rocky
what brings you here tonight welcome to
watch mojo and today we're counting down
our picks for the top 20 motivational
movies i'm a tough guy
tough guys don't do man tough guys deep
fried chicken for a living
you want a wing or a leg man for this
list we'll be looking at the most
inspiring and encouraging films in
cinema history what movie has motivated
you let us know in the comments
number 20 gridiron gang the right
mentorship at the right age can change
the trajectory of a young person's life
you got nobody but yourself but
goddammit that's all you need believe in
yourself and knock me on my ass that's
precisely what transpires in the sports
drama gridiron gang about real life
football team to kill patrick mustangs
sean porter works as a probation officer
at the kilpatrick detention center in
los angeles not wanting the young
inmates to return to lives of crime and
violence he puts together a football
team to teach them discipline and
cooperation though they struggle at
first the team not only grows as players
but as individuals with a commanding
performance from dwayne the rock johnson
gridiron gang scores plenty of
motivational touchdowns throughout we
want to win we got to let him go
forgive them and move on
forgive forgive them
otherwise we give them too much power
over us
and they don't deserve it number 19 to
kill a mockingbird bravery means doing
the right thing even when it seems like
no one else is on your side you never
really understand a person until you
consider things from his point of view
sir
did you climb inside of his skin
walk around in it this best picture
nominated adaptation of harper lee's
classic novel is ultimately about a man
who believes in justice gregory peck
plays atticus finch a lawyer in
depression era alabama finch is
defending tom robinson a black man
accused of a crime he didn't commit the
film is aware of the grave inequalities
of the past and then present but it also
acknowledges the importance of people
advocating for one another when we speak
up for what's right we can change the
future for the better this film proves
it in this country
our courts are the great levelers
in our courts
all men are created
equal number 18 stand and deliver for
many teaching isn't a job as much as it
is a calling finger man
i heard about you
are you the finger man i'm the finger
man too
you know what i can do
in this moving drama based on the
real-life story of high school math
teacher jaime escalante we see just how
far one teacher will go to reach his
students played by edward james olmos
escalante uses his ghana's philosophy to
help troubled students excel in advanced
mathematics while there are some
naysayers who believe these kids to be a
lost cause escalante's belief in them
prevails the film was well received by
critics with almost even receiving an
oscar nomination but above all standing
delivers shows the utmost importance of
nurturing intelligence i wouldn't want
anyone to think you're intelligent
number 17 12 angry men being a member of
a trial jury is an enormous
responsibility a very unusual knife
i've never seen one like it neither had
the storekeeper who sold it to the boy
aren't you asking us to accept a pretty
incredible coincidence i'm just saying a
coincidence is possible and i say it's
not possible and in the legal drama 12
angry men a guilty verdict would mean
the death sentence for a young defendant
although a conviction initially seems
inevitable one juror believes the
evidence isn't quite convincing enough
this leads to some riveting back and
forth exchanges as the 12 strangers
attempt to reach some semblance of
understanding with great direction by
sydney lumet and powerful performances
from actors like henry fonda and lee j
cobb the verdict is unanimous 12 angry
men is an all-time great motivational
movie not guilty
guilty
boy how do you like that number 16.
