Looking for inspirational movies about education, life-changing discoveries, and emotional backstories? Then look no more, for we have combined a list of 11 movies, like Hidden Figures, to satisfy the craving for this particular genre.
Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer’s Hidden Figures is a 2016 historical drama also starring Janelle Monae, Kevin Cosner, Glen Powell, and Kirsten Dunst in biographical roles. A film about three African-American women mathematicians who played a pivotal role in the launch of astronaut John Glenn, the story throws light on the discrimination and gender boundaries they faced while making history.
Based on the book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, Hidden Figures brings to the attention of the world the untold story of Black women. The creativity of the film is reflected from the very first scene as the audience is introduced to NASA in the 1960s, where these women did ground-breaking work for the foundation of the space program.
A truly inspiring story about doing something great despite massive barriers at a time when women were barely allowed to work and racial prejudice was at its all-time high, Hidden Figures went on to win many awards the following year.
Janelle Monae, Octavia Spencer, and Taraji Henson as Katherine, Mary, and Dorothy in Hidden Figures (2016) (Credits: 20th Century Studios Family)
Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson work at the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory in Virginia, where they play an integral role in American aviation technology advancement. Working their way through a low-level job of calculating numbers, Katherine finds herself becoming a part of Al Harrison’s Space Task Group, where her work is often dismissed by her peers and head.
Meanwhile, Mary goes against all odds to enroll in an all-white school to hone her engineering skills. Throughout the movie, we see the menial tasks that hinder the abilities of these women to work effortlessly because they are being held back by their color.
And even though the film ends on a positive note, with a successful launch and an insight into the life of these women now, Hidden Figures is indeed a stimulating and encouraging film.
A scene from the film Hidden Figures starring Octavia Spencer (Credits: Plugged In)
Hidden Figures imparts a powerful message to the audience about the destructive consequences of segregation and differentiation while trying to assert and celebrate the importance of women in science.
The lead cast gives an applause-worthy performance, taking the audience with them on this emotional journey of proving oneself. If you haven’t yet come around to watching this beautifully written and directed film by Theodore Melfi, watch it now on Disney Plus.
11 Inspirational Movies Like Hidden Figures To Watch
Radioactive (2019)
Rosamund Pike , Sam Riley, Anya-Taylor Joy, and more star in this 2019 period biographical drama, Radioactive by Jack Thorne. Chronicling the life of pioneering Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie and her husband Pierre, the film based on the 2010 graphic novel follows the dedication of Curie as she delves deep into the study of radioactive elements after the death of her husband.
Rosamund Pike as Marie Curie in the 2019 film, Radioactive (Credits: Deadline)
Marshall (2017)
One of the last works of the brilliant actor Chadwick Boseman before his death, Marshall is a 2017 film based on the career and life of Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.
A biographical law and legal drama by Reginald Hudlin focuses on one of the most prominent cases of Marshall’s career, the State of Connecticut vs. Joseph Spell.
Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall in the 2017 film Marshall (Credits: Variety)
Faced with the great challenge of building a defense of another black man framed for murder and sexual assault, the film deals delicately with many pressing matters, aided by a great musical score.
Molly’s Game (2017)
The biographical crime drama Molly’s Game is inspired by the true story of Molly Bloom, the author of the memoir, which inspired this Aaron Sorkin directorial debut.
Featuring the life of an inspiring young Olympic-level skier, who ran a high-stakes poker game, Molly’s Game narrates the various phases of Molly’s life through flashbacks and phenomenal filming, including the floating emotions of a teenage skier and the inner-working of the mind of a poker empress.
Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom in the biographical drama, Molly’s Game, released in 2017 (Credits: Looper)
This enticing real-life inspired movie tells the rise and fall and the eventual indictment of Bloom, played by to perfection by Jessica Chastain , by the FBI. An honest look into the flaws of a fallen skier and the elusive poker industry frequented by many Hollywood A-listers, Molly’s Game is a precautionary tale of intelligence and crime.
Gifted (2017)
A Chris Evans and Mckenna Grace family drama film about a sheer intellectual prodigy, Mary Adler, Gifted is a 2017 American film by Tom Flynn. The movie begins with the audience’s introduction to Frank, a single man raising his niece after the death of his sister and his eventual custody battle for her with his own mother, Evelyn.
