12 Uplifting Movies That Aren’t Annoying and Fake

You know what we mean, right? We’re talking about those movies that are cloying and condescending to their subjects and to you, and try to raid your wallet while warming your heart. We hate to pick on The Blind Side even more, but it’s an example of a movie many people find… quite fake.

William Goldman, who wrote two of the movies on our list, used to call bogus, touchy-feely movies “Hollywood horses—.”  We’ve tried to avoid Hollywood horses—.

Also, some of these films are based on true stories and some aren’t. The point is that the movies feel authentic. And now, let’s begin our list of 12 Uplifting Movies That Aren’t Fake and Annoying.

They key to an effective uplifting movie is not overstating things — and Dunkirk is masterfully understated. Christopher Nolan’s World War II film shows us how British and Allied troops lived to fight another day against a seemingly unstoppable evil. No one comes out and says it, but if they’d failed, the Nazis might have won World War II. 

The Dunkirk evacuation required the courage and sacrifice of not just the fighting men on air, land and sea, but also the bravery of ordinary civilians who took extraordinary measures with no fuss. The subject matter makes you expect a heavy, laborious story, but Nolan’s ticking-clock, brilliantly conceived storytelling makes Dunkirk fly by.

How true is Dunkirk? Very true. One reason it’s one of our favorite uplifting movies is that follows actual events. And its cool manipulation of time hinted at the brilliance to come in Nolan’s recent Best Picture winner, Oppenheimer.

The story of an all-Black Union Army regiment in the Civil War is best-known for Denzel Washington’s Oscar winning performance, and it’s the rare sweeping historic film that also pays close attention to character turns and quiet moments.

As far back as 1990, critics including Roger Ebert lamented that it’s told from a white POV — that of Col. Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick). But we may not have a Glory if not for screenwriter Kevin Jarre relying so heavily on Gould’s actual letters to his mother, which frame and personalize the story. And James Horner’s Glory score may be the best in any movie.

The heavily researched Glory uses some composite characters, but follows key events quite closely.

Yes, there was a time when cold, hard, carefully reported information could change the world.

No one does sentiment-free uplift like screenwriter William Goldman, who wins over any cynics by treating the story of Woodward and Bernstein vs. Nixon like a gritty procedural. It’s the reporters against the president, but also against an overwhelming deluge of misinformation and lies. The reporters win. No, seriously: It’s a true story.

The events in All the President’s Men are true, but William Goldman made up a few things — like the famous phrase “Follow the money.” (1989)

Another William Goldman masterpiece. 

It’s ostensibly a movie about the power of love, but most movies that say love conquers all are unwatchable, and The Princess Bride is almost impossible not to watch. Its genius is its oddly cozy relationship with despair: Every dark twist is more hilariously bleak than the last, and yet everyone keeps their dry wit. Our imperfect heroes assume everything will go terribly, and swashbuckle through the insanity.  Does love conquer all? Or a sense of humor?

Nothing in The Princess Bride really happened, as far as we know. But it’s outlook on life is very accurate, and it’s one of the most reliably uplifting movies. Rob Reiner directed Goldman’s script.

One of many sports films on this list of uplifting movies, Penny Marshall’s comedy-drama tells the story of female ballplayers proving themselves again and again in the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Its jaded humor keeps the story moving, stars Geena Davis, Lori Petty and Madonna are deeply empathetic, and Tom Hanks does one of his best grumpy-guy roles, reminding us that there’s no crying in baseball.

Crying is allowable only on planes, while watching Queen of Katwe. More on that soon.

The second Denzel Washington movie on this list — he makes excellent choices — finds him playing Malcolm Little, who becomes Malcolm X and finally El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. He is a man who melds his righteous calls for justice with a righteous commitment to unity.

Malcolm X doesn’t sugarcoat any of the pain or struggle along the way, or offer any easy comfort to those who prop up the injustice Malcolm X tried to dismantle. It’s one of the most uplifting movies because it reminds us to carry on even in moments of profound loss. Its “I am Malcolm X!” finale is breathtaking.

Malcolm X hews closely to The Autobiography of Malcolm X, by Malcolm X and Alex Haley.

One secret of an uplifting movie is not to downplay or sentimentalize the characters’ struggles. Danny Boyle’s quick-paced drama, based on the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup and starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, strikes a perfect balance between realism and wish-fulfillment fantasy.

Also: The music is astonishing, which also helps when it comes to uplifting movies. “Jai Ho” will make you feel like you can run a million miles.

Slumdog Millionaire is based on the novel Q&A, by Vikas Swarup.

Director Gavin O’Connor, also responsible for the Ben Affleck film The Way Back, is the master of inspirational sports movies. Many people would sub in his film Miracle instead of this one, and we’re fine with that. But lots of people have rightly praised Miracle, while we think Warrior is badly underrated. And the execution should be inspirational to any storyteller.

What sounds like a questionable premise — two estranged brothers meet in the ring — makes for a completely engrossing movie because of the nuance and commitment of everyone involved, including O’Connor and actors Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison and Frank Grillo. Nick Nolte got a well-deserved Oscar nomination.

Warrior is a made-up story, but a very convincing made-up story.

Wild is the true story of Cheryl Strayed (played by Reese Witherspoon) who hikes the 1,100-mile Pacific Coast Trail, alone, as she tries to repair a life ravaged by tragedy, depression and drug abuse.

One of the best things about Wild is that it doesn’t play cute or sugarcoat Strayed’s problems. It asks you to dig in, trudge on, do more than you think you’re capable of doing.

Wild leaves you longing for fresh air and a wide open trail.

Ryan Coogler’s first film in the update of the Rocky franchise made us fall in love with Rocky Balboa all over again, but Sylvester Stallone’s torch-passing to Michael B. Jordan had just the right mix of stoicism and sentiment. It also has the best training sequence of any Rocky-related film.

The low-key moral of most inspirational movies is that you don’t win during the fight — you win during the training for the fight. Just grit your teeth and do the work.

Adonis Creed is too cool to be a real person, sadly. But Creed still makes our list of uplifting movies. We also like the sequels.

We would recommend Queen of Katwe to every living person on Earth — it’s one of the most uplifting movies we’ve ever seen, in part because it doesn’t romanticize or sweeten anything.

Not a lot of people have seen this chess drama — we only saw it on a plane — but it may be the best movie Disney has ever released. Mira Nair looks unflinchingly at the dangers to a young girl growing up with every imaginable disadvantage in an Ugandan slum. And yet, in a fair contest, she’s an absolute force.

The true story of Phiona Mutesi includes excellent performances by David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, and Madina Nalwanga. We aren’t too proud to tell you that we cried a bit on that plane.

Hidden Figures has a surprisingly light touch as it vividly and entertainingly details how Black female mathematicians overcame discrimination to help NASA win the space race. (Did you think we’d include four separate movies about sports (chess counts!) and not one about scientists?)

Hidden Figures is based on real events — a quality that always makes uplifting movies even more inspirational.

Then you might also enjoy this of Stars of the 1980s Who Are Still Going Strong list of 13 Black and White Movies That Are Still a Pleasure to Watch.

Main image: Freida Pinto in Slumdog Millionaire.