100 Most Inspiring American Films - AFI

The American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles, California conducted its ninth polling, 100 Years...100 Cheers. It was to be a definitive selection of the 100 most 'inspiring' American films of all time, as determined by more than 1,500 film artists (directors, screenwriters, actors, editors, cinematographers), critics and historians. AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers revealed America's 100 greatest inspirational films, as chosen by leaders of the entertainment community, in a three-hour television event, that aired on the CBS Television Network in June 2006.

A ballot was distributed with 300 nominated films to a jury of 1,500 leaders from the creative community, including film artists (directors, screenwriters, actors, editors, cinematographers) critics and historians.

1. ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS, RKO, 1940
2. THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, Warner Bros., 1938
3. AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1957
4. THE AFRICAN QUEEN , United Artists, 1951 (# 48)
5. AIR FORCE, Warner Bros., 1943
6. THE ALAMO, United Artists, 1960
7. ALI, Columbia, 2001
8. ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, Warner Bros., 1976 (# 34)
9. AMERICAN HISTORY X, New Line, 1998
10. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, Columbia, 1995
11. AMISTAD, DreamWorks, 1997
12. ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD, MGM, 1951
13. ANTWONE FISHER, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2002
14. APOLLO 13, Universal, 1995 (# 12)
15. AWAKENINGS, Columbia, 1990
16. BABE, Universal, 1995 (# 80)
17. THE BABE RUTH STORY, Allied Artists, 1948
18. BABES IN ARMS, MGM, 1939
19. THE BAD NEWS BEARS, Paramount, 1976
20. BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY, Paramount, 1973
21. BATAAN, MGM, 1943
22. BEAU GESTE, Paramount, 1939
23. A BEAUTIFUL MIND, Imagine, 2001 (# 93)
24. BEN-HUR, MGM, 1926
25. BEN-HUR , MGM, 1959 (# 56)
26. BENJI, Mulberry Square, 1974
27. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES , RKO, 1946 (# 11)
28. THE BIBLE, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966
29. THE BIG COUNTRY, United Artists, 1958
30. BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ, United Artists, 1962 (# 76)
31. THE BISHOP'S WIFE, RKO, 1947
32. THE BLACK STALLION, United Artists, 1979 (# 64)
33. BLACKBOARD JUNGLE, MGM, 1955
34. BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, Universal, 1989
35. BOYS TOWN, MGM, 1938 (# 81)
36. BRAVEHEART, Paramount, 1995 (# 62)
37. THE BREAKFAST CLUB, Universal, 1985
38. BREAKING AWAY, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979 (# 8)
39. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI , Columbia, 1957 (# 14)
40. THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI, Paramount, 1954
41. CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS, MGM, 1937 (# 94)
42. CAROUSEL, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1956
43. CASABLANCA , Warner Bros., 1942 (# 32)
44. CAST AWAY, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2000
45. THE CHAMP, MGM, 1931
46. CHARIOTS OF FIRE, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1981 (# 100)
47. CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, Paramount, 1986
48. A CHRISTMAS CAROL, United Artists, 1951
49. CITY LIGHTS , United Artists, 1931 (# 33)
50. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, Columbia, 1977 (# 58)
51. COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER, Universal, 1980 (# 70)
52. COCOON, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985
53. THE COLOR OF MONEY, Touchstone, 1986
54. THE COLOR PURPLE, Warner Bros., 1985 (# 51)
55. COMING HOME, United Artists, 1978
56. CONRACK, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1974
57. COOL HAND LUKE , Warner Bros., 1967 (# 71)
58. COOL RUNNINGS, Disney, 1993
59. COP LAND, Miramax, 1997
60. THE COWBOYS, Warner Bros., 1972
61. CRY FREEDOM, Universal, 1987
62. DANCES WITH WOLVES, Orion, 1990 (# 59)
63. DARK VICTORY, Warner Bros., 1939 (# 72)
64. DAVE, Warner Bros., 1993
65. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1951 (# 67)
66. DEAD MAN WALKING, MGM, 1995
67. DEAD POETS SOCIETY, Touchstone, 1989 (# 52)
68. THE DEFIANT ONES , United Artists, 1958 (# 55)
69. DESTINATION TOKYO, Warner Bros., 1944
