I’ve been telling you that I’m bringing you a movie list for some inspirational movies. Well! It’s finally here! Perhaps you will find some gems you have never seen before. Perhaps you will be reminded of an old favorite you have forgotten about. Perhaps you will find something that you and your family and friends can bond over. I hope you will enjoy the list.
I must say I had a tremendous time researching these movies. No. I haven’t watched them all. I did watch the trailers and looked up as much as I could find on them. I have seen many of these movies in the past. Plus, I have been watching more recently that I was only made aware of by some of my followers on social media. So, thank you, folks! My daughter keeps asking if we need to do more “research” and watch more movies!
A word about ratings. I’m not a fan of the movie ratings system here in the United States. I was going to go into it here, but it became long and muddled, so I took it out of the post. Maybe I’ll share my opinions on that another time. With that being said, I did put the ratings to these movies for you along with each movie title. But just an FYI, many movies do not go through the ratings system for one reason or another. Having a NR (Not Rated) movie does not mean that it isn’t child friendly or that it is child friendly. It just means it wasn’t rated. Want to know more about ratings and how they are applied? Go here. (How Stuff Works)
Using sound judgement for appropriateness. These movies on my list are not all family (all age) appropriate. Although that would be a great list, these are inspirational, and it’s hard to find inspirational stories that are all butterflies and rainbows, because life is tough. Tough lives and stories are not always pretty, but they are what inspire us most. You have to be realistic.
There are even some “faith based” movies you would only show to a group of adults or older teens, such as Fireproof, Courageous, Like Arrows, Priceless, and those type, because while the messages in those are great for adults or older teens, there will be things young children will take differently than an adult. Plus small children would be bored out of their skulls with those movies. So, research a movie for appropriateness to whom you are showing it to in the end. All inspirational and even faith based movies that might have great messages just won’t relate and even be good for small children to watch.
There are some PG-13 movies listed here, but look at why they are rated that. For instance “Courageous”. It was billed as a Christian movie. I’ve seen it. Most Christians have seen it. Many families have seen it. It is PG-13 because of some violence and drug use in some scenes. But frankly, they are portraying police officers, so to tell this type of story, there is going to be some violence and some drug scenes.
Preview. Preview. Preview. The best way to know if a movie is appropriate for a group or family to watch is to find out about it and watch it yourself privately first! And if it is for a church event, use a small team of previewers to watch it ahead in order to make an intelligent decision together.
Filtering is always an option. I have not used them, but there are some products, services, and apps you can purchase for filtering language and other things out of movies.
Please remember the movies on this list are NOT recommendations, as I have not watched them all myself, but options for you on the inspirational movie side of things. I’ve always wanted a list of movies I could just grab if I’m in the mood for an inspirational movie instead of scrolling through my different streaming services and hunting and pecking for one. Thanks to all those Facebook followers of mine and my blog followers for helping me out with this list.
You can scroll below the list to see what type of movies are not included.
Inspirational Movie List
Trailer links open in new windows. Just close them to come back to this page each time.
A Question of Faith | 2017 | PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
A Walk in My Shoes | 2010 | NR | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Able’s Field |2012 | PG| Drama |Trailer (IMDB)
All Saints | 2017 | PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Amazing Grace | 2006 | PG | Biography/Drama/History | Trailer (IMDB)
Amazing Love: The Story of Hosea | 2012 | NR | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Before All Others | 2016 | PG | Family | Trailer (YouTube)
Beyond the Mask | 2015 | PG | Action/Adventure/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Birches | 2019 | NR | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
Black Beauty | 1994 | G | Adventure/Drama/Family | Trailer (IMDB)
There are several “Black Beauty” movie versions dating back to 1946.
Brian’s Song | 1971 | G | Biography/Sport| Trailer (YouTube)
Breakthrough | 2019 | PG | Biography/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Catching Faith |2015 | NR | Drama/Sport | Trailer (YouTube)
Catching Faith 2 | 2019 | NR | Drama/Sport | Trailer (YouTube)
Chariots of Fire | 1981 | PG | Biography/Drama/Sport | Trailer (IMDB)
Christy | 1994 | NR |Drama | No Trailer
Courageous | 2011 | PG-13 | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Cutback |2010 | PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Dancer and the Dame | 2015 | Comedy | Trailer (IMDB)
Desert Redemption | 2015 | PG | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
Do You Believe? | 2015 | PG-13 | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
End of the Trail | 2019 | NR | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Facing the Giants | 2006 | PG | Drama/Fantasy/Sports | Trailer (IMDB)
Faith Like Potatoes | 2006 | PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Faith of Our Fathers | 2015 | PG-13 | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Faith’s Song |2017 | NR | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Finding Normal | 2013 | NR |Comedy |Trailer (IMDB)
Fireproof | 2008 | PG | Drama/Fantasy/Romance | Trailer (IMDB)
Flywheel | 2003 | NR | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
God Bless the Broken Road | 2018 | PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
God’s Compass | 2016 | NR | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
God’s Not Dead | 2014 | PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
God’s Not Dead 2 | 2015 | PG Drama | Trailer(IMDB)
God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness | 2018 | PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Grace Card | 2010 |PG-13 | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Grace Unplugged | 2013 | PG | Drama/Music | Trailer (IMDB)
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale | 2009 | G | Drama/Family | Trailer (IMDB)
Heritage Falls | 2016 | TV-PG | Comedy/Drama/Family | Trailer (YouTube)
Hidden Secrets | 2006 | NR | Comedy/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
I Can Only Imagine | 2018| PG| Drama/Biography| Trailer (IMDB)
I Still Believe | 2020 | PG | Drama/Music/Romance | Trailer (IMDB)
I’m Not Ashamed | 2016 | PG-13 | Biography/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Indivisible |2018 | PG-13 | Drama/War | Trailer (IMDB)
King’s Faith | 2013 | PG-13 | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Last Ounce of Courage | 2012 | PG | Drama/War | Trailer(IMDB)
Left Behind | 2000 | PG | Action/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
(FYI–I’ve only listed the first movie in the Left Behind series)
Let There Be Light | 2017 | PG-13 | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Like Arrows | 2018 | NR | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Love Covers All |2014 | NR | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Love, Kennedy | 2017 | PG| Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Marriage Retreat | 2011 | G | Comedy/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Max | 2015 | PG | Drama/Family | Trailer (IMDB)
Me Again |2012 | NR | Comedy/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Mercy Rule |2014 | NR | Drama/Family| Trailer (IMDB)
Milltown Pride | 2011 | NR | Drama/Sport | Trailer (YouTube)
Miracles from Heaven | 2016 PG Biography/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Mom’s Night Out | 2014 | PG | Comedy | Trailer (IMDB)
Mountain Top | 2017 | NR | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
Never Quit |2015 |NR | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
October Sky | 1999 | PG | Biography/Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
Overcomer | 2019 | PG | Drama/Family/Sport | Trailer (IMDB)
Pamela’s Prayer | 1998 | NR | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
Pilgrim’s Progress: Journey to Heaven | 2008 | NR | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
There are many film adaptations of Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. I’ve listed just one. Frankly, in my opinion there will never be a good version of it, so just read the book!
