Movies About Leadership

From Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed
Rated R

Gladiator is a 2000 American historical epic directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe. The film tells the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a proven Roman general who is betrayed by his emperor and reduced to slavery. Maximus is then forced to fight as a gladiator in the Colosseum, eventually gaining his freedom and seeking revenge on his former ruler. Along the way, Maximus finds himself also fighting for his own sense of honor and the love of his family. The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Russell Crowe), Best Visual Effects, and Best Costume Design.

From Mel Gibson, starring Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfadyen
Rated R

Braveheart is a 1995 epic historical drama film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film tells the story of William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish warrior who leads the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. Wallace rallies the Scottish nobility in a rebellion and defeats a larger English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. He then gathers an army of Scottish soldiers, known as "the rabble," and leads them in a fight against the English forces at the Battle of Falkirk. In the end, Wallace is captured and executed by the English king, but his legacy lives on as an inspiring symbol of courage, patriotism, and freedom. The film features spectacular battle scenes and a memorable score.

From Peter Weir, starring Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles
Rated PG

Dead Poets Society is a 1989 American drama film directed by Peter Weir, written by Tom Schulman, and starring Robin Williams. Set in 1959 at the fictional elite conservative Vermont boarding school Welton Academy, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry. The teacher, John Keating (Williams), warns his students to "make your lives extraordinary" and encourages them to seize the day and make their lives meaningful. He challenges his students to look at their lives from a different perspective by introducing them to different poets such as Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson. The students, inspired by Keating, form a secret club called the "Dead Poets Society," where they discuss poetry and encourage each other to pursue their dreams. The film follows the journey of the students as they learn to think for themselves and develop their own personal identities, all while facing opposition from the school administration. Through their experiences, the students come to a greater understanding of themselves and their place in the world.

From Boaz Yakin, starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst
Rated PG

"Remember the Titans" is a 2000 American sports drama film directed by Boaz Yakin. The film stars Denzel Washington as Herman Boone, a newly appointed African-American coach of a high school team in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1971 during the desegregation of the public schools. The team faces its own set of prejudices and conflicts, and ultimately proves that despite their differences the players can come together to form a unified team. The film is based on the true story of the 1971 T.C. Williams High School football team, which was the first integrated team in the state of Virginia. The movie is filled with themes of teamwork, perseverance, and racial harmony, and its message of overcoming racism and learning to appreciate each other's differences makes it an inspirational classic.

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

Apollo 13 is a 1995 American space docudrama film directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, and Ed Harris. The film depicts the 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert's struggle to return to Earth after an on-board explosion deprives their spacecraft of most of its oxygen supply. The mission commander, Lovell, and his team, with the help of flight controllers at NASA's Mission Control Center, work tirelessly to improvise a plan to return the men to Earth safely. Through their courage, ingenuity, and determination, the astronauts and their ground crew are able to make the seemingly impossible, possible.

From Bennett Miller, starring Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Rated PG-13

Moneyball is a 2011 American sports drama film directed by Bennett Miller. It is based on the 2003 non-fiction book of the same name by Michael Lewis. The film stars Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. With the help of Ivy League graduate Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill), Beane attempts to assemble a competitive team on a limited budget by taking a modern sabermetric approach to scouting and analyzing players. The film focuses on Beane’s attempts to create a competitive team despite his small payroll, as well as his personal and professional relationships. It also explores the changing nature of the game of baseball in the early 21st century. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Pitt) and Best Supporting Actor (Hill).

From Denzel Washington, starring Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker
Rated PG-13

The Great Debaters is a 2007 American drama film directed by and starring Denzel Washington. It is based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College in Texas. In 1935, Tolson and four of his students form the college's first debate team and go on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Along the way, they must overcome racism, poverty and unexpected tragedy. The team's journey is one of courage, faith and triumph. Ultimately, the debaters prove they have the courage and intelligence to stand up to any opposition and the strength to make a difference in their community.

From Tom Hooper, starring Colm Meaney, Henry Goodman, David Roper, Jimmy Reddington
Rated R

The Damned United is a sports drama film directed by Tom Hooper and based on the novel of the same name by David Peace. The film follows the story of former England football manager Brian Clough, played by Michael Sheen, as he takes on the challenge of managing the legendary Leeds United football team. Clough’s reign is short-lived and tumultuous, as he clashes with controversial Leeds manager Don Revie and falls out with his own staff and the players. His ambition to take Leeds to the top of the football league is thwarted by the team's resistance to change and Clough's own abrasive personality. In the end, Clough's efforts are in vain and his dream of success with Leeds United is unfulfilled.

From David Anspaugh, starring Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley
Rated PG

From Peter Weir, starring Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, Billy Boyd, James D'Arcy
Rated PG-13

From Steven Spielberg, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Rated PG-13

From Clint Eastwood, starring Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng
Rated PG-13

From Thomas Carter, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Rick Gonzalez, Robert Ri'chard, Rob Brown
Rated PG-13

From Oliver Stone, starring Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz, James Woods
Rated R

From Rod Lurie, starring Robert Redford, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Steve Burton
Rated R