70. DESTRY RIDES AGAIN, Universal, 1939
71. THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1959 (# 18)
72. DIRTY DANCING, Artisan, 1987
73. THE DIRTY DOZEN, MGM, 1967
74. DISRAELI, Warner Bros., 1929
75. DO THE RIGHT THING, Universal, 1989
76. DR. EHRLICH’S MAGIC BULLET, Warner Bros., 1940
77. DRIVING MISS DAISY, Warner Bros., 1989 (# 77)
78. DUMBO, Disney, 1941
79. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL , Universal, 1982 (# 6)
80. EDISON, THE MAN, MGM, 1940
81. 8 MILE, Universal, 2002
82. EL CID, Allied Artists, 1961
83. ERIN BROCKOVICH, Universal, 2000 (# 73)
84. EXODUS, United Artists, 1960
85. FAME, MGM, 1980 (# 92)
86. FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF, Paramount, 1986
87. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, United Artists, 1971 (# 82)
88. FIELD OF DREAMS , Universal, 1989 (# 28)
89. FINDING NEVERLAND, Miramax, 2004
90. FLASHDANCE, Paramount, 1983
91. FOOTLOOSE, Paramount, 1984
92. FORREST GUMP, Paramount, 1994 (# 37)
93. FOUR FEATHERS, Paramount, 1929
94. FREE WILLY, Warner Bros., 1993
95. THE FRESHMAN, Pathé, 1925
96. FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, Universal, 1991
97. GANDHI, Columbia, 1982 (# 29)
98. THE GENERAL, United Artists, 1927
99. GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1947
100. GHOST, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1990
101. GLADIATOR, DreamWorks, 2000
102. GLORY, TriStar, 1989 (# 31)
103. GO, MAN, GO!, United Artists, 1954
104. GOD IS MY CO-PILOT, Warner Bros., 1945
105. GODSPELL, Columbia, 1973
106. GOING MY WAY, Paramount, 1944
107. GONE WITH THE WIND, MGM, 1939 (# 43)
108. THE GOOD EARTH, MGM, 1937
109. GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM, Touchstone, 1988
110. GOOD WILL HUNTING, Miramax, 1997
111. GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS, MGM, 1939
112. GORILLAS IN THE MIST: THE STORY OF DIAN FOSSEY, Universal, 1988
113. THE GRAPES OF WRATH , Twentieth Century-Fox, 1940 (# 7)
114. THE GREAT ESCAPE, United Artists, 1963
115. THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD, United Artists, 1965
116. THE GREEN MILE, Warner Bros., 1999
117. GUADALCANAL DIARY, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1943
118. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER, Columbia, 1967 (# 35)
119. GUNGA DIN, RKO, 1939 (# 74)
120. THE GUNS OF NAVARONE, Columbia, 1961
121. A GUY NAMED JOE, MGM, 1941
122. HAROLD AND MAUDE, Paramount, 1972 (# 89)
123. HEIDI, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1937
124. HERO, Columbia, 1992
125. HIGH NOON , United Artists, 1952 (# 27)
126. HOOSIERS, Orion, 1986 (# 13)
127. HOTEL RWANDA, United Artists, 2004 (# 90)
128. HOW THE WEST WAS WON, MGM, 1962
129. THE HURRICANE, Universal, 1999
130. I AM SAM, New Line, 2001
131. ICE CASTLES, Columbia, 1978
132. IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT , United Artists, 1967 (# 21)
133. THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY, Disney, 1963
134. THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1958
135. THE INSIDER, Touchstone, 1999
136. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE , RKO, 1946 (# 1)
137. THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY, Eagle-Lion, 1950
138. JERRY MAGUIRE, TriStar, 1996
139. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Universal, 1973
140. JIM THORPE - ALL-AMERICAN, Warner Bros., 1951
141. JOAN OF ARC, RKO, 1948
142. JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL, Paramount, 1973
143. THE JOY LUCK CLUB, Hollywood Pictures, 1993
144. THE KARATE KID, Columbia, 1984 (# 98)
145. THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1944
146. THE KID, First National, 1921
147. THE KILLING FIELDS, Warner Bros., 1984 (# 60)
148. THE KING OF KINGS, Pathé, 1927
149. KING OF KINGS, MGM, 1961
150. KNUTE ROCKNE ALL AMERICAN, Warner Bros., 1940
151. LASSIE COME HOME, MGM, 1943
152. THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, Universal, 1988
153. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA , Columbia, 1962 (# 30)
154. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, Columbia, 1992
155. LEAN ON ME, Warner Bros., 1989
156. THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA, Warner Bros., 1937
157. LILIES OF THE FIELD, United Artists, 1963 (# 46)
158. THE LION KING, Disney, 1994
159. LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE, RKO, 1932
