Inspiring movies of Hope, Passion and Perserverance
Lately, theaters have been overflowing with movies about mobsters, monsters, murder, muscles and mayhem. Dark, bleak themes are the norm today.
Instead, I thought it might be time to list some uplifting movies of (fairly) normal characters who keep hope alive. Facing overwhelming odds with only their wit, will and humanity (or animality in some cases!), these movie characters do not resort to guns, gore or graphic gruesomeness to solve their dilemmas. Not an Avenger or Jedi in sight!
This list is not all-inclusive and is in no particular order. There are many, many more fabulous "hopeful" movies not on this list. These are just some of my favorites. I hope you can see and experience hope and joy today. Enjoy! :-)
Instead, I thought it might be time to list some uplifting movies of (fairly) normal characters who keep hope alive. Facing overwhelming odds with only their wit, will and humanity (or animality in some cases!), these movie characters do not resort to guns, gore or graphic gruesomeness to solve their dilemmas. Not an Avenger or Jedi in sight!
This list is not all-inclusive and is in no particular order. There are many, many more fabulous "hopeful" movies not on this list. These are just some of my favorites. I hope you can see and experience hope and joy today. Enjoy! :-)
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- DirectorKirsten SheridanStarsFreddie HighmoreKeri RussellJonathan Rhys MeyersA musically gifted orphan, Evan, runs away from his orphanage and searches New York City for his birth parents. On his journey, he's taken under the wing of the Wizard, a homeless man who lives in an abandoned theater.
- DirectorPete DocterBob PetersonStarsEdward AsnerJordan NagaiJohn Ratzenberger78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.
- DirectorMichael O. SajbelStarsDrew FullerJames GarnerAbigail BreslinA deceased billionaire leaves his spoiled adult grandson a series of odd tasks to perform in order to receive "the ultimate gift," with the resentful grandson having no idea what that might be.
- DirectorPeter ChelsomStarsJohn CusackKate BeckinsaleJeremy PivenA couple search for each other years after the night they first met, fell in love, and separated, convinced that one day they'd end up together.
- DirectorMichael AptedStarsIoan GruffuddAlbert FinneyMichael GambonThe idealist William Wilberforce maneuvers his way through Parliament, endeavoring to end the British transatlantic slave trade.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsTom HanksBill PaxtonKevin BaconNASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.
- DirectorChris NoonanStarsJames CromwellMagda SzubanskiChristine CavanaughGentle farmer Arthur Hoggett wins a piglet Babe at a county fair. Narrowly escaping his fate as Christmas dinner, Babe bonds with motherly border collie Fly and discovers that he too can herd sheep. But will the other animals accept him?
- DirectorAlex KendrickStarsAlex KendrickKen BevelKevin DownesWhen a tragedy strikes close to home, four police officers struggle with their faith and their roles as husbands and fathers. Together they make a decision that will change all of their lives.
- DirectorJon TurteltaubStarsJohn CandyLeonDoug E. DougWhen a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team.
- DirectorGarry MarshallStarsGreg KinnearLaurie MetcalfMaria PitilloWhen letters written to God start getting results, and replies, people everywhere are amazed. The post office, however, is annoyed.
- DirectorAlex KendrickStarsAlex KendrickShannen FieldsJason McLeodA losing coach and his underdog football team face their giants of fear and failure on and off the field, with surprising results.
- DirectorAdrian LyneStarsJennifer BealsMichael NouriLilia SkalaAn 18-year-old female amateur dancer who performs nightly at a dancing bar, and works as a welder during the day, dreams of joining the Pittsburgh ballet school.
- DirectorHerbert RossStarsKevin BaconLori SingerJohn LithgowA city teenager moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.
- DirectorClyde BruckmanBuster KeatonStarsBuster KeatonMarion MackGlen CavenderAfter being rejected by the Confederate military, not realizing it was due to his crucial civilian role, an engineer must single-handedly recapture his beloved locomotive after it is seized by Union spies and return it through enemy lines.
- DirectorEricson CoreStarsMark WahlbergGreg KinnearElizabeth BanksBased on the story of Vince Papale, a 30-year-old bartender from South Philadelphia who overcame long odds to play for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in 1976.
- DirectorCharles HaidStarsMackenzie AstinKevin SpaceyDavid Ogden StiersA brave young man is thrust into adulthood as he and his courageous team of sled dogs embark on a grueling and treacherous cross-country marathon.
- DirectorAndrew GalleraniStarsSherilyn FennJeremy PivenJoBeth WilliamsA Hollywood tour bus driver poses as a screenwriter to romance an up-and-coming young actress.
- DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsRobert RedfordRobert DuvallGlenn CloseA middle-aged unknown comes seemingly out of nowhere to become a legendary baseball player with almost supernatural talent.
- DirectorIrwin WinklerStarsHayden ChristensenKevin KlineKristin Scott ThomasWhen a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsJim CarreyMartin LandauBob BalabanIn 1951, a blacklisted Hollywood writer gets into a car accident, loses his memory and settles down in a small town where he is mistaken for a long-lost son.
- DirectorGavin O'ConnorStarsKurt RussellPatricia ClarksonNathan WestThe true story of Herb Brooks, the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Soviet squad.
- DirectorJay RoachStarsRussell CroweBurt ReynoldsHank AzariaThe residents of a small town get over-excited when their hockey team gets chosen to host a televised event.
- DirectorJon TurteltaubStarsNicolas CageDiane KrugerJustin BarthaA historian races to find the legendary Templar Treasure before a team of mercenaries.
- DirectorBrad BirdJan PinkavaStarsBrad GarrettLou RomanoPatton OswaltA rat who can cook makes an unusual alliance with a young kitchen worker at a famous Paris restaurant.
- DirectorDavid AnspaughStarsSean AstinJon FavreauNed BeattyRudy has always been told that he was too small to play college football. But he is determined to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of playing for Notre Dame.