amelie have you ever wondered about the
individuals you encounter during your
day-to-day activities
[Music]
is the enchanting story of a young woman
who makes it her mission to improve the
lives of those around her while also
learning to love herself though she
encounters obstacles as well as people
who aren't nearly as thoughtful as she
is her faith in humanity is rightfully
asserted with lovely cinematography
clever writing and a winning lead
performance by the talented audrey
tattoo amelie is one trip to paris will
gladly take again and again
[Music]
the secret life of walter mitty when
reality isn't quite working out it's
easy to escape into fantasy hey cheryl
i have something creative i've been
working on too
oh
a little side project
walter it's amazing
walter
ben stiller plays walter mitty a man who
finds refuge from his lonely life by
imagining himself in a variety of
incredible situations but when
opportunity knocks walter is sent off on
a globe spanning adventure as you might
expect it's not an easy journey in fact
it often seems like all hope is lost but
walter keeps trying and his perseverance
is ultimately rewarded also directed by
stiller older midi is an ode to the
dreamer in all of us a reminder that
it's never too late to live the life we
want to i uh i jumped out of a
helicopter yesterday into the ocean and
had a shark fight
yeah yeah listen i was mentioning before
people who daydream too much they're not
no it was real it really did
really then i'll put down adrenaline
junkie
what kind of a shark was it like hey
todd
i can't really talk right now i'm on my
way to a volcano number fourteen eight
mile eminem didn't become the
best-selling hip-hop artist in history
by accident eight miles stars the rapper
in a gritty tale inspired by his very
own rags-to-riches story you've worked
here longer than me and i get paid more
than you do
dawg take a seat what's this guy
standing in line for he ain't got money
to eat
living in a broken home jimmy aka b
rabbit dreams of making it as a
successful rapper the movie shows that
succeeding in any art form takes a lot
of patience and dedication regardless of
natural ability you don't have to be an
eminem super fan to appreciate eight
mile this is a movie about doing your
best to share your gifts with the world
one verse at a time your palms sweaty
yet while he stands tough notice that
this man did not have his hands up
his free world's got you gapped up now
who's afraid of the big bad boy number
13 whiplash how far would you be willing
to push yourself to excel at your craft
why do you suppose i just hurled a chair
at your head neiman that's the question
at the heart of director damian
chazelle's whiplash miles teller plays
andrew nieman a young jazz drummer at a
prestigious music academy andrew
proceeds to put himself through a living
nightmare in order to impress his
ruthless instructor played by a menacing
jk simmons while we would never
encourage anyone to push themselves
anywhere near as far as teller's
character does this film is sure to
motivate you when it's not terrifying
you that is it's okay
play
[Music]
do you think you're out of tune number
12 a beautiful mind learning how our
brains work is an endlessly fascinating
topic to explore i need to look through
to the governing dynamics
hmm
find a truly original idea
that's the only way i'll ever
distinguish myself it's the only way
that i'll ever massive it can also help
us understand the world around us in
this best picture-winning flick russell
crowe plays john nash a brilliant
mathematician with paranoid
schizophrenia highlighting its effects
on jon as well as his loved ones the
movie does a great job of illustrating
the challenges posed by mental illness
without demonizing those afflicted by it
with great performances by crow and
jennifer connolly this is one movie that
adds up to an inspiring viewing
experience it is only in the mysterious
equations of love
but any logical reasons can be found
i'm only here tonight because of you
number 11. selma dr martin luther king
jr is a legend of the civil rights
movement for many reasons
children become victims of one of the
most vicious crimes ever perpetrated
against humanity within the walls of
their own church
they are sainted now
they are the sainted ones in this quest
for freedom
and they speak to us still the movie
selma serves to remind us that at his
core king was simply a man fighting for
change in director ava duvernay's film
about selma to montgomery marches we see
the lengths king went to in order to
help black americans register to vote
without racist restrictions in the role
of the baptist minister slash activist
david oyelowo demonstrates just how king
was able to inspire so many people the
fight for equality didn't end with these
marches but selma serves as a reminder
of the power that comes with joining
together in the name of justice despite
the pain
despite the tears
our freedom will soon be upon us
[Music]
for truth
rush to earth will rise again number 10.
freedom riders another moving story of
an educator inspiring their students
this movie stars hilary swank as aaron
grewell a long beach teacher whose class
is brimming with racial unrest in the
early 90s hey girl you want to give me
some fries with that shake with violence
occurring inside and outside of the
school walls gruel goes to great lengths
to teach her students how to respect one
another it's through this respect that
they also learn how to live their best
lives swank is incredibly effective in
the role while the young actors playing
the students are equally genuine i walk
into the room and feel as though
all the problems in life are not so
important anymore
i am home sure there are other movies
like freedom riders out there but few
are quite as inspiring number nine
hidden figures for too long many
integral individuals in the united
states race to space were all but
ignored catherine is the gal for that
she can handle any numbers you put in
front of her i'll check her credentials
thanks in part to the film hidden
figures that since changed it's here
that the spotlight is pointed towards a
group of black women who were
instrumental in helping nasa soar the
three mathematicians had to not only
figure out complex space travel
equations but also learn to stand tall
in the face of oppression there is no
