Sometimes it’s so nice to switch off and watch a movie, isn’t it?
But it’s even better to enjoy some downtime and tune into a movie that is beneficial for your self-development!
In this article, you’ll find a mixed selection of movies that include inspiring, motivating, entertaining, thought-provoking, wholesome, and educational themes.
They do a wonderful job of capturing the complexities of womanhood whilst honouring the strength, intelligence, resilience, beauty and innate spirituality of women around the world.
Some are fictional, some are based on true stories, but all share snippets of wisdom that can help inspire you to be authentic to your highest self.
The Best Inspirational Films For Women
Here are some of the most inspirational, educational, and motivational films to watch for soulful, spiritual and ambitious wild women.
1. Ammonite (2020)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Ammonite is loosely based on the life of Mary Anning, a famous British palaeontologist who influenced and played a key role in our understanding of prehistoric life and earth history due to her work with fossils.
She was often not recognised for her work or fairly paid, due to the prolific patriarchal societal structures at the time.
The film covers topics such as feminism, LGBTQ+ relationships, and mental health.
*It’s important to note that Mary’s relationship with other women was fictionalised in this movie.
2. Avatar (2009) And Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022)
Avatar IMDb, Avatar: The Way Of Water IMDb
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The Avatar series is a family-friendly fantasy adventure that is jam-packed with action and a good dose of spiritual philosophy.
You’ll find a variety of heart-warming reminders sprinkled throughout the Avatar series, which is based on a common film narrative of ‘good’ versus ‘evil’ and the protection of Mother Nature.
3. Bombshell (2019)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Bombshell is based on the true events that occurred at Fox News. It follows the uncovering of prolific gender discrimination and sexual harassment experienced by at least 3 different women whilst they were employed as news anchors at Fox News.
4. Burlesque (2010)
Genre: Musical Drama
Burlesque is a fun musical drama that follows one woman’s dream journey into professional performance. She moves to LA and ultimately stumbles into the sexy glitz and glamour of burlesque. Burlesque stars Christina Aguilera and Cher.
5. Call Jane (2022)
Genre: History, Drama
Call Jane is based on the true history of abortion laws in America. The film covers how US abortion laws affect real women, and the illegal underground women’s activist organisation that was set up to help offer abortion rights to women.
6. Confirmation (2016)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Confirmation is based on the true story of Anita Hill. It follows her testimony of sexual harassment by a man, Clarence Thomas, who was in the process of being nominated to the Supreme Court.
7. Eat, Pray, Love (2010)
Genre: Biography, Romance, Drama
Eat, Pray, Love follows the journey of a divorcee as she realises she’s unhappy with the life she has created. She goes travelling around the world on a spiritual seeking journey of self-discovery and surrender.
8. Eighth Grade (2018)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Eighth Grade follows the relatably awkward journey of a young girl becoming a young woman and her navigation of school, friends, sexual development and emotions.
9. Erin Brockovich (2000)
Genre: Biography, Drama
A film based on the true story of Erin Brockovich, a divorced paralegal and single mother of 3 who was a central part of building a legal case against PG&E for their dangerous contamination of water, which led to the ill health of local residents.
The case was settled in 1996 for $333 million, which was the largest ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit at the time.
10. Four Good Days (2020)
Genre: Drama
Four Good Days is based on a true story, originally published by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Eli Saslow in the Washington Post as a feature article.
This film conveys the challenges and heartache of addiction and one young mother’s journey to overcoming her demons.
11. Frida (2002)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Frida is based on the true story of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, who was hailed as an icon of female creativity, female empowerment and sexual liberation.
12. Good Luck To You, Leo Grande (2022)
Genre: Drama
Good Luck To You, Leo Grande is about a retired school teacher who decides to explore her sexuality through a young handsome escort after an unfulfilling sex life as a married woman.
13. Harriet (2022)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Action
Harriet is based on the true story of Harriet Tubman, a slave who escaped her captor’s plantation. Despite the risk and danger, she bravely proceeds to rescue many other slaves via the Underground Railroad.
The film focuses on Harriet’s many admirable achievements, guided by her unwavering spiritual practice.
