Prepare to be moved and motivated! Join us as we explore the most inspiring films based on real-life events. From tales of resilience to stories of triumph against all odds, these movies showcase the incredible power of the human spirit. Get ready for a journey through history's most uplifting moments brought to life on the silver screen.
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00:00Your honors, and may it please the court.
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most soul-stirring and motivating films based on real events.
00:11It's Hebrew from the Talmud that says whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.
00:21This is the time to build our nation, using every single brick available to us.
00:27Ever motivating, sports flicks usually know how to uplift audiences, and Invictus is no exception.
00:33The 2009 film depicts the late South African president Nelson Mandela, who worked to unite the country following apartheid.
00:39How do we inspire ourselves to greatness when nothing less will do?
00:45How do we inspire everyone around us?
00:49I sometimes think it is by using the work of others.
00:53Inspired by the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Mandela rallies the national rugby team in an effort to win the championship,
01:00and more importantly, heal the divide within the land.
01:03Based on the John Carlin book, Playing the Enemy, Nelson Mandela and the game that made a nation,
01:08this is a moving tale on both page and screen.
01:11I want to thank you for what you have done for our country.
01:15No, Mr. President, thank you for what you have done for our country.
01:20The Pursuit of Happiness
01:22Based on the true story of American businessman Chris Gardner, The Pursuit of Happiness will break but also warm your heart.
01:28Was it as easy as it looked?
01:30No, sir. No, sir, it wasn't.
01:33Set against the backdrop of 1980 San Francisco, the film follows Gardner, a single father facing houselessness,
01:39while raising his young child Christopher.
01:41All the while, he's trying to become a stockbroker and build a bright future for his family.
01:46Some of you guys are here because you know somebody.
01:48Some of you guys are here because you think you're somebody.
01:50There's one guy in here who's going to be somebody.
01:53That person's going to be the guy who can turn this into this.
01:58$800,000 in commission dollars.
02:01Will Smith and his real-life son Jaden play the dad-son duo, which gives their portrayal familial authenticity.
02:07Although at times a tough watch, this biographical drama is an uplifting story about fatherhood and the American dream.
02:14Hey.
02:18Don't ever let somebody tell you you can't do something.
02:24Not even me.
02:26Number 18, Glory.
02:28That's right, hun. Ain't no dream.
02:30We run away slave but we come back fighting men.
02:33Go tell your folks how kingdom come, the year of jubilee.
02:36Following an entirely black regiment known as the 54th Massachusetts Infantry,
02:411989's Glory depicts the victories, horrors, and tragedies of the American Civil War.
02:46The outfit was led by a white commanding officer known as Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
02:50I have some letters here. Personal things.
02:54Certainly, Kenny.
02:56Also, if I should fall, remember what you see here.
03:05While many events in the film actually happened, it's important to note that like with several projects of the sort and on this list,
03:12liberties were also taken.
03:14In addition, most of the characters do not strictly depict real people,
03:18including Denzel Washington's Oscar-winning Private Silas Tripp.
03:21With a harrowing narrative, Glory continues to rouse audiences decades after its release.
03:26Ain't much a matter what happens tomorrow, but we men ain't.
03:31Yes, sir. Amen.
03:36Amen. Yes.
03:42Would you like to play?
03:44Play?
03:45It's a game, a test of sorts, for determining whether something is a machine or a human being.
03:54Dubbed the father of modern computer science, Alan Turing changed the world.
03:59The creator of the Turing machine, he paved the way for a future that he sadly did not really live to see.
04:05In 2014, his legacy was immortalized in The Imitation Game.
04:09You need me a lot more than I need you.
04:12I like solving problems, Commander.
04:16And Enigma is the most difficult problem in the world.
04:20Based on Andrew Hodge's biography of the man, the film follows Turing as he attempts to break the German Enigma codes during World War II.
04:27It also delves into his personal life, depicting the journey and discrimination he faced regarding his sexuality.
04:33Nominated for the coveted Academy Award for Best Picture,
04:35The Imitation Game is a deeply poignant look at one of the most important figures of the 20th century.
04:41Turns out that's the only German you need to know to break Enigma.
04:50The most shattering physical and emotional experience of your life, and that's the noise you make?
04:54It's in England, yeah.
04:56One part comedy and one part drama, Eddie the Eagle is all parts inspiring.
05:00It tells the true story of Michael David Edwards as he works to ski jump for Great Britain at the 1988 Olympics.
05:06Amazing.
05:08I think I'm ready for the 70 meters.
05:11It's not an easy feat, considering the last person who pulled it off did so in the 1920s,
05:16and the odds seem to always be stacked against him.
05:19Indeed, Eddie faces a slew of obstacles, challenges, and doubts.
