43 Best Inspiring Movies to Watch

The true, transfixing story of a musician who lived his life without knowing he was famous .

Viggo Mortensen is fantastic in this plot-twisting drama about a survivalist American family .

Watch Jim Carrey take method acting to the extreme as he transforms into his idol Andy Kaufmann. .

Awkwafina shines in this complex culture clash comedy. .

This stunning documentary showcases the iconic photography of Sebastião Salgado. .

A fascinating 'mixtape' of never-before-seen footage of the Black Power movement .

This surprising documentary follows Jiro, an 85 year old Japanese chef, his Michelin-starred restaurant in the Tokyo underground, and his eager sons. While ostensibly about sushi – and believe me, you’ll learn about sushi and see absolutely gorgeous images of the raw-fish creations – the film’s dramatic impetus is carried by the weight of tradition, the beauty of a labor of love, obsession, and the relationship between father and son. Truly a must-watch.

Another fantastic documentary from 2012, this one tells the remarkable story of the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic Men’s Basketball team that received scant attention in the shadow of the renowned U.S. “Dream Team” of NBA superstars (Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, etc.). The Lithuanians’ story is all the more fascinating in that it comes immediately on the heels of their country’s freedom from Communist rule. With little hope of participating in the Barcelona games, they received the most unlikely last-minute assistance from the Grateful Dead, of all sources. A really great true-life story, told with an exuberance and a verve not often expected from non-fiction filmmaking. I challenge anyone watch this one and walk away uninspired.