Chris Evans and McKenna Grace in Gifted as mathematical prodigy Mary and her uncle Frank (Credits: Screen Daily)
The daughter of another brilliant mind, Mary, is discovered to have a flair for mathematics and is forced to complete her mother’s incomplete project, all the while her uncle tries to provide her with a normal life. With great insights into life and lessons about family and love, Gifted ends with a feel-good ending that will leave you crying after some waterworks during the movie.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
A 1997 psychological drama by Gus Van Sant, Good W ill Hunting , is a movie about positive thinking and manages to deliver its universal theme through well-portrayed emotions and leaves the audience with a feel-good optimistic message. Written and starred by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, the film follows the story of the titular Will who is a troubled boy with his best friend Chuck by his side.
Good Will Hunting starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Robin Williams (Credit: Letterboxd)
Covering important aspects of life such as insecurities, childhood trauma, relationships, and more, Good Will Hunting is about a mathematical prodigy in need of help from a psychologist to get his life around and realize his true potential.
With one of the greatest character development stories in all the movies out there, the journey of Will’s new approach toward life after way too many run-ins with the law ends for the audience with Will, a transformed man, and a heartfelt message for the viewers.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Sylvia Nasir brings to the screen a rendition of the life of Nobel Prize winner John Nash in A Beautiful Mind which describes the professional and personal life of this conflicted mathematician.
This emotional biographical drama about the man who revolutionized the game theory is a bitter-sweet rendition of the struggle of a brilliant mind with disease and recovery over the span of many years.
A Beautiful Mind starring Russel Crowe and Jennifer Connelly (Credits: Plugged In)
The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)
Dev Patel stars as the pioneering Indian Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan in this biographical drama adapted from the 1991 book of the same by Robert Kanigel. The Man Who Knew Infinity is an inspiring story of the life of the great mind who discovered ‘zero’ along with his upbringing in India, his achievements in the field, and his collaboration with his friend and professor, G. H. Hardy.
The Man Who Knew Infinity stars Dev Patel as the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan (Credits: John McDonald)
A period piece set in the 20th century, The Man Who Knew Infinity is a perfect portrayal of a man rising from poverty to formulate brilliant theories, as translated by the impeccable acting performance by the lead actor as well as co-stars such as Jeremy Irons, Devika Bhise, Toby Jones and more.
The Man Who Knew Infinity does a great job of shedding light on the little-known contributions of Ramanujan. Like in Hidden Figures, the film also skims over crucial topics like discrimination that comes with trying to pave your way in a dominating world.
Moneyball (2011)
This 2011 American sports drama movie, Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt, is centered on the actual narrative of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. The film throws light on Oakland Athletics manager Billy Beane, who aims to revamp the team by appealing to the wealthy ball clubs. Along with Peter Brand, an Ivy League graduate, Beane challenges convention and seeks talented athletes who have been passed over.
Moneyball (2011) starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill (Credits: Netflix)
Adapted from another story by ‘The Big Short’ author Michael Lewis, Moneyball is a classic sports tale of underdogs versus the giants, with several inspiring moments to look forward to, just like in The Hidden Figures . The film, starring Jonah Hill, Chris Pratt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and more, also provides an amazing depiction of how people can evolve and defy expectations. Watch Moneyball on Netflix now.
In Our Prime (2022)
The first foreign language film on this list, In Our Prime, is a South Korean film by Park Dong-hoon about an elite school outcast and his unexpected friendship with the school’s janitor. When Ji-woo, from a socially backward background in a well-to-do school, realizes he is failing his maths classes, he comes across Hak-sung, the janitor who turns out to be a mathematical genius with a shady past.
South Korean film In Our Prime (Credits: Amazon Prime Video)
The Theory of Everything (2014)
The Theory of Everything about the life and work of the brilliant astrophysicist Stephen Hawking takes place during his time in Cambridge, where he meets and falls in love with a fellow student.
The film, which derived its name from a book by Hawking of the same name, is actually based on the memoir by Jane Hawking and was brought to the screen by James Marsden.
The Theory of Everything, a biographical drama about Stephen Hawking, starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones (Credits: Business Insider)
Academy Award-winning actor Eddie Redmayne as the celebrated scientist, was even praised for his performance by Stephen Hawking himself, joined by Felicity Jones, Charlie Cox, and Emily Watson in the cast.
The Theory of Everything explores the intimate biographical drama between two people whose lives took an unexpected turn when Hawking was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease which left him with two years to live.
