasingly haunted by the violence of his past.IMDb 4.7TMDB 5.0 - 104
Escobar: Paradise LostMovie · 2014 · 120m · Thriller, RomancePablo Escobar's family is his priority. When a young surfer named Nick falls in love with Escobar's niece, Maria, he's drawn into the perilous world of their criminal enterprise, putting his life at risk.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.3 - 105
Captain PhillipsMovie · 2013 · 134m · Action, Drama, ThrillerThis is the true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates – the first American cargo ship seized in two centuries.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.5 - 106
StockholmMovie · 2019 · 92m · Crime, ComedyThis film is based on the true story of the 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in a European city, as detailed in Daniel Lang's 1974 New Yorker article, "The Bank Drama." The events captivated global attention when the hostages developed a bond with their captors and, surprisingly, sided with them against the police, sparking the psychological phenomenon now called "Stockholm Syndrome."IMDb 6.1TMDB 5.9 - 107
Killer EliteMovie · 2011 · 116m · Action, Adventure, ThrillerKiller Elite is based on a shocking true story. It follows Danny, a former special forces agent, and Hunter, his mentor, as they face off against the leader of a secretive military group. The film takes them across the world, from Australia to Paris, London, and the Middle East, where they become entangled in a perilous game of cat and mouse – a situation where the hunters become the hunted.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.3 - 108
The Big ShortMovie · 2015 · 131m · Comedy, DramaThis is the story of the individuals who profited immensely from a worldwide financial crisis.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.4 - 109
9/11Movie · 2017 · 88m · Drama, ThrillerOn September 11th, five strangers are stuck in an elevator in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. United by their shared predicament, they collaborate, maintaining hope as they attempt to escape before disaster strikes.IMDb 4.6TMDB 5.1 - 110
Carte BlancheMovie · 2007 · 102m · Comedy, Drama, HistoryA Texas congressman joins forces with a CIA operative to secretly support Afghan rebels who are fighting against the Soviet Union, setting off a chain of unforeseen consequences.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.5 - 111
American SniperMovie · 2014 · 133m · War, ActionNavy SEAL Chris Kyle dedicates himself to protecting his fellow soldiers, becoming one of America's deadliest snipers. His exceptional skill saves many lives but also makes him a target for enemy fighters. Facing constant danger and struggling to balance his duties with family life, Kyle completes four tours in Iraq. Returning home, he discovers that the war continues to haunt him.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.4 - 112
The GloriasMovie · 2020 · 147m · DramaGloria Steinem is a pioneering figure – an advocate for equal rights, a journalist, and a passionate activist. From her pivotal role in the women's rights movement to her extensive travels across the United States and the globe, she has profoundly shaped modern history. This is an unconventional look at the life of a true trailblazer.IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.4 - 113
The PostMovie · 2017 · 116m · Drama, HistoryTo protect a secret that stretched across four presidential administrations, a pioneering female newspaper publisher and her determined editor find themselves in a historic conflict between the press and the government. Based on a true story.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.0 - 114
PercyMovie · 2020 · 100m · DramaPercy Schmeiser, a farmer following in his family's footsteps, is sued by a large corporation for supposedly using their patented seeds. Lacking the funds for a legal defense, Percy teams up with young lawyer Jackson Weaver and environmental advocate Rebecca Salcau for a major case that ultimately reaches the Supreme Court.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.7 - 115
Official SecretsMovie · 2019 · 112m · Thriller, History, DramaThis is the true story of Katharine Gun, a British intelligence employee who, before the 2003 Iraq War, leaked a highly classified NSA memo. The memo revealed a secret joint US-UK spying operation targeting UN Security Council members. The operation aimed to pressure these members into supporting the war through blackmail.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 116
Cinderella ManMovie · 2005 · 144m · Romance, Drama, HistoryThis is the story of Jim Braddock, a boxer who retired in the 1930s. When the Great Depression hits, he unexpectedly returns to the ring to provide for his family.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.6 - 117
A Street Cat Named BobMovie · 2016 · 103m · Family, DramaHomeless and battling addiction, busker James Bowen's life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a ginger cat.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.9 - 118
PaternoMovie · 2018 · 105m · Drama, TV MovieJoe Paterno, college football's most successful coach, faces a crisis when the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal rocks Penn State. The controversy threatens to destroy Paterno’s celebrated career and forces a reckoning with the university's responsibility to protect its young players.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.2 - 119
