Inspirational Movies on Netflix

Since the pandemic, we cannot deny the power of movies, music, and art to lift the spirit. When people were locked in their homes, they turned towards cinema to cheer themselves up, films that uplifted and possibly inspired them to introspect.

Inspirational movies may not push you into action immediately, but they often stay with you for a long time. We all love movies with outer-world conflicts in which the protagonist beats all odds and proves everyone wrong. Then there are movies about inner conflict, which make you root for the characters because you see yourself in them.

Here are five inspirational movies on Netflix that explore narratives of perseverance, resilience and courage:

Dear Zindagi (2016)

This is one of the few Hindi movies that do a decent job of portraying therapy sessions.

Kaira (Alia Bhatt) has a seemingly perfect life, a fun job and many friends. But her family life and relationships are in shambles, as is her sleep. She’s unsatisfied and disconnected and doesn’t know why; she needs something to change. Dr. Jehangir (Shah Rukh Khan) makes her realise that the ‘something’ is her way of approaching life.

Without indulging in unnecessary drama, Dear Zindagi delves into the inner dialogues of most adults in their early to late 20s. In the therapy sessions with Dr. Jehangir, Kaira rediscovers herself during profound conversations about the joy of crying (which was earlier perceived as a weakness), losing friendships, and navigating adulthood.

Our favourite dialogue from this inspirational movie is:

“Kabhi kabhi hum mushkil raasta sirf isi liye chunthe hai, kyunki humein lagta hai important cheezein paane ke liye humein mushkil raasta apnana chahiye. Apne aap ko punish karna bahut zaroori samajhte hai. But why? Aasaan raasta kyun nahi chun sakhte hai? Kya buraai hai usmein?”

(Sometimes we choose the difficult path because we think that’s the only road to achieving difficult things. We think it’s important to punish ourselves. But why? Why can’t we choose the easy path? What’s wrong with that?)

The Dreamseller (2016)

The title sounds cliché, we know. But this heart-warming movie on Netflix is a refreshing attempt to highlight that your life has meaning beyond materialistic needs. If there ever was a movie that reminded us to ‘go back to basics’, it’s this one.

When Júlio (Dan Stulbach), a psychologist, is contemplating suicide from the ledge of a skyscraper, a dishevelled stranger named Mellon (César Troncoso) stops him. Their friendship blossoms into a life lesson for anyone bogged down by modern society.

This Portuguese movie is quite underrated and is a must-watch, especially for the generation stuck in a perpetual cycle of achieving the next goal.

Period. End Of Sentence. (2018)

This documentary captures the powerful journey of women leading a revolution around menstruation on the outskirts of Delhi.

When Arunachalam ‘Pad Man’ Muruganantham installs a pad-making machine in the village, the women take it upon themselves to fight the stigma related to menstruation and ensure no girl has to drop out of school because of periods ever again.

Watching the women trace their journey from helplessness to empowerment as they start manufacturing pads on their own is inspiring. Period. End of Sentence. was celebrated at the 91st Academy Awards, winning the Oscar for Best Documentary (Short).

In 26 minutes, this documentary shows how collective action can transform lives.

The Sky Is Pink (2019)

Based on the true story of Aisha Chaudhary, who battled with pulmonary fibrosis and other immunodeficiencies, this movie has multiple themes that interlock to create an inspiring tale.

Aditi (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) and Niren (Farhan Akhtar) are a couple with an unwavering commitment to parenting with positivity and optimism when they realise their third child, Aisha (Zaira Wasim), has the same immunodeficiencies that their first child, Tanya, died from when she was just a few months old. 

Determined to get her the expensive treatment she needs, the couple does everything within their capabilities.

Aisha narrates the whole film. She details everything her parents went through to keep her alive. Though its central theme is grief, The Sky Is Pink is inspiring because the movie doesn’t focus on it in isolation. It allows the theme to underline other emotions like joy, humour, and positivity, reminding viewers that life doesn’t need to halt with suffering.

A Man Called Otto (2022)

This movie is a comedy-drama, but we guarantee it’ll make you cry. A Man Called Otto may just be one of the best inspirational movies on Netflix at the moment.

Based on a Swedish film called A Man Called Ove (2015), which is an eponymous adaptation of the 2012 book by Fredrik Backman, this film follows the journey of Otto (Tom Hanks), a cantankerous widower who wants to join his wife in heaven. His new neighbours Marisol (Mariana Treviño), Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and their kids consistently foil his attempts at suicide, although unknowingly.

This movie is inspiring in many ways. It shows you what happens when you keep going, and how continuously choosing compassion over ignorance will make your heart happy.

Tom Hanks has mastered the ‘gentle old man’ role with movies like The Terminal (2004) and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019). So, seeing him as grumpy old Otto is a jarring but welcome surprise. The supporting cast does a stellar job of adding sass, humour, and warmth to lighten the mood and bring happy tears to our eyes.