160. THE LONGEST DAY, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1962
161. THE LONGEST YARD, Paramount, 1974
162. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, New Line, 2001
163. LORENZO’S OIL, Universal, 1992
164. THE LOST WEEKEND, Paramount, 1945
165. LOVE STORY, Paramount, 1970
166. MADAME CURIE, MGM, 1943 (# 97)
167. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, United Artists, 1960
168. MALCOLM X, Warner Bros., 1992
169. A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, Columbia, 1966
170. THE MARK OF ZORRO, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1940
171. MARTY, United Artists, 1955
172. MARY POPPINS, Disney, 1964
173. MASK, Universal, 1985
174. MEET JOHN DOE , Warner Bros., 1941 (# 49)
175. THE MEN, United Artists, 1950
176. MIDWAY, Universal, 1976
177. THE MIGHTY DUCKS, Disney, 1992
178. MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID, MGM, 1952
179. MIRACLE, Disney, 2004
180. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1947 (# 9)
181. THE MIRACLE WORKER, United Artists, 1962 (# 15)
182. THE MISSION, Warner Bros., 1986
183. MISSISSIPPI BURNING, Orion, 1988
184. MOULIN ROUGE!, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2001
185. MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN , Columbia, 1936 (# 83)
186. MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS, Hollywood Pictures, 1995
187. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, Columbia, 1939 (# 5)
188. MRS. MINIVER, MGM, 1942 (# 40)
189. MUSIC OF THE HEART, Miramax, 1999
190. MY FAIR LADY, Warner Bros., 1964
191. MY FAMILY, MI FAMILIA, New Line, 1995
192. MYSTERY, ALASKA, Hollywood, 1999
193. NATIONAL VELVET, MGM, 1944 (# 24)
194. THE NATURAL, TriStar, 1984
195. 9 TO 5, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980
196. NORMA RAE, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979 (# 16)
197. NORTH DALLAS FORTY, Paramount, 1979
198. THE NUN’S STORY, Warner Bros., 1959
199. OCTOBER SKY, Universal, 1999
200. AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, Paramount, 1982 (# 68)
201. OLIVER!, Columbia, 1968
202. ON GOLDEN POND, Universal, 1981 (# 45)
203. ON THE WATERFRONT, Columbia, 1954 (# 36)
204. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST , United Artists, 1975 (# 17)
205. OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES, MGM, 1945
206. THE PAPER CHASE, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973 (# 91)
207. THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, Newmarket, 2004
208. PATTON, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1970
209. PHILADELPHIA, TriStar, 1993 (# 20)
210. PINOCCHIO, Disney, 1940 (# 38)
211. PLACES IN THE HEART, TriStar, 1984 (# 95)
212. POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES, United Artists, 1961
213. POLLYANNA, United Artists, 1920
214. POLLYANNA, Disney, 1960
215. PRIDE OF THE MARINES, Warner Bros., 1945
216. THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, RKO, 1942 (# 22)
217. PT 109, Warner Bros., 1963
218. QUEEN CHRISTINA, MGM, 1933
219. QUO VADIS, MGM, 1951
220. RAIN MAN, United Artists, 1988 (# 63)
221. A RAISIN IN THE SUN, Columbia, 1961 (# 65)
222. RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II, TriStar, 1985
223. RAY, Universal, 2004 (# 99)
224. THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE, MGM, 1951
225. REDS, Paramount, 1981
226. REGARDING HENRY, Paramount, 1991
227. REMEMBER THE TITANS, Disney, 2000
228. REVENGE OF THE NERDS, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1984
229. THE RIGHT STUFF, Warner Bros., 1983 (# 19)
230. THE ROBE, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1953
231. ROBIN HOOD, United Artists, 1922
232. ROCKY, United Artists, 1976 (# 4)
233. ROLLERBALL, United Artists, 1975
234. THE ROOKIE, Disney, 2002
235. RUDY, TriStar, 1993 (# 54)
236. RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP, United Artists, 1958
237. SANDS OF IWO JIMA, Republic, 1949
238. SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, Paramount, 1977
239. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, DreamWorks, 1998 (# 10)
240. SCENT OF A WOMAN, Universal, 1992
241. SCHINDLER'S LIST, Universal, 1993 (# 3)
242. SEABISCUIT, Universal, 2003 (# 50)
243. SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER, Paramount, 1993 (# 96)
244. SERGEANT YORK, Warner Bros., 1941 (# 57)
