Movies About Finding Your Purpose

From Damien Chazelle, starring Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser
Rated R

Whiplash is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. It tells the story of a promising young jazz drummer, Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), and his ruthless music teacher, Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). Fletcher pushes Neiman to the brink of physical and psychological collapse in pursuit of perfection in the music world. The film follows Neiman's struggles to gain Fletcher's approval and achieve greatness as a jazz drummer. As he attempts to reach his goal, Neiman must contend with his abusive teacher, the fear of failure, and the pressure to excel in the highly competitive music school he attends. Ultimately, Neiman must decide if the cost of greatness is worth the reward.

From Gus Van Sant, starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård
Rated R

Good Will Hunting is a 1997 drama film written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and directed by Gus Van Sant. The film follows the story of Will Hunting (Damon), a troubled genius from South Boston who works a dead-end job as a janitor at MIT. After a run-in with the law, Will is offered a choice: go to jail, or work with a therapist for a year. The therapist, Dr. Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), gradually unlocks Will's troubled past, and helps him to realize his potential. Along the way, Will also falls in love with Skylar (Minnie Driver), and befriends his mentor, Chuckie (Affleck). In the end, Will must choose between his newfound love and his old, dangerous ways. The film won two Academy Awards, for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Williams).

From Directors: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava, starring Brad Garrett, Lou Romano, Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm
Rated G

Ratatouille is a 2007 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was written and directed by Brad Bird, who also wrote and directed The Incredibles (2004), and was co-directed by Jan Pinkava. The film follows Remy, a rat who dreams of becoming a great French chef, despite his family's wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. When fate places Remy in the sewers of Paris, he finds himself ideally situated beneath a restaurant made famous by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau. Despite the apparent dangers of being an unlikely – and certainly unwanted – visitor in the kitchen of a fine French restaurant, Remy's passion for cooking soon sets into motion a hilarious and exciting rat race that turns the culinary world of Paris upside down.

From Damien Chazelle, starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons
Rated PG-13

La La Land is an American musical romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Damien Chazelle. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as Mia and Sebastian, an aspiring actress and jazz musician, respectively, who fall in love while pursuing their dreams in Los Angeles. Despite their ambitions, the two must grapple with the difficulties of maintaining a relationship against the backdrop of the competitive Los Angeles entertainment industry. The film is a celebration of the beauty of Los Angeles and jazz music, as well as a commentary on the difficulties of making it in the entertainment industry and maintaining a relationship. La La Land was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $445 million worldwide and winning numerous awards, including seven Academy Awards and a record-tying 14 Academy Award nominations.

From David O. Russell, starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo
Rated R

The Fighter is a 2010 American biographical sports drama film directed by David O. Russell, starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo. The film follows the life of professional boxer "Irish" Micky Ward (Wahlberg) and his half-brother Dicky Eklund (Bale). Dicky, a former boxer whose drug addiction got him in trouble, trains Micky for his upcoming fights. As Micky's career begins to take off, Dicky's life spirals out of control, threatening Micky's career and his relationship with Charlene (Adams), the new girlfriend who helps bring stability to Micky's life. Although Micky and Dicky are often at odds, their bond proves to be stronger than their differences, and Micky fights to succeed in spite of the obstacles in his path, ultimately becoming a world championship boxer. The Fighter was a critical and commercial success, earning seven Oscar nominations and winning two, including Best Supporting Actress for Melissa Leo.

From James Mangold, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick
Rated PG-13

Walk the Line is a 2005 biographical drama film directed by James Mangold and based on the life of country music artist Johnny Cash. The film follows Cash's journey from a struggling musician to becoming one of the most beloved and influential figures of the 20th century. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Cash, with Reese Witherspoon as his wife, June Carter Cash. The film chronicles their passionate love story, as its centerpiece, alongside Cash's struggles with drug addiction and his meteoric rise to fame. The film also explores Cash's complicated relationship with his father, and his struggles to reconcile his faith with his artistic ambitions. With its authentic musical performances, Walk the Line captures the essence of Johnny Cash's iconic music, as well as his life story, with a deeply moving portrait.

From Stephen Daldry, starring Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Jean Heywood, Jamie Draven
Rated R

Billy Elliot is a 2000 British drama film written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry. The film follows 11-year-old Billy, who stumbles out of his boxing lesson and accidentally discovers a ballet class. He secretly joins the class and quickly falls in love with dance. He faces opposition from his father and brother, but also receives encouragement from his dance teacher and grandmother. As his skill and passion for dance grow, Billy is determined to overcome the obstacles of his working class background to become a professional dancer. Billy eventually succeeds in his endeavors, and is admitted to the Royal Ballet School in London. Along the way, he teaches us the importance of following our dreams and believing in ourselves.

From James Marsh, starring Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Tom Prior, Sophie Perry
Rated PG-13

The Theory of Everything is a biographical drama film directed by James Marsh, based on the memoir of Jane Hawking, "Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen". The film follows the life of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, from his early years as a brilliant student at Cambridge University, through his diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease, and his extraordinary achievements in the world of science and cosmology. Despite his physical condition, Hawking is determined to continue his work, and his relationship with his wife Jane is tested as he refuses to give up on his dreams of discovering the secrets of the universe. Through an intimate portrayal of their lives, the film examines themes of love, loss, ambition, and the power of the human spirit.

From Marc Forster, starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Radha Mitchell
Rated PG

Finding Neverland is a 2004 biographical drama film directed by Marc Forster and starring Johnny Depp as author J. M. Barrie. The film follows Barrie as he forms a special bond with the widowed Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet) and her four boys, who inspire him to create Peter Pan. Through his imaginative tales, Barrie helps the family rediscover the joy of living and the power of love. The film also stars Dustin Hoffman, Julie Christie, and Freddie Highmore. The film was met with critical acclaim and seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Depp.

From David Anspaugh, starring Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Greta Lind
Rated PG

Rudy (1993) is a biographical sports drama directed by David Anspaugh. It tells the true story of Rudy Ruettiger, a man who dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame. Despite being undersized and having minimal grades, Rudy works hard to overcome all odds and make his dream a reality. Through the support of his family and friends, Rudy is able to achieve his goal and fulfill his dream of playing for the Fighting Irish. The film is an inspirational tale of dedication and perseverance which shows that with a positive attitude and never-give-up spirit, anything is possible.

From Cameron Crowe, starring Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston
Rated R

From Sean McNamara, starring George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Carlos PenaVega, Marisa Tomei
Rated PG-13

From Sean McNamara, starring AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Carrie Underwood
Rated PG

From Ericson Core, starring Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Conway
Rated PG

From Nora Ephron, starring Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Chris Messina, Stanley Tucci
Rated PG-13

From Angela Robinson, starring Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall, Bella Heathcote, Connie Britton
Rated R

From Taylor Hackford, starring Richard Gere, Debra Winger, David Keith, Robert Loggia
Rated R

From Tom Shadyac, starring Robin Williams, Daniel London, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Rated PG-13

From Ben Younger, starring Miles Teller, Aaron Eckhart, Katey Sagal, Ciarán Hinds
Rated R

From Stephen Frears, starring Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson
Rated PG-13

From Nicholas Hytner, starring Amanda Schull, Ethan Stiefel, Sascha Radetsky, Christine Dunham
Rated PG-13

From Adrian Lyne, starring Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala, Sunny Johnson
Rated R

From Ry Russo-Young, starring Yara Shahidi, Anais Lee, Charles Melton, John Leguizamo
Rated PG-13

From Mads Matthiesen, starring Maria Palm, Ed Skrein, Yvo Muller, Dominic Allburn
Rated Unrated