The Imitation Game (2014)
Chronicling the life of the mathematician whose work gave way to the modern computer sciences, The Imitation Game is the story of Alan Turing, the genius behind cracking the German Enigma code during World War II.
Exploring the crucial contributions of a talented individual, the film narrates the struggles of Turing with his sexuality and the marginalized behavior of others towards his eccentricities.
The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Mathew Good, and more (Credits: Variety)
Benedict Cumberbatch is exceptional as the prodigal mathematician who played a pivotal role in the victory of the war, joined by Keira Knightley , Mathew Goode, and more as his equally brilliant-minded ensemble.
Frank Pierson’s classic romance film, A Star Is Born can be regarded as one of the best retellings of the original 1937 storyline. Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson were chosen as the main cast and this movie was finally available in theatres by December 19th, 1976 (US).
Revolving around the tragic tale of John Norman Howard and Esther Hoffman, A Star Is Born will take you through a one-of-a-kind story of love where a famous Rock star falls for an aspiring singer, only for him to lose his popularity as hers keeps rising. While out on a drinking spree, a drunk John discovers Esther’s talent as she performs at a bar.
The duo soon starts hanging out together and since John was popular and had contacts, he provides Esther with the correct exposure, one that would give her a chance to showcase her skills in front of the music producers and the audience. John does it out of love for Esther, but no matter how hard he tries to be happy for her, Howard’s own life seems to be crumbling right in front of him.
The storyline of A Star Is Born is so beautifully sad that it has been recreated multiple times, such as in 2013 with the Indian film Aashiqui 2 and the 2018 remake with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper . With a budget of just $6 million, A Star Is Born 1976 managed to cross over $80 million at the Box Office.
John Performs At A Concert (Credits: Warner Bros. Studios)
A Star Is Born 1976: Filming Locations
While the original film by David O. Selznick revolved around the movie industry, the 1976 version is based on the world of music. Filming for A Star Is Born 1976 mostly took place in locations around Arizona . Known for its Canyons and attractive grasslands, Arizona is a place where you can experience true Western history and culture.
Tempe, Arizona:
The concert scenes with John, and later with Esther were filmed in Tempe, Arizona. One of the concert scenes in A Star Is Born utilized the Sun Devil Stadium located at 500 East Veterans Way in Tempe. The fundraiser concert shots were taken at Grady Gammage Auditorium, Arizona State University.
Arizona is not new to hosting films as places like the Sun Devil Stadium have already served as filming locations for movies Jerry Maguire (1996), Raising Arizona (1987), and The Game Plan (2007).
Los Angeles, California:
The scene where Esther and John meet each other after Esther’s seen auditioning for the Cat Food commercial was filmed at Sunset Boulevard & Gordon Street in Los Angeles. Asides from Los Angeles, the Warner Brothers Burbank Studios also hosted the cast for some of the scenes.
John & Esther At Beverly Hills (Credits: Warner Bros. Studios)
After losing John, Esther returns to his home. She finds a recording of him from when he was still alive and breaks down in tears. Throughout the film, the huge mansion that John lived in was the Grayhall Mansion which is located at 1100 Carolyn Way in Beverly Hills.
Tucson, Arizona:
After getting married spontaneously, Esther and John decide to visit John’s property in Tucson. Esther’s surprised to find miles of land on the outskirts of the city that now belongs to both of them. To have a place that the pair can truly call home, the couple begins to build a beautiful home in the bright and warm lands of Tucson.
Parts of Old Tucson, which is a movie studio and Theme park located at 201 S. Kinney Road was also featured in the film. Its history goes back to 1939 when it was chosen as a set for the Wesley Ruggles film Arizona , which was released a year later in 1940.
Other areas in and around Tucson that were seen in this Frank Pierson movie are the Pima County Courthouse and the Music Hall of the Tucson Community Center.
Esther At John’s Mansion (Credits: Warner Bros. Studios)
Empire Ranch, Sonoita, Arizona:
Their newly built Honeymoon house is located at the Empire Ranch in Sonoita, Arizona, in contrast to being in Tucson as shown in the movie. This is where we see John speed off in his car, while Esther’s back at home worrying about him.
Sonoita is a scenic place filled with grasslands and vineyards. The San Rafael Ranch House at 2036 Duquesne Road, Patagonia, adds another location that the movie crew filmed in while in the state of Arizona.
This sums up the filming locations for the hit romance A Star Is Born, 1976. At present, the Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson movie is available to watch on Netflix.