05:24Nevertheless, his perseverance, determination, and drive are undeniable, not to mention beyond admirable.
05:30An incredibly charming and sweet underdog story, Eddie the Eagle soars above the rest.
05:35So flapper.
05:37I wasn't expecting that at all.
05:42One more.
05:45Here we go, one more.
05:50One more.
05:51Although it is a visually gut-wrenching depiction of the horrors of war,
05:552016's Hacksaw Ridge is also a story of hope.
05:58The film is inspired by a real-life combat medic known as Desmond Doss.
06:02Maybe I'm prideful.
06:08But I don't know how I'm going to live with myself if I don't stay true to what I believe.
06:13A lifelong Seventh-Day Adventist, Doss did not carry any weapons during his service due to his religious beliefs.
06:19Despite this, he managed to not only survive the war but also save the lives of countless others.
06:25In fact, during the Battle of Okinawa, he rescued approximately 75 of his fellow servicemen
06:30and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
06:33What you did on that ridge is nothing short of a miracle.
06:36And they want a piece of it.
06:40And they're not going to go up there without you.
06:44Apollo 13
06:45This could be the worst disaster NASA's ever experienced.
06:48With all due respect, sir, I believe this is going to be our finest hour.
06:53Directed by Ron Howard, Apollo 13 has stood the test of time as a harrowing survival story.
06:58In 1970, American astronauts Jack Swigert, Fred Hayes, and Jim Lovell were on a mission to the moon when chaos struck.
07:05What did you do?
07:06Nothing. I stirred the tanks.
07:07Whoa!
07:09Hey.
07:11Uh, this is Houston. Uh, say again, please?
07:14Houston, we have a problem.
07:16Only a few days into their lunar adventure, an oxygen tank onboard their shuttle burst,
07:21leaving the team without electricity and with limited air supply.
07:24The film is based on a book titled Lost Moon, which was co-written by Lovell
07:28and chronicles his experience on the dangerous mission.
07:31Even with the knowledge that there is a happy ending, Apollo 13 is still a heart-pounding depiction of resilience.
07:38Gentlemen.
07:42It's been a privilege flying with you.
07:47Have you heard of this new program, Google Earth?
07:49It's incredible. You can find any place from anywhere.
07:52Saroo Brierley's life is the stuff that movies are made of. Adventure, determination, and most importantly, heart.
07:59It's fitting, then, that it was adapted into this Oscar-nominated picture where Dev Patel portrays him.
08:04I'm not from Calcutta.
08:06I'm lost.
08:11Born in Madhya Pradesh, India, the future author was tragically separated from his family when he was only five years old.
08:18After surviving on the streets, he was eventually adopted by people in Australia.
08:22As an adult, he used Google Maps to connect pieces from his past.
08:26Uplifting and poignant, Lion is an engaging journey you won't soon forget.
08:30It's me, Siri.
08:32It's beautiful.
08:36It's beautiful.
08:51Number 12. A beautiful mind.
08:53My quest has taken me through the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional, and back.
09:05In the world of mathematics, John Forbes Nash Jr. was a celebrated genius whose mind was both beautiful and complex.
09:12In 2001, his life was turned into a feature film, with Russell Crowe playing the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician.
09:18The movie highlights his many achievements and also dives into his mental health journey.
09:23Imagine if you had suddenly learned that the people, the places, the moments most important to you were not gone, not dead, but worse.
09:35They've never been.
09:37In 1959, Nash was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and we see the challenges he faced both personally and professionally.
09:44Released during a period before mental health was more widely discussed,
09:48A Beautiful Mind serves as a reminder for audiences to keep the very important conversation alive.
09:53Maybe the part that knows the waking from the dream, maybe it isn't here.
10:05Maybe it's here.
10:07Number 11. Hidden figures.
10:09What do you ladies do for NASA?
10:11Calculate your trajectories, launch and landing.
10:13You can't get anywhere without the numbers.
10:15No, sir.
10:16One of the biggest moments in U.S. history was winning the space race in 1969.
10:20Although many helped make the mission a success, it would never have happened if it wasn't for NASA mathematicians
10:26Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson.
10:29NASA? I asked them. I had no idea they hired.
10:35There are quite a few women working in the space program.
10:38Based on Margot Lee Shetterly's book, Hidden Figures chronicles their important work.
10:43More than that, it explores the horrific racism and discrimination they faced as black women in a predominantly white, male-dominated space.
10:51The film pushes Johnson, Vaughn, and Jackson to the forefront, telling a story that is so inspiring, it's simply out of this world.
10:58So, uh, you think we can get to the moon?
11:04We're already there, sir.
11:07Number 10. Rudy.