bathroom
there are no colored bathrooms in this
building or any building outside the
west campus which is half a mile away
did you know that
i have to walk to timbuktu just to
relieve myself taraji p henson octavia
spencer and janelle monae were all
celebrated for their portrayals as was
the film for showing just how much of a
difference these women made in the
efforts of space exploration
number eight october sky
talk about reaching for the stars in
this biographical drama jake gyllenhaal
plays homer hickam an aspiring rocketeer
what you think about getting in that
science fair now i think we got a chance
however he has to contend with some
obstacles namely the disapproval of his
coal miner father he believes homer is
best suited to join him in the mines not
venturing into the stars the real life
homer would go on to become a nasa
engineer and this film shows just how
much he was inspired by the wide world
outside a small town to get there it may
be about rockets but october sky is a
wonderfully down-to-earth movie i only
hope i can be as good a man as you are
i mean sure
dr von braun's a great
scientist but he isn't my hero number
seven remember the titans you smiling
yes yes sir yes sir why are you smiling
because i love football football's fun
fun sir fun sir it's fun yes you sure
i think now you're thinking first you
smile then you think the best sports
stories are just as captivating off the
field as they are on it in this biopic
denzel washington plays herman boone the
new football coach at a recently
integrated virginia high school tensions
are initially high between the mixed
teammates but boone's discipline helps
them to work together in time they learn
what greatness truly is washington was
lauded for his performance while
remember the titans would go on to stand
as one of the best football movies of
all time not to mention one of the most
encouraging if we don't come together
right now on this hollow ground
we too will be destroyed number six
forest gump while this best picture
winner isn't a true story it uses actual
events to show the journey of an
ordinary man who undergoes extraordinary
experiences congratulations how do you
feel i gotta pig these include meeting
numerous presidents and running
cross-country for three years yep
watching forrest gump is like getting a
tour through 20th century history with a
guide you'll never forget fan favorite
actor tom hanks plays forest to
heartwarming effect the film shows that
a lack of so-called book smarts can't
stop you from overcoming unbelievable
odds you know what they say about life
being like a box of chocolates you never
know what you're gonna get number five
it's a wonderful life when it comes to
motivational holiday movies it's hard to
beat it's a wonderful life in this frank
capra directed classic a man overcomes a
crisis through the help of his guardian
angel and neighbors told you i'm your
guardian angel i know everything about
you
well you look about like the kind of an
angel i'd get as small-town banker
george bailey jimmy stewart brings to
life a character who's down on his luck
but not down for the count there may be
uncaring types in bedford falls like the
ruthless businessman mr potter but
compassion wins out in the end more than
75 years later it's a wonderful life is
as timeless and touching as ever
happy new year to you in jail number
four dead poet society no movie teacher
has inspired us quite like john keating
ever gather you rosebuds while you may
played by the ultra talented robin
williams keating teaches the young men
at his prep school the meaning of carpe
diem he does so through unconventional
ways however such as having them stand
atop their desks this inspires the
students to start living for the moment
the message is clear realize your dreams
regardless of what those in power have
to say about it and as for the movie's
stirring conclusion prepare for
goosebumps all of them captain my
captain
sit down mr anderson
you hear me
sit down number three rocky can you
think of a movie underdog that's quite
as iconic as rocky balboa good luck
a small-time philadelphia boxer who goes
up against the heavyweight champion of
the world apollo creed rocky epitomizes
the dedication required to separate the
dreamers from the doers whether dodging
punches in the ring running museum steps
or fighting for his love interest adrian
we just can't help but root for rocky
every step of the way
add in that all-time great musical score
and rocky is and always will be a
knockout when it comes to cinematic
motivation
number two the pursuit of happiness when
you've been knocked down how do you pick
yourself back up when i was a kid i'd go
through a math book in a week so i'm
going to see about the job they got down
there
what job
stock broker the pursuit of happiness
focuses on chris gardner a san francisco
salesman who finds himself and his son
christopher homeless while trying to
land a stockbroker job gardner is met
with numerous setbacks throughout the
film but his hope for a better tomorrow
keeps him going that and his
unmeasurable love for young christopher
will smith and his real-life son jaden
play the family duo both giving
heart-wrenching performances in the
process trust us this is one pursuit
worth going on don't ever let somebody
tell you
you can't do something
not even me
all right
you got a dream
you got to protect it before we continue
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number one the shawshank redemption for
most people being sentenced to life in
prison would mean an end to hope that
also
is very convenient
isn't it mr dufresne
since i am innocent of this crime sir i
find it decidedly inconvenient that the
gun was never found for andy dufresne it
was a potential new beginning when andy
played by tim robbins is incarcerated at
shawshank state prison he learns how to
navigate the penal system with the help
of his newfound friend ellis red redding
but andy's time on the inside doesn't
squash his dream of life outside the
prison walls now with his motivation
anyways based on a novella by stephen
king the shawshank redemption takes a
story of crisis and turns it into a tale
of triumph i guess it comes down to a
simple choice really
get busy living
don't get busy die do you agree with our
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