S.O.S. TitanicMovie · 1980 · 144m · History, Drama, ThrillerThe film recounts the tragic sinking of the Titanic through the experiences of three passengers from different social classes. It follows a wealthy honeymooning couple, an ambitious middle-class couple hoping for a new life in America, and a hardworking lower-class couple dreaming of a better future. The story explores their interwoven love stories, social divides, and the devastating reality of the disaster that reshaped history. This moving narrative portrays the Titanic's final voyage as a powerful story of human resilience, showing how fate unites people from all walks of life in a desperate struggle to survive.IMDb 6.2TMDB 5.9 - 120
Black MassMovie · 2015 · 123m · Drama, Crime, HistoryThis is the true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and South Boston's most notorious violent criminal. He secretly worked as an FBI informant to dismantle a Mafia family that was trying to take over his territory.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.5 - 121
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert FordMovie · 2007 · 160m · Drama, WesternJesse James, known as the "fastest gun in the West," attracts a young man named Robert Ford to his outlaw gang. However, Robert becomes envious of James. When Robert and his brother see a chance to kill James, their act of murder transforms the outlaw into a legendary figure.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.0 - 122
The PianistMovie · 2002 · 150m · Drama, WarThis is the true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's life in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. As the city's Jewish population is confined to a ghetto, Szpilman finds work performing in a café. When his family is deported in 1942, he remains in Warsaw, working as a laborer before ultimately going into hiding amidst the ruins of the war.IMDb 8.5TMDB 8.4 - 123
The Social NetworkMovie · 2010 · 121m · DramaIn 2003, Harvard student and computer programmer Mark Zuckerberg develops an idea that evolves into Facebook, the world's largest social network. By 2009, Zuckerberg has become one of the youngest billionaires, but his rapid success brings unexpected challenges. He faces two lawsuits: one from a former friend, creating significant personal and legal difficulties.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.4 - 124
Against the IceMovie · 2022 · 101m · Drama, Adventure, HistoryIn 1909, two explorers struggle to survive after being abandoned during a Danish expedition in the icy wilderness of Greenland.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.8 - 125
InvictusMovie · 2009 · 134m · Drama, HistoryFollowing apartheid's end, President Nelson Mandela recognizes deep racial and economic divisions within South Africa. Hoping to unite the country through sport, he inspires the nation's rugby team as they achieve a historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 126
12 Years a SlaveMovie · 2013 · 134m · Drama, HistoryIn the United States before the Civil War, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from New York, is kidnapped and forced into slavery. He endures cruelty and kindness while fighting to survive and maintain his self-respect. During his twelfth year of captivity, a chance encounter with a Canadian abolitionist will change his life forever.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.9 - 127
Schindler's ListMovie · 1993 · 195m · Drama, History, WarThis is the true story of Oskar Schindler, a businessman who saved over a thousand Jewish lives during World War II. He provided them work in his factory, effectively shielding them from the Nazis' atrocities and forced labor.IMDb 9.0TMDB 8.6 - 128
BBC HorizonMovie · 2004 · 176m · War, History, ActionAlexander, King of Macedonia, commands his army in a campaign against the vast Persian Empire. Following victory over the Persians, he leads his forces on a journey across the known world, pushing eastward into India further than any Westerner had previously traveled.IMDb 5.6TMDB 6.0 - 129
SuffragetteMovie · 2015 · 106m · Drama, HistoryThis film tells the story of the women who fought for early feminist ideals. Forced to operate in secret, these foot soldiers of the movement engaged in a perilous struggle for survival against a growingly oppressive government.IMDb 6.9TMDB 7.2 - 130
DunkirkMovie · 2017 · 107m · War, Action, DramaThis is the story of the remarkable rescue of Allied soldiers trapped in Dunkirk, France, between May 26th and June 4th, 1940, during World War II. Cut off from the beaches and harbor by the German army, soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada, and France were surrounded.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.5 - 131
A Beautiful MindMovie · 2001 · 135m · Drama, RomanceJohn Forbes Nash Jr. rises to fame as a brilliant but socially awkward mathematician, poised for international recognition after a major discovery. However, accepting a classified cryptography assignment draws him into a shadowy conspiracy. His life spirals into turmoil, forcing him to confront a difficult and deeply personal path toward understanding himself.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.9 - 132