11:09Rudy Ruediger didn't have the stellar grades, money, or athleticism expected of prospective Notre Dame football players.
11:16But he did have a big dream and the willpower to achieve it.
11:21Considering all the dreamer lacked, many thought his elaborate plan to earn good grades, make money, and train to be a worthy player was highly unrealistic.
11:32Despite doubts, multiple rejections, and many other challenges along the way, Rudy did everything he could to achieve his goal.
11:40His persistence paid off, as he was not only eventually accepted by the university, but also took to the football field.
11:48Rudy wound up winning a game in epic fashion, a powerful testament to the possibilities of triumphing against all odds.
12:07Number 9. The Theory of Everything.
12:10Recounting the life of Stephen Hawking, this film tells the story of the brilliant physicist.
12:15It was adapted from a memoir written by his wife Jane, who details their romance, his ALS diagnosis, and his exemplary scientific achievements.
12:30As Stephen builds a groundbreaking theory about black holes and radiation emission, his condition worsens.
12:36Leading to struggles for both him and his spouse.
12:47Overcoming grim obstacles, Stephen continued to carry out and stand by his work.
12:52And even though he and Jane divorced amid hardship, the two remained close friends.
12:57While the movie takes liberties in its presentation, it presents admirable lessons about perseverance.
13:04Number 8. Remember the Titans.
13:07Based on the true story of a high school football team, the film is set in the 1970s.
13:12A time that saw attempts to integrate a racially divided society.
13:16Black head coach Herman Boone is tasked with leading a blended team of players.
13:21The merging of the formerly segregated students was initially met with ruckus.
13:27But with speeches on unity, team-building excursions, and time to learn about one another, the team came together.
13:34After a victory, tragedy later struck when an accident severely injured one of the captains.
13:39Adding to the adversity, the team was forced to split up.
13:43After a victory, tragedy later struck when an accident severely injured one of the captains.
13:48Adding to the adversity, the team was forced to split up.
13:51Tragedy later struck when an accident severely injured one of the captains.
13:55Adding to the adversity, the players routinely faced.
14:03But the Titans went on to prove their comradeship on and off the football field.
14:08Exemplifying the unified power of standing against stigmas and injustices.
14:13Yeah!
14:15Yeah!
14:19Yeah!
14:20Number 7.
14:21Aaron Brokovich.
14:22Detailing the story of a resolute legal clerk,
14:25the biographical drama portrays Aaron Brokovich's fight against corporate irresponsibility and selfishness.
14:31As an environmental activist and consumer advocate,
14:34Brokovich took it upon herself to investigate suspicious activity of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
14:40incriminating records of a way of disappearing when people smelt trouble.
14:45I'll remember that.
14:46She found that the company was contaminating local water,
14:49so she began building a case fraught with challenges.
14:52Being a woman in a male-dominated field and lacking the law education of her peers,
14:56Brockovich struggled to gain the respect she deserved.
14:59I'm just a guy with a small private firm.
15:03Who happens to know they poison people and lied about it.
15:06But eventually, her determination resulted in her case seeing success.
15:10With corporate consequences imposed.
15:12Brockovich's resilience is an inspiring example of advocating for what's right,
15:17regardless of barriers standing in the way.
15:19So before you come back here with another lame-ass offer,
15:23I want you to think real hard about what your spine is worth, Mr. Walker.
15:29As the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era,
15:33Jackie Robinson endured substantial adversity.
15:36After earning his spot on the Brooklyn Dodgers,
15:38the talented first baseman was the target of unwarranted criticism,
15:42racial slurs, relentless taunting and tremendous pressure.
15:46Rising above it all, Jackie consistently took to the field and performed.
15:59Not to mention, he was the key player whose homer clinched the pennant for the Dodgers.
16:04Jackie also connected with his teammates along the way,
16:07especially Pee-Wee Reese,
16:09who notably showed support during a hateful display against opponents.
16:16While aggression and revenge would have been understandable reactions,
16:21Robinson seldom wavered when it came to taking the high road and standing proud and tall.
16:37Ken Carter had a long, trying road ahead of him
16:40when he became the coach of a high school basketball team.
16:50Focusing on the player's lack of respect and unimpressive performances in the classroom,
16:54the new coach took a different approach to making his team better students, players and people.
16:59Team members weren't initially fond of Carter's disciplinary tactics and high standards,
17:04but they eventually understood his purpose and grew to appreciate their leader.
17:15Though the team's season ended with a quarterfinal loss,
17:17coach Carter left his players with a valuable life lesson
17:20that winning a basketball game is nothing compared to achieving community togetherness,
17:25growth outside of a sport and the ever elusive victory within.
17:34You never gave up.
17:37With a classroom full of at-risk students experiencing eviction, abuse, violence and death,
17:43English teacher Erin Grewell saw an opportunity to help.
