Movies About Growth

From Gabriele Muccino, starring Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Jaden Smith, Brian Howe
Rated PG-13

The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 American biographical drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino and starring Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman trying to make ends meet while raising his son. After he and his wife separate, Chris takes on a grueling unpaid internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm in order to have a chance at becoming a stockbroker himself. Although he faces numerous obstacles throughout his journey — homelessness, debt, and the absence of a supportive family — Chris manages to persevere and eventually finds success in the world of finance. The film showcases the power of resilience and determination, and emphasizes the importance of never giving up in the pursuit of happiness.

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista
Rated R

Blade Runner 2049 is a 2017 science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling. It is the sequel to the 1982 classic Blade Runner and is set thirty years after the events of the original. The film follows a new Blade Runner, LAPD Officer K (Gosling), as he discovers a secret that could plunge what’s left of society into chaos. His discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. With the fate of humanity in the balance, K embarks on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save the future of humankind. The film is a visual feast of stunning visuals and philosophical themes that explore the value of life and what it is to be human.

From Mamoru Oshii, starring Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi, Akio Ôtsuka, Kôichi Yamadera
Rated TV-MA

Ghost in the Shell is a 1995 Japanese anime science fiction film directed by Mamoru Oshii, based on the manga of the same name written by Masamune Shirow. The film follows the Major, a cyborg special operative working under Section 9 of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission, as she investigates a mysterious hacker known as The Puppet Master. Along the way, she must battle various cyber-terrorists as she fights to protect her country, and discovers the secrets of her own mysterious past. Ghost in the Shell is a thoughtful exploration of technology, identity, and philosophy, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest anime films ever made.

From Ron Howard, starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise
Rated PG

Apollo 13 is a 1995 American space docudrama directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, and Ed Harris. Based on the 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, the film chronicles the struggles of the astronauts as they work to overcome a critical malfunction aboard the spacecraft and return safely to Earth. The film focuses on the efforts of the astronauts, mission control staff, and engineers on the ground to bring the astronauts home alive. It is a thrilling tale of human courage and ingenuity in the face of adversity. Despite the danger and uncertainty, the astronauts ultimately succeed in their mission, and they return to Earth safely.

From James L. Brooks, starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Rated PG-13

As Good as It Gets is a 1997 romantic comedy-drama film directed by James L. Brooks and starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, and Greg Kinnear. The film follows Melvin Udall (Nicholson), an obsessive-compulsive and misanthropic novelist, as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. He becomes involved in the lives of his waitress and neighbor, Carol Connelly (Hunt) and Simon Bishop (Kinnear). They each help him to become a better person, teaching him how to open up to others and to find joy in life. The film won Academy Awards for Best Actor (Nicholson), Best Actress (Hunt), and Best Original Screenplay (Brooks). It was praised for its quirky, heartfelt script, performances, and direction.

From Peter Yates, starring Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn, Don Gordon
Rated M/PG

From Rob Reiner, starring Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd
Rated PG-13

From Antoine Fuqua, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Oona Laurence, Forest Whitaker
Rated R

From Tony Scott, starring Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Lisa Bonet
Rated R

From Shane Black, starring Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle
Rated PG-13

From George Clooney, starring Paul Giamatti, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling
Rated R

From Alex Proyas, starring Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, Alan Tudyk
Rated PG-13

From Wes Anderson, starring Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux
Rated R

From David Mackenzie, starring Chris Pine, Stephen Dillane, Rebecca Robin, Billy Howle
Rated R

From Robert Lorenz, starring Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, John Goodman, Justin Timberlake
Rated PG-13

From Guy Ritchie, starring Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Jude Law, Djimon Hounsou
Rated PG-13

From Andy Tennant, starring Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber Valletta
Rated PG-13

From James Gray, starring Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland
Rated PG-13

From Paul Feig, starring Madison Ingoldsby, Emma Thompson, Boris Isakovic, Lucy Miller
Rated PG-13

From Lee Tamahori, starring Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Thomas Kretschmann
Rated PG-13

From Walter Hill, starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater, Sung Kang
Rated R

From Dan Bradley, starring Chris Hemsworth, Isabel Lucas, Josh Hutcherson, Josh Peck
Rated PG-13

From Charles Jarrott, starring Nicolas Cage, Cynthia Dale, Christopher Plummer, David Naughton
Rated R