245. SERPICO, Paramount, 1973 (# 84)
246. SHAFT, MGM, 1971
247. SHANE, Paramount, 1953 (# 53)
248. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION , Columbia, 1994 (# 23)
249. SILKWOOD, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1983 (# 66)
250. SINCE YOU WENT AWAY, United Artists, 1944
251. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, TriStar, 1993
252. SO PROUDLY WE HAIL!, Paramount, 1943
253. SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME, MGM, 1956
254. SONG OF BERNADETTE, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1943
255. THE SOUND OF MUSIC , Twentieth Century-Fox, 1965 (# 41)
256. SOUNDER, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1972 (# 61)
257. SPARROWS, United Artists, 1926
258. SPARTACUS, Universal, 1960 (# 44)
259. SPIDER-MAN 2, Columbia, 2004
260. THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS, Warner Bros., 1957 (# 69)
261. STAGECOACH, United Artists, 1939
262. STAND AND DELIVER, Warner Bros., 1988 (# 86)
263. STAND BY ME, Columbia, 1986
264. STAND UP AND CHEER!, Fox, 1934
265. STAR WARS , Twentieth Century-Fox, 1977 (# 39)
266. THE STORY OF ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1939
267. THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR, Warner Bros., 1935
268. THE STRAIGHT STORY, Disney, 1999
269. SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS, Paramount, 1941 (# 25)
270. SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLO, Warner Bros., 1960
271. SUPERMAN, Warner Bros., 1978
272. SWEET CHARITY, Universal, 1969
273. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS , Paramount, 1956 (# 79)
274. THELMA & LOUISE, MGM, 1991 (# 78)
275. THE THIEF OF BAGDAD, United Artists, 1924
276. THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO, MGM, 1945
277. TO HELL AND BACK, Universal, 1955
278. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD , Universal, 1962
279. TOP GUN, Paramount, 1986
280. A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1945
281. THE TRUMAN SHOW, Paramount, 1998
282. 12 ANGRY MEN, United Artists, 1957 (# 42)
283. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY , MGM, 1968 (# 47)
284. AN UNMARRIED WOMAN, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1978
285. THE VERDICT, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1982 (# 75)
286. WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, Touchstone, 1993 (# 85)
287. THE WILD ONE, Columbia, 1954
288. WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, Paramount, 1970
289. WINGS, Paramount, 1927
290. THE WINNING TEAM, Warner Bros., 1952
291. WITH A SONG IN MY HEART, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1952
292. WITHOUT LIMITS, Warner Bros., 1998
293. THE WIZARD OF OZ , MGM, 1939 (# 26)
294. WORKING GIRL, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1988 (# 87)
295. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY , Warner Bros., 1942 (# 88)
296. YENTL, MGM, 1983
297. YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, Columbia, 1938
298. YOUNG MR. LINCOLN, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1939
299. YOUNG TOM EDISON, MGM, 1940
300. ZORBA THE GREEK, International Classics, 1964

Facts About the 300 Nominees for Most Inspiring Film:

• Tom Hanks and Henry Fonda were the most represented male actors on the ballot with eight inspiring movies each. Sidney Poitier, Gary Cooper and Denzel Washington each had seven movies on the ballot.
  
• Jean Arthur was the most represented female actor on the ballot with four movies.
  
• Frank Capra and Steven Spielberg each had six inspiring movies on the ballot, leading all directors.
  
  Capra's films included:
  Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
  You Can't Take It With You (1938)
  Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
  Meet John Doe (1941)
  It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
  Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
  
  Spielberg directed the following nominees:
  Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
  E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
  The Color Purple (1985)
  Schindler's List (1993)
  Amistad (1997)
  Saving Private Ryan (1998)
  
  
• Over one third of the movies on the ballot were movies inspired by real life people and events.
  
• 1939 was the most represented year on the ballot, with 12 inspiring movies.