17:46In an attempt to educate and better her students,
17:49Erin dedicated her own time, money and effort to providing her class with diaries
17:54through which they could express their struggles and feelings.
17:57You have to write every day.
17:59Keep a pen nearby whenever you feel the inspiration.
18:02The determined teachers' involved methods were criticized by fellow educators and her husband,
18:07but she stood firm in her belief that it was her duty to give her kids meaningful outlets.
18:12I finally realized what I'm supposed to be doing and I love it.
18:16Inspired by their accounts, Erin compiled the diary entries into a book.
18:20Thanks to her hard work and commitment,
18:22many of the students became first-generation college attendees
18:25who were granted the tools to pursue brighter futures for themselves.
18:29We're gonna be together junior and senior year.
18:39Based on an autobiography by Bethany Hamilton,
18:42the film portrays the story of a talented young surfer who suffered a life-altering blow.
18:47A shark attack left Bethany without an arm,
18:50making the continuation of her sport seemingly impossible.
18:53I'm gonna be okay.
18:55I know.
18:56But with time and resilience,
18:58she underwent a journey of self-discovery and got back on her board.
19:01She leaned on her loved ones while training to compete again
19:04and demonstrated how it is indeed possible to conquer life's hardest tests.
19:09Hamilton drops into a nice-looking wave.
19:12Even though Bethany lost a competition after a remarkable showing,
19:16she explained she wouldn't change what happened to her
19:18because she is now able to touch more people than she ever could before.
19:22We will never forget you.
19:32The fight for women's rights has raged on for over a century.
19:36Gender discrimination is nothing new,
19:38but it was especially prevalent in the 1950s,
19:41a time that saw Ruth Bader Ginsburg attend Harvard Law School.
19:45This biographical drama follows Ginsburg as she carves her path in a male-dominated field.
19:50Is that an answer, Mrs. Ginsburg, or a filibuster?
19:54She graduated atop her class,
19:56but struggled to find employment as a female lawyer.
19:59Despite ignorance and stigmas plaguing her uphill battle,
20:02she worked on a groundbreaking case and vehemently advocated for gender equality.
20:06There's nothing that women are inherently better at than men, nor vice versa.
20:10After proving her worth in the legal world
20:12and significantly contributing to actions around sex-based laws,
20:16Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court.
20:19Her legacy serves as a reminder that effecting change requires passion,
20:23mobilization and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
20:27We did it.
20:33Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
20:36Wild. One woman's journey across the Pacific Crest Trail is nothing short of gripping.
20:41When I'm done, I'll only have two dimes to my name.
20:47But I'll have to start living.
20:52And I'm nowhere near ready.
20:54Lone Survivor.
20:55Courageous SEAL team takes on life-or-death mission to find a Taliban leader.
21:05Hotel Rwanda.
21:06Displays of selflessness amidst rising tensions, corruption and genocide.
21:12Mr. Manager, I just want to thank you.
21:14Of course, Steve.
21:16We Are Marshall.
21:17Football team rebuilds after an unthinkable tragedy.
21:21From this moment on is how you will be remembered.
21:27The Miracle Season.
21:28After captain's passing, team grapples with grief in pursuit of victory.
21:32From the looks of it, a lot of you had a connection with our beloved captain,
21:38number nine, Caroline Found.
21:42We love you, Caroline!
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22:03Telling the true tale of a German industrialist during the Holocaust,
22:07this historical drama is as emotional as it is inspiring.
22:10Having witnessed the persecution of Jews in Poland,
22:13factory owner Oskar Schindler hired members of the Jewish business community.
22:17God bless you, sir.
22:18All right.
22:19You're a good man.
22:21When conditions worsened and Nazi forces transported some of his workers to Auschwitz,
22:26Schindler used revenue to bribe the commandant in exchange for their release.
22:29You could make things easier for me.
22:35I'd be grateful.
22:37Though his business was originally driven by profit motive,
22:40the businessman ended up using his factory as a way to save countless lives.
22:44An example of altruism and fortitude,
22:47Schindler's actions will forever encompass the timeless lesson
22:50that there is always a choice to be good and do good,
22:54even during incredibly dark circumstances.
22:57I could have gotten Oskar.
22:58There are 1100 people who are alive because of you.
23:02Look at them.
23:04If I made more money...
23:10I threw away so much money.
23:17You have no idea.
23:20If I just...
23:21Has a movie ever inspired you to make a change?
23:24If so, tell us in the comments.
23:26Your Honor, out of all the cases you're going to hear today,
23:29which one is going to matter 100 years from now?
23:33Which one is going to make you the first?
23:36Do you agree with our picks?
23:37Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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