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30 Inspiring Films That Showcase Human Potential and Achievement

30 titles

Step into the riveting world of 2014 cinema, as we delve into an extraordinary collection of films that have redefined history on the silver screen. From thought-provoking documentaries to gripping narrative features, these top 30 movies invite you on a thrilling journey through time and across continents. As you witness the fascinating stories unfold, you'll be captivated by the brilliant filmmaking that brings these tales of triumph, tragedy, and transformation to life. So, buckle up as we explore the remarkable history of 2014 – one unforgettable movie at a time.

Default orderPopularityIMDb ratingTMDB ratingRelease dateRuntimeTitleBudgetBox officeAscending
  1. 1GodsMovie · 2014 · 121m · Drama, HistoryThe film follows the early career of cardiovascular surgeon Zbigniew Religa in 1980s Poland, under communist rule.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.7
  2. 2How to Change the WorldMovie · 2014 · 110m · Documentary, HistoryIn 1971, a group of friends sail into a nuclear test zone, and their protest captures the world's imagination. Using never-before-seen archival footage, *How to Change the World* tells the story of the pioneers who founded Greenpeace and shaped the modern environmental movement.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.1
  3. 3Beltracchi: The Art of ForgeryMovie · 2014 · 93m · Crime, Documentary, HistoryThis documentary examines the remarkable life of Wolfgang Beltracchi, a forger who worked in the art world for over forty years. Driven by a self-centered and cynical philosophy, Beltracchi expertly deceived galleries, historians, and buyers with his convincing forgeries. The film details the concluding part of his unusual story, offering an unprecedented look at his reasons, methods, and the consequences of his bold deceptions on the art market, all while he remains unincarcerated.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.1
  4. 4InvasionMovie · 2014 · 94m · Documentary, History, WarINVASION is a documentary examining a nation's shared history. The 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama is used as a starting point to explore how people remember, reshape, and sometimes omit their past. This process shapes their identity and influences who they are today.IMDb 6.8TMDB 7.3
  5. 5The Rise and Rise of BitcoinMovie · 2014 · 96m · Documentary, HistoryThis documentary explores the creation and growth of Bitcoin, the decentralized digital currency.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.1
  6. 6KanoMovie · 2014 · 185m · Drama, HistoryIn 1931, a high school baseball team from Taiwan journeys to Japan for a national tournament.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.0
  7. 7AmbitionMovie · 2014 · 6m · Science Fiction, History, MysteryOn an alien planet, a young apprentice faces the challenge of mastering nanotechnology while trying to earn the respect of her mysterious mentor. Will she achieve her ambitious goals, potentially revolutionizing life as we understand it, or will those goals remain unattainable?IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.7
  8. 8Paulo Coelho's Best StoryMovie · 2014 · 112m · Drama, HistoryPaulo Coelho, the world's best-selling living author with over 165 million copies sold, didn't always inspire millions. Like characters in his famous books like *The Alchemist* and *The Pilgrimage*, he spent years searching for his purpose. His journey included near-death experiences, struggles with mental health, love, and a career in Brazilian rock 'n' roll, all while trying to become a writer. *Paulo Coelho's Best Story* is a deeply moving film about his extraordinary life, revealing the person behind the beloved literary icon.IMDb 5.6TMDB 6.9
  9. 9Paradise in ServiceMovie · 2014 · 133m · Romance, Drama, History"Paradise in Service" is set on Kinmen Island, a strategically vital and potentially volatile military base near China. The film follows Pao, a young man from Southern Taiwan, as he begins his mandatory military service with Unit 831 in 1969. He's unexpectedly assigned to the demanding Sea Dragon unit, known for its rigorous physical training. However, Pao discovers that his biggest challenge won't be the physical hardship, but rather a unique task within Unit 831: to remain a virgin throughout his service.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.7
  10. 10In the CrosswindMovie · 2014 · 86m · Drama, HistoryJune 14, 1941, 3 a.m. The Soviets deport over 40,000 people from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to Siberia. Among them is Erna, a philosophy student and mother. Separated from her husband, she and her daughter are sent with other women and children to remote parts of Siberia. Enduring hunger, fear, and brutal treatment, Erna maintains her sense of freedom and hope of returning home throughout the next fifteen years.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.1
