One of the best things about film is how deeply the art form can move an audience; great movies with powerful stories about courage and perseverance can genuinely influence our lives and motivate us. To help you start off 2023 on a bright note, we’ve made a list of uplifting and inspirational movies you can watch right now on HBO Max. Some of these feel-good selections are lighter, easier viewing, while others are heavy. They all deliver powerful messages about the resilience of the human spirit; they all move us. We hope these highly recommended films will lift your spirits and fuel optimistic, productive thinking.
Inspirational and Uplifting Movies on HBO Max
1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Though it was critically acclaimed and nominated for seven Oscars, Frank Darabont‘s adaptation of a Stephen King novella was a commercial disappointment in 1994, no match for the pop culture phenomena of Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction. The popularity of The Shawshank Redemption has steadily grown over the years, and it’s IMDb’s top-rated movie of all time. Columbia Pictures It’s rare enough to see a fully cinematic story about friendship between men, and the bond between Andy (Tim Robbins) and Red (Morgan Freeman) is especially compelling because it begins in such a dark place (within prison walls), ultimately filling the men with hope, driving them to better days. Shawshank is often grim, brutal and unflinching–then it rewards us with one of the most heartwarming, hard-earned happy endings in movie history.
2. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Danny Boyle, a master stylist with a chameleonic ability to shift between genres, directed this gritty emotional gut punch about young man (Dev Patel) from Mumbai who endures a hot streak on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? thanks to astonishing life experiences. A crossover international hit that was widely beloved upon release, maybe a little underrated today, Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for 10 Oscars and won eight, including Best Picture and Best Director. Searchlight Pictures
3. The Great Dictator (1940)
One of Charlie Chaplin’s signature works flips the bird to fascism and hate. Filmed and release in the nascence of World War II, before the filmmaker or his audience were really aware of the horrors of Nazi Germany, The Great Dictator starred Chaplin in dual roles: as a Hitler/Mussolini-like tyrant, and a persecuted Jewish barber. Filled with Chaplin’s virtuosic humor, ending on a message of hope and unity and endorsing democracy, this is one of the essential works of satire on film. It was nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor. Columbia Tristar/Courtesy of Getty Images
4. Rain Man (1988)
Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman star in Barry Levinson‘s touching road drama, the highest-grossing motion picture of 1988. Cruise stars as a shady operator who learns of his autistic brother (Hoffman)’s existence when his late father nixes him from his will. Rain Man won Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear, as well as four Oscars including Best Picture, as well as Best Actor for Hoffman. United Artists
5. Hoosiers (1986)
A staple on any list of the best sports films ever made, David Anspaugh’s drama features an all-time great performance by Gene Hackman, who plays a failed college coach who gets a shot at redemption in a small Indiana town. Dennis Hopper received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work here (the same year Blue Velvet was released). Orion Pictures
6. The Green Mile (1999)
One of multiple brilliant Frank Darabont pictures adapted from the work of Stephen King, The Green Mile stars Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan in a story about supernatural events on Depression-era death row. Despite running over three hours, The Green Mile doesn’t feel overlong; it’s absorbing and rich in character. The drama received four Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Duncan), Best Sound and Best Adapted Screenplay. Universal Pictures
7. Secrets & Lies (1996)
In an age of $250-million-plus blockbuster tentpoles that sometimes deliver, and sometimes underwhelm, it’s easy to marvel at a tiny-scale drama that delivers excitement, emotion and empathy—simply through the power of damn fine writing, direction and performance. One of British auteur Mike Leigh’s defining works, Secrets & Lies stars Brenda Blethyn and Marianne Jean-Baptiste as long-estranged mother and daughter working through family dysfunction, resentment and more in East London. Nominated for five Oscars, winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Channel 4/ October
8. Temple Grandin (2010)
One of the most acclaimed TV films of the past decade stars a resplendent Claire Danes as the titular advocate for both autism awareness and the humane treatment of farm animals. HBO original Temple Grandin won seven Emmys, including an acting win for Danes. If this triumph doesn’t make you bawl, be sure to check for a pulse. HBO Films
9. Good Will Hunting (1997)
Hilarious, romantic and moving, Good Will Hunting launched the careers of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck into the stratosphere. The duo’s Oscar-winning screenplay centers on a mathematics genius grappling with mental health issues, a lady love and small-town trappings. Good Will Hunting struck a chord with audiences worldwide, grossing about 20 times its budget. Robin Williams won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for an indelible turn as a grieving psychotherapist. Miramax
10. Casablanca (1942)
As time goes by, Casablanca remains one of the most unanimously adored and celebrated movies ever. Not least among the reasons why is the adapted screenplay by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch, frequently touted as the smartest, most quotable script ever written. And there’s the romantic chemistry between Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. It makes your heart take a leap. Another big reason we all love this movie so much is how proud we are of the characters in the end. Rick and Ilsa prioritize the greater good, and put a human face on the sacrifices made during wartime, even those made off the battlefield. The Greatest Generation, indeed. Casablanca‘s messages about seeing things bigger than yourself and doing what’s right will always resonate with audiences. Never pass up an opportunity to re-watch one of the highest highs of Hollywood history. Warner Bros./ Getty Images Next, enjoy the most inspiring, uplifting movies on Netflix.