Polycarp | 2015 | NR | Drama/History | Trailer (IMDB)
Prayer Box | 2018 | NR | Family | Trailer (Vimeo)
Priceless | 2016 | PG-13 | Crime/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Raising Izzie |2012 | Drama/Family | Trailer (YouTube)
Remember the Titans |2000 | PG | Biography/Sport | Trailer (IMDB)
Resurrection of Galvin Stone | 2016 | PG | Comedy| Trailer (IMDB)
Riding Faith | 2020 | TV-G | Family | Trailer (IMDB)
Ring the Bell | 2013 | PG | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
Run the Race | 2018 | PG | Drama/Sport | Trailer (IMDB)
Same Kind of Different | 2017 | PG | Biography/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Saved by Grace | 2016 | NR | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
Second Chances | 1988 | G | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Second Glance |1992 | NR | Drama/Family | Trailer (YouTube)
Seven Deadly Words | 2013 | TV-G | Drama/Family | Trailer (IMDB)
Sheffey | 1977 | NR | Biography/Drama/Romance | Trailer (YouTube)
Shiloh | 1996 | PG | Drama/Family | Trailer (IMDB)
Silver Wolf | 1999 | NR| Adventure/Family| |Trailer (IMDB)
Something to Sing About | 2000 | NR | Drama/Music | Trailer (YouTube)
Standing Firm | 2010 | NR | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
The Black Stallion | 1979 | G | Adventure/Family | Trailer (YouTube)
The Blind Side | 2009| PG-13| Biography/Drama/Sport| Trailer (IMDB)
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | 2019 | TV-PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
The Case for Christ | 2017 | PG | Biography/Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
The Last Cowboy | 2003 | NR | Drama/Western | Trailer (YouTube)
The Miracle of the Cards | 2001 | NR | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
The Potential Inside | 2020 | TV-PG |Action/Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
The Ride | 1997 | PG | Drama/Sport/Family | Trailer (YouTube)
The Rookie | 2002 | G | Drama/Family/Sport| Trailer (YouTube)
The Secret Garden | 1993| G | Drama/Fantasy | Trailer (IMDB)
The Secrets of Jonathon Sperry | 2008 | PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
The Ultimate Gift | 2006 | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
The Way Home | 2010 | PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
Time Changer | 2002 | PG | Drama/Fantasy | Trailer (YouTube)
Virtuous | 2015 | NR | Drama | Trailer (YouTube)
War Room | 2015 | PG | Drama | Trailer (IMDB)
We are Marshall 2006 | PG | Drama/Sport | Trailer (IMDB)
What If… | 2010 | PG | Drama/Fantasy | Trailer (IMDB)
When the Game Stands Tall | 2014 | Drama/Sport | Trailer (IMDB)
Woodlawn | 2015 | PG | Drama/Sport | Trailer (IMDB)
What’s not on the list?
Romantic/Chick Flick – I felt like those need a blog post and list all on their own. So, no worries! Those Janette Oke, and other romantic films we women love to bond, laugh, and cry over will be posted soon!
Christmas – I’ve got you covered! See my Cozy Christmas Movie List here.
Bible Stories – There are a lot of those and I’d like to do some research on them and get you a list of those later down the road.
Little Kids Only & Animated – Although there some family themed ones listed, I didn’t list any animated and kids-only type movies.
Disney – I didn’t include any of those mainly because there are already lots of Disney movie lists online.
Decisions. Decisions. Even though these are not recommendations, I still felt I had to research the movies a little before adding them, so I did have to really weigh which movies made the list. If you gave me a movie title and I didn’t use it, it could have been for a lot of various reasons. There might have just been something little in it that I wasn’t comfortable with, or it could have been just about anything. I know there are a few good movies of missionary lives out there that a lot of my followers recommended. However, I saw a few things in just the trailers that made me want to actually watch them in their entirety before I added them to the list, so thanks for your understanding.
Seeing past flaws and being inspired. Also, I’m not saying these are all great movies in terms of acting, plot, etc. There are several faith-based movies included, and we all know that sometimes the acting, movie sets, and even the plots to some of those are just not professional as movies may go, but we look past that and see the message and try to be uplifted by it anyway. Sometimes what may be deemed a corny movie may be just what you need to lift your spirits.
So what’s your favorite movie? Let me know in the comments.
Creative blessings,
Julia
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