14. Hidden Figures (2016)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Hidden Figures is based on the true story of the three black women who were pivotal mathematicians behind the successful launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
The film follows their triumphs and challenges as they navigate prolific racial and gender discrimination at work during the noble process of making history. It highlights the key roles they ultimately played in advancing the civil rights of black women in America.
15. Joy (2015)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Joy is inspired by the true events of Joy Mangano’s life as a divorced mother of two, as she struggles to create a successful business empire while juggling family life.
16. Julie And Julia (2009)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Julie and Julia is based on the true story of food blogger and writer Julie Powell. Inspired by Julia Child, a famous American television chef well known for bringing French cuisine to American TV, Julie embarks on a year-long cooking and blogging challenge to cope with a lack of direction and sense of fulfilment in her daily life.
This heart-warming story follows the journey of two women and their connection through the love of delicious cuisine and the art of cooking.
17. Lost Girls (2020)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Lost Girls is based on the true story of the ‘Gilgo beach serial killings’. It centres on a serial killer who murdered multiple sex workers. The film portrays the struggles that families face when their missing friends or family members are deemed unimportant by the authorities and media.
Lost Girls covers one mother’s search for her missing daughter and the emotional journey of other mothers and sisters who are brought together as they seek justice for the victims.
*Rex Heuermann has been accused and charged with at least 7 murders since the filming of Lost Girls.
18. Lovelace (2013)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Lovelace is based on the life of Linda Lovelace, who was coerced and forced into prostitution and pornography by her abusive husband, and later became an anti-pornography activist.
19. Loving (2016)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Loving follows the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple who got married and were subsequently banished from Virginia, their home state, by the local judge.
The film follows their journey to getting the prohibition of marriage based on race overturned by the Supreme Court.
20. Marriage Story (2019)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Marriage Story is a raw dramatisation of the complexities and realities of divorce, and the myriad of emotions involved with the dynamics of shared parenting.
21. Mary Magdalene (2018)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
This film follows the story of Jesus, his disciples and Mary Magdalene. It depicts the important role Mary Magdalene played in the journey of Jesus’ resurrection, and her battle to be seen as a respected equal amongst the men around her.
22. Miracles From Heaven (2016)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Family
Miracles From Heaven is based on the true story of the Beam family. Anna Beam experiences a serious and debilitating, incurable illness, but miraculously gets better.
The film documents the spiritual journey of faith that her mother endures during the harrowing process of parenting a sick child.
23. Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Genre: Drama
The Mona Lisa Smile is a film that follows the life of a progressive female teacher at an all-girls school.
It explores the diverse desires of women and the importance of inclusivity, autonomy, and individual choice in modern feminism.
The traditional role of women in the household comes up against the desire to fulfil ambitions and potential outside of the home and beyond the role of being a wife.
24. Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020)
Genre: Drama
Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a fictional film that depicts the very real situation many women in America now face. It follows the raw journey of a teenager as she grapples with an unwanted pregnancy. Ultimately, she and a friend have to travel out of state so that she can get an abortion as a minor.
*Trigger warning: the film covers the topic of abortion and depicts graphic imitation of self-harm.
25. North Country (2005)
Genre: Drama
North Country is inspired by the true events experienced by Lois Jenson and her lawsuit against her employer. Lois Jenson worked as a miner, and her sexual harassment case was regarded as the first major successful sexual harassment case in US history.
26. Nyad (2023)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Nyad is inspired by the life and achievements of marathon swimmer Diana Nyad.
Nyad is an inspiring, funny, and heart warming movie that follows the challenges and triumphs of Diana as she attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida.
The film briefly covers Diana’s experience and report of sexual abuse as a child at the hands of her swimming coach. As well as depicting the complicated but deep relationships she had with those on her team, such as Bonnie Stoll and John Bartlett.
27. On The Basis Of Sex (2018)
Genre: Biography, Drama
On The Basis Of Sex is inspired by the true story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her fight for equality and women’s rights in the US courts.
28. Pieces Of A Woman (2020)
Genre: Drama
Pieces Of A Woman is a fictional movie that follows real-life experiences for couples experiencing the loss of a baby. The film depicts the journey of a young couple grappling with grief after they lose their baby due to birth complications.