  11. 11The Better AngelsMovie · 2014 · 95m · Drama, HistoryIn 1817 Indiana, at a remote log cabin, the realities of love, loss, and frontier life mold the young Abraham Lincoln. A thoughtful and reserved boy, Abe finds solace with his mother while learning the ways of farming from his strict father. After his mother's death, a new guardian appears in the form of his stepmother, who recognizes his potential and encourages him to pursue education.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.1
  12. 12Goltzius & the Pelican CompanyMovie · 2012 · 128m · Comedy, HistoryGoltzius and the Pelican Company follows Hendrik Goltzius, a prominent Dutch printer and engraver of erotic prints in the late 16th century. A peer of Rembrandt and more widely admired during his lifetime, Goltzius convinces the Margrave of Alsace to fund a printing press for illustrated books. In exchange, Goltzius promises him a remarkable book depicting biblical stories – specifically, erotic tales of Lot and his daughters, David and Bathsheba, Samson and Delilah, and John the Baptist and Salome. To further entice the Margrave, Goltzius and his company offer to stage dramatic performances of these very stories for his court.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.1
  13. 13The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to EdenMovie · 2014 · 126m · Documentary, Mystery, HistoryThis documentary blends a 1930s murder mystery with stories of modern-day explorers in the Galapagos Islands, creating a parable about the pursuit of paradise. Directors Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine explore idealistic dreams that have gone wrong within the islands' striking environment. The film features voice-over performances by Cate Blanchett, Diane Kruger, and Gustaf Skarsgard.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.4
  14. 14Secrets of WarMovie · 2014 · 95m · War, Family, DramaTuur and Lambert are best friends, but war is approaching and threatening to alter their lives. Tuur's father has joined the resistance, and even his older brother appears to be involved. Lambert's family, however, chooses to cooperate with the Germans. The arrival of a new girl from the city leads to a friendship with the boys, but she confides in only one of them. This choice creates a rift between the friends and ultimately puts her in danger.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.6
  15. 15Belluscone: A Sicilian StoryMovie · 2014 · 94m · History, DocumentaryThe film explores three kinds of loss: Silvio Berlusconi's decline in power and personal life in his later years, Ciccio Mirra's defeat – a devoted follower of Berlusconi rooted in a fading tradition – and the director's struggle to portray Italy’s complicated connection to "Berlusconian culture." It examines themes of power, tradition, and identity within a nation seemingly defined by this unique cultural landscape.IMDb 7.3TMDB 6.9
  16. 16PompeiiMovie · 2014 · 105m · Action, Adventure, HistoryIn 79 A.D., Milo, a former slave now a gladiator, must race against time to rescue Cassia, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant. She has been forced into an unwanted engagement with a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts, unleashing fiery lava, Milo fights his way out of the arena to reach her, while the city of Pompeii collapses around them.IMDb 5.5TMDB 5.5
  17. 17Red ArmyMovie · 2014 · 85m · Documentary, HistoryThis documentary explores the legendary and secretive hockey training system that produced the Soviet Union's dominant hockey team, as seen through the eyes of Captain Slava Fetisov. The film follows Fetisov's journey from celebrated hockey star and national icon to a figure at odds with the political system.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.3
  18. 18Valley UprisingMovie · 2014 · 99m · Adventure, Documentary, HistoryIn the secluded campgrounds of Yosemite Valley, a community of climbers developed a rebellious lifestyle centered on resourcefulness and lively gatherings, often at odds with the National Park Service's traditional approach. Meanwhile, climbers have consistently challenged the boundaries of the sport on Yosemite's iconic cliffs, each generation striving for excellence. "Valley Uprising" is a compelling story about this enduring climbing tradition in Yosemite National Park: fifty years of pushing physical limits and challenging regulations.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.7
  19. 19The Dark HorseMovie · 2014 · 124m · Drama, HistoryGenesis Potini, a former Maori speed-chess champion, lives with bipolar disorder. He faces prejudice and violence as he fights to save his struggling chess club, his family, and his own well-being.IMDb 7.4TMDB 6.3
