From ‘Rudy’ to ‘Stand and Deliver’ – the 5 Best Motivational Movies for Students

Staff Writers December 13, 2019

Everyone at least once heard the opinion that the student years are the best period of life, as it is filled with new impressions and interesting acquaintances, and also is the beginning of independent adult life. The only thing that prevents students from fully enjoying this period is, in fact, studying, which drives them to order papers from some reliable academic essay writing service, as, due to the lack of time, they’re unable to fulfill this commitment by themselves. Each student knows how hard it is to wake up early in the morning and force oneself to go to school, and sometimes it even seems that it makes no sense, which can ultimately kill motivation and the desire to learn. Unfortunately, traditional teaching cannot motivate each student at a sufficient level, and since students love entertainment, motivational films are a great way to motivate them.

In general, movies are of the same cultural value as books, and if it can be challenging to get a student to read a book, they will watch the film with great pleasure. But like among books, some movies are just entertaining without any educational context, so it is vital to watch movies that develop critical thinking and broaden horizons. This short article provides a list of 5 movies that cover the topic of the importance of hard work and proper education in best way.

The Paper Chase (1973)

Even though the film directed by James Bridges was released back in 1973, The Paper Chase is a timeless classic that shows that although learning is hard work, it has a significant impact on later life. The film is about a hardworking student James T. Hart who faces difficulties during his first year at Harvard. Many students will be able to associate themselves with the main character of the film, so it is ideal for those who have difficulty maintaining motivation, especially in the first years of study.

Rudy (1993)

This film demonstrates a period in the life of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, who had long dreamed of playing in the football team of the University of Notre Dame, although everyone he knew told him that his dream was impossible. His father and his teachers always told him that he lacked both physical and mental capabilities to enter the University of Notre Dame. Despite the negative attitude of even his closest circle and lack of support, he did not give up and worked on himself to become a better version of himself and to prove to everyone that they were wrong.

Forrest Gump (1994)

Most everyone saw Forrest Gump, and it is included on this list because it makes a lot of people to look at their lives differently and think about many things. The movie tells the story of the life of a person with a low IQ who, as it may seem, lost the lottery of life and has no chance of success. But despite all the prejudices, he performs many incredible feats that destroy all stereotypes and ideas about the possibilities of man. This film makes it clear to the audience that there is nothing impossible if person is ready to overcome themselves and confidently go towards their goal.

The Theory of Everything (2014)

The Theory of Everything is the story of the problematic life path of Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest physicists and cosmologists of modern times. In his youth, he was a very promising future astrophysicist, but at one moment, he learns about his terrible condition, which gradually paralyzes his whole body. Doctors tell him that he has no more than two years left to live, but he does not give up, but on the contrary, he works hard to become the best version of himself. His desire for life prevailed over the diagnosis of doctors, and despite a completely paralyzed body, he achieved incredible heights in life, and his works had a significant impact on the development of astrophysics. Everyone is recommended to watch this film at least to show respect to Stephen Hawking, who lived 76 years and never stopped working to make this world a better place and leave a mark on history.

Stand and Deliver (1998)

This list doesn’t end with a movie about the student and the complexity of education, but about the teacher and the complexity of teaching. Students often do not think about people who every day try to teach them something new and spend their time and energy to give others perspectives in life. Stand and Deliver is based on the true story of a high school math teacher who works with students who might be considered hopeless. He does his best in order not only to read the learning material but to actually educate students and make them understand what they are capable of. This film is highly recommended to watch because it allows a person to look at the educational process from a different perspective, which can be very important for building close relations between students and teachers, which is an essential component of education.