The film was inspired by the director’s partner, Kata Wéber, and her experience of miscarriage. Whilst they also drew inspiration from a legal case in Hungary, which saw a midwife charged with manslaughter after a baby died during one of her home births. The midwife was charged and given a two-year prison sentence, but she was later pardoned.
*Trigger warning: the film covers the topic of grief, loss, and childbirth.
29. Practical Magic (1998)
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy
Practical Magic is a fantasy love story based on the innate natural magic of women, women’s circles and the importance of community. It’s the perfect film to relax to if you’re looking for some witchy and magical inspiration.
Practical Magic also covers some wider topics, such as domestic abuse and violence.
30. Queen Of Katwe (2016)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
The Queen of Katwe is a true story based on the life of Phiona Mutesi as she navigates living in a Ugandan slum.
She learns chess through a missionary program and goes on to become a Woman Candidate Master, which results in her being able to buy a house for her mother and family, helping them to escape poverty and homelessness.
31. Self Made (2020)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Self Made is a 4-episode TV series inspired by the true story of Madame CJ Walker, who is recorded as the first female self-made millionaire in America in the Guinness World Book of Records.
The short series covers the journey of Madam CJ Walker as she builds her hair care brand to cater for and empower women of colour in America.
She went on to become a powerful activist and generous philanthropist. Along with being known as the wealthiest African-American businesswoman of her time.
32. She Said (2022)
Genre: History, Drama
She Said is a film based on the true story of the ‘Me Too’ movement, Harvey Weinstein, and the instrumental New York Times reporters, Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who helped to expose cases of sexual assault in Hollywood at the time.
Their work started a monumental modern revolution for the safety of women in the workplace.
33. The 40 Year Old Version (2020)
Genre: Comedy, Musical
Radha Blank is an inspiration and reminds us that it is never too late to follow our dreams.
Through the 40 year old version, she emphasises that compromising and ‘selling out’ is often not worth the sacrifice, and portrays the importance of being courageous in our pursuit of self-discovery, creativity, and self-expression.
34. Suffragette (2015)
Genre: History, Drama
Suffragette is based on the true story of the British Suffragettes and their radical activism for women’s rights in the UK.
35. The Craft (1996)
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
The Craft is a fantasy drama based on the innate natural magic of women, women’s circles and the importance of ethical (white) magic. It’s the perfect film to relax to if you’re looking for some witchy entertainment.
36. The Glorias (2020)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
The Glorias is based on the true story of Gloria Steinem and her pivotal role in the second wave of feminism during the 1960s and 70s.
Gloria Steinem was a journalist and women’s liberation activist, and played a key role in the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) campaign.
37. The Hate U Give (2018)
Genre: Drama, Crime
The Hate U Give (thug) follows the emotional journey of an African American teenager after watching her unarmed childhood friend being shot by the police.
*Trigger warning: the film covers the topic of grief, loss, racism and police brutality.
38. The Help (2011)
Genre: Drama
The Help follows the journey of a young white aspiring writer, who publishes the real-life stories of African American maids, and the discrimination and segregation that they face on a daily basis whilst working in white households.
39. The Lost Daughter (2021)
Genre: Drama
The Lost Daughter is a great fictional movie based on the very real complexities and challenges of motherhood and mental health.
40. The Other Woman (2014)
Genre: Comedy, Romance
The Other Woman is an easy-watch film that depicts a funny, unexpected and heart-warming sisterhood forming between three women who have been ‘crossed’ by the same man.
41. To The Bone (2017)
Genre: Drama
To The Bone is inspired by a true story and portrays the journey of a woman with a severe eating disorder and her experience of treatment facilities.
*Trigger warning: contains graphic scenes about eating disorders.
42. True Spirit (2023)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Adventure
True Spirit is based on the inspirational true story of Jessica Watson. It follows her journey of becoming the youngest sailor to have sailed around the world alone without stopping.
43. Wild (2014)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Adventure
Wild is based on the memoir by Cheryl Strayed. It follows her inspirational and brave journey of conquering grief and addiction through solitude in the wilderness as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail.
Conclusion
Which one is your favourite film from this list? And are there any other inspiring and educational films for women that you think should have made it to this list? Let me know in the comments!
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