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AFI’s 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time

A jury of 1,500 film artists, critics, and historians selected the classic IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, starring James Stewart, as the most inspiring movie of all time.

AFI distributed a ballot in November 2005 with 300 nominated inspiring movies to a jury of over 1,500 leaders from the creative community, including film artists (directors, screenwriters, actors, editors, cinematographers), critics and historians.

The jury have been asked to choose up to 100 inspirational films from a comprehensive list, including entries such as APOLLO 13, BREAKING AWAY, CHARIOTS OF FIRE, THE COLOR PURPLE, DEAD MAN WALKING, DEAD POET’S SOCIETY, 8 MILE, ERIN BROCKOVICH, FIELD OF DREAMS, GANDHI, GOOD WILL HUNTING, GOODBYE MR. CHIPS, HOOSIERS, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE KARATE KID, NATIONAL VELVET, NORMA RAE, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, RAIN MAN, ROCKY, SCHINDLER’S LIST, SEABISCUIT, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

Due to the extensive number of movies that inspire in American film, jurors may also write in votes for up to five films that may not already appear on the ballot.

The jurors have been asked to consider the following criteria in making their selections:

CRITERIA

FEATURE-LENGTH FICTION FILM
Narrative format, typically over 60 minutes in length.

AMERICAN FILM
English language film with significant creative and/or production elements from the United States.

CHEERS
Movies that inspire with characters of vision and conviction who face adversity and often make a personal sacrifice for the greater good. Whether these movies end happily or not, they are ultimately triumphant–both filling audiences with hope and empowering them with the spirit of human potential.

LEGACY
Films whose “cheers” continue to echo across a century of American cinema.

*AFI defines an American film as an English language motion picture with significant creative and/or financial production elements from the United States. AFI defines a feature-length film as a motion picture of narrative format that is typically over 60 minutes in length. Only feature-length American films released before January 1, 2005, will be considered.

Interesting Facts about the Ballot

Tom Hanks and Henry Fonda are the most represented male actors on the ballot with eight inspiring movies each. Sidney Poitier, Gary Cooper and Denzel Washington each have seven movies on the ballot.

Jean Arthur is the most represented female actor on the ballot with four movies.

Frank Capra and Steven Spielberg each have six inspiring movies on the ballot, leading all directors. Capra’s films are MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (’36), YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (’38), MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (’39), MEET JOHN DOE (’41) IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (’46) and POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES (’61); while Spielberg directed CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (’77), E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (’82), THE COLOR PURPLE (’85), SCHINDLER’S LIST (’93), AMISTAD (’97) and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (’98).

Over one third of the movies on the ballot are movies inspired by real life people and events.

1939 is the most represented year on the ballot, with 12 inspiring movies.

Source: afi.com

1 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 1946
3 SCHINDLER’S LIST 1993
5 MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON 1939
7 THE GRAPES OF WRATH 1940
9 MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET 1947
11 THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES 1946
13 HOOSIERS 1986
15 THE MIRACLE WORKER 1962
17 ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST 1975
19 THE RIGHT STUFF 1983
21 IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT 1967
23 THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION 1994
25 SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS 1941
27 HIGH NOON 1952
29 GANDHI 1982
31 GLORY 1989
33 CITY LIGHTS 1931
35 GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER 1967
37 FORREST GUMP 1994
39 STAR WARS 1977
41 THE SOUND OF MUSIC 1965
43 GONE WITH THE WIND 1939
45 ON GOLDEN POND 1981
47 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968
49 MEET JOHN DOE 1941
51 THE COLOR PURPLE 1985
53 SHANE 1953
55 THE DEFIANT ONES 1958
57 SERGEANT YORK 1941
59 DANCES WITH WOLVES 1990
61 SOUNDER 1972
63 RAIN MAN 1988
65 A RAISIN IN THE SUN 1961
67 THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL 1951
69 THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS 1957
71 COOL HAND LUKE 1967
73 ERIN BROCKOVICH 2000
75 THE VERDICT 1982
77 DRIVING MISS DAISY 1989
79 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 1956
81 BOYS TOWN 1938
83 MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN 1936
85 WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT 1993
87 WORKING GIRL 1988
89 HAROLD AND MAUDE 1972
91 THE PAPER CHASE 1973
93 A BEAUTIFUL MIND 2001
95 PLACES IN THE HEART 1984
97 MADAME CURIE 1943
99 RAY 2004
100 CHARIOTS OF FIRE 1981
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