# AFI's choices for most inspirational movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 15, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773 "2006-06-15T04:08:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/1 "2006-06-15T04:08:32Z")
Inspirational, uplifting, cheering – that kind of movie. Anyone else watch this tonight? I was in tears at about every fifth clip. I think a big part of it is the music – it’s so emotional. The list is [here](http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/cheers.aspx) but before you look, take a guess at which movies made the top ten, and which was number one. Which movies **not** made in the US do you think should be on such a list? ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/2 "2006-06-15T04:29:23Z")
I caught the last third or so; I’m proud to say that I called the top three. (Granted, I called them when there were only ten left to go, and I wasn’t sure what order they’d be in [except I knew immediately what the first one would be], but still – I DO know my inspirational movies. 🙂 I think “It’s a Wonderful Life” was a perfect choice for number one; the rest of the list I’m not so sure about. Partly it’s a problem of finding movies that are _first and foremost_ inspirational – good ones are fairly rare. _Most_ movies, if they have a half-way happy ending, are inspirational in some way or other (think how many movies there are that could be boiled down to a plotline about an individual fighting adversity and succeeding). Having said that, “Schindler’s List” and “E.T.” (to pick on two movies in the top ten) do not strike me as being _first and foremost_ inspirational movies. Moving down the list, we get even stranger choices: “The Wizard of Oz”? “Pinocchio”? “Star Wars”?? Great movies all, but they don’t belong on this list, IMHO. Frankly, I think AFI is beginning to stretch a bit for “100 best” categories. One other note: to my surprise, I hadn’t even _heard_ of one of the top ten choices, “Breaking Away.” Looked pretty good in the clips though; anyone seen it? ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/3 "2006-06-15T04:48:12Z")
What a bizarre list. Many of those films are just depressing (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) and others make no sense at all (E.T., Forrest Gump) – my #1 choice for an inspirational film would be **Spirited Away** , but I guess they only chose American films. Indeed, the only films on that list I would consider “inspirational, uplifting & cheerful” are Field of Dreams, Dead Poet’s Society, and Working Girl. But maybe that’s just my perspective – a lot of the other selections have a “light in the darkness” message, so maybe that’s what they meant. Granted, I haven’t seen many of the films on that list – in fact, I’ve somehow made it 38 years without seeing “It’s A Wonderful Life”, and I hope to make it the rest of the way without ever seeing it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/4 "2006-06-15T04:55:57Z")
How _is_ **Schindler’s List** inspiring? Yes, it was about a heroic man, but ultimately, it felt more about the futility of heroism in the face of this overwhelming horror–especially Schindler’s “I could’ve saved one more person” speech at the end. I was never uplifted, I was depressed–I still cry each time I watch it. I agree 167% with **To Kill a Mockingbird** , though. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/5 "2006-06-15T05:06:12Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] Which movies **not** made in the US do you think should be on such a list? [/QUOTE] Oh, I forgot this part of the question. The only one that immediately comes to mind is “The Nights of Cabiria” – that one has a great, sad/inspirational ending. Given the odd nature of the list, though, they would probably throw “Run Lola Run” and “Seven Samurai” on there too. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/6 "2006-06-15T05:39:37Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] One other note: to my surprise, I hadn’t even _heard_ of one of the top ten choices, “Breaking Away.” Looked pretty good in the clips though; anyone seen it? [/QUOTE] Saw it on its original release. A classic example of a “sleeper” — a little film that became an audience hit in the summer of 1979. It went on to win an [Academy Award](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0078902/awards) (Best Original Screenplay) for Steve Tesich, and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Peter Yates), Best Support Actress (Barbara Barrie), and Best Adaptation Score. And it lead to a [television series](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0080203/) on ABC (1980-1981). ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/7 "2006-06-15T05:43:00Z")
[QUOTE=Kythereia] How _is_ **Schindler’s List** inspiring? [/QUOTE] Last title card in the movie: > [@](#): > > There are fewer than 4000 Jews left alive in Poland today. There are more than 6000 descendants of the Schindler Jews. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/8 "2006-06-15T05:46:29Z")
The French movie, Leon, was inspirational, as the cold-blooded killer regains his humanity. I’d also nominate Amelie. But really, _anything_ with Audrey Tautou is inspirational. _Oh, Audrey…_ The Chinese movie, Hero, was meant to inspire people to accept authoritarian rule. So that probably doesn’t count. Was anyone here inspired by Harold and Maude or Searching for Bobby Fischer? And where’s Superman, darn it? ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/9 "2006-06-15T05:57:29Z")
_2001: A Space Odyssey_ seems like an… odd choice. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/10 "2006-06-15T08:08:08Z")
[QUOTE=MidnightRadio] _2001: A Space Odyssey_ seems like an… odd choice. [/QUOTE] Yeah, though it’s hard for me to judge, since I’ve only seen this movie on LSD. 🆒 The weirdest choice has got to be _All the President’s Men_. Wha-huh??? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/11 "2006-06-15T08:18:02Z")
The inspiring element is that two newspaper reporters can play a big part in exposing the corruption of the Nixon administration. Justice triumphs because of the hardworking little guy(s). ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/12 "2006-06-15T08:21:37Z")
I would pick _The Candidate_ over _All the President’s Men_ (if Robert Redford needs to be on there somewhere). As for movies from outside the US, I’d say _Chariots of Fire_ … oh wait … huh? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/13 "2006-06-15T08:40:24Z")
How is _The Candidate_ inspirational? The end of the movie finds the title character dazed and evacuated of his early idealism and political zeal. Stunned, he asks his manager, “What do we do now?” ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/14 "2006-06-15T11:02:21Z")
I love “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I have watched it 20 times. It is one of my top 5 movies ever. But, it struck me that this movie would make no sense to the consumerist, money orientated western world in the 21st century. Who is the movie inspiring now? How is it inspiring them ? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/15 "2006-06-15T11:39:14Z")
_Batman Begins_. Every time I see it, I want to go and save puppies from burning buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/16 "2006-06-15T11:48:46Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Clam] _Batman Begins_. Every time I see it, I want to go and save puppies from burning buildings. [/QUOTE] I feel the same way about _Pee Wee’s Big Adventure_, and they aren’t puppies. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/17 "2006-06-15T11:53:08Z")
[QUOTE=Slithy Tove] I feel the same way about _Pee Wee’s Big Adventure_, and they aren’t puppies. [/QUOTE] :eek: What is that film about? ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/18 "2006-06-15T12:53:22Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Clam] :eek: What is that film about? [/QUOTE] It’s about the love of a boy for his bicycle. What’s more inspirational than that? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/19 "2006-06-15T13:47:14Z")
I avoid those asinine, short-sighted AFI list shows like a puppy in a burning building. I assume such tearjerkingly inspirational movies as The Crowd (1928), Pollyanna (1920), Sparrows (1926), The Thief of Bagdad (1924) and The Iron Mask (1929) were not included? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773/20 "2006-06-15T14:05:44Z")
[QUOTE=Kythereia] How _is_ **Schindler’s List** inspiring? Yes, it was about a heroic man, but ultimately, it felt more about the futility of heroism in the face of this overwhelming horror–especially Schindler’s “I could’ve saved one more person” speech at the end. I was never uplifted, I was depressed–I still cry each time I watch it. [/QUOTE] I didn’t get that at all, nor “Saving Private Ryan.” Neither was meant to be inspirational. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afis-choices-for-most-inspirational-movies/360773.md?page=2)