Dog Day AfternoonMovie · 1975 · 124m · Crime, Drama, ThrillerThis true story follows John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile, two men who attempt a bank robbery in Brooklyn as a rebellion against society. Their bold plan quickly turns into a tense hostage situation and standoff with police. As the film progresses, the reasons behind the crime are revealed, adding depth to the story. The event evolves from a simple robbery into a major media sensation, placing those involved in extraordinary circumstances and revealing their weaknesses and strengths.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.8 - 133
A Christmas Gift from BobMovie · 2020 · 93m · Family, DramaJames Bowen is facing an animal welfare investigation that could result in the loss of his cherished cat, Bob, just before Christmas.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.7 - 134
The HighwaymenMovie · 2019 · 133m · Crime, Drama, ThrillerIn 1934, Frank Hamer and Manny Gault, two former Texas Rangers, are tasked with stopping Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, a notorious pair of bank robbers and killers who have gained a strange popularity with the public.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.8 - 135
True StoryMovie · 2015 · 99m · Crime, Drama, HistoryThis drama explores the unusual connection between journalist Michael Finkel and Christian Longo, a man on the FBI's Most Wanted List. For years, Longo lived in hiding outside the United States, using Finkel's identity.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.3 - 136
The Black DahliaMovie · 2006 · 121m · Crime, Thriller, DramaIt's 1940s Los Angeles. Two former boxers now working as police officers face a world of corruption, self-centeredness, scandalous movies, and dysfunctional families while hunting for the person who murdered a promising young actress.IMDb 5.6TMDB 5.6 - 137
USS Indianapolis: Men of CourageMovie · 2016 · 128m · Action, WarThis is the gripping true story of the USS Indianapolis crew, lost in the Pacific for five days after delivering the atomic bombs that brought World War II to a close. While waiting for rescue, they faced brutal conditions: desperate thirst, starvation, and constant attacks from sharks.IMDb 5.3TMDB 5.9 - 138
The Wizard of LiesMovie · 2017 · 133m · Crime, Drama, HistoryThis film examines the inner workings of Bernie Madoff's extensive Ponzi scheme, detailing its execution and the widespread devastation it caused. It follows the scheme's impact on those who invested and the consequences for Madoff's own family.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.6 - 139
The BoogeymanMovie · 2010 · 27mA man seeks help from a psychologist, attempting to explain the deaths of his three children, which he believes were caused by a malevolent entity.IMDb 5.3TMDB 4.8 - 140
The FavouriteMovie · 2018 · 120m · History, Comedy, DramaEngland, early 1700s. Queen Anne's close bond with Sarah Churchill is challenged by the arrival of Abigail Hill, Sarah's cousin. This sparks a sharp rivalry between the two women as they both compete for the Queen's favor.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.5 - 141
1917Movie · 2019 · 119m · War, History, DramaDuring World War I, two young British soldiers undertake a dangerous mission across enemy lines. Their task: deliver a crucial message that could prevent a devastating attack targeting hundreds of their comrades.IMDb 8.2TMDB 8.0 - 142
EverestMovie · 2015 · 121m · Adventure, Drama, History"Everest" tells the story of two expeditions attempting to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain. Both are pushed to their limits when they are caught in one of the worst snowstorms ever recorded. Faced with extreme conditions, the climbers must overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles as their dreams of conquering the mountain become a desperate fight for survival.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.8 - 143
Silk RoadMovie · 2021 · 116m · Crime, ThrillerRoss Ulbricht, a young man with strong beliefs, launches Silk Road, a hidden website where illegal drugs are sold. To shut it down, DEA agent Rick Bowden goes undercover to track Ulbricht.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.3 - 144
War MachineMovie · 2017 · 122m · Comedy, Drama, WarA driven rock star general plunges into the intricate world of modern warfare as he pursues a seemingly insurmountable victory in Afghanistan. Inspired by the true story of General Stanley McChrystal.IMDb 6.0TMDB 5.6 - 145
The DuchessMovie · 2008 · 110m · Drama, History, RomanceThis is the story of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, an 18th-century aristocrat who faced public scorn for her lavish lifestyle and involvement in politics.IMDb 6.9TMDB 7.0 - 146
All the WayMovie · 2016 · 132m · Drama, History, TV MovieThis film chronicles Lyndon B. Johnson's remarkable eleven-month period in power, beginning with his ascension to the presidency following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It follows his determined efforts to secure passage of the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act and his own campaign for the presidency. The story culminates on the night LBJ is officially elected, marking his transformation from an "accidental President" to a leader in his own right.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.7 - 147
SpotlightMovie · 2015 · 129m · Drama, HistoryThis is the true story of the Boston Globe's investigation into widespread child molestation and a subsequent cover-up within the city's Catholic Archdiocese. The reporting sent shockwaves through the Catholic Church.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.8