  20. 20Fermat's CuisineMovie · 2014 · 137m · Drama, HistoryIn 19th-century Italy, Giacomo Leopardi uses his chronic illness and solitary life as inspiration for his poetry.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.8
  21. 21The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its YoungMovie · 2014 · 90m · Documentary, HistoryFor 25 years, fewer than 10 people have completed The Barkley Marathons. Inspired by a historic prison escape, this demanding race draws competitors from across the globe, pushing them to the absolute limits of their physical and mental strength. This documentary explores the meaning of enduring extreme pain.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.4
  22. 22The CutMovie · 2014 · 138m · History, DramaIn 1915, a man survives the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire, but is left without his family, his voice, or his belief. One night, he discovers a possible lead: his twin daughters might still be alive. He embarks on a journey to find them.IMDb 6.3TMDB 5.9
  23. 23The Man Who Saved the WorldMovie · 2014 · 120m · Documentary, History, WarThe Man Who Saved the World is a documentary film about Stanislav Petrov, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Soviet Air Defence Forces.IMDb 7.5TMDB 6.8
  24. 24An Honest LiarMovie · 2014 · 90m · History, Comedy, Documentary*An Honest Liar* chronicles the life of James "The Amazing" Randi, the celebrated magician and outspoken opponent of fraud. The film details Randi's public debunking of psychics, healers, and charlatans with unwavering conviction. A man who publicly acknowledged his deception at 81, Randi famously invented fictional figures, fabricated psychics, and even created a fake guru persona for his longtime partner, Jose Alvarez.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.1
  25. 25Stones for the RampartMovie · 2014 · 111m · War, Drama, HistoryFor three young friends – Alek, Sophy, and Rudy – defeat is a victory. Their ambitious plans for the future, as recent high school graduates in Warsaw, are shattered by the events of September 1939. Thrust into adulthood during a time of immense upheaval, they face a difficult choice: survive at any cost or fight for their homeland's freedom, risking everything. Raised with patriotic values and shaped by scouting ideals, the boys choose to fight. They become soldiers, and though constantly facing death, they find a way to live fully.IMDb 6.2TMDB 6.7
  26. 26Testament of YouthMovie · 2015 · 129m · History, Drama, War*Testament of Youth* is a powerful story of love, war, and memory, adapted from Vera Brittain's influential memoir, a classic account of World War I from a woman's perspective. The film follows a young woman's journey from hopeful beginnings to facing despair and finding resilience. It explores themes of first love, the senselessness of war, and the struggle to find meaning in the darkest of times.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.3
  27. 27Mary KomMovie · 2014 · 122m · Action, Drama, HistoryThis is the story of Mary Kom, an Indian boxer who overcame numerous challenges to achieve her lifelong dream.IMDb 6.8TMDB 7.0
  28. 28SarajevoMovie · 2014 · 98m · Thriller, History, WarIn June 1914, Sarajevo becomes the setting for a thriller by Andreas Prochaska and Martin Ambrosch. The film follows examining magistrate Dr. Leo Pfeffer (Florian Teichtmeister) as he investigates the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Amidst lawlessness, violence, intrigue, and betrayal, Leo fights to uphold his principles and protect his love, Marija, and her father, a respected Serbian merchant. However, the events in Sarajevo trigger a chain reaction that will inevitably lead to the outbreak of World War I.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.2
  29. 29Mr. TurnerMovie · 2014 · 150m · History, DramaIn his final 25 years, the unconventional British painter J.M.W. Turner embraces life with passion. He secretly develops a relationship with a woman who runs a seaside inn, while his devoted housekeeper harbors a hidden affection for him.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.5
  30. 30The Monuments MenMovie · 2014 · 118m · War, Drama, HistoryThe Monuments Men is a true story about a remarkable mission during World War II. A team of unlikely heroes – museum directors, artists, architects, curators, and art historians – risked everything to save priceless works of art from Nazi destruction. They journeyed to the war front to locate and protect masterpieces, determined to return them to their owners. Facing immense danger, could these men succeed in their extraordinary quest?IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.1